Asset Retirement Obligations (MEC) (MidAmerican Energy Company [Member])

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

MidAmerican Energy Company [Member]

Asset Retirement Obligations Disclosure [Line Items]

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Text Block]


(12)	Asset Retirement Obligations

MidAmerican Energy estimates its ARO liabilities based upon detailed engineering calculations of the amount and timing of the future cash spending for a third party to perform the required work. Spending estimates are escalated for inflation and then discounted at a credit-adjusted, risk-free rate. Changes in estimates could occur for a number of reasons, including plan revisions, inflation and changes in the amount and timing of the expected work.

MidAmerican Energy does not recognize liabilities for AROs for which the fair value cannot be reasonably estimated. Due to the indeterminate removal date, the fair value of the associated liabilities on certain transmission, distribution and other assets cannot currently be estimated, and no amounts are recognized on the Financial Statements other than those included in the cost of removal regulatory liability established via approved depreciation rates in accordance with accepted regulatory practices. These accruals totaled $649 million and $629 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The following table presents MidAmerican Energy's ARO liabilities by asset type as of December 31, (in millions):



	2013		2012

Quad Cities Station	$	254	$	243
Fossil-fueled generating facilities	127		24
Wind-powered generating facilities	45		48
Other	4		3
Total asset retirement obligations	$	430	$	318

Quad Cities Station nuclear decommissioning trust funds⁽¹⁾	$	394	$	337


(1)	Refer to Note 5 for a discussion of the Quad Cities Station nuclear decommissioning trust funds.

The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of MidAmerican Energy's ARO liabilities for the years ended December 31, (in millions):



	2013		2012

Beginning balance	$	318	$	293
Change in estimated costs	88		—
Additions	5		10
Retirements	—		(1		)
Accretion	19		16
Ending balance	$	430	$	318

The 2013 change in estimated costs is primarily due to an increase of $98 million in ARO liabilities as a result of changes in the amount and timing of cash flows for ash pond closures at certain MidAmerican Energy fossil-fueled generating facilities.