Asset Impairment Expense

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Impairment or Disposal of Tangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

The following table presents our asset impairment expense by asset group for the periods indicated (in millions):



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
U.S. generation facility	$	73	$	—	$	156	$	—
Kazakhstan hydroelectric	—		2		—		92
Kazakhstan CHPs	—		—		—		94
DPL	—		—		—		66
Other	1		—		10		8
Total	$	74	$	2	$	166	$	260

U.S. generation facility — In June 2018, the Company tested the recoverability of its long-lived assets at a generation facility in the U.S. due to an unfavorable economic outlook resulting in uncertainty around future cash flows. The Company determined that the carrying amount of the asset group, including long-lived assets, was not recoverable. The asset group was determined to have a fair value of $127 million as of June 30, 2018 using a combination of the income and market approaches. As a result, the Company recognized an asset impairment expense of $83 million. The generation facility is reported in the US and Utilities SBU reportable segment.

In the third quarter of 2018, as a result of updated assumptions regarding the future use of the assets, management’s expectations of future cash flows for the facility decreased. Given updated inputs, the asset group was determined to have a fair value of $55 million as of September 30, 2018 and additional impairment expense of $73 million was recognized. Given the uncertainty regarding the future use of the asset group, the Company will continue to monitor the economic outlook for the facility on an ongoing basis.

DPL — In March 2017, the Board of Directors of DPL approved the retirement of the DPL operated and co-owned Stuart coal-fired and diesel-fired generating units, and the Killen coal-fired generating unit and combustion turbine on or before June 1, 2018. The Company performed an impairment analysis and determined that the carrying amounts of the facilities were not recoverable. The Stuart and Killen asset groups were determined to have fair values of $3 million and $8 million, respectively, using the income approach. As a result, the Company recognized total asset impairment expense of $66 million. The Stuart and Killen units were retired in May 2018. Prior to their retirement, Stuart and Killen were reported in the US and Utilities SBU reportable segment. See Note 17—Held-for-Sale and Dispositions for further information.

Kazakhstan hydroelectric — In April 2017, the Government of Kazakhstan stated the concession agreements would not be extended for Shulbinsk HPP and Ust-Kamenogorsk HPP, two hydroelectric plants in Kazakhstan, and initiated the process to transfer these plants back to the government. The Company performed an impairment analysis and determined that the carrying value of the asset group of $190 million, which included cumulative translation losses of $100 million, was greater than its fair value less costs to sell of $92 million. As a result, the Company recognized asset impairment expense of $92 million limited to the carrying value of the long-lived assets. The Company completed the transfer of the plants in October 2017. Prior to their transfer, the Kazakhstan hydroelectric plants were reported in the Eurasia SBU reportable segment.

Kazakhstan CHPs — In January 2017, the Company entered into an agreement for the sale of Ust-Kamenogorsk CHP and Sogrinsk CHP, its combined heating and power coal plants in Kazakhstan. Upon meeting the held-for-sale criteria in the first quarter of 2017, the Company performed an impairment analysis and determined that the carrying value of the asset group of $171 million, which included cumulative translation losses of $92 million, was greater than its fair value less costs to sell of $29 million. As a result, the Company recognized asset impairment expense of $94 million limited to the carrying value of the long-lived assets. The Company completed the sale of its interest in the Kazakhstan CHP plants in April 2017. Prior to their sale, the plants were reported in the Eurasia SBU reportable segment. See Note 17—Held-for-Sale and Dispositions for further information.