XCEL ENERGY INC | 2013 | FY | 3

A reconciliation of Xcel Energy’s AROs is shown in the tables below for the years ended Dec. 31, 2013 and 2012:
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
Beginning
Balance
Jan. 1, 2013
 
Liabilities
Recognized
 
Liabilities
Settled
 
Accretion
 
Revisions
to Prior
Estimates
 
Ending
Balance
Dec. 31, 2013
Electric plant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear production decommissioning
 
$
1,546,358

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
81,940

 
$
—

 
$
1,628,298

Steam and other production ash containment
 
61,735

 
—

 
—

 
2,105

 
15,513

 
79,353

Steam and other production asbestos
 
45,461

 
—

 
(1,059
)
 
2,551

 
3,874

 
50,827

Wind production
 
35,864

 
—

 
—

 
1,600

 
—

 
37,464

Electric distribution
 
24,150

 
—

 
—

 
708

 
(12,672
)
 
12,186

Other
 
3,152

 
—

 
—

 
240

 
159

 
3,551

Natural gas plant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gas transmission and distribution
 
1,258

 
—

 
—

 
81

 
(141
)
 
1,198

Gas gathering
 
—

 
575

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
575

Common and other property
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common general plant asbestos
 
1,197

 
—

 
—

 
66

 
(783
)
 
480

Common miscellaneous
 
621

 
—

 
—

 
59

 
778

 
1,458

Total liability
 
$
1,719,796

 
$
575

 
$
(1,059
)
 
$
89,350

 
$
6,728

 
$
1,815,390


The aggregate fair value of NSP-Minnesota’s legally restricted assets, for purposes of funding future nuclear decommissioning, was $1.6 billion as of Dec. 31, 2013, consisting of external investment funds.

In 2013, Xcel Energy revised asbestos, ash containment facilities, radiation sources, miscellaneous electric production, electric transmission and distribution, natural gas transmission and distribution and general AROs due to revised estimated cash flows. Additionally, in 2013, an ARO was recorded to reflect the expected costs with the retirement of certain gas gathering facilities at PSCo and AROs were settled for the asbestos abatement at the Cameo and Riverview generating facilities at PSCo and SPS, respectively.

(Thousands of Dollars)
 
Beginning
Balance
Jan. 1, 2012
 
Liabilities
Recognized
 
Liabilities
Settled
 
Accretion
 
Revisions
to Prior
Estimates
 
Ending
Balance
Dec. 31, 2012
Electric plant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nuclear production decommissioning
 
$
1,482,741

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
75,301

 
$
(11,684
)
 
$
1,546,358

Steam and other production ash containment
 
41,278

 
—

 
—

 
1,614

 
18,843

 
61,735

Steam and other production asbestos
 
54,342

 
1,962

 
(9,372
)
 
3,417

 
(4,888
)
 
45,461

Wind production
 
40,515

 
2,928

 
—

 
2,068

 
(9,647
)
 
35,864

Electric distribution
 
27,592

 
—

 
—

 
1,000

 
(4,442
)
 
24,150

Other
 
2,390

 
—

 
—

 
92

 
670

 
3,152

Natural gas plant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gas transmission and distribution
 
1,201

 
—

 
—

 
73

 
(16
)
 
1,258

Common and other property
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common general plant asbestos
 
1,135

 
—

 
—

 
62

 
—

 
1,197

Common miscellaneous
 
599

 
—

 
—

 
22

 
—

 
621

Total liability
 
$
1,651,793

 
$
4,890

 
$
(9,372
)
 
$
83,649

 
$
(11,164
)
 
$
1,719,796


The aggregate fair value of NSP-Minnesota’s legally restricted assets, for purposes of funding future nuclear decommissioning, was $1.5 billion as of Dec. 31, 2012, consisting of external investment funds.

In 2012, revisions were made for nuclear decommissioning, asbestos, ash-containment facilities, wind facilities and electric transmission and distribution AROs due to revised estimated cash flows.

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