ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

The Duke Energy Registrants record AROs when there is a legal obligation to incur retirement costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset and the obligation can be reasonably estimated. The following table presents the AROs recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.



	September 30, 2018
			Duke				Duke		Duke		Duke		Duke
	Duke		Energy		Progress		Energy		Energy		Energy		Energy
(in millions)	Energy		Carolinas		Energy		Progress		Florida		Ohio		Indiana		Piedmont
Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Facilities^(a)	$	5,367	$	2,031	$	3,181	$	2,650	$	531	$	—	$	—	$	—
Closure of Ash Impoundments	4,575		1,623		2,175		2,154		20		52		725		—
Other	314		58		79		37		42		46		19		15
Total ARO	$	10,256	$	3,712	$	5,435	$	4,841	$	593	$	98	$	744	$	15
Less: current portion	902		292		475		470		4		7		128		—
Total noncurrent ARO	$	9,354	$	3,420	$	4,960	$	4,371	$	589	$	91	$	616	$	15

(a) Duke Energy amount includes purchase accounting adjustments related to the merger with Progress Energy.

ARO Liability Rollforward

Actual closure costs incurred could be materially different from current estimates that form the basis of the recorded AROs. The following table presents the change in liability associated with AROs for the Duke Energy Registrants.



				Duke						Duke			Duke			Duke			Duke
	Duke			Energy			Progress			Energy			Energy			Energy			Energy
(in millions)	Energy			Carolinas			Energy			Progress			Florida			Ohio			Indiana			Piedmont
Balance at December 31, 2017^(a)	$	10,175		$	3,610		$	5,414		$	4,673		$	742		$	84		$	781		$	15
Accretion expense^(b)	319			133			168			145			23			3			22			—
Liabilities settled^(c)	(431		)	(198		)	(186		)	(155		)	(31		)	(5		)	(42		)	—
Liabilities incurred in the current year	34			8			—			—			—			—			25			—
Revisions in estimates of cash flows^(d)	159			159			39			178			(141		)	16			(42		)	—
Balance at September 30, 2018	$	10,256		$	3,712		$	5,435		$	4,841		$	593		$	98		$	744		$	15


(a)	Primarily relates to decommissioning nuclear power facilities, closure of ash impoundments, asbestos removal, closure of landfills at fossil generation facilities, retirement of natural gas mains and removal of renewable energy generation assets.


(b)	For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, substantially all accretion expense relates to Duke Energy's regulated operations and has been deferred in accordance with regulatory accounting treatment.


(c)	Primarily relates to ash impoundment closures and nuclear decommissioning of Crystal River Unit 3.


(d)	Primarily relates to increases in groundwater monitoring estimates for closure of ash impoundments, partially offset by modifications to the timing of expected cash flows and a reduction for nuclear decommissioning at Crystal River Unit 3 compared to original estimates.

Asset retirement costs associated with the AROs for operating plants and retired plants are included in Net property, plant and equipment and Regulatory assets within Other Noncurrent Assets, respectively, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.