SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

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 Condensed 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 GRCs, which occur every four years. CPUC and FERC rates decouple authorized revenue from the volume of electricity and natural gas sales, so the Utility receives revenue equal to the amounts authorized by the relevant regulatory agencies. As a result, the volume of electricity and natural gas sold does not have a direct impact on PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial results. 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 Utility also collects additional revenue requirements to recover costs that the CPUC has authorized the Utility 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.

Financial Assets Measured at Amortized Cost – Credit Losses

PG&E Corporation and the Utility use the current expected credit loss model to estimate the expected lifetime credit loss on financial assets measured at amortized cost. PG&E Corporation and the Utility evaluate credit risk in their portfolio of financial assets quarterly. As of March 31, 2024, PG&E Corporation and the Utility identified the following significant categories of financial assets.

Trade Receivables

Trade receivables are represented by customer accounts. PG&E Corporation and the Utility record an allowance for doubtful accounts to recognize an estimate of expected lifetime credit losses. The allowance is determined on a collective basis based on the historical amounts written-off and an assessment of customer collectability. Furthermore, economic conditions are evaluated as part of the estimate of expected lifetime credit losses.

Expected credit losses of $70 million and $139 million were recorded in Operating and maintenance expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for credit losses associated with trade and other receivables during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The portion of expected credit losses that are deemed probable of recovery are deferred to the RUBA, CPPMA, and a FERC regulatory asset. As of March 31, 2024, the RUBA current balancing accounts receivable balance was $55 million, and CPPMA and FERC noncurrent regulatory asset balances were $6 million and $79 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the RUBA current balancing accounts receivable balance was $507 million, and CPPMA and FERC noncurrent regulatory asset balances were $5 million and $78 million, respectively. The RUBA current balancing account balance decreased from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024 primarily due to the annual electric and gas true-up which allows the Utility to recover approximately $500 million in undercollections from residential customers in 2024.

Other Receivables and Available-For-Sale Debt Securities

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. Wildfire Fund receivables are the funds available from the statewide fund established under AB 1054 for payment of eligible claims related to the 2021 Dixie fire that exceed $1.0 billion and available insurance coverage. For more information, see Note 10 below. Wildfire Fund receivables risk is related to the Wildfire Fund’s durability, which is a measurement of its claim-paying capacity. Lastly, PG&E Corporation and the Utility are required to determine if the fair value is below the amortized cost basis for their available-for-sale debt securities (i.e., impairment). If such an impairment exists and does not otherwise result in a write-down, then PG&E Corporation and the Utility must determine whether a portion of the impairment is a result of expected credit loss.

Government Assistance

The Utility participated in various government assistance programs during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. The Utility’s accounting policy is to apply a grant accounting model by analogy to International Accounting Standards 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance.

Assembly Bill 180

On June 30, 2022, AB 180 became law. AB 180 authorized the DWR to use up to $75 million to support contracts with the owners of electric generating facilities pending retirement, such as Diablo Canyon, to fund, reimburse or compensate the owner for any costs, expenses or financial commitments incurred to retain the future availability of such generating facilities pending further legislation. The resulting agreement between DWR and the Utility was effective beginning October 1, 2022, and will continue until full disbursement of funds or termination per the agreement. In the event of a termination, the Utility will take reasonable steps to end activities associated with this agreement and will return to DWR any unused funds. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the amount reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income as a deduction to Cost of electricity for income related to government grants for incurred eligible costs to purchase nuclear fuel was immaterial.

DWR Loan Agreement

On October 18, 2022, the DWR and the Utility executed a $1.4 billion loan agreement to support the extension of Diablo Canyon, up to approximately $1.1 billion of which could be repaid by funds received from the DOE (see “U.S. DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit Program” below). Under the loan agreement, the DWR pays the Utility a monthly performance-based disbursement equal to $7 for each MWh generated by Diablo Canyon, effective September 2, 2022. The Utility may use the proceeds of the performance-based disbursements for any business purpose, except as profits or dividends to shareholders or as otherwise prohibited by SB 846. The Utility began earning performance-based disbursements beginning on September 2, 2022 and is eligible to earn performance-based disbursements until the previously-approved retirement dates for Diablo Canyon Unit 1 and Unit 2 (2024 and 2025, respectively). The performance-based disbursements are contingent upon the Utility’s ongoing efforts to pursue extension of and continued safe and reliable operation of Diablo Canyon. The aggregate amount of performance-based disbursements under this agreement will not exceed $300 million.

The Utility initially accounts for all disbursements from the DWR loan agreement pursuant to ASC 470, Debt. When there is reasonable assurance that the Utility will have loan disbursements forgiven by the DWR, such as when the Utility earns a performance-based disbursement or when funds expected to be received from the DOE are less than incurred eligible costs to support the extension of Diablo Canyon, the Utility will recognize those forgiven loans as income related to government grants. The Utility records the income related to government grants as a deduction to expense in the same period(s) that eligible costs are incurred.

The following table provides a summary of where the DWR loan activity is presented in PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively:

(in millions)	2024		2023
Long-term debt:
DWR Loan Outstanding at January 1	$	98	$	312
Proceeds received	232		—
Operating Expenses:
Operating and maintenance expense - Performance-based disbursements	(22)		(33)
Other current liabilities:
Performance-based disbursements deferred	(12)		—
Long-term debt:
DWR Loan Outstanding at March 31	$	296	$	279

U.S. DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit Program

On January 11, 2024, the Utility and DOE entered into a Credit Award and Payment Agreement for up to $1.1 billion related to Diablo Canyon as part of the DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit Program. The Utility will use these funds to repay its loans outstanding under the DWR Loan Agreement (see “DWR Loan Agreement” above). Final award amounts will be determined following completion of each year of the award period, and amounts awarded over a four-year award period ending in 2026 will be based on a number of factors, including actual costs incurred to extend the Diablo Canyon operations. When there is reasonable assurance that the Utility will receive funding and comply with the conditions of the DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit Program, the Utility will recognize such funding as income and will record a receivable related to government grants. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income reflected $140 million as a deduction to Operating and maintenance expense, for income related to government grants for incurred eligible costs to support the extension of Diablo Canyon.

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 VIEs

Receivables Securitization Program

The SPV was created in connection with the Receivables Securitization Program and 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, 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”). The pledged receivables and the corresponding debt are included in Accounts receivable, Accrued unbilled revenue, and Long-term debt on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The SPV is considered a VIE because its equity capitalization is insufficient to support its activities. 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 three months ended March 31, 2024 or is expected to be provided in the future that was not previously contractually required. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the SPV had net accounts receivable of $3.0 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively, and outstanding borrowings of $1.5 billion under the Receivables Securitization Program. For more information, see Note 4 below.

AB 1054 Securitization

PG&E Recovery Funding LLC 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 financing orders for the first and second AB 1054 securitization transactions, the Utility sold its right to receive revenues from the non-bypassable wildfire hardening fixed recovery charges (“Recovery Property”) to PG&E Recovery Funding LLC, which, in turn, issued two separate series of recovery bonds secured by separate Recovery Property.

PG&E Recovery Funding LLC is considered a VIE because its equity capitalization is insufficient to support its operations. The most significant activities that impact the economic performance of PG&E Recovery Funding LLC are decisions made by the servicer of the Recovery Property. The Utility is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates PG&E Recovery Funding LLC as it acts in this role as servicer. No additional financial support was provided to PG&E Recovery Funding LLC during the three months ended March 31, 2024 or is expected to be provided in the future that was not previously contractually required. On November 12, 2021, PG&E Recovery Funding LLC issued approximately $860 million of Senior Secured Recovery Bonds. On November 30, 2022, PG&E Recovery Funding LLC issued approximately $983 million of Series 2022-A Senior Secured Recovery Bonds. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, PG&E Recovery Funding LLC had outstanding borrowings of $1.8 billion included in Long-term debt and Long-term debt, classified as current on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

SB 901 Securitization

PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC 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 financing order for the first and second SB 901 securitization transactions, the Utility sold its right to receive revenues from the non-bypassable fixed recovery charges (“SB 901 Recovery Property”) to PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC, which, in turn, issued two separate series of recovery bonds secured by separate SB 901 Recovery Property.

PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC is considered a VIE because its equity capitalization is insufficient to support its operations. The most significant activities that impact the economic performance of PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC are decisions made by the servicer of the SB 901 Recovery Property. The Utility is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC as it acts in this role as servicer. No additional financial support was provided to PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC during the three months ended March 31, 2024 or is expected to be provided in the future that was not previously contractually required. On May 10, 2022, PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC issued $3.6 billion aggregate principal amount of senior secured recovery bonds (the “Series 2022-A Recovery Bonds”). On July 20, 2022, PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC issued $3.9 billion aggregate principal amount of senior secured recovery bonds (the “Series 2022-B Recovery Bonds”). As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC had outstanding borrowings of $7.3 billion included in Long-term debt and Long-term debt, classified as current on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For more information, see Note 5 below.

Non-Consolidated VIEs

Power Purchase Agreements

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 as of March 31, 2024, the Utility 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 or 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 as of March 31, 2024, it did not consolidate any of them.

The Lakeside Building

BA2 300 Lakeside LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of TMG Bay Area Investments II, LLC, and the Utility are parties to an office lease agreement for approximately 910,000 rentable square feet of space within the Lakeside Building, which serves as the Utility’s principal administrative headquarters.

BA2 300 Lakeside LLC is considered a VIE because the group that holds the equity investment at risk lacks the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity due to a fixed-price purchase option covering more than 50% of the fair value of the assets held by the entity. The most significant activities that impact the economic performance of BA2 300 Lakeside LLC are decisions related to significant maintenance and remarketing of the property. The Utility is not considered the primary beneficiary and does not consolidate BA2 300 Lakeside LLC as it does not have any decision-making rights associated with these activities. The Utility’s financial obligation is limited to the issued letter of credit as well as the amounts it pays for base rent and certain costs, per the office lease agreement. For more information, see “Oakland Headquarters Lease and Purchase” in Note 11 below.

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits

PG&E Corporation and the Utility sponsor a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan and cash balance plan. Both plans are included in “Pension Benefits” below. Post-retirement medical and life insurance plans are included in “Other Benefits” below.

Non-service costs are reflected in Other income, net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Service costs are reflected in Operating and maintenance on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

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

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

Segment Reporting

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which amends the existing guidance to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. This ASU will become effective for PG&E Corporation and the Utility for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. PG&E Corporation and the Utility are currently evaluating the impact the guidance will have on their Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Income Taxes

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which amends the existing guidance to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The standard requires consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation, and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. This ASU will become effective for PG&E Corporation and the Utility for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. PG&E Corporation and the Utility are currently evaluating the impact the guidance will have on their Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Earnings Per Share

PG&E Corporation’s basic EPS is calculated by dividing the income 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.

Use of Derivative Instruments

The Utility is exposed to commodity price risk as a result of its electricity and natural gas procurement activities. Procurement costs are recovered through rates. The Utility uses both derivative and non-derivative contracts to manage volatility in customer rates due to fluctuating commodity prices. Derivatives include contracts, such as power purchase agreements, forwards, futures, swaps, options, and CRRs that are traded either on an exchange or over-the-counter.

Derivatives are presented in the Utility’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and recorded at fair value and on a net basis in accordance with master netting arrangements for each counterparty. The fair value of derivative instruments is further offset by cash collateral paid or received where the right of offset and the intention to offset exist.

Price risk management activities that meet the definition of derivatives are recorded at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These instruments are not held for speculative purposes and are subject to certain regulatory requirements. The Utility expects to fully recover through rates all costs related to derivatives under the applicable ratemaking mechanism in place as long as the Utility’s price risk management activities are carried out in accordance with CPUC directives. Therefore, all unrealized gains and losses associated with the change in fair value of these derivatives are deferred and recorded within the Utility’s regulatory assets and liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Net realized gains or losses on commodity derivatives are recorded in the cost of electricity or the cost of natural gas with corresponding increases or decreases to regulatory balancing accounts for recovery from or refund to customers.

The Utility elects the normal purchase and sale exception for eligible derivatives. Eligible derivatives are those that require physical delivery in quantities that are expected to be used by the Utility over a reasonable period in the normal course of business and do not contain pricing provisions unrelated to the commodity delivered.  These items are not reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value.