ASSET RETIREMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL RECLAMATION OBLIGATIONS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Asset Retirement Obligation And Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

ASSET RETIREMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL RECLAMATION OBLIGATIONS

We account for current obligations associated with the future retirement of tangible long-lived assets and environmental reclamation in accordance with the accounting guidance relating to asset retirement and environmental obligations. This guidance requires that legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets be recognized at fair value at the time the liability is incurred and capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is adjusted to its present value by recognizing accretion expense and the capitalized cost of the long-lived asset is depreciated in a manner consistent with the depreciation of the underlying physical asset. In the absence of quoted market prices, we determine

fair value by using present value techniques in which estimates of future cash flows associated with retirement activities are discounted using a credit adjusted risk-free rate and market risk premium. Upon settlement of an asset retirement obligation, we will apply payment against the estimated liability and incur a gain or loss if the actual retirement costs differ from the estimated recorded liability.

Environmental reclamation costs are accrued based on management’s best estimate at the end of each period of the costs expected to be incurred. Such cost estimates may include ongoing care, maintenance and monitoring costs. Changes in reclamation estimates are reflected in earnings in the period an estimate is revised.

Coal mines: We have asset retirement obligations for the final reclamation costs and environmental obligations for post-reclamation monitoring related to the Colowyo Mine and the New Horizon Mine. The New Horizon Mine is currently in post-reclamation monitoring. Two pits at the Colowyo Mine are in final reclamation with the other pit still being actively mined.

Generation: We have asset retirement obligations related to equipment, dams, ponds, wells and underground storage tanks at the generating stations.

Aggregate carrying amounts of asset retirement obligations and environmental reclamation obligations are as follows (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
Obligations at beginning of period	$	217,201
Liabilities incurred	3,456
Liabilities settled	(752)
Accretion expense	1,790

Total obligations at end of period	$	221,695
Less current obligations at end of period	(19,783)
Long-term obligations at end of period	$	201,912

The New Horizon Mine environmental remediation liability is $67.3 million as of March 31, 2024. Of this amount, $36.8 million is recorded on a discounted basis, using a discount rate of 3.25 percent, with total estimated undiscounted future cash outflows of $57.9 million. Environmental obligation expense is included in other operating expenses on our consolidated statements of operations. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we reversed the $44.9 million of environmental obligation expense that was recorded in 2022 as a regulatory item to be amortized to expense over 25 years and recovered from our Utility Members through rates. We continue to evaluate the New Horizon Mine and Colowyo Mine post reclamation obligations and will make adjustments to these obligations as needed.

We also have asset retirement obligations with indeterminate settlement dates. These are made up primarily of obligations attached to transmission and other easements that are considered by us to be operated in perpetuity and therefore the measurement of the obligation is not possible. A liability will be recognized in the period in which sufficient information exists to estimate a range of potential settlement dates as is needed to employ a present value technique to estimate fair value.