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Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Asset Retirement Obligation [Line Items]  
Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs)
Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs)
PSEG, PSE&G and Power have recorded various AROs which represent legal obligations to remove or dispose of an asset or some component of an asset at retirement.
PSE&G has conditional AROs primarily for legal obligations related to the removal of treated wood poles and the requirement to seal natural gas pipelines at all sources of gas when the pipelines are no longer in service. PSE&G does not record an ARO for its protected steel and poly-based natural gas lines, as management believes that these categories of gas lines have an indeterminable life.
Power’s ARO liability primarily relates to the decommissioning of its nuclear power plants in accordance with NRC requirements. Power has an independent external trust that is intended to fund decommissioning of its nuclear facilities upon termination of operation. For additional information, see Note 9. Available-for-Sale Securities. Power also identified conditional AROs primarily related to Power’s fossil generation units and solar facilities, including liabilities for removal of asbestos, stored hazardous liquid material and underground storage tanks from industrial power sites, and demolition of certain plants, and the restoration of the sites at which they reside, when the plants are no longer in service. To estimate the fair value of its AROs, Power uses a probability weighted, discounted cash flow model which, on a unit by unit basis, considers multiple outcome scenarios that include significant estimates and assumptions, and are based on third-party decommissioning cost estimates, cost escalation rates, inflation rates and discount rates.
Updated cost studies are obtained triennially unless new information necessitates more frequent updates. The most recent cost study was done in 2015. When assumptions are revised to calculate fair values of existing AROs, the ARO balance and corresponding long-lived asset are adjusted which impact the amount of accretion and depreciation expense recognized in future periods. For PSE&G, Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities result when accretion and amortization are adjusted to match rates established by regulators resulting in the regulatory deferral of any gain or loss.
The changes to the ARO liabilities for PSEG, PSE&G and Power during 2015 and 2016 are presented in the following table:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PSEG
 
PSE&G
 
Power
 
Other
 
 
 
 
Millions
 
 
ARO Liability as of January 1, 2015
 
$
743

 
$
290

 
$
450

 
$
3

 
 
Liabilities Settled
 
(5
)
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
 
Liabilities Incurred
 
14

 
1

 
12

 
1

 
 
Accretion Expense
 
26

 
—

 
26

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense Deferred and Recovered in Rate Base (A)
 
16

 
16

 
—

 
—

 
 
Revision to Present Values of Estimated Cash Flows
 
(115
)
 
(85
)
 
(30
)
 
—

 
 
ARO Liability as of December 31, 2015
 
$
679

 
$
218

 
$
457

 
$
4

 
 
Liabilities Settled
 
(13
)
 
(9
)
 
(4
)
 
—

 
 
Liabilities Incurred
 
25

 
2

 
23

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense
 
26

 
—

 
26

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense Deferred and Recovered in Rate Base (A)
 
12

 
12

 
—

 
—

 
 
Revision to Present Values of Estimated Cash Flows
 
(3
)
 
(10
)
 
9

 
(2
)
 
 
ARO Liability as of December 31, 2016
 
$
726

 
$
213

 
$
511

 
$
2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(A)
Not reflected as expense in Consolidated Statements of Operations
During 2016, PSE&G recorded a reduction in its ARO liabilities primarily due to the impact of settlements and changes to cash flow estimates. These changes had no impact in PSE&G’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
During 2016, Power recorded $23 million primarily related to new ARO liabilities at its fossil units coupled with new solar generation ARO liabilities.
PSE&G [Member]  
Asset Retirement Obligation [Line Items]  
Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs)
Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs)
PSEG, PSE&G and Power have recorded various AROs which represent legal obligations to remove or dispose of an asset or some component of an asset at retirement.
PSE&G has conditional AROs primarily for legal obligations related to the removal of treated wood poles and the requirement to seal natural gas pipelines at all sources of gas when the pipelines are no longer in service. PSE&G does not record an ARO for its protected steel and poly-based natural gas lines, as management believes that these categories of gas lines have an indeterminable life.
Power’s ARO liability primarily relates to the decommissioning of its nuclear power plants in accordance with NRC requirements. Power has an independent external trust that is intended to fund decommissioning of its nuclear facilities upon termination of operation. For additional information, see Note 9. Available-for-Sale Securities. Power also identified conditional AROs primarily related to Power’s fossil generation units and solar facilities, including liabilities for removal of asbestos, stored hazardous liquid material and underground storage tanks from industrial power sites, and demolition of certain plants, and the restoration of the sites at which they reside, when the plants are no longer in service. To estimate the fair value of its AROs, Power uses a probability weighted, discounted cash flow model which, on a unit by unit basis, considers multiple outcome scenarios that include significant estimates and assumptions, and are based on third-party decommissioning cost estimates, cost escalation rates, inflation rates and discount rates.
Updated cost studies are obtained triennially unless new information necessitates more frequent updates. The most recent cost study was done in 2015. When assumptions are revised to calculate fair values of existing AROs, the ARO balance and corresponding long-lived asset are adjusted which impact the amount of accretion and depreciation expense recognized in future periods. For PSE&G, Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities result when accretion and amortization are adjusted to match rates established by regulators resulting in the regulatory deferral of any gain or loss.
The changes to the ARO liabilities for PSEG, PSE&G and Power during 2015 and 2016 are presented in the following table:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PSEG
 
PSE&G
 
Power
 
Other
 
 
 
 
Millions
 
 
ARO Liability as of January 1, 2015
 
$
743

 
$
290

 
$
450

 
$
3

 
 
Liabilities Settled
 
(5
)
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
 
Liabilities Incurred
 
14

 
1

 
12

 
1

 
 
Accretion Expense
 
26

 
—

 
26

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense Deferred and Recovered in Rate Base (A)
 
16

 
16

 
—

 
—

 
 
Revision to Present Values of Estimated Cash Flows
 
(115
)
 
(85
)
 
(30
)
 
—

 
 
ARO Liability as of December 31, 2015
 
$
679

 
$
218

 
$
457

 
$
4

 
 
Liabilities Settled
 
(13
)
 
(9
)
 
(4
)
 
—

 
 
Liabilities Incurred
 
25

 
2

 
23

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense
 
26

 
—

 
26

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense Deferred and Recovered in Rate Base (A)
 
12

 
12

 
—

 
—

 
 
Revision to Present Values of Estimated Cash Flows
 
(3
)
 
(10
)
 
9

 
(2
)
 
 
ARO Liability as of December 31, 2016
 
$
726

 
$
213

 
$
511

 
$
2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(A)
Not reflected as expense in Consolidated Statements of Operations
During 2016, PSE&G recorded a reduction in its ARO liabilities primarily due to the impact of settlements and changes to cash flow estimates. These changes had no impact in PSE&G’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
During 2016, Power recorded $23 million primarily related to new ARO liabilities at its fossil units coupled with new solar generation ARO liabilities.
Power [Member]  
Asset Retirement Obligation [Line Items]  
Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs)
Asset Retirement Obligations (AROs)
PSEG, PSE&G and Power have recorded various AROs which represent legal obligations to remove or dispose of an asset or some component of an asset at retirement.
PSE&G has conditional AROs primarily for legal obligations related to the removal of treated wood poles and the requirement to seal natural gas pipelines at all sources of gas when the pipelines are no longer in service. PSE&G does not record an ARO for its protected steel and poly-based natural gas lines, as management believes that these categories of gas lines have an indeterminable life.
Power’s ARO liability primarily relates to the decommissioning of its nuclear power plants in accordance with NRC requirements. Power has an independent external trust that is intended to fund decommissioning of its nuclear facilities upon termination of operation. For additional information, see Note 9. Available-for-Sale Securities. Power also identified conditional AROs primarily related to Power’s fossil generation units and solar facilities, including liabilities for removal of asbestos, stored hazardous liquid material and underground storage tanks from industrial power sites, and demolition of certain plants, and the restoration of the sites at which they reside, when the plants are no longer in service. To estimate the fair value of its AROs, Power uses a probability weighted, discounted cash flow model which, on a unit by unit basis, considers multiple outcome scenarios that include significant estimates and assumptions, and are based on third-party decommissioning cost estimates, cost escalation rates, inflation rates and discount rates.
Updated cost studies are obtained triennially unless new information necessitates more frequent updates. The most recent cost study was done in 2015. When assumptions are revised to calculate fair values of existing AROs, the ARO balance and corresponding long-lived asset are adjusted which impact the amount of accretion and depreciation expense recognized in future periods. For PSE&G, Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities result when accretion and amortization are adjusted to match rates established by regulators resulting in the regulatory deferral of any gain or loss.
The changes to the ARO liabilities for PSEG, PSE&G and Power during 2015 and 2016 are presented in the following table:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PSEG
 
PSE&G
 
Power
 
Other
 
 
 
 
Millions
 
 
ARO Liability as of January 1, 2015
 
$
743

 
$
290

 
$
450

 
$
3

 
 
Liabilities Settled
 
(5
)
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
 
Liabilities Incurred
 
14

 
1

 
12

 
1

 
 
Accretion Expense
 
26

 
—

 
26

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense Deferred and Recovered in Rate Base (A)
 
16

 
16

 
—

 
—

 
 
Revision to Present Values of Estimated Cash Flows
 
(115
)
 
(85
)
 
(30
)
 
—

 
 
ARO Liability as of December 31, 2015
 
$
679

 
$
218

 
$
457

 
$
4

 
 
Liabilities Settled
 
(13
)
 
(9
)
 
(4
)
 
—

 
 
Liabilities Incurred
 
25

 
2

 
23

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense
 
26

 
—

 
26

 
—

 
 
Accretion Expense Deferred and Recovered in Rate Base (A)
 
12

 
12

 
—

 
—

 
 
Revision to Present Values of Estimated Cash Flows
 
(3
)
 
(10
)
 
9

 
(2
)
 
 
ARO Liability as of December 31, 2016
 
$
726

 
$
213

 
$
511

 
$
2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(A)
Not reflected as expense in Consolidated Statements of Operations
During 2016, PSE&G recorded a reduction in its ARO liabilities primarily due to the impact of settlements and changes to cash flow estimates. These changes had no impact in PSE&G’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.
During 2016, Power recorded $23 million primarily related to new ARO liabilities at its fossil units coupled with new solar generation ARO liabilities.