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Summary of significant accounting policies: Asset retirement obligations (Details) - USD ($)
12 Months Ended
Apr. 17, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Balance at the beginning of the period   $ 432,260,000 $ 408,050,000  
Liabilities settled   (299,000) (406,000)  
Accretion   26,108,000 24,616,000 $ 22,900,000
Change in Cash Flow Estimates $ 49,084,000 144,161,000    
Balance at the end of the period   $ 602,230,000 432,260,000 408,050,000
Assumed escalation rate for labor, material and equipment (as a percent)   2.50%    
Fair value of external trust fund   $ 363,829,000 366,004,000  
Hatch Unit No. 1        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   258,000,000    
Hatch Unit No. 1 | Radiated structures        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   193,000,000    
Hatch Unit No. 1 | Spent fuel management        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   49,000,000    
Hatch Unit No. 1 | Non-radiated structures        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   16,000,000    
Hatch Unit No. 2        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   282,000,000    
Hatch Unit No. 2 | Radiated structures        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   213,000,000    
Hatch Unit No. 2 | Spent fuel management        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   47,000,000    
Hatch Unit No. 2 | Non-radiated structures        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   22,000,000    
Vogtle Unit No. 1        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   253,000,000    
Vogtle Unit No. 1 | Radiated structures        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   178,000,000    
Vogtle Unit No. 1 | Spent fuel management        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   49,000,000    
Vogtle Unit No. 1 | Non-radiated structures        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   26,000,000    
Vogtle Unit No. 2        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   275,000,000    
Vogtle Unit No. 2 | Radiated structures        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   195,000,000    
Vogtle Unit No. 2 | Spent fuel management        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   47,000,000    
Vogtle Unit No. 2 | Non-radiated structures        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Estimated costs based on site study   33,000,000    
Nuclear        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Balance at the beginning of the period   369,046,000 347,201,000  
Accretion   23,231,000 21,845,000  
Change in Cash Flow Estimates   96,181,000    
Balance at the end of the period   488,458,000 369,046,000 347,201,000
Coal Ash Pond        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Balance at the beginning of the period   42,609,000 40,760,000  
Accretion   1,929,000 1,849,000  
Change in Cash Flow Estimates   49,084,000    
Balance at the end of the period   93,622,000 42,609,000 40,760,000
Other        
Asset Retirement Obligations        
Balance at the beginning of the period   20,605,000 20,089,000  
Liabilities settled   (299,000) (406,000)  
Accretion   948,000 922,000  
Change in Cash Flow Estimates   (1,104,000)    
Balance at the end of the period   $ 20,150,000 $ 20,605,000 $ 20,089,000