Asset Retirement Obligations	12 Months Ended
Asset Retirement Obligations	Dec. 31, 2011
Asset Retirement Obligations	Note R — Asset Retirement Obligations Con Edison and CECONY account for retirement obligations on their assets in accordance with the accounting rules for asset retirement obligations. This accounting standard requires recognition of a liability for legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets. When the liability is initially recorded, asset retirement costs are capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related asset. The liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. The Utilities include in depreciation the estimated removal costs, less salvage, for utility plant assets. In accordance with the accounting rules for asset retirement obligations, future removal costs that do not represent legal asset retirement obligations are recorded as regulatory liabilities pursuant to the accounting rules for regulated operations. The related regulatory liabilities recorded for Con Edison and CECONY were $448 million and $372 million at December 31, 2011 and $421 million and $349 million at December 31, 2010, respectively. The Companies identified future asset retirement obligations associated with the removal of asbestos and asbestos-containing material in their buildings and equipment within the generating stations and substations, and within the steam and gas distribution systems. The Companies also identified asset retirement obligations relating to gas pipelines abandoned in place. The estimates of future liabilities were developed using historical information, and where available, quoted prices from outside contractors. The obligation for the cost of asbestos removal from the Companies' generating stations and substation structures was not accrued since the retirement dates cannot be reasonably estimated. At December 31, 2011, the liabilities of Con Edison and CECONY for the fair value of their legal asset retirement obligations were $145 million, as compared with $109 million at December 31, 2010. In addition, Con Edison and CECONY increased utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, for asset retirement costs at December 31, 2011 by $38 million, as compared with $18 million at December 31, 2010. Pursuant to the accounting rules for regulated operations, CECONY also recorded a reduction of $107 million and $91 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, to the regulatory liability associated with cost of removal to reflect accumulated depreciation and interest accretion costs.
CECONY [Member]
Asset Retirement Obligations	Note R Asset Retirement Obligations Con Edison and CECONY account for retirement obligations on their assets in accordance with the accounting rules for asset retirement obligations. This accounting standard requires recognition of a liability for legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets. When the liability is initially recorded, asset retirement costs are capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related asset. The liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. The Utilities include in depreciation the estimated removal costs, less salvage, for utility plant assets. In accordance with the accounting rules for asset retirement obligations, future removal costs that do not represent legal asset retirement obligations are recorded as regulatory liabilities pursuant to the accounting rules for regulated operations. The related regulatory liabilities recorded for Con Edison and CECONY were $448 million and $372 million at December 31, 2011 and $421 million and $349 million at December 31, 2010, respectively. The Companies identified future asset retirement obligations associated with the removal of asbestos and asbestos-containing material in their buildings and equipment within the generating stations and substations, and within the steam and gas distribution systems. The Companies also identified asset retirement obligations relating to gas pipelines abandoned in place. The estimates of future liabilities were developed using historical information, and where available, quoted prices from outside contractors. The obligation for the cost of asbestos removal from the Companies' generating stations and substation structures was not accrued since the retirement dates cannot be reasonably estimated. At December 31, 2011, the liabilities of Con Edison and CECONY for the fair value of their legal asset retirement obligations were $145 million, as compared with $109 million at December 31, 2010. In addition, Con Edison and CECONY increased utility plant, net of accumulated depreciation, for asset retirement costs at December 31, 2011 by $38 million, as compared with $18 million at December 31, 2010. Pursuant to the accounting rules for regulated operations, CECONY also recorded a reduction of $107 million and $91 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, to the regulatory liability associated with cost of removal to reflect accumulated depreciation and interest accretion costs.

The entire disclosure for an asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References+ Details