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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

This is a combined annual report of PG&E Corporation and the Utility. PG&E Corporation’s Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of PG&E Corporation, the Utility, and other wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. The Utility’s Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Utility and its wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements apply to both PG&E Corporation and the Utility. PG&E Corporation and the Utility assess financial performance and allocate resources on a consolidated basis (i.e., the companies operate in one segment).The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP and in accordance with the reporting requirements of Form 10-K.

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions relate to the Utility’s regulatory assets and liabilities, wildfire-related liabilities, legal and regulatory contingencies, the Wildfire Fund, environmental remediation liabilities, AROs, insurance receivables, and pension and other post-retirement benefit plan obligations. Management believes that its estimates and assumptions reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements are appropriate and reasonable. A change in management’s estimates or assumptions could result in an adjustment that would have a material impact on PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows during the period in which such change occurred.

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.

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.

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.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

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

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 Useful	Balance at December 31,
(in millions, except estimated useful lives)	Lives (years)	2020		2019
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
Other		18		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

AFUDCAFUDC 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.

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

Disallowance of Plant CostsPG&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.

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.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

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.

Earnings Per Share

PG&E Corporation’s basic EPS is calculated by dividing the income (loss) available for common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. PG&E Corporation applies the treasury stock method of reflecting the dilutive effect of outstanding share-based compensation in the calculation of diluted EPS.

Fair Value Measurement

PG&E Corporation and the Utility measure their cash equivalents, trust assets and price risk management instruments at fair value. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is established that prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:

•Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

•Level 2 – Other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

•Level 3 – Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activities.

The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.