On October 29, 2021, our Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan (the 2021 Projects), which in conjunction with the announcement of the sale of certain Gas product lines from our Device Solutions manufacturing and business operations in Europe and North America to Dresser (refer to Note 18: Sale of Businesses), includes activities to drive reductions in certain locations and functional support areas. These projects are expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2024.

The total expected restructuring costs, the restructuring costs recognized, and the remaining expected restructuring costs related to the 2021 Projects were as follows:


In thousands	Total Expected Costs at December 31, 2022		Costs Recognized in Prior Periods		Costs Recognized During the Year Ended December 31, 2022		Expected Remaining Costs to be Recognized at December 31, 2022
Employee severance costs	$	38,359	$	49,013	$	(10,654)	$	—
Asset impairments & net loss on sale or disposal	8,599		9,246		(647)		—
Other restructuring costs	5,509		2,452		632		2,425
Total	$	52,467	$	60,711	$	(10,669)	$	2,425

In September 2020, our Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan (the 2020 Projects), which includes activities that continue our efforts to optimize our global supply chain and manufacturing operations, sales and marketing organizations, and other overhead. These projects are scheduled to be substantially complete by the end of 2023.

The total expected restructuring costs, the restructuring costs recognized, and the remaining expected restructuring costs related to the 2020 Projects were as follows:


In thousands	Total Expected Costs at December 31, 2022		Costs Recognized in Prior Periods		Costs Recognized During the Year Ended December 31, 2022		Expected Remaining Costs to be Recognized at December 31, 2022
Employee severance costs	$	20,382	$	24,532	$	(4,150)	$	—
Asset impairments & net loss on sale or disposal	6,465		6,442		23		—
Other restructuring costs	7,841		6,170		1,171		500
Total	$	34,688	$	37,144	$	(2,956)	$	500

The following table summarizes the activity within the restructuring related balance sheet accounts for the 2021 Projects and the 2020 Projects during the year ended December 31, 2022:


In thousands	Accrued Employee Severance		Asset Impairments & Net Loss (Gain) on Sale or Disposal		Other Accrued Costs		Total
Beginning balance, January 1, 2022	$	79,876	$	—	$	5,130	$	85,006
Costs charged to expense	(14,804)		(624)		1,803		(13,625)
Cash payments	(21,683)		(242)		(3,840)		(25,765)
Cash receipts	—		3,937		—		3,937
Net assets disposed and impaired	—		(3,071)		—		(3,071)
Effect of change in exchange rates	(3,831)		—		(207)		(4,038)
Ending balance, December 31, 2022	$	39,558	$	—	$	2,886	$	42,444

During the year ended December 31, 2022, $14.8 million in accrued employee severance has been released due to employee attrition and other employee agreements.

Asset impairments are determined at the asset group level. Revenues and net operating income from the activities we have exited or will exit under the restructuring projects are not material to our operating segments or consolidated results.

Certain of Itron's employees are represented by unions or works councils, which requires consultation, and potential restructuring projects may be subject to regulatory approval, both of which could impact the timing of planned savings in certain jurisdictions.

Other restructuring costs include expenses for employee relocation, professional fees associated with employee severance, costs to exit the facilities once the operations in those facilities have ceased, and other costs associated with the liquidation of any affected legal entities. Costs associated with restructuring activities are generally presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as restructuring, except for certain costs associated with inventory write-downs, which are classified within cost of

revenues, and accelerated depreciation expense, which is recognized according to the use of the asset. Restructuring expense is part of the Corporate unallocated segment and does not impact the results of our operating segments.

The current portions of restructuring liabilities were $14.5 million and $29.7 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and are classified within other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The long-term portions of restructuring liabilities were $27.9 million and $55.3 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. The long-term portions of restructuring liabilities are classified within other long-term obligations on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and include severance accruals and facility exit costs.