Nuclear Decommissioning (Exelon and Generation)

Nuclear Decommissioning Asset Retirement Obligations (Exelon and Generation)

Generation has a legal obligation to decommission its nuclear power plants following the expiration of their operating licenses. To estimate its decommissioning obligation related to its nuclear generating stations for financial accounting and reporting purposes, Generation 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 decommissioning cost studies, cost escalation rates, probabilistic cash flow models and discount rates. Generation updates its ARO annually, unless circumstances warrant more frequent updates, based on its review of updated cost studies and its annual evaluation of cost escalation factors and probabilities assigned to various scenarios.

The following table provides a rollforward of the nuclear decommissioning ARO reflected in Exelon’s and Generation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets from December 31, 2018 to March 31, 2019:



Nuclear decommissioning ARO at December 31, 2018 ^(a)(b)	$	10,005
Net increase due to changes in, and timing of, estimated future cash flows	223
Accretion expense	120
Costs incurred related to decommissioning plants	(19		)
Nuclear decommissioning ARO at March 31, 2019 ^(a)(b)	$	10,329

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(a)	Includes $41 million and $22 million as the current portion of the ARO at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which is included in Other current liabilities in Exelon’s and Generation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.


(b)	Includes $760 million and $772 million of ARO related to Oyster Creek which is classified as Liabilities held for sale in Exelon's and Generation's Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. See Note 3 — Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions for additional information.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019, Exelon's and Generation’s total nuclear ARO increased by approximately $324 million, primarily reflecting the impacts of ARO updates completed during first quarter 2019 and the accretion of the ARO liability due to the passage of time. The first quarter 2019 ARO update includes an increase of approximately $330 million for a change in the assumed retirement timing probabilities for certain economically challenged nuclear plants and a $110 million decrease for the impacts of revised decommissioning cost estimates for TMI which incorporate site specific decommissioning planning activities in anticipation of its September 2019 shutdown date. Approximately $85 million of the TMI ARO adjustment resulted in a decrease in Operating and maintenance expense within Exelon’s and Generation’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income. See Note 8 — Early Plant Retirements for additional information.

NDT Funds (Exelon and Generation)

Exelon and Generation had NDT funds totaling $13,345 million and $12,695 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The NDT funds include $881 million and $890 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, related to Oyster Creek NDT funds which are classified as Assets held for sale in Exelon's and Generation's Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 3 — Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions for additional information regarding the announced pending sale of Oyster Creek. The NDT funds also include $163 million and $144 million for the current portion of the NDT funds at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which are included in Other current assets in Exelon's and Generation's Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 17 — Supplemental Financial Information for additional information on activities of the NDT funds.

NRC Minimum Funding Requirements (Exelon and Generation)

NRC regulations require that licensees of nuclear generating facilities demonstrate reasonable assurance that funds will be available in specified minimum amounts to decommission the facility at the end of its life.

Generation filed its biennial decommissioning funding status report with the NRC on April 1, 2019 for all units except for Zion Station which is included in a separate report to the NRC submitted by ZionSolutions, LLC. The status report demonstrated adequate decommissioning funding assurance as of December 31, 2018 for all units except for Clinton and Peach Bottom Unit 1. As of February 28, 2019, Clinton demonstrated adequate minimum funding assurance due to market recovery and no further action is required. This demonstration was also included in the April 1, 2019 submittal. As a former PECO plant, financial assurance for decommissioning Peach Bottom Unit 1 is provided by the NDT fund, collections from PECO ratepayers, and the ability to adjust those collections in accordance with the approved PAPUC tariff. No additional actions are required aside from the PAPUC filing in accordance with the tariff. See Note 15 — Asset Retirement Obligations of the Exelon 2018 Form 10-K for information regarding the amount collected from PECO ratepayers for decommissioning cost.