
REGULATORY ASSETS (LIABILITIES)
(Dollars in millions)
	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019

SDG&E:
Fixed-price contracts and other derivatives	$	(21)	$	8
Deferred income taxes refundable in rates	(20)		(108)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan obligations	72		103
Removal obligations	(2,131)		(2,056)
Environmental costs	43		45
Sunrise Powerlink fire mitigation	120		121
Regulatory balancing accounts(1)(2)
Commodity – electric	173		102
Gas transportation	15		22
Safety and reliability	74		77
Public purpose programs	(146)		(124)
2019 GRC retroactive impacts	70		111
Other balancing accounts	284		106
Other regulatory assets (liabilities), net(2)	25		(153)
Total SDG&E	(1,442)		(1,746)
SoCalGas:
Deferred income taxes refundable in rates	(125)		(203)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan obligations	370		400
Employee benefit costs	44		44
Removal obligations	(698)		(728)
Environmental costs	37		40
Regulatory balancing accounts(1)(2)
Commodity – gas, including transportation	(118)		(118)
Safety and reliability	358		295
Public purpose programs	(349)		(273)
2019 GRC retroactive impacts	252		400
Other balancing accounts	(116)		(7)
Other regulatory assets (liabilities), net(2)	46		(101)
Total SoCalGas	(299)		(251)
Sempra Mexico:
Deferred income taxes recoverable in rates	83		83
Other regulatory assets	1		6
Total Sempra Energy Consolidated	$	(1,657)	$	(1,908)

In March 2020, the CPUC required that all energy companies under its jurisdiction, including the California Utilities, take action to implement several emergency customer protection measures to support California customers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The customer protection measures, which are mandatory for all residential and small business customers, are effective from March 2020, will continue for up to one year, and may be extended by the CPUC. In June 2020, the CPUC approved disaster relief plans covering residential and small business customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that were submitted by each of the California Utilities. Each of the California Utilities also was authorized to establish a CPPMA to track and request recovery of incremental costs associated with complying with residential and small business customer protection measures implemented by the CPUC related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including costs associated with suspending service disconnections and uncollectible expenses that arise from these customers’ failure to pay. The California Utilities expect to pursue recovery in rates of the costs recorded to the CPPMA in a future CPUC proceeding, which recovery is not assured.

In June 2020, the CPUC issued a decision to adopt certain customer protections to reduce residential customer disconnections and improve reconnection processes, including, among other things, imposing limitations on service disconnections, elimination of deposit requirements and reconnection fees, establishment of the AMP that provides successfully participating, income-qualified residential customers with relief from outstanding utility bill amounts, and increased outreach and marketing efforts. The decision allows each of the California Utilities to establish a two-way balancing account to record the uncollectible expenses associated with residential customers’ inability to pay their electric or gas bills, including as a result of the relief from outstanding utility bill amounts provided under the AMP. The California Utilities may also request, at a future date, to transfer any such costs from the CPPMA to this new balancing account.

As we discuss in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report, in September 2019, the CPUC issued the 2019 GRC FD, which was effective retroactively to January 1, 2019. In the third quarter of 2019, SDG&E and SoCalGas recorded the retroactive after-tax earnings impact of $36 million and $84 million, respectively, for the first quarter of 2019 and $30 million and $46 million, respectively, for the second quarter of 2019.

The 2019 GRC FD approved SDG&E’s and SoCalGas’ test year revenues for 2019 and attrition year adjustments for 2020 and 2021. In January 2020, the CPUC issued a final decision implementing a four-year GRC cycle for California IOUs. The California Utilities were directed to file a petition for modification to revise their 2019 GRC to add two additional attrition years, resulting in a transitional five-year GRC period (2019-2023). The California Utilities filed the petition in April 2020 and requested authorization of their post-test year ratemaking mechanism for two additional years. We have requested an increase in the revenue requirement for SDG&E and SoCalGas of approximately $95 million and $155 million, respectively, for 2022, and $96 million and $137 million, respectively, for 2023, reflecting certain adjustments. These amounts include revenues for both O&M and capital cost attrition. In June 2020, the CPUC issued a ruling to further clarify the issues for review in the California Utilities’ petition, which are mainly whether the proposed revenue requirements and mechanisms for the two proposed additional attrition years are just and reasonable. In September 2020, the California Utilities filed a status report to summarize positions on how impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic should be incorporated into the proposed attrition rates. The California Utilities proposed to continue with the adopted attrition mechanism using the second quarter 2020 Global Insight utility cost forecast, which incorporates impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Intervenors have proposed other alternatives, including using escalation factors based on the Consumer Price Index. The procedural schedule provides for a proposed decision in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The 2019 GRC FD clarified that differences between incurred and forecasted income tax expense due to forecasting differences are not subject to tracking in the income tax expense memorandum account beginning in 2019. SDG&E and SoCalGas previously recorded regulatory liabilities, inclusive of interest, associated with the 2016 through 2018 tracked forecasting differences of $86 million and $89 million, respectively. In April 2020, the CPUC confirmed treatment of the two-way income tax expense memorandum account for these 2016 through 2018 balances, at which time the California Utilities released these regulatory liability balances to revenues and regulatory interest.

In December 2019, the CPUC approved the cost of capital and rate structures (shown in the table below) for SDG&E and SoCalGas that are effective January 1, 2020 and will remain in effect through December 31, 2022. SDG&E did not propose a 2020 cost of preferred equity in this proceeding. In January 2020, SDG&E filed an advice letter to continue the cost of preferred equity for test year 2020 at 6.22%, which the CPUC approved in March 2020.


CPUC AUTHORIZED COST OF CAPITAL AND RATE STRUCTURE

SDG&E							SoCalGas
Authorized weighting		Return on rate base		Weighted return on rate base			Authorized weighting		Return on rate base		Weighted return on rate base
45.25	%	4.59	%	2.08	%	Long-Term Debt	45.60	%	4.23	%	1.93	%
2.75		6.22		0.17		Preferred Equity	2.40		6.00		0.14
52.00		10.20		5.30		Common Equity	52.00		10.05		5.23
100.00	%			7.55	%		100.00	%			7.30	%

The CCM was reauthorized in the 2020 cost of capital proceeding to continue through 2022. The CCM benchmark rate for the 2020 cost of capital is the average monthly utility bond index, as published by Moody’s, for the 12-month period from October 2018 through September 2019. SDG&E’s CCM benchmark rate is 4.498%, based on Moody’s Baa- utility bond index. SoCalGas’ CCM benchmark rate is 4.029%, based on Moody’s A- utility bond index. The index applicable to each utility is based on such utility’s credit rating.

The CCM benchmark rates for SDG&E and SoCalGas are the basis of comparison to determine if future measurement periods “trigger” the CCM. For the 12 months ended September 2020, the first “CCM Period,” the trigger did not occur for SDG&E or SoCalGas. The trigger occurs if the change in the applicable average Moody’s utility bond index relative to the CCM benchmark is larger than plus or minus 1.000%. Accordingly, if a change of more than plus or minus 1.000% occurs, SDG&E’s, SoCalGas’, or both utilities’ authorized ROE would be adjusted, upward or downward, by one half of the difference between the CCM benchmark and the 12-month average determined during the CCM Period. In addition, the authorized recovery rate for the California Utilities’ cost of debt and preferred equity would be adjusted to their respective actual weighted-average cost, with no change to the authorized capital structure. In the event of a CCM trigger, the CCM benchmark is also re-established. These adjustments would become effective in authorized rates on January 1 of the year following the CCM trigger. The next CCM Period is from October 2020 to September 2021.

In October 2018, SDG&E submitted its TO5 filing to the FERC to establish its transmission revenue requirement, including rate of return, for SDG&E’s FERC-regulated electric transmission operations and assets. In December 2018, the FERC issued its order accepting and suspending SDG&E’s TO5 filing for five months, during which the existing TO4 rates remained in effect, and established hearing and settlement procedures. The suspension period ended on June 1, 2019, when the proposed TO5 rates took effect, subject to refund and the outcome of the rate filing. As a result, the TO4 ROE of 10.05% was the basis of SDG&E’s FERC-related revenue recognition until March 2020, when the FERC approved the settlement terms that SDG&E and all settling parties reached in October 2019.

The settlement agreement provides for a ROE of 10.60%, consisting of a base ROE of 10.10% plus an additional 50 bps for participation in the California ISO. If the FERC issues an order ruling that California IOUs are no longer eligible for the additional California ISO ROE, SDG&E would refund the additional 50 bps of ROE associated with the California ISO as of the refund effective date (June 1, 2019) in this proceeding. The TO5 term is effective June 1, 2019 and shall remain in effect indefinitely, with parties having the annual right to terminate the agreement beginning in 2022.

Pursuant to the CPUC ruling, intervenors representing ratepayers have questioned SDG&E’s management of the program and alleged that certain program expenditures did not benefit the purpose of the program. As a result of the inquiry, SDG&E voluntarily expanded its review to include the program year 2019. Based on this review and discussions with intervenors, SDG&E concluded that some concessions were appropriate, which include refunding certain costs and certain performance-based incentives to customers and incurring a fine. Accordingly, in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020, SDG&E reduced revenues by $36 million and $51 million, respectively, and recorded a fine of $6 million in Other (Expense) Income, Net, on the SDG&E and Sempra Energy Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The after-tax impact for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $29 million and $44 million, respectively. In October 2020, SDG&E executed a settlement agreement with intervenors consistent with these concessions. CPUC approval of the settlement agreement is required.

As a result of Edison’s decision to permanently retire SONGS Units 2 and 3, Edison began the decommissioning phase of the plant. We expect the majority of the decommissioning work to take 10 years after receipt of all the required permits. The coastal development permit, the last permit required to be obtained, was issued in October 2019. The Samuel Lawrence Foundation filed a writ petition under the California Coastal Act in LA Superior Court in December 2019 seeking to invalidate this permit and to obtain injunctive relief to stop decommissioning work. In September 2020, the Samuel Lawrence Foundation filed another writ petition under the California Coastal Act in LA Superior Court seeking to set aside the California Coastal Commission’s July 2020 approval of the inspection and maintenance plan for the SONGS’ canisters and to obtain injunctive relief to stop decommissioning work. Major decommissioning work began in 2020 and has not been interrupted by the writ petitions filed by the Samuel Lawrence Foundation. Decommissioning of Unit 1, removed from service in 1992, is largely complete. The remaining work for Unit 1 will be completed once Units 2 and 3 are dismantled and the spent fuel is removed from the site. The spent fuel is currently being stored on-site, until the DOE identifies a spent fuel storage facility and puts in place a program for the fuel’s disposal, as we discuss below. SDG&E is responsible for approximately 20% of the total contract price.

In accordance with state and federal requirements and regulations, SDG&E has assets held in the NDT to fund its share of decommissioning costs for SONGS Units 1, 2 and 3. The amounts collected in rates for SONGS’ decommissioning are invested in the NDT, which is comprised of externally managed trust funds. Amounts held by the NDT are invested in accordance with CPUC regulations. SDG&E classifies debt and equity securities held in the NDT as available-for-sale. The NDT assets are presented on the Sempra Energy and SDG&E Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value with the offsetting credits recorded in noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities.

In September 2020, the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury published final regulations that clarify the definition of “nuclear decommissioning costs,” which are costs that may be paid for or reimbursed from a qualified trust fund. The final regulations adopted most of the provisions of the proposed regulations issued in December 2016. The final regulations apply to taxable years ending on or after September 4, 2020 and confirm that the definition of “nuclear decommissioning costs” includes amounts related to the storage of spent nuclear fuel at both on-site and off-site ISFSIs.

The final regulations also clarify that costs incurred for ISFSIs that may be or are expected to be reimbursed by the DOE may be paid or reimbursed from a qualified trust fund. Accordingly, the final regulations allow SDG&E the option to access qualified trust funds to recover spent fuel storage costs before Edison reaches final settlement with the DOE regarding the DOE’s reimbursement of these costs. Historically, the DOE’s reimbursements of spent fuel storage costs have not resulted in timely or complete recovery of these costs. We discuss the DOE’s responsibility for spent nuclear fuel below.


NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING TRUSTS
(Dollars in millions)
	Cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses		Estimated fair value
At September 30, 2020:
Debt securities:
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government corporations and agencies(1)	$	48	$	1	$	—	$	49
Municipal bonds(2)	318		18		(1)		335
Other securities(3)	258		14		(1)		271
Total debt securities	624		33		(2)		655
Equity securities	147		254		(12)		389
Cash and cash equivalents	13		—		—		13
Total	$	784	$	287	$	(14)	$	1,057
At December 31, 2019:
Debt securities:
Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	57	$	—	$	—	$	57
Municipal bonds	270		12		—		282
Other securities	218		9		(1)		226
Total debt securities	545		21		(1)		565
Equity securities	176		339		(6)		509
Cash and cash equivalents	8		—		—		8
Total	$	729	$	360	$	(7)	$	1,082

The present value of SDG&E’s ARO related to decommissioning costs for the SONGS units was $593 million at September 30, 2020. That amount includes the cost to decommission Units 2 and 3, and the remaining cost to complete the decommissioning of Unit 1, which is substantially complete. The ARO for all three units is based on a cost study prepared in 2017 that is pending CPUC approval. The ARO for Units 2 and 3 reflects the acceleration of the start of decommissioning of these units as a result of the early closure of the plant. SDG&E’s share of total decommissioning costs in 2020 dollars is approximately $860 million.

Spent nuclear fuel from SONGS is currently stored on-site in an ISFSI licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In October 2015, the California Coastal Commission approved Edison’s application to expand the ISFSI. The ISFSI expansion began construction in 2016 and the transfer of the spent nuclear fuel from Units 2 and 3 to the ISFSI began in 2018 and was completed in August 2020. The ISFSI will operate until 2049, when it is assumed that the DOE will have taken custody of all the SONGS spent fuel. The ISFSI would then be decommissioned, and the site restored to its original environmental state. Until then, SONGS owners are responsible for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel at SONGS.

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 made the DOE responsible for accepting, transporting, and disposing of spent nuclear fuel. However, it is uncertain when the DOE will begin accepting spent nuclear fuel from SONGS. This delay will lead to increased costs for spent fuel storage. In November 2019, Edison filed a claim for spent fuel management costs in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for the time period from January 2017 through July 2018. It is unclear when Edison will pursue litigation claims for spent fuel management costs incurred on or after August 1, 2018. SDG&E will continue to support Edison in its pursuit of claims on behalf of the SONGS co-owners against the DOE for its failure to timely accept the spent nuclear fuel.

SDG&E and the other owners of SONGS have insurance to cover claims from nuclear liability incidents arising at SONGS. Currently, this insurance provides $450 million in coverage limits, the maximum amount available, including coverage for acts of terrorism. In addition, the Price-Anderson Act provides an additional $110 million of coverage. If a nuclear liability loss occurs at SONGS and exceeds the $450 million insurance limit, this additional coverage would be available to provide a total of $560 million in coverage limits per incident.

As a result of updated coverage assessments, the SONGS owners have nuclear property damage insurance of $130 million, which exceeds the minimum federal requirements of $50 million. This insurance coverage is provided through NEIL. The NEIL policies have specific exclusions and limitations that can result in reduced coverage. Insured members as a group are subject to retrospective premium assessments to cover losses sustained by NEIL under all issued policies. SDG&E could be assessed up to $3.5 million of retrospective premiums based on overall member claims.