XML 27 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.2
BANKRUPTCY FILING
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Reorganizations [Abstract]  
BANKRUPTCY FILING BANKRUPTCY FILING

Chapter 11 Proceedings

On January 29, 2019, PG&E Corporation and the Utility filed the Chapter 11 Cases with the Bankruptcy Court. PG&E Corporation and the Utility continue to operate their business as debtors-in-possession under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court.

Under the Bankruptcy Code, third-party actions to collect pre-petition indebtedness owed by PG&E Corporation or the Utility, as well as most litigation pending against PG&E Corporation and the Utility (including the third-party matters described in Note 10 below) as of the Petition Date, are subject to an automatic stay. Absent an order of the Bankruptcy Court providing otherwise, substantially all pre-petition liabilities will be administered under a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization to be voted upon by creditors and other stakeholders, and approved by the Bankruptcy Court. However, under the Bankruptcy Code, regulatory or criminal proceedings are generally not subject to an automatic stay, and PG&E Corporation and the Utility expect these proceedings to continue during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases.

Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, certain post-petition and secured or “priority” pre-petition liabilities need to be satisfied before general unsecured creditors and holders of PG&E Corporation's and the Utility’s equity are entitled to receive any distribution. No assurance can be given as to what values, if any, will be ascribed in the Chapter 11 Cases to the claims and interests of each of these constituencies. Additionally, no assurance can be given as to whether, when or in what form unsecured creditors and holders of PG&E Corporation’s or the Utility’s equity may receive a distribution on such claims or interests.

Under the Bankruptcy Code, PG&E Corporation and the Utility may assume, assume and assign, or reject certain executory contracts and unexpired leases, including, without limitation, leases of real property and equipment, subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court and to certain other conditions. Any description of an executory contract or unexpired lease in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or in the 2018 Form 10-K, including, where applicable, the express termination rights thereunder or a quantification of their obligations, must be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by, any overriding rejection rights PG&E Corporation and the Utility have under the Bankruptcy Code.

Significant Bankruptcy Court Actions

On January 31, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court approved, on an interim basis, certain motions (the “First Day Motions”) authorizing, but not directing, PG&E Corporation and the Utility to, among other things, (a) secure $5.5 billion of debtor-in-possession financing; (b) continue to use PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s cash management system; and (c) pay certain pre-petition claims relating to (i) certain safety, reliability, outage, and nuclear facility suppliers; (ii) shippers, warehousemen, and other lien claimants; (iii) taxes; (iv) employee wages, salaries, and other compensation and benefits; and (v) customer programs, including public purpose programs. The First Day Motions were subsequently approved by the Bankruptcy Court on a final basis at hearings on February 27, 2019, March 12, 2019, March 13, 2019, and March 27, 2019.

On May 23, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “Exclusivity Order”) pursuant to section 1121(d) of the Bankruptcy Code, extending PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s exclusive periods in which to file a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Exclusive Filing Period”) and solicit acceptances thereof (the “Exclusive Solicitation Period”). Pursuant to the Exclusivity Order, PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Exclusive Filing Period is extended to, and including, September 26, 2019, and PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Exclusive Solicitation Period is extended to, and including, November 26, 2019.

On June 25, 2019, the Ad Hoc Committee of Senior Unsecured Noteholders of the Utility (the “Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee”) submitted a motion, pursuant to section 1121(d)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, for the entry of an order terminating the Exclusive Filing Period and the Exclusive Solicitation Period.  The Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee annexed to its motion a “Term Sheet for Plan of Reorganization.”  On July 17, 2019, the Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee filed with the Bankruptcy Court an amended version of the term sheet, along with a commitment letter with respect to certain financings described therein.  Certain third parties have filed joinders and statements in support with the Bankruptcy Court with respect to the Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee’s motion, but such parties have not taken any position on the plan construct described by the term sheet.  These third parties include TURN, two collective bargaining units representing the Utility’s employees, and the UCC. On July 18, 2019, PG&E Corporation and the Utility filed an objection to the Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee’s motion with the Bankruptcy Court, requesting that the motion be denied.  Also on July 18, 2019, the Ad Hoc Group of Subrogation Claim Holders (the “Ad Hoc Subrogation Group”), the TCC, and certain owners of common stock of PG&E Corporation (the “Shareholder Group”) filed objections to the Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee’s motion with the Bankruptcy Court. At a hearing on July 24, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court granted an oral motion of the CPUC and the Governor’s office to adjourn the hearing on the Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee’s motion from July 24, 2019 to August 13, 2019, to allow PG&E Corporation and the Utility, the CPUC, the Governor’s office, and other parties in interest time to engage in discussions regarding the formulation of a potential protocol for the efficient submission and consideration of Chapter 11 plan proposals. The parties are due to provide a status update on these discussions to the Bankruptcy Court on August 9, 2019. On August 7, 2019, the Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee submitted a statement with the Bankruptcy Court, criticizing the protocol proposed by the CPUC and including as an exhibit its own proposed “Alternative Protocol” to govern a competitive plan process. In addition, the Ad Hoc Noteholder Committee annexed to its statement a second amended version of the term sheet and a revised version of the commitment letter.

On July 23, 2019, the Ad Hoc Subrogation Group submitted its own motion, pursuant to section 1121(d)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, to terminate the Exclusive Filing Period and the Exclusive Solicitation Period, which included as an exhibit a “Restructuring Term Sheet.” The hearing before the Bankruptcy Court on the Ad Hoc Subrogation Group’s motion is scheduled for August 13, 2019. On August 6, 2019, PG&E Corporation and the Utility filed an objection to the Ad Hoc Subrogation Group’s motion with the Bankruptcy Court, requesting that the motion be denied. Also on August 6, 2019, the UCC filed a statement in opposition with respect to the Ad Hoc Subrogation Group’s motion, and the Shareholder Group filed an objection to the Ad Hoc Subrogation Group’s motion, both requesting that the motion be denied.

On July 1, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving a deadline of October 21, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) (the “Bar Date”) for filing claims against PG&E Corporation and the Utility relating to the period prior to the Petition Date. The Bar Date is subject to certain exceptions, including for claims arising under section 503(b)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code, the bar date for which occurred on April 22, 2019. The Bankruptcy Court also approved PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s plan to provide notice of the Bar Date to parties-in-interest, including potential wildfire-related claimants and other potential creditors.

Debtor-In-Possession Financing

See Note 5 for further discussion of the DIP Facilities, which provide up to $5.5 billion in financing.

Financial Reporting in Reorganization

Effective on the Petition Date, PG&E Corporation and the Utility began to apply accounting standards applicable to reorganizations, which are applicable to companies under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. These accounting standards require the financial statements for periods subsequent to the Petition Date to distinguish transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business. Expenses, realized gains and losses, and provisions for losses that are directly associated with reorganization proceedings must be reported separately as reorganization items, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. In addition, the balance sheet must distinguish pre-petition LSTC of PG&E Corporation and the Utility from pre-petition liabilities that are not subject to compromise, post-petition liabilities, and liabilities of the subsidiaries of PG&E Corporation that are not debtors in the Chapter 11 Cases in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. LSTC are pre-petition obligations that are not fully secured and have at least a possibility of not being repaid at the full claim amount. Where there is uncertainty about whether a secured claim will be paid or impaired pursuant to the Chapter 11 Cases, PG&E Corporation and the Utility have classified the entire amount of the claim as LSTC.

Furthermore, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities are subject to uncertainty. While operating as debtors-in-possession, actions to enforce or otherwise effect the payment of certain claims against PG&E Corporation and the Utility in existence before the Petition Date are stayed while PG&E Corporation and the Utility continue business operations as debtors-in-possession. These claims are reflected as LSTC in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2019. Additional claims (which could be LSTC) may arise after the Petition Date resulting from the rejection of executory contracts, including leases, and from the determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or agreement by parties-in-interest) of allowed claims for contingencies and other disputed amounts.

PG&E Corporation’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented on a consolidated basis and include the accounts of PG&E Corporation and the Utility and other subsidiaries of PG&E Corporation and the Utility that individually and in aggregate are immaterial. Such other subsidiaries did not file for bankruptcy.

The Utility’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented on a consolidated basis and include the accounts of the Utility and other subsidiaries of the Utility that individually and in aggregate are immaterial. Such other subsidiaries did not file for bankruptcy.

Liabilities Subject to Compromise

As a result of the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases, the payment of pre-petition liabilities is subject to compromise or other treatment pursuant to a plan of reorganization. Generally, actions to enforce or otherwise effect payment of pre-petition liabilities are stayed. Although payment of pre-petition claims generally is not permitted, the Bankruptcy Court granted PG&E Corporation and the Utility authority to pay certain pre-petition claims in designated categories and subject to certain terms and conditions. This relief generally was designed to preserve the value of PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s business and assets. As described above, among other things, the Bankruptcy Court authorized, but did not require, PG&E Corporation and the Utility to pay certain pre-petition claims relating to employee wages and benefits, taxes, and certain vendors.

The determination of how liabilities will ultimately be settled or treated cannot be made until the Bankruptcy Court confirms a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and such plan becomes effective. Accordingly, the ultimate amount of such liabilities is not determinable at this time. GAAP requires pre-petition liabilities that are subject to compromise to be reported at the amounts expected to be allowed by the Bankruptcy Court, even if they may be settled for different amounts. The amounts currently classified as LSTC are preliminary and may be subject to future adjustments depending on Bankruptcy Court actions, further developments with respect to disputed claims, determinations of the secured status of certain claims, the values of any collateral securing such claims, rejection of executory contracts, continued reconciliation or other events.

The following table presents LSTC as reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2019:
(in millions)
Utility
 
PG&E Corporation (1)
 
PG&E Corporation Consolidated
Financing debt (2)
$
21,811

 
$
650

 
$
22,461

Wildfire-related claims (3)
18,012

 

 
18,012

Trade creditors
1,325

 
4

 
1,329

Non-qualified benefit plan
18

 
125

 
143

2001 bankruptcy disputed claims
221

 

 
221

Customer deposits & advances
278

 

 
278

Other
164

 
2

 
166

Total Liabilities Subject to Compromise
$
41,829

 
$
781

 
$
42,610

 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) PG&E Corporation amounts reflected under the column “PG&E Corporation” exclude the accounts of the Utility.
(2) At June 30, 2019, PG&E Corporation and the Utility had $650 million and $21,526 million in aggregate principal amount of pre-petition indebtedness, respectively. Utility pre-petition financing debt also includes $285 million of accrued contractual interest to the Petition Date. See Note 5 for details of pre-petition debt reported as LSTC.
(3) See Note 10 for information regarding pre-petition wildfire-related claims reported as LSTC. As described in Note 10 under the heading “Plan Support Agreements with Public Entities,” on June 18, 2019, PG&E Corporation and the Utility entered into agreements with certain local public entities to potentially resolve their wildfire-related claims through the Chapter 11 process.

Potential Claims

PG&E Corporation and the Utility have filed with the Bankruptcy Court schedules and statements of financial affairs setting forth, among other things, the assets and liabilities of PG&E Corporation and the Utility, subject to the assumptions filed in connection therewith. On July 1, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving the Bar Date of October 21, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) for filing claims against PG&E Corporation and the Utility relating to the period prior to the Petition Date. The Bar Date is subject to certain exceptions, including for claims arising under section 503(b)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code, the bar date for which occurred on April 22, 2019.

Numerous claims have been filed with the Bankruptcy Court against PG&E Corporation and the Utility relating to the period prior to the Petition Date and it is expected that new and amended claims will continue to be filed until the Bar Date, including claims amended to assign value to claims originally filed with no designated value. Through the claims resolution process, differences in amounts scheduled by PG&E Corporation and the Utility and claims filed by creditors will be investigated and resolved, including through the filing of objections with the Bankruptcy Court where appropriate. In light of the substantial number and amount of claims filed, the claims resolution process may take considerable time to complete and will likely continue after PG&E Corporation and the Utility emerge from bankruptcy. The ultimate number and amount of allowed claims is not determinable at this time.

Reorganization Items, Net

Reorganization items, net represent amounts incurred after the Petition Date as a direct result of the Chapter 11 Cases and are comprised of professional fees and financing costs, net of interest income. Reorganization items also include adjustments to reflect the carrying value of LSTC at their estimated allowed claim amounts, as such adjustments are approved by the Bankruptcy Court.  Cash paid for reorganization items, net was $15 million and $78 million for PG&E Corporation and the Utility, respectively, during the six months ended June 30, 2019. Reorganization items, net for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and from the Petition Date through June 30, 2019 include the following:
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
(in millions)
Utility
 
PG&E Corporation (1)
 
PG&E Corporation Consolidated
Debtor-in-possession financing costs
$

 
$

 
$

Legal and other
75

 
1

 
76

Interest income
(18
)
 
(3
)
 
(21
)
Adjustments to LSTC

 

 

Trustee fees (2)

 
1

 
1

Total reorganization items, net
$
57

 
$
(1
)
 
$
56

 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) PG&E Corporation amounts reflected under the column “PG&E Corporation” exclude the accounts of the Utility.
(2) PG&E Corporation and the Utility incurred $416,667 and $250,000, respectively, in fees to the U.S. Trustee in the three months ended June 30, 2019.
 
 
Petition Date Through June 30, 2019
(in millions)
Utility
 
PG&E Corporation (1)
 
PG&E Corporation Consolidated
Debtor-in-possession financing costs
$
97

 
$
17

 
$
114

Legal and other
98

 
2

 
100

Interest income
(27
)
 
(5
)
 
(32
)
Adjustments to LSTC

 

 

Trustee fees (2)

 
1

 
1

Total reorganization items, net
$
168

 
$
15

 
$
183

 
 
 
 
 
 

(1) PG&E Corporation amounts reflected under the column “PG&E Corporation” exclude the accounts of the Utility.
(2) PG&E Corporation and the Utility incurred $416,667 and $250,000, respectively, in fees to the U.S. Trustee through June 30, 2019.

Contractual Interest on Debt Subject to Compromise

Effective as of the Petition Date, PG&E Corporation and the Utility ceased recording interest expense on outstanding pre-petition debt. Contractual interest expense represents amounts due under the contractual terms of outstanding pre-petition debt. From the Petition Date through June 30, 2019, contractual interest expense of $405 million related to LSTC has not been recorded in the financial statements. The portion of authorized revenues from the Petition Date through June 30, 2019 related to interest expense on pre-petition debt has been deferred as a non-current regulatory liability.

The Bankruptcy Court’s Decision on its Authority over PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Rejection of Power Purchase Agreements

On June 7, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court granted PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s motion for declaratory judgment in an adversary proceeding entitled Pacific Gas & Electric Company v. FERC.  In its amended declaratory judgment, the Bankruptcy Court found that FERC had no “concurrent jurisdiction, or any jurisdiction, over the determination of whether any rejections of power purchase contracts by either Debtor should be authorized” pursuant to section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code.  The Bankruptcy Court also found that the “Debtors do not need approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject any of their power purchase contracts” and that “[a]ny determinations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission” that were contrary to these findings “are void, of no force and effect and not binding on this court or either Debtor.”  The Bankruptcy Court further stated that such determinations include, but are not limited to, those previously made in certain FERC proceedings initiated before the Chapter 11 Cases were filed in connection with power purchase contracts with the Utility.

On June 12, 2019, the Bankruptcy Court certified its amended declaratory judgment for direct appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  On July 15, 2019, FERC and certain counterparties to the Utility’s power purchase agreements filed requests for the Ninth Circuit to permit such direct appeal. In addition, on June 26, 2019, the Utility filed a petition for review of those earlier FERC orders also in the Ninth Circuit.

Resolution of Remaining 2001 Chapter 11 Disputed Claims

Various electricity suppliers filed claims in the Utility’s 2001 prior proceeding filed under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code seeking payment for energy supplied to the Utility’s customers between May 2000 and June 2001.  While the FERC and judicial proceedings are pending, the Utility pursued settlements with electricity suppliers and entered into a number of settlement agreements with various electricity suppliers to resolve some of these disputed claims and to resolve the Utility’s refund claims against these electricity suppliers. Under these settlement agreements, amounts payable by the parties, in some instances, would be subject to adjustment based on the outcome of the various refund offset and interest issues being considered by the FERC. Generally, any net refunds, claim offsets, or other credits that the Utility receives from electricity suppliers either through settlement or through the conclusion of the various FERC and judicial proceedings are refunded to customers through rates in future periods.

The Utility’s obligations with respect to such claims (all of which arose prior to the initiation of the Utility’s pending Chapter 11 Case on January 29, 2019), including pursuant to any prior settlements relating thereto, are expected to be determined through the proceedings of the Chapter 11 Cases.