Pacific Gas & Electric (PCG+A) 10-Q2022 Q3 Quarterly report

This report contains forward-looking statements that are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements reflect management’s judgment and opinions that are based on current estimates, expectations, and projections about future events and assumptions regarding these events and management’s knowledge of facts as of the date of this report. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other matters, estimated losses, including penalties and fines associated with various investigations and proceedings; forecasts of capital expenditures; forecasts of expense reduction; estimates and assumptions used in critical accounting estimates, including those relating to insurance receivables, regulatory assets and liabilities, environmental remediation, litigation, third-party claims, the Wildfire Fund, and other liabilities; and the level of future equity or debt issuances. These statements are also identified by words such as “assume,” “expect,” “intend,” “forecast,” “plan,” “project,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “commit,” “goal,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential” and similar expressions. PG&E Corporation and the Utility are not able to predict all the factors that may affect future results. Some of the factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, or from historical results, include, but are not limited to:

For more information about the significant risks that could affect the outcome of the forward-looking statements and PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s future financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Form 10-Q and the 2021 Form 10-K and a detailed discussion of these matters contained in Item 2. MD&A in the 2021 Form 10-K and this Form 10-Q. PG&E Corporation and the Utility do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events, or otherwise.

PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and proxy statements, are available free of charge on both PG&E Corporation’s website, www.pgecorp.com, and the Utility's website, www.pge.com, as promptly as practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Additionally, PG&E Corporation and the Utility routinely provide links to the Utility’s principal regulatory proceedings before the CPUC and the FERC at http://investor.pgecorp.com, under the “Regulatory Filings” tab, so that such filings are available to investors upon filing with the relevant agency. PG&E Corporation and the Utility also routinely post or provide direct links to presentations, documents, and other information that may be of interest to investors , including regarding dividends, at http://investor.pgecorp.com, under the “Chapter 11,” “Wildfire and Safety Updates,” “News & Events: Events & Presentations,” and “Shareholders: Dividend Information” tabs, respectively, in order to publicly disseminate such information. Specifically, within two hours during business hours or four hours outside of business hours of the determination that an incident is attributable or allegedly attributable to the Utility’s electric facilities and has resulted in property damage estimated to exceed $50,000, a fatality or injury requiring overnight in-patient hospitalization, or significant public or media attention, the Utility is required to submit an electric incident report including information about such incident. The information included in an electric incident report is limited and may not include important information about the facts and circumstances about the incident due to the limited scope of the reporting requirements and timing of the report and is necessarily limited to information to which the Utility has access at the time of the report. Ignitions are also reportable under CPUC Decision 14-02-015 when they involve self-propagating fire of material other than electrical or communication facilities; the fire traveled greater than one linear meter from the ignition point; and the Utility has knowledge that the fire occurred. It is possible that any of these filings or information included therein could be deemed to be material information. The information contained on such website is not part of this or any other report that PG&E Corporation or the Utility files with, or furnishes to, the SEC. PG&E Corporation and the Utility are providing the address to this website solely for the information of investors and do not intend the address to be an active link.

This is a combined quarterly report of PG&E Corporation and the Utility and should be read in conjunction with each company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1. It should also be read in conjunction with the 2021 Form 10-K.

PG&E Corporation and the Utility believe that their financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows may be materially affected by the following factors:

For more information about the risks that could materially affect PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows, or that could cause future results to differ from historical results, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Form 10-Q and the 2021 Form 10-K.  In addition, this quarterly report contains forward-looking statements that are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties.  These statements reflect management’s judgment and opinions that are based on current estimates, expectations, and projections about future events and assumptions regarding these events and management’s knowledge of facts as of the date of this report.  See “Forward-Looking Statements” above for a list of some of the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially.  PG&E Corporation and the Utility are unable to predict all the factors that may affect future results and do not undertake an obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events, or otherwise.

PG&E Corporation had a U.S. federal net operating loss carryforward of approximately $21.1 billion and California net operating loss carryforward of approximately $18.9 billion as of December 31, 2021.

Under Section 382 of the IRC, if a corporation (or a consolidated group) undergoes an “ownership change,” net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes may be subject to certain limitations. In general, an ownership change occurs if the aggregate stock ownership of certain shareholders (generally five percent shareholders, applying certain look-through and aggregation rules) increases by more than 50% over such shareholders’ lowest percentage ownership during the testing period (generally three years). PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Amended Articles limit Transfers (as defined in the Amended Articles) that increase a person’s or entity’s (including certain groups of persons) ownership of PG&E Corporation’s equity securities to 4.75% or more prior to the Restriction Release Date (as defined in the Amended Articles) without approval by the Board of Directors of PG&E Corporation (the “Ownership Restrictions”). As discussed below under “Update on Ownership Restrictions in PG&E Corporation’s Amended Articles,” due to the election to treat the Fire Victim Trust as a grantor trust for income tax purposes, the calculation of Percentage Stock Ownership (as defined in the Amended Articles) will effectively be based on a reduced number of shares outstanding, namely the total number of outstanding equity securities less the number of equity securities held by the Fire Victim Trust, the Utility and ShareCo. As of the date of this report, it is more likely than not that PG&E Corporation has not undergone an ownership change, and consequently, its net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes are not limited by Section 382 of the IRC.

PG&E Corporation’s net loss primarily consists of income taxes, interest expense on long-term debt, and charges related to Wildfire-Related Securities Claims. For more information on Wildfire-Related Securities Claims, see Note 11 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

The table below shows certain items from the Utility’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.  The table separately identifies the revenues and costs that impacted earnings from those that did not impact earnings.  In general, expenses the Utility is authorized to pass through directly to customers (such as costs to purchase electricity and natural gas, as well as costs to fund public purpose programs), and the corresponding amount of revenues collected to recover those pass-through costs, do not impact earnings. 

Revenues that impact earnings are primarily those that have been authorized by the CPUC and the FERC to recover the Utility’s costs to own and operate its assets and to provide the Utility an opportunity to earn its authorized rate of return on rate base.  Expenses that impact earnings are primarily those that the Utility incurs to own and operate its assets.

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 following discussion presents the Utility’s operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, focusing on revenues and expenses that impacted earnings for these periods. 

The Utility’s electric and natural gas operating revenues that impacted earnings increased by $83 million, or 2%, in the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to the recognition of approximately $180 million in revenues related to the final decision approving $356.3 million in revenue requirements for capital expenditures incurred in the period from 2011 through 2014 for its GT&S system (see “2015 Gas Transmission and Storage Rate Case and 2011-2014 Gas Transmission and Storage Capital Expenditures Audit” in Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 below), increased base revenues authorized in the 2020 GRC, and additional revenues as authorized through the FERC formula rate. The increases were partially offset by approximately $80 million of previously deferred revenues recognized in conjunction with interim rate relief associated with the WMCE application (see “2020 WMCE Application” below).

The Utility’s electric and natural gas operating revenues that impacted earnings increased by $520 million, or 5%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, primarily due to the recognition of approximately $310 million in revenues related to the settlement agreement for the 2018 CEMA application (see “2018 CEMA Application” below), the recognition of approximately $180 million in revenues related to the final decision approving $356.3 million in revenue requirements for capital expenditures incurred in the period from 2011 through 2014 for its GT&S system (see “2015 Gas Transmission and Storage Rate Case and 2011-2014 Gas Transmission and Storage Capital Expenditures Audit” in Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 below), increased base revenues authorized in the 2020 GRC, and additional revenues as authorized through the FERC formula rate. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of approximately $80 million of previously deferred revenues recognized in conjunction with interim rate relief associated with the WMCE application (see “2020 WMCE Application” below).

The Utility’s operating and maintenance expenses that impacted earnings decreased by $479 million, or 21%, in the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, as a result of operating cost efficiencies and decreases in the recognition of previously deferred costs including approximately $80 million recognized in conjunction with interim rate relief associated with the WMCE application (see “2020 WMCE Application” below) in the three months ended September 30, 2021 with no comparable charge in the same period in 2022. In addition, in the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Utility recorded a $124 million charge related to the September 21, 2021 joint motion for approval of settlement agreement associated with the 2020 WMCE filing, with no comparable charge in the same period in 2022.

The Utility’s operating and maintenance expenses that impacted earnings decreased by $489 million, or 8%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021, as a result of operating cost efficiencies and decreases in the recognition of previously deferred costs including $90 million related to residential uncollectibles and $105 million recognized in conjunction with interim rate relief associated with the WMCE application (see “2020 WMCE Application” below). In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Utility recorded a $124 million charge related to the September 21, 2021 joint motion for approval of settlement agreement associated with the 2020 WMCE filing, with no comparable charge in the same period in 2022. These decreases were partially offset by the recognition of approximately $310 million of previously deferred expenses which were authorized by the settlement agreement for the 2018 CEMA application (see “2018 CEMA Application” below) in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021.

SB 901 securitization charges, net, that impacted earnings increased by $40 million, or 100%, in the nine months ended September 30, compared to the same period in 2021. In the second quarter of 2022, as a result of the establishment of the SB 901 securitization regulatory asset and liability, the Utility recorded a $40 million charge. For more information, see Note 6 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

Costs related to wildfires that impacted earnings decreased by $85 million, or 90% in the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. The Utility recognized pre-tax charges of $100 million related to the 2022 Mosquito fire in the three months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to pre-tax charges of $1.15 billion related to the 2021 Dixie fire in the three months ended September 30, 2021. The 2022 Mosquito fire charges were partially offset by $90 million of probable recoveries through insurance and the WEMA in the three months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to $1.06 billion of probable recoveries through insurance, the WEMA, and the Wildfire Fund related to the 2021 Dixie fire in the three months ended September 30, 2021. See “Loss Recoveries” in Note 11 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 below.

Costs related to wildfires that impacted earnings decreased by $108 million, or 41%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. The Utility recognized pre-tax charges of $150 million related to the 2019 Kincade fire and $100 million related to the 2022 Mosquito fire in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to pre-tax charges of $1.15 billion related to the 2021 Dixie fire, $175 million related to the 2019 Kincade fire, and $100 million related to the 2020 Zogg fire in the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The 2022 Mosquito fire charges were partially offset by $90 million of probable recoveries through insurance and the WEMA in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to $1.06 billion of probable recoveries through insurance, the WEMA, and the Wildfire Fund related to the 2021 Dixie fire and $108 million of probable insurance recoveries related to the 2020 Zogg fire in the nine months ended September 30, 2021. See “Loss Recoveries” in Note 11 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 below.

The Utility’s Wildfire Fund expense that impacted earnings decreased by $44 million, or 27%, and $46 million, or 12%, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021, primarily due to accelerated amortization of the Wildfire Fund asset recorded in 2021 as a result of the Wildfire Fund receivable accrued in relation to the 2021 Dixie fire, with no comparable amounts recorded in 2022.

The Utility’s depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning expenses that impacted earnings increased by $201 million, or 25%, and $375 million, or 15%, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021, primarily due to capital additions and an increase in decommissioning expense beginning in January 2022 as a result of the final 2018 NDCTP decision.

Interest income that impacted earnings increased by $42 million, or 100%, and increased by $54 million, or 318%, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021, primarily due to higher interest rates earned on regulatory balancing accounts.

Interest expense that impacted earnings increased by $116 million, or 34%, and increased by $143 million, or 14%, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2021, primarily due to the issuance of additional long-term debt and an increase in interest rates on variable-rate debt.

There was no material change to reorganization items, net that impacted earnings for the periods presented.

Fluctuations in revenues that did not impact earnings are primarily driven by procurement costs.  See below for more information.

The Utility’s operating expenses that did not impact earnings include certain costs that the Utility is authorized to recover as incurred. If the Utility were to spend more than authorized amounts, these expenses could have an impact to earnings.

The Utility’s other income, net that did not impact earnings includes pension and other post-retirement benefit costs that fluctuate primarily from market and interest rate changes.

Capacity factors, which are significantly affected by the number and duration of refueling and non-refueling outages, reflect the availability of Diablo Canyon’s generation to the California electricity market. Management analyzes capacity factors by comparing Diablo Canyon’s actual generation to forecasted annual capacity factors, which reflect planned refueling outages, curtailments for condenser cleaning, allowances for minor curtailments resulting from equipment issues, and curtailments for major ocean storms. Capacity factors do not currently impact PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s results of operations, except to the extent requested cost recovery is denied because the costs are found to be imprudently incurred.

Apart from cost-of-service ratemaking and beginning on September 2, 2022, the Utility is entitled to receive a monthly performance-based disbursement. (See “Senate Bill 846” below.)

The Utility manages its scheduled refueling outages with the objective of minimizing their duration and maintaining high nuclear generating capacity factors, resulting in a stable generation base for the Utility’s wholesale and retail power marketing activities. During scheduled refueling outages, the Utility performs maintenance and equipment upgrades in order to minimize the occurrence of unplanned outages and to maintain safe, reliable operations. For the year ended December 31, 2021, and the nine months ended September 30, 2022, Diablo Canyon achieved an average capacity factor of 84% and 94%, respectively. As previously disclosed, Diablo Canyon Unit 2 experienced five outages between July 2020 and April 2021, each due or related to malfunctions within the main generator associated with excessive vibration.

In addition to the maintenance and equipment upgrades performed by the Utility during scheduled refueling outages, the Utility has extensive operating and security procedures in place to ensure the safe operation of Diablo Canyon. The Utility also has extensive safety systems in place designed to protect the plant, personnel, and surrounding area in the unlikely event of an accident or other incident.

The Utility’s ability to fund operations, finance capital expenditures, make scheduled principal and interest payments, and make distributions to PG&E Corporation depends on the levels of its operating cash flows and access to the capital and credit markets. The CPUC authorizes the Utility’s capital structure, the aggregate amount of long-term and short-term debt that the Utility may issue, and the revenue requirements the Utility is able to collect to recover its cost of capital. The Utility generally utilizes retained earnings, equity contributions from PG&E Corporation and long-term debt issuances to maintain its CPUC-authorized long-term capital structure consisting of 52% equity and 48% debt and preferred stock and relies on short-term debt, including its revolving credit facilities, to fund temporary financing needs. On May 28, 2020, the CPUC approved a final decision in the Chapter 11 Proceedings OII, which, among other things, grants the Utility a temporary, five-year waiver from compliance with its authorized capital structure for the financing in place upon the Utility’s emergence from Chapter 11.

PG&E Corporation’s ability to fund operations, make scheduled principal and interest payments, and fund equity contributions to the Utility depends on the level of cash on hand, cash received from the Utility, and PG&E Corporation’s access to the capital and credit markets.

PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s credit ratings may be affected by the ultimate outcome of pending enforcement and litigation matters. Credit rating downgrades may impact the cost and availability of short-term borrowings, including credit facilities, and long-term debt costs. In addition, some of the Utility’s commodity contracts contain collateral posting provisions tied to the Utility’s credit rating from each of the major credit rating agencies. The collateral posting provisions for some of the Utility’s power and natural gas commodity, and transportation and service agreements state that if the Utility’s credit ratings were to fall below investment grade, the Utility would be required to post additional cash immediately to fully collateralize some or all of its net liability positions.

PG&E Corporation and the Utility have various contractual commitments which impact cash requirements. These commitments are discussed in “Purchase Commitments” in Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows have been and could continue to be significantly affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of variant strains of the virus (including Delta and Omicron), and the resulting economic conditions and government orders have had and will continue to have a significant adverse impact on the Utility’s customers and, as a result, these circumstances have impacted and will continue to impact the Utility for an indeterminate period of time. In particular, the Utility continues to experience increased arrearages. The principal areas of near-term impact include liquidity, financial results and business operations, stemming primarily from the ongoing economic hardship of the Utility’s customers, the cap on the number of service disconnections for residential customers, and the CPUC’s “Emergency Authorization and Order Directing Utilities to Implement Emergency Customer COVID-19 Protections.” The Utility has resumed non-residential service and residential service disconnections as of October 13, 2022. The CPUC has set an annual cap on the number of residential disconnections. The Utility’s accounts receivable balances over 30 days outstanding as of September 30, 2022, were approximately $1.1 billion, or $869 million higher as compared to the balance as of December 31, 2019. The Utility is unable to estimate the portion of the increase directly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of September 30, 2022, PG&E Corporation and the Utility had access to approximately $2.6 billion of total liquidity comprised of approximately $107 million of Utility cash, $155 million of PG&E Corporation cash and $2.3 billion of availability under PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s revolving credit facilities. The 2022 cost of capital application was filed off-cycle based on the extraordinary event of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government response. See “Cost of Capital Proceedings” below for more information.

The Utility established the CPPMA memorandum accounts for tracking costs related to the CPUC’s emergency authorization and order for the period the CPPMA was in effect. As of September 30, 2022, the CPPMA totaled $32 million and is reflected in Long-term regulatory assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition to the $32 million recorded to the CPPMA, the Utility recorded approximately $109 million of undercollections from residential customers from March 4, 2020 to September 30, 2022 to the RUBA, which has been approved by the CPUC and is reflected in Regulatory balancing accounts receivable on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On June 30, 2022, the Governor of California signed AB 205, which included authorization for additional incremental CAPP funding of $958 million for California IOUs to be determined by the California Department of Community Services and Development. The Utility and the community choice aggregators in its territory expect to receive $219 million to reduce the amounts owed by customer accounts in arrears.

The COVID-19 pandemic may continue to impact PG&E Corporation and the Utility financially, and PG&E Corporation and the Utility will continue to monitor the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.  PG&E Corporation and the Utility maintain separate bank accounts and primarily invest their cash in money market funds. 

PG&E Corporation plans to meet its capital requirements for 2022 and 2023 through internally-generated funds and the issuance of long-term debt, short-term debt, and the potential sale of a minority interest in Pacific Generation. (See “Application with Pacific Generation LLC for Approval to Transfer Non-Nuclear Generation Assets.”) PG&E Corporation does not plan to issue any equity securities in 2022, 2023, or 2024. Factors that could affect PG&E Corporation’s planned equity issuances include liquidity and cash flow needs, capital expenditures, interest rates, the timing and outcome of ratemaking proceedings, and the timing and terms of other financings, including the potential sale of a minority interest in Pacific Generation.

On February 18, 2022, the Utility completed the sale of (i) $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.25% First Mortgage Bonds due 2024, (ii) $400 million aggregate principal amount of 4.20% First Mortgage Bonds due 2029, (iii) $450 million aggregate principal amount of 4.40% First Mortgage Bonds due 2032 and (iv) $550 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% First Mortgage Bonds due 2052. The proceeds were used for the prepayment of a portion of the 18-month tranche loans pursuant to an existing term loan credit agreement (the “2020 Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement”), in an amount equal to $1.0 billion, and for general corporate purposes.

On June 8, 2022, the Utility issued $450 million aggregate principal amount of 4.950% First Mortgage Bonds due June 8, 2025, $450 million aggregate principal amount of 5.450% First Mortgage Bonds due June 15, 2027, and $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.90% First Mortgage Bonds due June 15, 2032. The proceeds were used for the repayment of all of the borrowings outstanding under the Utility’s revolving credit facility pursuant to the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement.

As previously disclosed, on August 11, 2021, PG&E Corporation borrowed $145 million from the Utility under an interest bearing 364-day intercompany note due August 10, 2022. On June 17, 2022, this loan was repaid in full.

On May 10, 2022, PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC, a bankruptcy remote, limited liability company wholly owned by the Utility, issued $3.6 billion aggregate principal amount of senior secured recovery bonds (the “Series 2022-A Recovery Bonds”). The Series 2022-A Recovery Bonds were issued in five tranches:

The net proceeds were used to fund the redemption of all $500 million aggregate principal amount of the Utility’s Floating Rate First Mortgage Bonds due June 16, 2022 on May 16, 2022 and the redemption of all $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of the Utility’s 1.75% First Mortgage Bonds due June 16, 2022 on May 16, 2022. The Utility used the remaining proceeds from the issuance of the Series 2022-A Recovery Bonds for the repayment of a portion of loans outstanding under the Utility’s revolving credit facility pursuant to the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement.

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”). The Series 2022-B Recovery Bonds were issued in five tranches:

The net proceeds were used to fund (1) the redemption of all $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of the Utility’s 1.367% First Mortgage Bonds due March 10, 2023 on July 25, 2022, (2) the prepayment of all $500 million of loans outstanding under the 2022A Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement as defined below, and (3) the repayment of a portion of loans outstanding under the Utility’s revolving credit facility pursuant to the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement. The Utility also intends to use a portion of the remaining proceeds to fund the redemption of all $1 billion aggregate principal amount of the Utility’s 3.25% First Mortgage Bonds due 2024.

As of September 30, 2022, PG&E Corporation and the Utility had $500 million and $1.8 billion available under their respective $500 million and $4.0 billion revolving credit facilities. The Utility also has access to the Receivables Securitization Program, under which the Utility may borrow the lesser of the facility limit and the facility availability. The facility limit fluctuates between $1.0 billion and $1.5 billion depending on the periods set forth in the amendment. Further, the facility availability may vary based on the amount of accounts receivable that the Utility owns that are eligible for sale to the SPV and the portion of those accounts receivable that are sold to the SPV that are eligible for advances by the lenders under the Receivables Securitization Program from time to time.

As previously disclosed, on July 1, 2020, PG&E Corporation entered into the Corporation Revolving Credit Agreement, which it subsequently amended.

On October 4, 2022, PG&E Corporation further amended the Corporation Revolving Credit Agreement to, among other things, extend the maturity date of such agreement to June 22, 2025 (subject to a one-year extension at the option of PG&E Corporation).

On March 31, 2022, the Utility prepaid in full the remaining portion of the 18-month tranche loans pursuant to the 2020 Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement, in a principal amount equal to $298 million. As a result of such prepayment, the 2020 Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement was terminated and is no longer outstanding.

On April 4, 2022, the Utility entered into a term loan credit agreement (the “2022A Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement”), comprised of 364-day tranche loans in the aggregate principal amount of $500 million (the “364-Day 2022A Tranche Loans”). The 364-Day 2022A Tranche Loans have a maturity date of April 3, 2023 and bear interest based on the Utility’s election of either (1) Term SOFR (plus a 0.10% credit spread adjustment) plus an applicable margin of 1.25%, or (2) the base rate plus an applicable margin of 0.25%. The Utility borrowed the entire amount of the 364-Day 2022A Tranche Loans on April 4, 2022. On July 21, 2022, the 364-Day 2022A Tranche Loans were prepaid in full with a portion of the proceeds from issuance of the Series 2022-B Recovery Bonds. As a result of such prepayment, the 2022A Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement was terminated and is no longer outstanding.

On April 20, 2022, the Utility entered into a term loan credit agreement (the “2022B Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement”), comprised of 364-day tranche loans in the aggregate principal amount of $125 million (the “364-Day 2022B Tranche Loans”) and two-year tranche loans in the aggregate principal amount of $400 million (the “2-Year 2022B Tranche Loans”). The 364-Day 2022B Tranche Loans have a maturity date of April 19, 2023 and the 2-Year 2022B Tranche Loans have a maturity date of April 19, 2024. The 364-Day 2022B Tranche Loans and the 2-Year 2022B Tranche Loans bear interest based on the Utility’s election of either (1) Term SOFR (plus a 0.10% credit spread adjustment) plus an applicable margin of 1.25%, or (2) the base rate plus an applicable margin of 0.25%. The Utility borrowed the entire amount of the 364-Day 2022B Tranche Loans and the 2-Year 2022B Tranche Loans on April 20, 2022.

On April 20, 2022, the Utility entered into an amendment to the Receivables Securitization Program to, among other things, add an uncommitted incremental facility which, subject to certain conditions precedent, allows the SPV to request an increase in the facility limit by an additional $500 million to an aggregate amount of $1.5 billion. On August 12, 2022, the SPV requested such an increase to the facility limit, and the facility limit was subsequently increased to $1.5 billion on August 22, 2022. On September 30, 2022, the Utility entered into an amendment to the Receivables Securitization Program to, among other things, extend the scheduled termination date to September 30, 2024 and implement a seasonal facility limit. After giving effect to the amendment, the facility limit fluctuates between $1.0 billion and $1.5 billion based on the periods set forth in the amendment.

On October 4, 2022, the Utility further amended the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement to, among other things, (i) increase the aggregate commitments provided by the lenders to $4.4 billion and (ii) extend the maturity date of such agreement to June 22, 2027 (subject to a one-year extension at the option of the Utility).

On December 20, 2017, the Boards of Directors of PG&E Corporation and the Utility suspended quarterly cash dividends on both PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s common stock, beginning the fourth quarter of 2017, as well as the Utility’s preferred stock, beginning the three-month period ending January 31, 2018.

On February 8, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Utility authorized the payment of all cumulative and unpaid dividends on the Utility’s preferred stock as of January 31, 2022 totaling $59.1 million, which was paid on May 13, 2022, to holders of record on April 29, 2022 and declared a dividend on the Utility’s preferred stock totaling $3.5 million, which was paid on May 15, 2022, to holders of record on April 29, 2022. On September 15, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Utility declared dividends on its outstanding series of preferred stock, payable on November 15, 2022, to holders of record on October 31, 2022.

On June 15, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Utility also reinstated the dividend on the Utility’s common stock and declared a common stock dividend of $425 million that was paid to PG&E Corporation on June 17, 2022. On September 15, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Utility declared a common stock dividend of $425 million that was paid to PG&E Corporation on September 16, 2022. No dividend is payable until declared by the Board of Directors of the Utility.

Subject to the dividend restrictions as described in Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the 2021 Form 10-K, any decision to declare and pay dividends on PG&E Corporation’s common stock in the future will be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on, among other things, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions, and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant. Pursuant to the Confirmation Order, PG&E Corporation may not pay dividends on shares of its common stock until it recognizes $6.2 billion in Non-GAAP Core Earnings following the Emergence Date. “Non-GAAP Core Earnings” means GAAP earnings adjusted for certain non-core items. PG&E Corporation currently is unable to predict when it will commence the payment of dividends on its common stock.

The Utility’s cash flows from operating activities primarily consist of receipts from customers less payments of operating expenses, other than expenses such as depreciation that do not require the use of cash.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash provided by operating activities increased by $720 million compared to the same period in 2021.  This increase was primarily due to a reduction in accounts receivable in 2022 resulting from the CAPP relief payment of approximately $300 million received in January 2022 to reduce the amounts owed by customer accounts in arrears. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Utility made a payment to the Fire Victim Trust of $592 million as compared to a payment of $758 million in the same period in 2021.

Future cash flow from operating activities will be affected by various factors, including:

PG&E Corporation and the Utility do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have had, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on their financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources, other than those discussed under “Purchase Commitments” in Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the 2021 Form 10-K.

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $3.4 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to the same period in 2021. This increase was primarily driven by a $1.9 billion increase in capital expenditures, including additional system hardening and emergency response work performed in 2022. Additionally, the Utility purchased $1.0 billion of investments as part of the creation of the customer credit trust, with no similar purchases in 2021.

The Utility’s investing activities primarily consist of the construction of new and replacement facilities necessary to provide safe and reliable electricity and natural gas services to its customers. Cash used in investing activities also includes the proceeds from sales of nuclear decommissioning trust investments which are largely offset by the amount of cash used to purchase new nuclear decommissioning trust investments.  The funds in the decommissioning trusts, along with accumulated earnings, are used exclusively for decommissioning and dismantling the Utility’s nuclear generation facilities.

Future cash flows used in investing activities are largely dependent on the timing and amount of capital expenditures.  The Utility estimates that it will incur between $7.8 billion and $9.4 billion of capital expenditures in 2022 and between $7.9 billion and $11.2 billion in 2023. Cash provided by or used in investing activities is also driven by proceeds and purchases of customer credit trust investments. Additionally, future cash flows used in investing activities will be impacted by the timing and amount related to the intended purchase of the Lakeside Building.

Net cash provided by financing activities increased by $2.8 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to the same period in 2021. The increase was due to the issuance of $7.5 billion in SB 901 recovery bonds and a $1.0 billion increase in net borrowings under credit facilities, partially offset by a $4.9 billion decrease in proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of repayments, during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. Additionally, the Utility received equity contributions from PG&E Corporation of $427 million, which were offset by common stock dividend payments of $850 million. The net increase was also offset by $370 million of proceeds received in 2021 from the sale of future revenue from transmission tower license sales, with no similar receipts in 2022.

Cash provided by or used in financing activities is driven by the Utility’s financing needs, which depend on the level of cash provided by or used in operating activities, the level of cash provided by or used in investing activities, the conditions in the capital markets, and the maturity date or prepayment date of existing debt instruments.  Additionally, future cash flows from financing activities will be affected by the timing and outcome of the Utility’s second AB 1054 securitization transaction, dividend payments, and equity contributions from PG&E Corporation.

PG&E Corporation and the Utility have significant contingencies arising from their operations, including contingencies related to the enforcement and litigation matters described in Note 2, Note 11, and 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1. that are incorporated by reference herein. The outcome of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material effect on PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows.

In the OII to Consider PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Plan of Reorganization final decision, the CPUC adopted an EOEP designed to provide a roadmap for how the CPUC will monitor the Utility’s operational performance on an ongoing basis. The EOEP contains six steps that are triggered by specific events and includes enhanced reporting requirements and additional monitoring and oversight. These trigger events include failure to obtain an approved WMP, failure to comply with regulatory reporting requirements in the WMP, insufficient progress toward approved safety or risk-driven investments and failure to comply with or demonstrate sufficient progress toward certain metrics. The EOEP also contains provisions for the Utility to cure and permanently exit the EOEP if it can satisfy specific criteria. If the Utility is placed into the EOEP, actions taken would occur in coordination with the CPUC’s existing formal and informal reporting requirements and procedures. The EOEP does not replace or limit the CPUC’s regulatory authority, including the authority to issue Orders to Show Cause and OIIs and to impose fines and penalties. The EOEP requires the Utility to report the occurrence of a triggering event to the CPUC’s executive director no later than five business days after the date on which any member of senior management of the Utility becomes aware of the occurrence of a triggering event.

On August 18, 2021, the then-president of the CPUC informed the Utility that the CPUC staff intends to conduct a fact-finding review regarding a pattern of self-reported missed inspections and other self-reported safety incidents to determine whether a recommendation to advance the Utility further within the EOEP is warranted.

The Utility is unable to predict whether additional fines or penalties may be imposed, or other regulatory actions may be taken.

The CPUC placed the Utility into step 1 of the EOEP on April 15, 2021 and imposed additional reporting requirements on the Utility. The CPUC’s resolution states that a step 1 triggering event had occurred because the Utility had “made insufficient progress toward approved safety or risk-driven investments related to its electric business.” The resolution found that, based on the CPUC’s evaluation of the Utility’s EVM work in 2020, the Utility was “not sufficiently prioritizing its Enhanced Vegetation Management (“EVM”) based on risk” and was “not making risk-driven investments.” The resolution also found that “less than five percent of the EVM work” the Utility completed in 2020 “was on the 20 highest risk power lines according to its own risk rankings.”

As required by the CPUC’s resolution, the Utility submitted a corrective action plan to the CPUC’s Executive Director on May 6, 2021, which is designed to correct or prevent recurrence of the step 1 triggering event, or otherwise mitigate any ongoing safety risk or impact, as soon as practicable, among other things. The corrective action plan addressed the EVM situation that occurred in 2020 and provided a risk-informed EVM work plan for 2021. The Utility is required to update the information contained in the corrective action plan every 90 days, which it has done. The Utility will remain in step 1 of the EOEP until the CPUC determines that the Utility has met the conditions of the corrective action plan. If the Utility does not adequately meet such conditions within the timeframe approved by the CPUC, the CPUC may place the Utility into a higher step of the EOEP, or the Utility may remain in step 1 of the EOEP if it demonstrates sufficient progress towards meeting such conditions.

On October 14, 2022, the CPUC issued a draft resolution authorizing the Utility to exit the EOEP. The CPUC is scheduled to vote on the draft resolution on November 17, 2022.

The Utility is subject to substantial regulation by the CPUC, the FERC, the NRC, and other federal and state regulatory agencies. The resolutions of the proceedings described below and other proceedings may materially affect PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows.

Periodically, costs arise that could not have been anticipated by the Utility during CPUC GRC rate requests or that have been deliberately excluded from such requests. These costs may result from catastrophic events, changes in regulation, or extraordinary changes in operating practices. The Utility may seek authority to track incremental costs in a memorandum account and the CPUC may authorize recovery of costs tracked in memorandum accounts if the costs are deemed incremental and prudently incurred. The CPUC may also authorize balancing accounts with limitations or caps to cost recovery. These various accounts, which include the CEMA, WEMA, FHPMA, FRMMA, WMPMA, VMBA, WMBA, and RTBA among others, allow the Utility to track the costs associated with work related to disaster and wildfire response, other wildfire prevention-related costs, certain third-party wildfire claims, and insurance costs. While the Utility generally expects such costs to be recoverable, there can be no assurance that the CPUC will authorize the Utility to recover the full amount of its costs.

In recent years, the amount of the costs recorded in these accounts has increased. Because rate recovery may require CPUC authorization for these accounts, there can be a delay between when the Utility incurs costs and when it may recover those costs. As of September 30, 2022, the Utility had recorded an aggregate amount of approximately $5.7 billion in costs for the CEMA, WEMA, FHPMA, FRMMA, WMPMA, VMBA, WMBA, MGMA, and RTBA. Of these costs, approximately $800 million was authorized for recovery and accounted for as current, and $4.9 billion was accounted for as long term as of September 30, 2022. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

If the amount of the costs recorded in these accounts continues to increase or the delay between incurring and recovering costs lengthens, PG&E Corporation and the Utility may incur additional financing costs. If the Utility does not recover the full amount of its recorded costs, the difference between the recorded and recovered amounts would be written off as a non-cash disallowance. Such disallowances could materially affect PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows.

Except as otherwise noted, the Utility is unable to predict the timing and outcome of the following applications. PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows could be materially affected if the Utility is unable to timely recover costs included in these applications.

For more information, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1., “Wildfire Mitigation and Catastrophic Events Cost Recovery Applications,” and “Catastrophic Event Memorandum Account Application” below.

The Utility’s cost recovery proceedings for the costs described above that are pending, have pending appeals, or were completed during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 are summarized in the following table:

On September 30, 2020, the Utility filed an application with the CPUC requesting cost recovery of recorded expenditures related to wildfire mitigation and certain catastrophic events (the “2020 WMCE application”). The recorded expenditures, which exclude amounts disallowed as a result of the CPUC’s decision in the OII into the multiple wildfires that began on October 8, 2017 and spread through Northern California, including Napa, Sonoma, Butte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Nevada and Yuba Counties, as well as in the area surrounding Yuba City (the “2017 Northern California wildfires”) and the 2018 Camp fire, consist of $1.18 billion in expense and $801 million in capital expenditures, resulting in a proposed revenue requirement of approximately $1.28 billion.

On September 21, 2021, the Utility and certain parties filed a motion with the CPUC seeking approval of a settlement agreement that would resolve all of the issues raised by the settling parties in the 2020 WMCE application. The settlement agreement proposes that the Utility recover a revenue requirement of $1.04 billion. The settlement agreement authorizes the Utility to recover a revenue requirement of $591 million over a 24-month amortization period, which is in addition to the interim rate relief of $447 million that was approved by an earlier CPUC decision. On October 11, 2022, the assigned ALJ issued a PD, and the assigned Commissioner issued an APD. The PD would reject the settlement agreement and result in recovery of a revenue requirement of approximately $748 million. The APD would approve the settlement and authorize recovery of a revenue requirement of $1.04 billion, but would modify the settlement agreement to make permanent a 19% reduction in capital expenditures for future cost-recovery periods through the full service life of the subject assets; the settlement agreement had limited this period to three years. The Utility intends to seek further review of both proposed decisions.

For more information regarding this proceeding, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

On September 16, 2021, the Utility filed an application with the CPUC requesting cost recovery of approximately $1.6 billion of recorded expenditures, resulting in a proposed revenue requirement of approximately $1.47 billion (the “2021 WMCE application”). The costs addressed in this application reflect costs related to wildfire mitigation and certain catastrophic events, as well as implementation of various customer-focused initiatives. These costs were incurred primarily in 2020.

The recorded expenditures consist of $1.4 billion in expenses and $197 million in capital expenditures. The costs addressed in the 2021 WMCE application are incremental to those previously authorized in the Utility’s 2017 GRC, 2020 GRC, and other proceedings. The majority of the Utility’s proposed revenue requirement would be collected over a two-year period beginning in January 2023.

The Utility’s requested revenue requirement includes amounts recorded to the VMBA of $592 million, the CEMA of $535 million, the WMBA of $149 million, and other memorandum accounts. On November 18, 2021, the Utility filed updates to the application, increasing total costs by $19.4 million. On December 30, 2021, the Utility filed supplemental testimony reducing the cost recovery request of the COVID-19 CEMA costs by $12.2 million. The $12.2 million reduction was a result of costs, such as employee business travel expenses and in-person training costs, that the Utility was able to avoid due to the pandemic.

The CPUC’s schedule indicates a PD will be issued in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The CPUC allows utilities to recover the reasonable, incremental costs of responding to catastrophic events that have been declared a disaster or state of emergency by competent federal or state authorities. The Utility has historically sought such costs through standalone CEMA applications. More recently, the Utility has sought to recover CEMA-eligible costs through its WMCE applications.

In addition to the Utility’s responsibilities in responding to catastrophic events, in 2014, the CPUC directed the Utility to perform additional fire prevention and vegetation management work in response to the severe drought in California. Through 2019, the costs associated with this work were tracked in the CEMA. In the 2020 GRC decision, the CPUC required the Utility to track these costs in the VMBA for the period beginning January 1, 2020.

On March 30, 2018, the Utility submitted to the CPUC its 2018 CEMA application requesting cost recovery of $183 million in connection with seven catastrophic events that included fire and storm declared emergencies from mid-2016 through early 2017, as well as $405 million related to work performed in 2016 and 2017 to cut back or remove dead or dying trees that were exposed to years of drought conditions and bark beetle infestation. The Utility filed three revisions to this application, resulting in a total cost recovery request of $763 million.

On April 25, 2019, the CPUC approved the Utility’s request for interim rate relief, allowing for recovery of $373 million of costs as requested by the Utility at that time. The interim rate relief was implemented, commencing on October 1, 2019.

On March 17, 2022, the CPUC approved a settlement agreement authorizing the Utility to collect a total of $683 million plus interest for the 2018 CEMA application. As noted above, $373 million of the total amount had already been collected in interim rates. The interim rates became final and are no longer subject to refund. The remainder of the authorized revenue requirement will be amortized over a 12-month period, which began on June 1, 2022.

The Utility routinely participates in forward-looking rate case applications before the CPUC and the FERC. Those applications include GRCs, where the revenue required for general operations (“base revenue”) of the Utility is assessed and reset. In addition, the Utility is periodically involved in proceedings to adjust its regulated return on rate base.

Decisions in GRC proceedings have historically been expected prior to the commencement of the period to which the rates would apply. In recent years, decisions in GRC proceedings have been delayed. Delayed decisions may cause the Utility to develop its budgets based on approved revenue requirements and possible outcomes, rather than authorized amounts. When decisions are delayed, the CPUC typically provides rate relief to the Utility effective as of the commencement of the rate case period (not effective as of the date of the delayed decision). Nonetheless, the Utility’s spending during the period of the delay may exceed the authorized amount, without an ability for the Utility to seek cost recovery of such excess. If the Utility’s spending during the period of the delay is less than the authorized amount, the Utility could be exposed to operational and financial risk associated with the lower level of work achieved compared to that funded by the CPUC.

Except as otherwise noted, the Utility is unable to predict the timing and outcome of the following applications. PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows could be materially affected depending on the outcomes of these applications.

The Utility’s forward-looking rate cases that are pending, have pending appeals, or were completed during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 are summarized in the following table:

On June 30, 2021, the Utility filed its 2023 GRC application with the CPUC (“the Original Application”). The 2023 GRC combined what had historically been separated into the GRC and GT&S rate cases. In a GRC, the CPUC approves annual revenue requirements for the first year (a “test year”) of the GRC period and typically authorizes the Utility to receive annual increases in revenue requirements for the subsequent years of the GRC period (known as “attrition years”). In the 2023 GRC, the CPUC will determine the annual amount of base revenues that the Utility will be authorized to collect from customers from 2023 through 2026 to recover its anticipated costs for gas distribution, gas transmission and storage, electric distribution, and electric generation and to provide the Utility an opportunity to earn its authorized rate of return. The Utility’s revenue requirements for other portions of its operations, such as electric transmission, and electricity, natural gas and power purchases, are authorized in other regulatory proceedings overseen by the CPUC or the FERC. In the Original Application, the Utility proposed a series of safety, resiliency, and clean energy investments to further reduce wildfire risk and deliver safe, reliable, and clean energy service.

Between August 2021 and January 2022, the Utility served various updates to its 2023 GRC testimony. On February 25, 2022 and February 28, 2022, the Utility served supplemental testimony for its 2023 GRC to reflect the Utility’s integrated wildfire mitigation strategy, including the Utility’s proposals for the initial phase of undergrounding 10,000 miles of electric distribution powerlines in high fire risk areas throughout the Utility’s service area, the EPSS program, and its EVM program. On March 10, 2022, the Utility filed an amended application that revised and superseded the revenue requirement request in the Original Application. On September 6, 2022, the Utility submitted testimony updating the revenue requirement request in its 2023 GRC proceeding. The testimony reflected updates for escalation rates and federal tax law and guidance since the filing of the Original Application.

As amended and updated, the Utility’s application requests revenue requirements of $16.18 billion and a weighted-average GRC rate base of $50.88 billion for its 2023 test year. The tables below compare the requested revenue requirements and rate base for the GRC period from 2023 through 2026 to those adopted for 2022 in the 2020 GRC and 2019 GT&S proceedings:

Over the GRC period of 2023 through 2026, the Utility plans to make average annual capital investments of approximately $10.95 billion in gas distribution, transmission and storage, electric distribution, and electric generation infrastructure, and to improve safety, reliability, and customer service.

On July 22, 2022, the Utility submitted a request for the second track of this proceeding, requesting cost recovery of recorded expenditures related primarily to the safety and reliability of the Utility’s gas transmission and storage system. The recorded expenditures consist of $206 million in expenses and $129 million in capital expenditures, resulting in a proposed revenue requirement of approximately $241 million, most of which is proposed to be collected over a two-year period beginning August 1, 2023.

The Utility does not seek recovery of compensation of PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s officers within the scope of 17 Code of Federal Regulations 240.3b-7.

The CPUC’s schedule indicated a decision on both tracks of this proceeding would be issued in the third quarter of 2023.

On December 19, 2019, the CPUC approved a final decision in the 2020 cost of capital application (the “2020 cost of capital application”), maintaining the Utility’s return on common equity at the 2019 level of 10.25% for the three-year period beginning January 1, 2020. The decision maintained the common equity component of the Utility’s capital structure (i.e., the relative weightings of common equity, preferred equity, and debt for ratemaking) at 52% and reduced its preferred stock component from 1% to 0.5%. The decision also approved the cost of debt requested by the Utility.

On August 23, 2021, the Utility filed an off-cycle 2022 cost of capital application with the CPUC. The Utility also concurrently filed a motion requesting that the revenue requirement for the 2022 cost of capital be recorded in memorandum accounts to be trued-up following a final decision in this proceeding. On October 28, 2021, the CPUC ruled that the Utility was required to comply with the cost of capital mechanism for 2022; if the CPUC determines that there are not extraordinary circumstances that warrant a departure from the cost of capital mechanism for 2022, the cost of capital adjustment mechanism would operate, and the return on common equity would be 9.67% and the cost of long-term debt would be 4.15%.

On September 30, 2022, the assigned ALJs issued a PD, and the assigned Commissioner issued an APD. Both the PD and the APD found that an extraordinary event occurred, and that the cost of capital adjustment mechanism should not be implemented for 2022. If adopted, the PD would open a second phase of this proceeding to determine the 2022 cost of capital, while the APD would retain the cost of capital previously authorized in the 2020 cost of capital proceeding and close this proceeding. Comments on the PD and APD were filed October 20, 2022, and reply comments were filed October 25, 2022.

For more information regarding this proceeding, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

On April 20, 2022, the Utility filed an application with the CPUC requesting that the CPUC authorize the Utility's cost of capital for its electric generation, electric distribution, natural gas distribution, and natural gas transmission and storage rate base beginning on January 1, 2023 (the “2023 cost of capital application”).

In its 2023 cost of capital application, the Utility requested that the CPUC approve the Utility’s proposed ratemaking capital structure (i.e., the relative weightings of common equity, preferred equity, and debt for ratemaking), ROE, cost of preferred stock, and cost of debt. The Utility proposed to adopt a rate of ROE of 11% for test year 2023 and to retain the existing capital structure, which would result in a $231 million total increase above currently adopted electric generation, electric distribution, natural gas distribution, and natural gas transmission and storage revenue requirements. The estimated revenue increase is based on the 2022 adopted electric generation, electric distribution, natural gas distribution, and natural gas transmission and storage rate base and does not reflect projected infrastructure investments beyond 2022.

The following table compares the currently authorized capital structure and rates of return with those requested in the Utility’s application for 2023, as modified by a correction to the requested level of long-term debt that the Utility identified on June 27, 2022, and an update to the long-term cost of debt submitted on September 14, 2022. The Utility’s authorized rates of return for 2022 are currently subject to a separate cost of capital proceeding as described above.

For 2023, the Utility expects that the proposed cost of capital, if adopted, would result in revenue requirement increases of approximately $141 million for electric generation and distribution and $54 million for gas distribution operations, assuming 2022 authorized rate base amounts from the 2020 GRC decision. The revenues for the gas transmission and storage operations would increase by approximately $36 million, assuming 2022 authorized rate base amounts from the 2019 GT&S decision. However, if the CPUC subsequently approves different electric and gas rate base amounts for the Utility in its 2023 GRC, which is currently pending before the CPUC, the revenue requirement changes resulting from the Utility’s requested ROE may differ from the amounts reflected in the 2023 cost of capital application for the period beyond 2022.

The Utility also requested that the CPUC approve an upward adjustment above the three-month commercial paper rate for interest on the Utility’s balancing and memorandum accounts to reflect the Utility’s actual cost of short-term debt. The Utility requested that the adjustment be set on an annual basis effective January 1 of each year based on the average difference between the three-month commercial paper rate and the Utility’s actual cost of short-term debt over the preceding twelve-month period from November through October. The Utility included an illustrative calculation using the period March 2021 to February 2022 with an adjustment to increase the rate by 153 basis points, which would result in an estimated $69.3 million increase in recovery of short-term financing costs associated with its recent balancing and memorandum account balances. The actual revenue requirement impact of the short-term debt proposal would differ depending on the final adjustment set each year and the recorded balances in the balancing and memorandum accounts.

The cost of capital that is approved in this proceeding is expected to be effective until December 31, 2025, unless the cost of capital adjustment mechanism is triggered. (For more information on the cost of capital adjustment mechanism, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.)

On July 12, 2022, the CPUC issued a scoping memo which indicates a PD in November 2022.

On June 23, 2016, the CPUC approved a final phase one decision in the Utility’s 2015 GT&S rate case. The phase one decision excluded from rate base $696 million of 2011 to 2014 capital spending in excess of the amount adopted in the prior GT&S rate case. The decision permanently disallowed $120 million of that amount and ordered that the remaining $576 million be subject to an audit overseen by the CPUC staff, with the possibility that the Utility may seek recovery in a future proceeding. On July 14, 2022, the CPUC approved a final decision approving a settlement agreement among the Utility and the active parties in the proceeding, which authorizes a $356.3 million revenue requirement for the period of 2015 through 2022. For more information regarding this proceeding, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

As previously disclosed, on January 8, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion granting an appeal of the FERC’s decisions in the TO16 and TO17 rate cases that had granted the Utility a 50-basis point ROE incentive adder for its continued participation in the CAISO. If the FERC concluded on remand that the Utility should no longer be authorized to receive the 50-basis point ROE incentive adder, the Utility would incur a refund obligation of $1 million and $8.5 million for TO16 and TO17, respectively. Those rate case decisions were remanded to the FERC for further proceedings consistent with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ opinion.

On July 18, 2019, the FERC issued its order on remand reaffirming its prior grant of the Utility’s request for the 50-basis point ROE adder.

On March 17, 2020, the FERC issued its order denying requests for rehearing that were previously filed by several parties. On May 11, 2020, the CPUC and a number of other parties filed a petition for review of the FERC’s orders in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

As previously disclosed, on July 29, 2016, the Utility filed its TO18 rate case with the FERC requesting a 2017 retail electric transmission revenue requirement of $1.72 billion, a $387 million increase over the 2016 revenue requirement of $1.33 billion.  The forecasted network transmission rate base for 2017 was $6.7 billion.  The Utility sought a ROE of 10.9%, which included an incentive component of 50-basis points for the Utility’s continuing participation in the CAISO. 

On October 15, 2020, the FERC issued an order that, among other things, rejected the Utility’s direct assignment of common plant to FERC and required the allocation of all common plant between CPUC and FERC jurisdiction be based on operating and maintenance labor ratios. The order reopened the record for the limited purpose of allowing the participants to the proceeding an opportunity to present written evidence concerning the FERC’s revised ROE methodology adopted in FERC Opinion No. 569-A, issued on May 21, 2020.

On December 17, 2020 and June 17, 2021, the FERC issued orders denying requests for rehearing submitted by the Utility and intervenors. In 2021, the Utility filed four appeals. The appeals related to two issues: (1) impact of the Tax Act on TO18 rates in January and February 2018 and (2) aspects of the rehearing order other than the Tax Act. The appeals have been consolidated and are currently being held in abeyance until the FERC addresses the ROE issue on rehearing.

As a result of an order denying rehearing on the common plant allocation, the Utility increased its regulatory liabilities for amounts previously collected during the TO18, TO19, and TO20 rate case periods from 2017 through the third quarter of 2022 by approximately $384 million. A portion of these common plant costs are expected to be recovered at the CPUC in a separate application and as a result, as of September 30, 2022, the Utility had recorded approximately $240 million to Regulatory assets.

On March 17, 2022, the FERC issued a further order in the TO18 rate case proceeding finding that 9.26% is the just and reasonable base ROE for the Utility. With the incentive component of 50-basis points for the Utility’s continuing participation in the CAISO, the resulting ROE would be 9.76%. As a result, the Utility increased its regulatory liability for the potential refund for TO18 by $30 million in the first quarter of 2022. On April 18, 2022, the Utility sought rehearing of the FERC’s determination of the base ROE finding. On May 16, 2022 and May 31, 2022, the Utility filed a compliance filing and a refund report describing the adjustments made to the transmission revenue requirement, adjusted rates, and the calculation and mechanism of the refunds. On May 19, 2022, the FERC denied all parties’ rehearing requests. The Utility has filed an appeal in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, as have the other parties that sought rehearing. The appeal is being held in abeyance until the FERC issues a substantive order on rehearing on the ROE issue.

Aside from the ultimate outcome of the ROE rehearing request and the common plant allocation, the FERC’s orders in the TO18 proceeding are not expected to result in a material impact on the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows. Some of the issues that will be decided in a final and unappealable TO18 decision, including the common plant allocation, will also be incorporated into the Utility’s TO19 and TO20 rate cases. The ROE rehearing request will not impact the TO20 rate case. See “Transmission Owner Rate Case Revenue Subject to Refund” in Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

As previously disclosed, on July 27, 2017, the Utility filed its TO19 rate case with the FERC. On December 20, 2018, the FERC issued an order approving an all-party settlement filed by the Utility. As part of the settlement, the TO19 revenue requirement will be set at 98.85% of the revenue requirement for TO18 that will be determined upon the issuance of a final, non-appealable TO18 decision. On March 17, 2022, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the FERC’s order granting the Utility the 50-basis point ROE incentive adder for CAISO participation and eliminating the refund obligation, and so the Utility was not obligated to make a refund to customers based on this matter. See “Transmission Owner Rate Cases for 2015 and 2016” above for a discussion of the incentive adder. As a result of the potential reduction to the TO18 revenue requirement, the Utility increased its regulatory liability for the potential refund for TO19 by $32 million in the first quarter of 2022. On April 18, 2022, the Utility sought rehearing of the FERC’s determination of the base ROE finding.

As previously disclosed, on October 1, 2018, the Utility filed its TO20 rate case with the FERC requesting approval of a formula rate for the costs associated with the Utility’s electric transmission facilities. On November 30, 2018, the FERC issued an order accepting the Utility’s October 2018 filing, subject to hearings and refund, and established May 1, 2019 as the effective date for rate changes. The FERC also ordered that the hearings be held in abeyance pending settlement discussions among the parties.

On March 31, 2020, the Utility filed a partial settlement with the FERC, which the FERC approved on August 17, 2020. On October 15, 2020, the Utility filed a settlement with the FERC resolving all of the remaining issues in the formula rate proceedings, including the Utility’s ROE, capital structure, depreciation rates, as well as certain other aspects of the Utility’s formula rate. Specifically, the settlement establishes an all-in ROE of 10.45%; a fixed capital structure of 49.75% common stock, 49.75% debt, and 0.5% preferred stock; and fixed depreciation rates for various categories of transmission facilities (represented by individual FERC accounts). The term of the settlement continues until December 31, 2023 and the Utility will be required to file a replacement rate filing to be effective on January 1, 2024.

On December 30, 2020, the FERC approved the settlement without modification.

Some of the issues that will be decided in a final and unappealable TO18 decision, including the common plant allocation, will also be incorporated into the Utility’s TO20 rate case.

SB 901, signed into law on September 21, 2018, requires the CPUC to establish a CHT, directing the CPUC to limit certain disallowances in the aggregate so that they do not exceed the maximum amount that the Utility can pay without harming customers or materially impacting its ability to provide adequate and safe service. SB 901 also authorizes the CPUC to issue a financing order that permits recovery, through the issuance of recovery bonds (also referred to as “securitization”), of wildfire-related costs found to be just and reasonable by the CPUC and, only for the 2017 Northern California wildfires, any amounts in excess of the CHT.

Pursuant to SB 901 and the CPUC’s methodology adopted in the CHT OIR, on April 30, 2020, the Utility filed an application with the CPUC seeking authorization for a post-emergence transaction to recover $7.5 billion of 2017 wildfire claims costs through securitization that is designed to be rate neutral to customers through the creation of a corresponding customer credit trust, with the proceeds used to pay or reimburse the Utility for the payment of wildfire claims costs associated with the 2017 Northern California wildfires. Among other uses, as a result of the proposed transaction, the Utility would retire $6.0 billion of Utility debt. Specifically, the application requested administration of the stress test methodology approved in the CHT OIR and a determination that $7.5 billion in 2017 catastrophic wildfire costs and expenses are stress test costs and eligible for securitization. In this context, a securitization refers to a financing transaction where a special purpose financing vehicle issues new debt that is secured by the proceeds of a new recovery charge to Utility customers. The application also proposed a customer credit designed to equal the bond charges over the life of the bonds, which would insulate customers from the charge on customer bills associated with the bonds.

In addition, on January 6, 2021, the Utility filed an additional application requesting that the CPUC issue a financing order authorizing the issuance of one or more series of recovery bonds in connection with the post-emergence transaction to finance, using securitization, the $7.5 billion of claims associated with the 2017 Northern California wildfires, which the CPUC subsequently granted on May 11, 2021.

On February 28, 2022, the decision finding $7.5 billion of stress test costs eligible for securitization and the financing order authorizing the issuance of up to $7.5 billion of recovery bonds became final and non-appealable. The financing order authorized the issuance of bonds through the end of 2022. PG&E Wildfire Recovery Funding LLC issued $3.6 billion aggregate principal amount of Series 2022-A Recovery Bonds on May 10, 2022 and $3.9 billion aggregate principal amount of Series 2022-B Recovery Bonds on July 20, 2022. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

AB 1054 provides that the first $5.0 billion expended in the aggregate by California’s three large electric IOUs on fire risk mitigation capital expenditures included in their respective approved WMPs will be excluded from their respective equity rate bases. The $5.0 billion of capital expenditures has been allocated among the large electric IOUs in accordance with their Wildfire Fund allocation metrics. The Utility’s allocation is $3.21 billion. AB 1054 contemplates that such capital expenditures may be financed using a structure that securitizes a dedicated customer charge. Pursuant to an earlier financing order issued by the CPUC authorizing the Utility’s initial application for AB 1054 securitization transaction, on November 12, 2021, PG&E Recovery Funding LLC issued approximately $860 million of senior secured recovery bonds. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

On March 11, 2022, the Utility filed an application with the CPUC seeking authorization for a second transaction to securitize up to $1.7 billion of fire risk mitigation capital expenditure amounts that have been or will be incurred by the Utility from 2019 through 2022. The $1.7 billion reflects $212 million recorded and $1.16 billion forecasted capital expenditure amounts that were approved by the CPUC in the 2020 GRC and up to $350 million capital expenditure amounts pending in the 2020 WMCE proceeding. On May 4, 2022, the $350 million of capital expenditure amounts were removed because the CPUC extended the schedule in the 2020 WMCE proceeding such that a final decision approving such capital expenditure amounts in that proceeding was no longer expected prior to the issuance of a financing order authorizing the second AB 1054 securitization transaction.  The final amount to be securitized will be based on actual recorded capital expenditures incurred by the Utility prior to the securitization transaction.

The application requested that the CPUC issue a financing order authorizing one or more series of recovery bonds, determine that the issuance of the bonds and collection through fixed recovery charges is just and reasonable, consistent with the public interest, would reduce rates on a present-value basis compared to traditional utility financing mechanisms, and authorize the Utility to collect a non-bypassable charge sufficient to pay debt service on the recovery bonds.  The application also requested that the CPUC exclude the securitized debt from the Utility’s ratemaking capital structure and adjust the Utility’s 2020 GRC revenue requirements following the issuance of the recovery bonds. 

On August 5, 2022, the CPUC issued a final decision approving the securitization of up to approximately $1.4 billion of fire risk mitigation capital expenditures, which is the amount requested in the application less the $350 million pending in the 2020 WMCE proceeding. The Utility plans to securitize these expenditures later in 2022 or early 2023.

The Utility’s 2022 WMP was submitted on February 25, 2022. The 2022 WMP addressed the Utility’s wildfire safety programs and initiatives focused on reducing the potential for catastrophic wildfires related to electrical equipment, reducing the potential for fires to spread and reducing the impact of PSPS events. On May 26, 2022, the OEIS issued a revision notice requiring the Utility to address 13 critical issues. The Utility responded to the revision notice on June 27, 2022, July 11, 2022, and July 26, 2022, respectively, as directed by OEIS. On October 6, 2022, OEIS issued a draft decision approving the Utility’s 2022 WMP. Public comments on the draft decision were submitted to OEIS on October 26, 2022, and reply comments are due by November 7, 2022.

On November 13, 2019, the CPUC issued a decision that takes a number of steps to address the potential for system RA shortages beginning in 2021. The decision required incremental procurement of system-level qualifying RA capacity of 3,300 MWs by all load-serving entities (“LSEs”) operating within the CAISO’s balancing area for the period from 2021 to 2023, of which the Utility is responsible for 716.9 MWs for its bundled customer portion. The decision required that at least 50% of LSEs resource responsibilities come online by August 1, 2021, at least 75% by August 1, 2022, and the remaining by August 1, 2023. Additionally, the decision directed the IOUs to act as the backstop procurement agent for community choice aggregators and energy service providers that choose not to voluntarily self-procure or that fail to meet their procurement responsibilities after electing to self-provide their assigned MWs of system RA capacity under the decision.

On June 30, 2021, the CPUC issued a mid-term reliability decision to address incremental electric system reliability needs between 2024 and 2026 due to, in part, the pending retirement of once-through-cooling natural gas plants in Southern California and the possible retirement of Diablo Canyon by requiring at least 11,500 MW of additional net qualifying capacity to be procured by LSEs. See section below entitled “Senate Bill 846” in Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives. The decision set procurement requirements of 2,000 MW by 2023, an additional 6,000 MW by 2024, an additional 1,500 MW by 2025, and an additional 2,000 MW by 2026. The decision set the Utility’s share of the procurement at 2,302 MW of incremental net qualifying capacity.

On April 21, 2022, the CPUC approved a group of nine long-term RA agreements to meet a portion of the Utility’s procurement requirements under the CPUC’s mid-term reliability decision. The agreements are each for a term of 15 years and collectively expected to supply 1,598.7 MW of lithium-ion energy storage capacity with some projects expected to be operational in 2023 and others in 2024.

On August 17, 2020, the CPUC initiated a rulemaking proceeding to develop a successor to the existing NEM tariffs. The successor tariff is being developed pursuant to the requirements of AB 327. Under AB 327, the successor to the existing NEM tariffs should provide customer-generators with credit or compensation for electricity generated by their renewable facilities based on the value of that generation to all customers and allow customer-sited renewable generation to grow sustainably among different types of customers.

On December 13, 2021, the CPUC issued a PD that would reduce the NEM subsidy for new non-California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (“CARE”) NEM customers by about 80 percent for standalone solar and about 60 percent for solar-paired storage. Commercial customer NEM subsidy would be reduced by about 35 percent. Additionally, the PD would reduce the legacy period for existing non-CARE NEM customers from 20 years to 15 years after which such customers would transition to the successor tariff. On May 9, 2022, the ALJ issued a ruling setting aside submission of the record to take comment on certain questions regarding possible alternative tariff elements and community solar. On August 25, 2022, the CPUC extended the statutory deadline in this proceeding until August 27, 2023.

The Utility self-reports potential violations of certain requirements to the CPUC. The Utility could face penalties, enforcement actions, or other adverse legal or regulatory consequences for these potential violations, including under the EOEP. The Utility is unable to predict the likelihood and the amount of potential fines or penalties, if any, related to these matters.

The Utility has notified the CPUC of various errors relating to inspections and maintenance of its electric assets or implementation of WMP initiatives. These notices include missed inspections or the inability to locate records evidencing performance of inspections required under CPUC general orders 95 and 165 (including failure to perform inspections in compliance with general order 165 of approximately 55,000 poles in 2020) and errors regarding reporting meeting targets set by the Utility’s 2020 WMP. In these notices, the Utility describes the failures and corrective actions the Utility is taking to remediate these issues and to prevent recurrence. Among other corrective measures, the Utility has developed short-term and longer-term systemic corrective actions to address these errors, including performing enhanced inspections for poles with outdated or incomplete general order 165 inspection records and strengthening the Utility’s asset registry, as well as corrective actions regarding reporting on the progress toward WMP targets.

On October 26, 2022, the Utility notified the CPUC that the Utility’s procedure for wood pole replacements did not comply with CPUC requirements for replacement of poles under certain conditions and, accordingly, in some instances, the Utility failed to replace wood poles with safety factors below the required minimum. Among other short- and longer-term corrective measures, the Utility is replacing identified poles on a risk prioritized basis and revising its wood pole replacement procedures in alignment with CPUC requirements.

The Utility continues to evaluate whether there are additional failures to comply with general orders 95 and 165 and the 2020 WMP, beyond those identified in submitted self-reports. The Utility intends to update the CPUC upon completion of its reviews and to address any issues it identifies.

On October 21, 2021, the Utility notified the CPUC of inconsistent application of the requirements to locate and mark empty subsurface electric ducts in accordance with Government Code sections 4216(k), 4216(s) and 4216.3(a)(1)(A). On December 30, 2021, the Utility submitted a corrective action plan to the SED and is implementing the plan.

On September 9, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order that would require certain COVID-19 precautions for government contractors and their subcontractors, including mandatory employee vaccination. The requirements under the executive order are currently stayed in numerous states. The stay applicable to contracts performed in California was lifted as of August 26, 2022. However, it is unclear if or when the federal government intends to implement the executive order in California. The ultimate implementation of the executive order could result in workplace disruptions, employee attrition, and difficulty securing future labor needs.

On June 30, 2022, the Governor of California signed AB 180, which authorized the California 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.

On June 30, 2022, the Governor of California signed AB 205, which included authorization for additional incremental CAPP funding of $958 million for California IOUs to be determined by the California Department of Community Services and Development. The Utility and the community choice aggregators in its territory expect to receive $219 million to reduce the amounts owed by customer accounts in arrears.

On September 2, 2022, the Governor of California signed SB 846, which supports the extension of operations at Diablo Canyon through no later than 2030, with the potential for an earlier retirement date. Additionally, the State of California has authorized a loan of up to $1.4 billion pursuant to SB 846 to the Utility from the DWR to support the extension of plant operations, which is in addition to the amount discussed in the AB 180 section, above. SB 846 further directs the Utility to take steps to secure funds from the U.S. DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit program, and any other potentially available federal funding, to repay the loan. The loan may be forgiven under certain circumstances. On October 18, 2022, the Utility executed the loan agreement with DWR.

On September 2, 2022, the Utility applied for federal funding through the U.S. DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit program. SB 846 provides that within 180 days of the filing of the DOE application, the California Energy Commission, in consultation with the CAISO and the CPUC, shall make a determination in a public process of whether the state’s electricity forecasts for the calendar years from 2024 through 2030 show potential for reliability deficiencies if Diablo Canyon operation is not extended beyond 2025 and whether extending operations of Diablo Canyon to at least 2030 is prudent to ensure reliability in light of any potential for supply deficiency. The Utility’s ARO associated with the decommissioning of Diablo Canyon could be materially impacted if the operations are extended beyond 2025.

During the period prior to extended operations, the bill authorizes a monthly performance-based disbursement equal to $7 for each megawatt-hour (“MWh”) generated by Diablo Canyon. The performance-based disbursement will be paid from the loan proceeds authorized by SB 846 and is contingent upon the Utility’s ongoing pursuit of extension of the operating period and continued safe and reliable Diablo Canyon operations. The performance-based disbursement cannot be realized as shareholder profits or paid out as dividends.

During the period of extended operations and in lieu of a rate-based return on investment, the bill provides for a fixed payment of $50 million, in 2022 dollars, for each of Diablo Canyon’s Unit 1 and Unit 2 for each year of extended operations, which is potentially subject to adjustment downward in the event of extended unplanned outages. In addition, the bill authorizes a volumetric payment totaling $13, in 2022 dollars, for each MWh generated by Diablo Canyon during the period of extended operations. The amount of the fixed and volumetric payments will be adjusted annually by the CPUC using CPUC-approved escalation methodologies and adjustment factors. The volumetric payment cannot be realized as shareholder profits or paid out as dividends, to the extent it is not needed for Diablo Canyon. The legislation includes language that limits use of the volumetric payment to investments in the system and for customers that address critical state priorities.

On September 30, 2022, the Governor of California signed SB 884, which authorizes and expedites OEIS and CPUC review of a 10-year undergrounding plan. Under SB 884, large electrical corporations may submit 10-year plans for undergrounding distribution infrastructure in Tier 2 or 3 high fire threat districts or rebuild areas to OEIS. The plan must include an evaluation of project costs, projected economic benefits over the life of the assets, and any cost-containment assumptions, including the economies of scale necessary to reduce wildfire risk and mitigation costs and establish a sustainable supply chain. OEIS will have up to nine months to review and approve or deny the plan, and then the CPUC will have up to nine months to review and approve or deny the plan, including its costs.

On August 16, 2022, the President of the United States signed the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act includes a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax (“CAMT”) on the adjusted financial statement income (“AFSI”) of corporations with average AFSI exceeding $1 billion over a three-year period, which will become effective January 1, 2023. Many aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act, including the CAMT, remain uncertain and the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have been granted broad authority to enact regulations implementing its provisions. The law extends and modifies existing tax credits and creates new tax credits for renewable and clean energy sources. PG&E Corporation and the Utility continue to evaluate the impact of the law and its potential implications.

The Utility’s operations are subject to extensive federal, state, and local laws and permits relating to the protection of the environment and the safety and health of the Utility’s personnel and the public.  These laws and requirements relate to a broad range of the Utility’s activities, including the remediation of hazardous wastes; the reporting and reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions; the discharge of pollutants into the air, water, and soil; the reporting of safety and reliability measures for natural gas storage facilities; and the transportation, handling, storage, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. See “Environmental Remediation Contingencies” in Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, as well as “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the 2021 Form 10-K.

PG&E Corporation, mainly through its ownership of the Utility, and the Utility are exposed to risks associated with adverse changes in commodity prices, interest rates, and counterparty credit.

The Utility actively manages market risk through risk management programs designed to support business objectives, discourage unauthorized risk-taking, reduce commodity cost volatility, and manage cash flows.  The Utility uses derivative instruments only for risk mitigation purposes and not for speculative purposes.  The Utility’s risk management activities include the use of physical and financial instruments such as forward contracts, futures, swaps, options, and other instruments and agreements, most of which are accounted for as derivative instruments.  Some contracts are accounted for as leases.  The Utility manages credit risk associated with its counterparties by assigning credit limits based on evaluations of their financial conditions, net worth, credit ratings, and other credit criteria as deemed appropriate.  Credit limits and credit quality are monitored periodically.  These activities are discussed in detail in the 2021 Form 10-K.  There were no significant developments to the Utility’s and PG&E Corporation’s risk management activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP involves the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the recorded amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. PG&E Corporation and the Utility consider their accounting policies for regulatory assets and liabilities, loss contingencies associated with environmental remediation liabilities and legal and regulatory matters, AROs, contributions to the Wildfire Fund, and pension and other post-retirement benefit plans to be critical accounting policies. These policies are considered critical accounting estimates due, in part, to their complexity and because their application is relevant and material to the financial position and results of operations of PG&E Corporation and the Utility, and because these policies require the use of material judgments and estimates. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates and assumptions. These accounting estimates and their key characteristics are discussed in detail in the 2021 Form 10-K.