2.2.0.7 false Asset Retirement Obligations 0207 - Disclosure - Asset Retirement Obligations true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Asset Retirement Obligations [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 3 Asset Retirement Obligations 1 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>7.</b>            <b>Asset Retirement Obligations</b> </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">Certain costs of removal that have been, and continue to be, included in depreciation rates and collected in the service rates of the rate-regulated subsidiaries are classified as regulatory liabilities and other removal costs on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited). </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">Changes in NiSource’s liability for asset retirement obligations for the first six months of 2010 and 2009 are presented in the table below: </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom" style="font-size: 12pt"> <td width="78%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="6%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="6%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><i>(in millions)</i></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>2010</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3">2009</td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="9" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Balance as of January 1, </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"><b>$</b></td> <td align="right" valign="top"><b>138.2</b></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top">$</td> <td align="right" valign="top">126.0</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Accretion expense </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top"><b>0.4</b></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top">0.3</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Accretion recorded as a regulatory asset </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top"><b>3.7</b></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top">3.6</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Settlements </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top"><b>(5.5</b></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"><b>)</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top">(2.4</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">)</td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="9" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Balance as of June 30, </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"><b>$</b></td> <td align="right" valign="top"><b>136.8</b></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top">$</td> <td align="right" valign="top">127.5</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="9" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Description of the asset retirement obligation and the associated long-lived asset. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement from service of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. This element may be used for all the disclosures related to asset retirement obligations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 143 -Paragraph 22 false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true