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Asset Retirement Obligations
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Asset Retirement Obligations [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset Retirement Obligations

FPL's ARO relates primarily to the nuclear decommissioning obligation of its nuclear units. FPL's AROs other than nuclear decommissioning are not significant. The accounting provisions result in timing differences in the recognition of legal asset retirement costs for financial reporting purposes and the method the FPSC allows FPL to recover in rates. NEER's ARO relates primarily to the nuclear decommissioning obligation of its nuclear plants and obligations for the dismantlement of its wind facilities located on leased property. See Note 1 - Decommissioning of Nuclear Plants, Dismantlement of Plants and Other Accrued Asset Removal Costs.

A rollforward of NEE's and FPL's ARO is as follows:
 
FPL
 
NEER
 
NEE
 
 
 
(millions)
 
 
Balances, December 31, 2013
$
1,285

 
$
565

 
$
1,850

Liabilities incurred
1

 
29

 
30

Accretion expense
70

 
38

 
108

Liabilities settled
—

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Revision in estimated cash flows - net
(1
)
 
—

 
(1
)
Balances, December 31, 2014
1,355

 
631

 
1,986

Liabilities incurred
5

 
46

 
51

Accretion expense
73

 
43

 
116

Liabilities settled
(20
)
 
(2
)
 
(22
)
Revision in estimated cash flows - net
409

(a) 
(71
)
(b) 
338

Balances, December 31, 2015
$
1,822

 
$
647

 
$
2,469


______________________
(a)
Primarily reflects the effect of revised cost estimates for decommissioning FPL's nuclear units consistent with the updated nuclear decommissioning studies filed with the FPSC in December 2015.
(b)
Primarily reflects the effect of revised cost estimates for decommissioning NEER’s nuclear units and a change in assumptions relating to spent fuel costs, partly offset by increased escalation rates.

Restricted funds for the payment of future expenditures to decommission NEE's and FPL's nuclear units included in special use funds on NEE's and FPL's consolidated balance sheets are as follows (see Note 4 - Special Use Funds):
 
FPL
 
NEER
 
NEE
 
 
 
(millions)
 
 
Balances, December 31, 2015
$
3,430

 
$
1,634

 
$
5,064

Balances, December 31, 2014
$
3,449

 
$
1,642

 
$
5,091



NEE and FPL have identified but not recognized ARO liabilities related to electric transmission and distribution and telecommunications assets resulting from easements over property not owned by NEE or FPL. These easements are generally perpetual and only require retirement action upon abandonment or cessation of use of the property or facility for its specified purpose. The ARO liability is not estimable for such easements as NEE and FPL intend to use these properties indefinitely. In the event NEE and FPL decide to abandon or cease the use of a particular easement, an ARO liability would be recorded at that time.