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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Regulation and Regulated Operations

The Utility follows accounting principles for rate-regulated entities and collects rates from customers to recover “revenue requirements” that have been authorized by the CPUC or the FERC based on the Utility’s cost of providing service.  The Utility’s ability to recover a significant portion of its authorized revenue requirements through rates is generally independent, or “decoupled,” from the volume of the Utility’s electricity and natural gas sales.  The Utility records assets and liabilities that result from the regulated ratemaking process that would not be recorded under GAAP for nonregulated entities.  The Utility capitalizes and records, as regulatory assets, costs that would otherwise be charged to expense if it is probable that the incurred costs will be recovered in future rates.  Regulatory assets are amortized over the future periods in which the costs are recovered.  If costs expected to be incurred in the future are currently being recovered through rates, the Utility records those expected future costs as regulatory liabilities.  Amounts that are probable of being credited or refunded to customers in the future are also recorded as regulatory liabilities.

The Utility also records a regulatory balancing account asset or liability for differences between customer billings and authorized revenue requirements that are probable of recovery or refund.  In addition, the Utility records a regulatory balancing account asset or liability for differences between incurred costs and customer billings or authorized revenue meant to recover those costs, to the extent that these differences are probable of recovery or refund.  These differences have no impact on net income.  See “Revenue Recognition” below.

Management continues to believe the use of regulatory accounting is applicable and that all regulatory assets and liabilities are recoverable or refundable.  To the extent that portions of the Utility’s operations cease to be subject to cost of service rate regulation, or recovery is no longer probable as a result of changes in regulation or other reasons, the related regulatory assets and liabilities are written off.
Loss Contingencies

A provision for a loss contingency is recorded when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can reasonably be estimated. PG&E Corporation and the Utility evaluate which potential liabilities are probable and the related range of reasonably estimated losses and record a charge that reflects their best estimate or the lower end of the range, if there is no better estimate. The assessment of whether a loss is probable or reasonably possible, and whether the loss or a range of losses is estimable, often involves a series of complex judgments about future events. Loss contingencies are reviewed quarterly and estimates are adjusted to reflect the impact of all known information, such as negotiations, discovery, settlements and payments, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s provision for loss and expense excludes anticipated legal costs, which are expensed as incurred.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Utility recognizes revenues when electricity and natural gas services are delivered.  The Utility records unbilled revenues for the estimated amount of energy delivered to customers but not yet billed at the end of the period.  Unbilled revenues are included in accounts receivable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Rates charged to customers are based on CPUC and FERC authorized revenue requirements. Revenues can vary significantly from period to period because of seasonality, weather, and customer usage patterns.

Regulatory Balancing Account Revenue

The CPUC authorizes most of the Utility’s revenues in the Utility’s GRC and GT&S rate cases, which generally occur every three or four years.  The Utility's ability to recover revenue requirements authorized by the CPUC in these rate cases is independent or “decoupled” from the volume of the Utility's sales of electricity and natural gas services. The Utility recognizes revenues that have been authorized for rate recovery, are objectively determinable and probable of recovery, and are expected to be collected within 24 months.  Generally, electric and natural gas operating revenue is recognized ratably over the year. The Utility records a balancing account asset or liability for differences between customer billings and authorized revenue requirements that are probable of recovery or refund.

The CPUC also has authorized the Utility to collect additional revenue requirements to recover costs that the Utility has been authorized to pass on to customers, including costs to purchase electricity and natural gas, and to fund public purpose, demand response, and customer energy efficiency programs.  In general, the revenue recognition criteria for pass-through costs billed to customers are met at the time the costs are incurred. The Utility records a regulatory balancing account asset or liability for differences between incurred costs and customer billings or authorized revenue meant to recover those costs, to the extent that these differences are probable of recovery or refund. As a result, these differences have no impact on net income.
The following table presents the Utility’s revenues disaggregated by type of customer:
Year Ended
(in millions)20202019
Electric
Revenue from contracts with customers
   Residential$5,523 $4,847 
   Commercial4,722 4,756 
   Industrial1,530 1,493 
   Agricultural1,471 1,106 
   Public street and highway lighting69 67 
   Other (1)
(130)168 
      Total revenue from contracts with customers - electric13,185 12,437 
Regulatory balancing accounts (2)
673 303 
Total electric operating revenue$13,858 $12,740 
Natural gas
Revenue from contracts with customers
   Residential$2,517 $2,325 
   Commercial597 605 
   Transportation service only1,211 1,249 
   Other (1)
61 123 
      Total revenue from contracts with customers - gas4,386 4,302 
Regulatory balancing accounts (2)
225 87 
Total natural gas operating revenue4,611 4,389 
Total operating revenues$18,469 $17,129 
(1) This activity is primarily related to the change in unbilled revenue and amounts subject to refund, partially offset by other miscellaneous revenue items.
(2) These amounts represent revenues authorized to be billed or refunded to customers.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.  Cash equivalents are stated at fair value.  As of December 31, 2020, the Utility also holds restricted cash that primarily consists of cash held in escrow to be used to pay bankruptcy related professional fees.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable and Credit Losses

PG&E Corporation and the Utility recognize an allowance for doubtful accounts to record uncollectible customer accounts receivable at estimated net realizable value.  The allowance is determined based upon a variety of factors, including historical write-off experience, aging of receivables, current economic conditions, and assessment of customer collectability.

In addition, upon adopting ASU 2016-13, PG&E Corporation and the Utility use the current expected credit loss model to estimate the expected lifetime credit loss on financial assets, including trade and other receivables, rather than incurred losses over the remaining life of most financial assets measured at amortized cost. The guidance also requires use of an allowance to record estimated credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities. See “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses” below for more information.

Inventories

Inventories are carried at weighted-average cost and include natural gas stored underground as well as materials and supplies.  Natural gas stored underground is recorded to inventory when injected and then expensed as the gas is withdrawn for distribution to customers or to be used as fuel for electric generation.  Materials and supplies are recorded to inventory when purchased and expensed or capitalized to plant, as appropriate, when consumed or installed.
Emission Allowances

The Utility purchases GHG emission allowances to satisfy its compliance obligations.  Associated costs are recorded as inventory and included in current assets – other and other noncurrent assets – other on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Costs are carried at weighted-average and are recoverable through rates.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are reported at the lower of their historical cost less accumulated depreciation or fair value.  Historical costs include labor and materials, construction overhead, and AFUDC.  (See “AFUDC” below.)  The Utility’s total estimated useful lives and balances of its property, plant, and equipment were as follows:
 Estimated UsefulBalance at December 31,
(in millions, except estimated useful lives)Lives (years)20202019
Electricity generating facilities (1)
5 to 75
$13,751 $13,189 
Electricity distribution facilities
10 to 70
37,675 35,237 
Electricity transmission facilities
15 to 75
15,556 14,281 
Natural gas distribution facilities
20 to 60
15,133 14,236 
Natural gas transmission and storage facilities
5 to 66
9,002 8,452 
Construction work in progress 2,757 2,675 
Other18 18 
Total property, plant, and equipment 93,892 88,088 
Accumulated depreciation (27,756)(26,453)
Net property, plant, and equipment
 $66,136 $61,635 
(1) Balance includes nuclear fuel inventories.  Stored nuclear fuel inventory is stated at weighted-average cost.  Nuclear fuel in the reactor is expensed as it is used based on the amount of energy output.  (See Note 15 below.)

The Utility depreciates property, plant, and equipment using the composite, or group, method of depreciation, in which a single depreciation rate is applied to the gross investment balance in a particular class of property.  This method approximates the straight-line method of depreciation over the useful lives of property, plant, and equipment.  The Utility’s composite depreciation rates were 3.76% in 2020, 3.80% in 2019, and 3.82% in 2018.  The useful lives of the Utility’s property, plant, and equipment are authorized by the CPUC and the FERC, and the depreciation expense is recovered through rates charged to customers.  Depreciation expense includes a component for the original cost of assets and a component for estimated cost of future removal, net of any salvage value at retirement.  Upon retirement, the original cost of the retired assets, net of salvage value, is charged against accumulated depreciation.  The cost of repairs and maintenance, including planned major maintenance activities and minor replacements of property, is charged to operating and maintenance expense as incurred.

AFUDC

AFUDC represents the estimated costs of debt (i.e., interest) and equity funds used to finance regulated plant additions before they go into service and is capitalized as part of the cost of construction.  AFUDC is recoverable from customers through rates over the life of the related property once the property is placed in service.  AFUDC related to the cost of debt is recorded as a reduction to interest expense.  AFUDC related to the cost of equity is recorded in other income.  The Utility recorded AFUDC related to debt and equity, respectively, of $35 million and $140 million during 2020, $55 million and $79 million during 2019, and $53 million and $129 million during 2018.
Asset Retirement Obligations

The following table summarizes the changes in ARO liability during 2020 and 2019, including nuclear decommissioning obligations:
(in millions)20202019
ARO liability at beginning of year$5,854 $5,994 
Liabilities incurred in the current period268 — 
Revision in estimated cash flows53 (376)
Accretion265 274 
Liabilities settled(28)(38)
ARO liability at end of year$6,412 $5,854 

The Utility has not recorded a liability related to certain AROs for assets that are expected to operate in perpetuity.  As the Utility cannot estimate a settlement date or range of potential settlement dates for these assets, reasonable estimates of fair value cannot be made.  As such, ARO liabilities are not recorded for retirement activities associated with substations, certain hydroelectric facilities; removal of lead-based paint in some facilities and certain communications equipment from leased property; and restoration of land to the conditions under certain agreements. 

Nuclear Decommissioning Obligation

Detailed studies of the cost to decommission the Utility’s nuclear generation facilities are generally conducted every three years in conjunction with the Nuclear Decommissioning Cost Triennial Proceeding conducted by the CPUC.  The decommissioning cost estimates are based on the plant location and cost characteristics for the Utility's nuclear power plants.  Actual decommissioning costs may vary from these estimates as a result of changes in assumptions such as decommissioning dates; regulatory requirements; technology; and costs of labor, materials, and equipment.  The Utility recovers its revenue requirements for decommissioning costs from customers through a non-bypassable charge that the Utility expects will continue until those costs are fully recovered.

The total nuclear decommissioning obligation accrued was $5.1 billion and $4.9 billion at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  The estimated undiscounted nuclear decommissioning cost for the Utility’s nuclear power plants was $10.6 billion at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Disallowance of Plant Costs

PG&E Corporation and the Utility record a charge when it is both probable that costs incurred or projected to be incurred for recently completed plant will not be recoverable through rates charged to customers and the amount of disallowance can be reasonably estimated.

Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts

The Utility’s nuclear generation facilities consist of two units at Diablo Canyon and one retired facility at Humboldt Bay.  Nuclear decommissioning requires the safe removal of a nuclear generation facility from service and the reduction of residual radioactivity to a level that permits termination of the NRC license and release of the property for unrestricted use.  The Utility's nuclear decommissioning costs are recovered from customers through rates and are held in trusts until authorized for release by the CPUC. 

The Utility classifies its debt investments held in the nuclear decommissioning trusts as available-for-sale. Since the Utility’s nuclear decommissioning trust assets are managed by external investment managers, the Utility does not have the ability to sell its investments at its discretion.  Therefore, all unrealized losses are considered other-than-temporary impairments. Gains or losses on the nuclear decommissioning trust investments are refundable or recoverable, respectively, from customers through rates.  Therefore, trust earnings are deferred and included in the regulatory liability for recoveries in excess of the ARO.  There is no impact on the Utility’s earnings or accumulated other comprehensive income.  The cost of debt and equity securities sold by the trust is determined by specific identification.
Variable Interest Entities

A VIE is an entity that does not have sufficient equity at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or whose equity investors lack any characteristics of a controlling financial interest.  An enterprise that has a controlling financial interest in a VIE is a primary beneficiary and is required to consolidate the VIE.  

Consolidated VIE

The SPV is a bankruptcy remote, limited liability company wholly owned by the Utility, and its assets are not available to creditors of PG&E Corporation or the Utility. Pursuant to the Receivables Securitization Program (as defined in Note 5 below), the Utility sells certain of its receivables and certain related rights to payment and obligations of the Utility with respect to such receivables, and certain other related rights to the SPV, which, in turn, obtains loans secured by the receivables from financial institutions (the “Lenders”). Amounts received from the Lenders, the pledged receivables and the corresponding debt are included in Accounts receivable and Long-term debt, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The aggregate principal amount of the loans made by the Lenders cannot exceed $1.0 billion outstanding at any time. The Receivables Securitization Program is scheduled to terminate on October 5, 2022, unless extended or earlier terminated.

The SPV is considered a VIE because its equity capitalization is insufficient to support its operations. The most significant activities that impact the economic performance of the SPV are decisions made to manage receivables. The Utility is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates the SPV as it makes these decisions. No additional financial support was provided to the SPV during the year ended December 31, 2020 or is expected to be provided in the future that was not previously contractually required. As of December 31, 2020, the SPV has $2.6 billion of net accounts receivable and has outstanding borrowings of $1.0 billion under the Receivables Securitization Program.

Non-Consolidated VIEs

Some of the counterparties to the Utility’s power purchase agreements are considered VIEs.  Each of these VIEs was designed to own a power plant that would generate electricity for sale to the Utility.  To determine whether the Utility was the primary beneficiary of any of these VIEs at December 31, 2020, it assessed whether it absorbs any of the VIE’s expected losses or receives any portion of the VIE’s expected residual returns under the terms of the power purchase agreement, analyzed the variability in the VIE’s gross margin, and considered whether it had any decision-making rights associated with the activities that are most significant to the VIE’s performance, such as dispatch rights and operating and maintenance activities.  The Utility’s financial obligation is limited to the amount the Utility pays for delivered electricity and capacity.  The Utility did not have any decision-making rights associated with any of the activities that are most significant to the economic performance of any of these VIEs.  Since the Utility was not the primary beneficiary of any of these VIEs at December 31, 2020, it did not consolidate any of them.

Contributions to the Wildfire Fund

On the Effective Date, PG&E Corporation and the Utility contributed, in accordance with AB 1054, an initial contribution of approximately $4.8 billion and first annual contribution of approximately $193 million to the Wildfire Fund to secure participation of the Utility therein. On December 30, 2020, the Utility made its second annual contribution of $193 million to the Wildfire Fund. As of December 31, 2020, PG&E Corporation and the Utility have eight remaining annual contributions of $193 million. PG&E Corporation and the Utility account for the contributions to the Wildfire Fund similarly to prepaid insurance with expense being allocated to periods ratably based on an estimated period of coverage. The Wildfire Fund is available to pay for eligible claims arising as of July 12, 2019, the effective date of AB 1054, subject to a limit of 40% of the amount of such claims arising between the effective date of AB 1054 and the Utility’s emergence from Chapter 11. The 40% limit does not apply to eligible claims that arise after the Utility’s emergence from Chapter 11. The Wildfire Fund is additionally limited to the portion of such claims that exceeds the greater of (i) $1.0 billion in the aggregate in any year and (ii) the amount of insurance coverage required to be in place for the electric utility company pursuant to Section 3293 of the Public Utilities Code, added by AB 1054.

As of December 31, 2020, PG&E Corporation and the Utility recorded $193 million in Other current liabilities, $1.3 billion in Other non-current liabilities, $464 million in current assets - Wildfire fund asset, and $5.8 billion in non-current assets - Wildfire fund asset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2020, the Utility recorded amortization and accretion expense of $413 million. The amortization of the asset, accretion of the liability, and if applicable, impairment of the asset is reflected in Wildfire fund expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Expected contributions are discounted to the present value using the 10-year US treasury rate at the date PG&E Corporation and the Utility satisfied all the eligibility requirements to participate in the Wildfire Fund. A useful life of 15 years is being used to amortize the Wildfire Fund asset.
AB 1054 did not specify a period of coverage; therefore, this accounting treatment is subject to significant accounting judgments and estimates. In estimating the period of coverage, PG&E Corporation and the Utility use a Monte Carlo simulation that began with 12 years of historical, publicly available fire-loss data from wildfires caused by electrical equipment, and subsequently plan to add an additional year of data each following year. The period of historic fire-loss data and the effectiveness of mitigation efforts by the California electric utility companies are significant assumptions used to estimate the useful life. These assumptions along with the other assumptions below create a high degree of uncertainty related to the estimated useful life of the Wildfire Fund. The simulation results in the estimated number and severity of catastrophic fires that could occur in California within the participating electric utilities’ service territories during the term of the Wildfire Fund. Starting with a 5-year period of historical data, with average annual statewide claims or settlements of approximately $6.5 billion, compared to approximately $2.9 billion for the 12-year historical data, would have decreased the amortization period to 6 years. Similarly, a 10% change to the assumption around current and future mitigation effort effectiveness would increase the amortization period to 17 years assuming greater effectiveness and would decrease the amortization period to 12 years assuming less effectiveness.

Other assumptions used to estimate the useful life include the estimated cost of wildfires caused by other electric utilities, the amount at which wildfire claims would be settled, the likely adjudication of the CPUC in cases of electric utility-caused wildfires, the impacts of climate change, the level of future insurance coverage held by the electric utilities, the FERC-allocable portion of loss recovery, and the future transmission and distribution equity rate base growth of other electric utilities. Significant changes in any of these estimates could materially impact the amortization period.

PG&E Corporation and the Utility evaluate all assumptions quarterly, or upon claims being made from the Wildfire Fund for catastrophic wildfires, and the expected life of the Wildfire Fund will be adjusted as required. The Wildfire Fund is available to other participating utilities in California and the amount of claims that a participating utility incurs is not limited to their individual contribution amounts. PG&E Corporation and the Utility will assess the Wildfire Fund asset for impairment in the event that a participating utility's electrical equipment is found to be the substantial cause of a catastrophic wildfire. Timing of any such impairment could lag as the emergence of sufficient cause and claims information can take many quarters and could be limited to public disclosure of the participating electric utility, if ignition were to occur outside the Utility’s service territory. There were fires in the Utility’s and other participating utilities’ service territories in 2020 for which the cause is currently unknown and which may in the future be determined to be covered by the Wildfire Fund. At December 31, 2020, there were no such known events requiring a reduction of the Wildfire Fund asset nor have there been any claims or withdrawals by the participating utilities against the Wildfire Fund.

Other Accounting Policies

For other accounting policies impacting PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Consolidated Financial Statements, see “Income Taxes” in Note 9, “Derivatives” in Note 10, “Fair Value Measurements” in Note 11, and “Contingencies and Commitments” in Notes 14 and 15 herein.
Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The changes, net of income tax, in PG&E Corporation’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2020 consisted of the following:
(in millions, net of income tax)Pension
Benefits
Other
Benefits
Total
Beginning balance$(22)$17 $(5)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications:
Unrecognized net actuarial gain (loss) (net of taxes of $162 and $66, respectively)
(417)170 (247)
Regulatory account transfer (net of taxes of $155 and $66, respectively)
400 (170)230 
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income:
Amortization of prior service cost (net of taxes of $2 and $4, respectively) (1)
(4)10 
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss (net of taxes of $1 and $6, respectively) (1)
(15)(13)
Regulatory account transfer (net of taxes of $1 and $2, respectively) (1)
Net current period other comprehensive loss(17) (17)
Ending balance$(39)$17 $(22)
(1) These components are included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs.  (See Note 12 below for additional details.) 

The changes, net of income tax, in PG&E Corporation’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of the following:
(in millions, net of income tax)Pension
Benefits
Other
Benefits
Total
Beginning balance$(21)$17 $(4)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications:
Unrecognized net actuarial loss (net of taxes of $24 and $88, respectively)
61 227 288 
Regulatory account transfer (net of taxes of $24 and $88, respectively)
(62)(227)(289)
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income:
Amortization of prior service cost (net of taxes of $2 and $4, respectively) (1)
(4)10 
Amortization of net actuarial loss (net of taxes of $1 and $1, respectively) (1)
(2)— 
Regulatory account transfer (net of taxes of $1 and $3, respectively) (1)
(8)(6)
Net current period other comprehensive loss(1) (1)
Ending balance$(22)$17 $(5)
(1) These components are included in the computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefit costs.  (See Note 12 below for additional details.)

Recognition of Lease Assets and Liabilities

A lease exists when an arrangement allows the lessee to control the use of an identified asset for a stated period in exchange for payments. This determination is made at inception of the arrangement. All leases must be recognized as a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet of the lessee. The ROU asset reflects the lessee’s right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and the lease liability reflects the obligation to make the lease payments. PG&E Corporation and the Utility have elected not to separate lease and non-lease components.

The Utility estimates the ROU assets and lease liabilities at net present value using its incremental secured borrowing rates, unless the implicit discount rate in the leasing arrangement can be ascertained. The incremental secured borrowing rate is based on observed market data and other information available at the lease commencement date. The ROU assets and lease liabilities only include the fixed lease payments for arrangements with terms greater than 12 months. These amounts are presented within the supplemental disclosures of noncash activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Renewal and termination options only impact the lease term if it is reasonably certain that they will be exercised. PG&E Corporation recognizes lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Utility recognizes lease expense in conformity with ratemaking.
Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets and current and noncurrent operating lease liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Financing leases are included in property, plant, and equipment, other current liabilities, and other noncurrent liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Financing leases were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Utility made total cash payments, including fixed and variable, of $2.5 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively, for operating leases which are presented within operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The fixed cash payments for the principal portion of the financing lease liabilities are immaterial and continue to be included within financing activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Any variable lease payments for financing leases are included in operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

The majority of the Utility’s ROU assets and lease liabilities relate to various power purchase agreements. These power purchase agreements primarily consist of generation plants leased to meet customer demand plus applicable reserve margins. Operating lease variable costs include amounts from renewable energy power purchase agreements where payments are based on certain contingent external factors such as wind, hydro, solar, biogas, and biomass power generation. See “Third-Party Power Purchase Agreements” in Note 15 below. PG&E Corporation and the Utility have also recorded ROU assets and lease liabilities related to property and land arrangements.

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Utility’s operating leases had a weighted average remaining lease term of 5.7 years and 5.9 years and a weighted average discount rate of 6.2% and 6.2%, respectively.

The following table shows the lease expense recognized for the fixed and variable component of the Utility’s lease obligations:
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)20202019
Operating lease fixed cost$679 $686 
Operating lease variable cost1,852 1,778 
Total operating lease costs$2,531 $2,464 

At December 31, 2020, the Utility’s future expected operating lease payments were as follows:
(in millions)December 31, 2020
2021$624 
2022550 
2023257 
202498 
202591 
Thereafter513 
Total lease payments2,133 
Less imputed interest(397)
Total$1,736 

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Intangibles—Goodwill and Other

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal - Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. PG&E Corporation and the Utility adopted the ASU on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
Financial Instruments—Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses On Financial Instruments, which provides a model, known as the current expected credit loss model, to estimate the expected lifetime credit loss on financial assets, including trade and other receivables, rather than incurred losses over the remaining life of most financial assets measured at amortized cost. The guidance also requires use of an allowance to record estimated credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities. PG&E Corporation and the Utility adopted the ASU on January 1, 2020.

PG&E Corporation and the Utility have three categories of financial assets in scope, each with their own associated credit risks. In applying the new guidance, PG&E Corporation and the Utility have incorporated forward-looking data in their estimate of credit loss as follows. Trade receivables are represented by customer accounts receivable and have credit exposure risk related to California unemployment rates. Insurance receivables are related to the liability insurance policies PG&E Corporation and the Utility carry. Insurance receivable risk is related to each insurance carrier’s risk of defaulting on their individual policies. Lastly, available-for-sale debt securities requires each company to determine if a decline in fair value is below amortized costs basis, or, impaired. Furthermore, if an impairment exists on available-for-sale debt securities, PG&E Corporation and the Utility will examine if there is an intent to sell, if it is more likely than not a requirement to sell prior to recovery, and if a portion of the unrealized loss is a result of credit loss. As of December 31, 2020, expected credit losses of $150 million were recorded in Operating and maintenance expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income for credit losses associated with trade and other receivables. Of these amounts recorded at December 31, 2020, $76 million and $10 million were deemed probable of recovery and deferred to the CPPMA and a FERC regulatory asset, respectively.

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. PG&E Corporation and the Utility adopted this ASU on April 1, 2020 and elected the optional amendments for contract modifications prospectively. There was no material impact to PG&E Corporation’s or the Utility’s Consolidated Financial Statements resulting from the adoption of this ASU.

Defined Benefit Plans

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans, which amends the existing guidance relating to the disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans. PG&E Corporation and the Utility adopted the ASU as of December 31, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-14 resulted in elimination of the disclosures of (i) the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year and (ii) the effects of a one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on the (1) aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit costs and (2) benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. Additionally, the adoption of this ASU resulted in new disclosures of (i) the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and (ii) an explanation of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. These amendments have been applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented. See Note 12 below for further discussion of PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s defined benefit pension plans.

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which amends the existing guidance to reduce complexity relating to Income Tax disclosures. This ASU became effective for PG&E Corporation and the Utility on January 1, 2021 and will not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related disclosures.
Debt

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. This ASU will be effective for PG&E Corporation and the Utility on January 1, 2022, with early adoption permitted. PG&E Corporation and the Utility are currently evaluating the impact the guidance will have on their Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.