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Asset Retirement Obligations
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Asset Retirement Obligations [Abstract]  
Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset Retirement Obligations

FPL's AROs relate primarily to the nuclear decommissioning obligations of its nuclear units. FPL's AROs other than nuclear decommissioning obligations are not significant. The accounting provisions result in timing differences in the recognition of legal asset retirement costs for financial reporting purposes and the method the FPSC allows FPL to recover in rates. NEER's AROs relate primarily to the nuclear decommissioning obligations of its nuclear plants and obligations for the dismantlement of certain of its wind and solar facilities. See Note 1 - Decommissioning of Nuclear Plants, Dismantlement of Plants and Other Accrued Asset Removal Costs.

A rollforward of NEE's and FPL's AROs is as follows:
 
FPL
 
NEER
 
NEE
 
 
 
(millions)
 
 
Balances, December 31, 2016
$
1,919

 
$
817

 
$
2,736

Liabilities incurred
17

 
59

 
76

Accretion expense
96

 
52

 
148

Liabilities settled

 
(14
)
(a) 
(14
)
Revision in estimated cash flows - net
15

 
70

(b) 
85

Balances, December 31, 2017
2,047

 
984

 
3,031

Liabilities incurred

 
49

 
49

Accretion expense
101

 
57

 
158

Liabilities settled
(1
)
 
(25
)
(c) 
(26
)
Revision in estimated cash flows - net

 
4


4

Impact of NEP deconsolidation

 
(81
)
(d) 
(81
)
Balances, December 31, 2018
$
2,147

 
$
988

 
$
3,135


______________________
(a)
Includes approximately $13 million reclassified to liabilities associated with assets held for sale included in other current liabilities in NEE's consolidated balance sheets.
(b)
Primarily reflects the effect of the revised cost estimate due to the change in useful life of Duane Arnold. See Note 5 - Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements.
(c)
Primarily reflects sale of ownership interests to a subsidiary of NEP. See Note 1 - Disposal of a Business/Assets.
(d)
See Note 1 - NextEra Energy Partners, LP.

Restricted funds for the payment of future expenditures to decommission NEE's and FPL's nuclear units included in special use funds on NEE's and FPL's consolidated balance sheets are as follows (see Note 5 - Special Use Funds):
 
FPL
 
NEER
 
NEE
 
 
 
(millions)
 
 
Balances, December 31, 2018
$
3,987

 
$
1,831

 
$
5,818

Balances, December 31, 2017
$
4,090

 
$
1,913

 
$
6,003



NEE and FPL have identified but not recognized ARO liabilities related to electric transmission and distribution assets and pipelines resulting from easements over property not owned by NEE or FPL. These easements are generally perpetual and only require retirement action upon abandonment or cessation of use of the property or facility for its specified purpose. The ARO liability is not estimable for such easements as NEE and FPL intend to use these properties indefinitely. In the event NEE and FPL decide to abandon or cease the use of a particular easement, an ARO liability would be recorded at that time.