Asset Retirement Obligations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of changes to asset retirement obligations

The following table shows changes to our AROs during the years ended December 31:

(in millions)	2021			2020			2019
Balance as of January 1	$	513.5		$	483.5		$	461.4
Accretion	21.2			20.7			22.1
Additions and revisions to estimated cash flows	(53.9)		(1)	39.7		(2)	39.1		(3)
Liabilities settled	(18.8)			(30.4)			(39.1)
Balance as of December 31	$	462.0		$	513.5		$	483.5

(1)    AROs decreased $152.0 million in 2021, due to revisions made to estimated cash flows primarily for changes in the cost to retire natural gas distribution pipe at PGL and NSG. Also in 2021, AROs increased $50.7 million due to new natural gas distribution lines being placed into service at PGL and NSG. AROs increased by $26.3 million as a result of AROs being recorded for the legal requirement to dismantle, at retirement, the Badger Hollow I solar generation project and the Tatanka Ridge and Jayhawk non-utility wind generation projects. AROs increased $7.8 million due to revisions made to removal estimates for wind generation projects at WE and WPS. AROs increased $6.8 million due to revisions made to the removal estimates for fly ash landfills and ash ponds at WPS.

(2)    AROs increased $39.3 million in 2020, primarily due to new natural gas distribution lines being placed into service at PGL. Also in 2020, AROs increased by $8.5 million as a result of AROs being recorded for the legal requirement to dismantle, at retirement, the Two Creeks solar generation project. AROs decreased $9.2 million due to revisions made to estimated cash flows for the abatement of asbestos at WE.

(3)    AROs increased $40.1 million in 2019, primarily due to new natural gas distribution lines being placed into service at PGL. Also in 2019, AROs increased $10.7 million as a result of AROs being recorded for the legal requirement to dismantle, at retirement, certain non-utility wind generation projects. AROs decreased $7.3 million due to revisions made to estimated cash flows for the abatement of asbestos at WE.