XML 29 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.2
REGULATORY ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND BALANCING ACCOUNTS
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Regulated Operations [Abstract]  
REGULATORY ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND BALANCING ACCOUNTS REGULATORY ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND BALANCING ACCOUNTS

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

Long-Term Regulatory Assets

Long-term regulatory assets are comprised of the following:
 
Asset Balance at
(in millions)
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Pension benefits (1)
$
1,928

 
$
1,947

Environmental compliance costs
997

 
1,013

Utility retained generation (2)
251

 
274

Price risk management
67

 
90

Unamortized loss, net of gain, on reacquired debt (3)
230

 
76

Catastrophic event memorandum account (4)
918

 
790

Wildfire expense memorandum account (5)
127

 
94

Fire hazard prevention memorandum account (6)
291

 
263

Fire risk mitigation memorandum account (7)
154

 

Other
386

 
417

Total long-term regulatory assets
$
5,349

 
$
4,964

 
 
 
 
(1) Payments into the pension and other benefits plans are based on annual contribution requirements. As these annual requirements continue indefinitely into the future, the Utility expects to continuously recover pension benefits.
(2) In connection with the settlement agreement entered into among PG&E Corporation, the Utility, and the CPUC in 2003 to resolve the Utility’s 2001 proceeding under Chapter 11, the CPUC authorized the Utility to recover $1.2 billion of costs related to the Utility’s retained generation assets.  The individual components of these regulatory assets are being amortized over the respective lives of the underlying generation facilities, consistent with the period over which the related revenues are recognized. 
(3) Includes the accelerated amortization of premiums and debt issuance costs on pre-petition debt.
(4) Includes costs of responding to catastrophic events that have been declared a disaster or state of emergency by competent federal or state authorities. Recovery of CEMA costs are subject to CPUC review and approval.
(5) Includes specific incremental wildfire liability costs the CPUC approved for tracking in June 2018. Recovery of WEMA costs are subject to CPUC review and approval.
(6) Includes costs associated with the implementation of regulations and requirements adopted to protect the public from potential fire hazards associated with overhead power line facilities and nearby aerial communication facilities that have not been previously authorized in another proceeding. Recovery of FHPMA costs are subject to CPUC review and approval.
(7) Includes costs associated with the 2019 Wildfire Safety Plan. Recovery of FHPMA costs are subject to CPUC review and approval.

Current Regulatory Liabilities

Current regulatory liabilities are primarily comprised of the current portion of the tax reform adjustment recorded as a result of the Tax Act.

Long-Term Regulatory Liabilities

Long-term regulatory liabilities are comprised of the following:
 
Liability Balance at
(in millions)
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Cost of removal obligations (1)
$
6,233

 
$
5,981

Deferred income taxes (2)
4

 
283

Recoveries in excess of AROs (3)
472

 
356

Public purpose programs (4)
785

 
674

Employee benefit plans (5)
423

 
421

Other
1,121

 
824

Total long-term regulatory liabilities
$
9,038

 
$
8,539

 
 
 
 

(1) Represents the cumulative differences between the recorded costs to remove assets and amounts collected in rates for expected costs to remove assets.
(2) Represents the net of amounts owed to customers for deferred taxes collected at higher rates before the Tax Act and amounts owed to the Utility for reversal of deferred taxes subject to flow-through treatment.
(3) Represents the cumulative differences between ARO expenses and amounts collected in rates.  Decommissioning costs related to the Utility’s nuclear facilities are recovered through rates and are placed in nuclear decommissioning trusts.  This regulatory liability also represents the deferral of realized and unrealized gains and losses on these nuclear decommissioning trust investments.  (See Note 9 below.)
(4) Represents amounts received from customers designated for public purpose program costs expected to be incurred beyond the next 12 months, primarily related to energy efficiency programs.
(5) Represents cumulative differences between incurred costs and amounts collected in rates for Post-Retirement Medical, Post-Retirement Life and Long Term Disability Plans.

For more information, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the 2018 Form 10-K.

Regulatory Balancing Accounts

Current regulatory balancing accounts receivable and payable are comprised of the following:
 
Receivable Balance at
(in millions)
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Electric distribution
$
465

 
$
160

Electric transmission
91

 
128

Utility generation
92

 
79

Gas distribution and transmission
173

 
462

Energy procurement
654

 
168

Public purpose programs
97

 
111

Other
312

 
327

Total regulatory balancing accounts receivable
$
1,884

 
$
1,435



 
Payable Balance at
(in millions)
June 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Electric transmission
135

 
134

Gas distribution and transmission
6

 
9

Energy procurement
308

 
59

Public purpose programs
610

 
587

Other
311

 
287

Total regulatory balancing accounts payable
$
1,370

 
$
1,076



For more information, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the 2018 Form 10-K.