ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

AROs, which are included in Other noncurrent liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, consist of the following (in millions):



	As of December 31,
	2011		2010
Trojan decommissioning activities	$	37	$	38
Utility plant	38		16
Non-utility property	12		10
Asset retirement obligations	$	87	$	64

Trojan decommissioning activities represents the present value of future decommissioning expenditures for the plant, which ceased operation in 1993. The remaining decommissioning activities primarily consist of the long-term operation and decommissioning of the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), an interim dry storage facility that is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The ISFSI is to house the spent nuclear fuel at the former plant site until permanent off-site storage is available. Decommissioning of the ISFSI and final site restoration activities will begin once shipment of all the spent fuel to a U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) facility is complete, which is not expected prior to 2033.

In 2004, the co-owners of Trojan (PGE, Eugene Water & Electric Board, and PacifiCorp, collectively referred to as Plaintiffs) filed a complaint against the USDOE for failure to accept spent nuclear fuel by January 31, 1998. PGE had contracted with the USDOE for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel in order to allow the final decommissioning of Trojan. The Plaintiffs paid for permanent disposal services during the period of plant operation and have met all other conditions precedent. The Plaintiffs are seeking approximately $128 million in damages. PGE’s share of any recovery would be approximately 67%. A trial before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims commenced in the fourth quarter of 2011, with a decision expected during 2012. However, if the Plaintiffs were to prevail, the USDOE would likely appeal, which would defer any damage payment indefinitely. The Trojan ARO will not be impacted by the outcome of this case as such potential recovery is for past decommissioning costs and the ARO reflects only future decommissioning expenditures. Any proceeds received related to this legal matter would be returned to customers to offset amounts previously collected in relation to Trojan decommissioning activities.

Utility plant represents AROs that have been recognized for the Company’s thermal and wind generation sites, distribution and transmission assets where disposal is governed by environmental regulation, as well as the Bull Run hydro project. Decommissioning work has been substantially completed at Bull Run, with only environmental monitoring continuing through 2012.

During 2011, an updated decommissioning study for PGE’s Boardman coal-fired plant was completed, which included the assumption that Boardman’s coal-fired operations cease in 2020 rather than 2040. As a result of the study, PGE increased its ARO related to Boardman by approximately $20 million, with a corresponding increase in the cost basis of the plant, included in Electric utility plant, net on the consolidated balance sheet. Such transaction is non-cash and is excluded from investing activities in the consolidated statement cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Non-utility property primarily represents ARO’s which have been recognized for portions of unregulated properties leased to third parties.

The following is a summary of the changes in the Company’s AROs (in millions):



	Years Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
Balance as of beginning of year	$	64		$	63		$	58
Liabilities incurred	1			1			—
Liabilities settled	(4		)	(3		)	(4		)
Accretion expense	4			4			4
Revisions in estimated cash flows	22			(1		)	5
Balance as of end of year	$	87		$	64		$	63

Pursuant to regulation, the amortization of utility plant AROs is included in depreciation expense and in customer prices. Any differences in the timing of recognition of costs for financial reporting and ratemaking purposes are deferred as a regulatory asset or regulatory liability. Recovery of Trojan decommissioning costs is included in PGE’s retail prices, currently at approximately $4 million annually, with an equal amount recorded in Depreciation and amortization expense.

PGE maintains a separate trust account, Nuclear decommissioning trust in the consolidated balance sheet, for funds collected from customers through prices to cover the cost of Trojan decommissioning activities. See “Trust Accounts” in Note 3, Balance Sheet Components, for additional information on the Nuclear decommissioning trust.

The Oak Grove hydro facility and transmission and distribution plant located on public right-of-ways and on certain easements meet the requirements of a legal obligation and will require removal when the plant is no longer in service. An ARO liability is not currently measurable as management believes that these assets will be used in utility operations for the foreseeable future. Removal costs are charged to accumulated asset retirement removal costs, which is included in Regulatory liabilities on PGE’s consolidated balance sheets.