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Impairment of Long-lived Assets
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

FirstEnergy reviews long-lived assets, including regulatory assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. The recoverability of a long-lived asset is measured by comparing its carrying value to the sum of undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment exists and a loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its estimated fair value. FirstEnergy utilizes the income approach, based upon discounted cash flows to estimate fair value.

West Virginia Asset Transfer - 2013

On October 9, 2013, MP sold its approximate 8% share of Pleasants at its fair market value of $73 million to AE Supply, and AE Supply sold its approximate 80% share of Harrison to MP at its book value of $1.2 billion. The transaction resulted in AE Supply receiving net consideration of $1.1 billion and MP's assumption of a $73.5 million pollution control note. The $1.1 billion net consideration was originally financed by MP through an equity infusion from FE of approximately $527 million and a note payable to AE Supply of approximately $573 million. The note payable to AE Supply was repaid in the fourth quarter of 2013. In connection with the closing, in the fourth quarter of 2013, MP recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of approximately $322 million to reduce the net book value of the Harrison Power Station to the amount that was permitted to be included in jurisdictional rate base. Additionally, MP recognized a regulatory liability of approximately $23 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 representing refunds to customers associated with the excess purchase price received by MP above the net book value of MP's minority interest in the Pleasants Power Station.

Generating Plant Retirements - 2013

On July 8, 2013, officers of FirstEnergy and AE Supply committed to deactivating the following generating units by October 9, 2013:

Generating Units
MW Capacity
Location
Hatfield's Ferry, Units 1-3
1,710
Masontown, Pennsylvania
Mitchell, Units 2-3
370
Courtney, Pennsylvania


As a result of this decision, in the second quarter of 2013, FirstEnergy recorded a pre-tax impairment of approximately $473 million to continuing operations, which also includes pre-tax impairments of $13 million related to excessive inventory at these facilities. The impairment charge is included within the results of the Competitive Energy Services segment. On October 9, 2013, Hatfield's Ferry Units 1-3 and Mitchell Units 2-3 were deactivated.

Approximately 240 plant employees and generation related positions were affected by these plant deactivations. FirstEnergy recorded approximately $6 million (pre-tax) severance related expenses that were recognized in Other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income during the year ended 2013.

AE Supply has obligations, such as fuel supply, that could be affected by the plant deactivations and management is currently unable to reasonably estimate potential costs, or a range thereof, that could be incurred.

Generating Plant Retirements - 2011

On January 26, 2012 and February 8, 2012, FG, MP and AE Supply announced the deactivation by September 1, 2012 (subject to a reliability review by PJM) of nine coal-fired power plants (Albright, Armstrong, Ashtabula, Bay Shore except for generating unit 1, Eastlake, Lakeshore, R. Paul Smith, Rivesville and Willow Island) with a total capacity of 3,349 MW due to MATS and other environmental regulations. As a result of this decision, FirstEnergy recorded a pre-tax impairment of $334 million to continuing operations during the year ended 2011. This impairment consisted of a $311 million write down of the carrying value of the plant assets, approximately $5 million in excessive SO2 emission allowances and an $18 million charge for excessive or obsolete inventory at these facilities. On April 25, 2012, PJM concluded its initial analysis of the reliability impacts from the previously announced plant deactivations and requested RMR arrangements for Eastlake Units 1-3, Ashtabula Unit 5 and Lake Shore Unit 18 through the spring of 2015. In February 2014, PJM notified FirstEnergy that Eastlake Units 1-3 and Lake Shore Unit 18 will be released from RMR status as of September 15, 2014. On July 10, 2012, and as amended on October 31, 2012, FirstEnergy filed with FERC, for informational purposes, the compensation arrangements for these units which will remain in effect for as long as these generating units continue to operate. As of September 1, 2012, Albright, Armstrong, Bay Shore (except for generating unit 1), Eastlake Units 4-5, R. Paul Smith, Rivesville and Willow Island were deactivated. During the year ended December 31, 2012, FirstEnergy recognized pre-tax severance expense of approximately $14 million ($10 million by FES) as a result of the deactivations. These costs are included in "other operating expenses" in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

In addition to the emission allowance impairments in connection with the plant closures, FirstEnergy recorded during 2011, pre-tax impairment charges of approximately $6 million ($1 million for FES and $5 million for AE Supply) for NOx emission allowances that were expected to be obsolete after 2011 and approximately $16 million ($13 million for FES and $3 million for AE Supply) for excess SO2 emission allowances in inventory that it expected will not be consumed in the future.

Fremont Energy Center

On March 11, 2011, FirstEnergy and American Municipal Power, Inc., entered into an agreement for the sale of Fremont Energy Center, which included two natural gas combined-cycle combustion turbines and a steam turbine capable of producing 544 MW of load-following capacity and 163 MW of peaking capacity. The execution of this agreement triggered a need to evaluate the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets associated with the Fremont Energy Center. The estimated fair value of the Fremont Energy Center was based on the purchase price outlined in the sale agreement with American Municipal Power, Inc. The result of this evaluation indicated that the carrying cost of the Fremont Energy Center was not fully recoverable. As a result of the recoverability evaluation, FirstEnergy recorded an impairment charge of $11 million to operating income in the first quarter of 2011. On July 28, 2011, FirstEnergy completed the sale of Fremont Energy Center to American Municipal Power, Inc.

Peaking Facilities

During 2011, FirstEnergy assessed the carrying values of certain peaking facilities that were to be sold or disposed of before the end of their useful lives. The estimated fair values were based on estimated sales prices quoted in an active market and indicated that the carrying costs of the peaking facilities were not fully recoverable. FirstEnergy recorded impairment charges of $23 million during 2011 and on October 18, 2011, FirstEnergy closed on the sale of the Richland and Stryker peaking facilities.