PG&E Corp

The Utility is subject to substantial regulation by the CPUC, the FERC, the OEIS, 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. Except as otherwise noted, PG&E Corporation and the Utility are unable to predict the timing and outcome of the following proceedings.

During the year ended December 31, 2024 and through the date of this filing, key updates to regulatory and legislative matters were as follows:

•In December 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision in the 2021 WMCE proceeding approving a revenue requirement of $429 million associated with costs recorded to the VMBA.

•In December 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision approving $723 million out of the Utility’s request of $761 million for net recovery of the Utility’s costs to operate DCPP from 2023 through 2025.

•In November 2024, the OEIS issued a final decision approving the Utility’s 2025 WMP update, which the CPUC ratified on January 16, 2025. The OEIS issued a safety certificate for the Utility on December 11, 2024.

•In October 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision in the Utility’s 2023 Cost of Capital proceeding that changed the cost of capital adjustment mechanism and set the Utility’s ROE at 10.28% effective January 1, 2025.

•In September 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision on interim rate recovery in the Utility’s 2023 WMCE that grants the Utility interim rate relief of $944 million, plus interest, subject to refund.

•In August 2024, the FERC issued an order approving the Utility’s TO18 transmission rate case settlement.

•In July 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision for Phase 2 of the GRC that set a cumulative expenditure cap at $2.26 billion for the period of 2024 to 2026 and permits the Utility to revisit the 2025 and 2026 cap amounts.

•In March 2024, the CPUC granted the Utility’s request to delay $650 million of contributions to the customer credit trust from 2024 to 2025.

•In March 2024, the CPUC approved a final decision in the WGSC proceeding authorizing the Utility to recover $516 million in interim rates to be recovered over 12 months starting April 1, 2024.

•In February 2024, the CPUC issued a final resolution approving an Administrative Consent Order and Agreement between the SED and the Utility regarding the 2021 Dixie fire.

Cost Recovery Proceedings

Periodically, costs arise that could not have been anticipated by the Utility during CPUC GRC proceedings or that have been deliberately excluded from such proceedings. For instance, 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 later 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 on cost recovery. These accounts, which include the CEMA, WEMA, FHPMA, FRMMA, WMPMA, VMBA, WMBA, and MGMA among others, allow the Utility to track the costs associated with work related to disaster and wildfire response, other wildfire prevention-related costs, and certain third-party wildfire claims. While the Utility generally expects such costs to be recoverable, the CPUC may authorize the Utility to recover less than 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 of the costs in these accounts, there can be a delay between when the Utility incurs costs and when it may recover those costs. As of December 31, 2024, the Utility had recorded an aggregate amount of approximately $3.6 billion in costs for the CEMA, WEMA, FHPMA, FRMMA, WMPMA, VMBA, WMBA, and MGMA. Of these costs, approximately $1.2 billion was authorized for recovery and accounted for as current, and $2.4 billion was accounted for as long term as of December 31, 2024. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

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.

For more information, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, and “Wildfire Mitigation and Catastrophic Events Cost Recovery Applications” and “Wildfire and Gas Safety Costs Recovery Application” below.

The Utility’s cost recovery proceedings for the costs described above that are pending, have pending appeals, or were completed during the year ended December 31, 2024 are summarized in the following table:

(1) The revenue requirement request amounts do not include interest.

Wildfire Mitigation and Catastrophic Events Cost Recovery Applications

2021 WMCE Application

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 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 August 10, 2023, the CPUC approved a settlement agreement among the Utility and intervenors pursuant to which the Utility began collecting a revenue requirement of $721 million over 24 months beginning September 1, 2023. The settlement agreement did not address the Utility’s revenue requirement of $592 million associated with costs recorded to the VMBA.

On December 27, 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision approving a revenue requirement of $429 million associated with costs recorded to the VMBA. On January 27, 2025, the Utility filed an application for rehearing.

2022 WMCE Application

On December 15, 2022, the Utility filed an application with the CPUC requesting cost recovery of approximately $1.36 billion of recorded expenditures, resulting in a proposed revenue requirement of approximately $1.29 billion (the “2022 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 2021.

The recorded expenditures consist of $1.2 billion in expenses and $136 million in capital expenditures. On June 8, 2023, the CPUC adopted a final decision granting the Utility interim rate relief of $1.1 billion to be recovered over 12 months, which went into effect July 1, 2023. The remaining $224 million will be recovered to the extent it is approved after the CPUC issues a final decision. Cost recovery requested in this application is subject to the CPUC’s reasonableness review, which could result in some or all of the interim rate relief being subject to refund. See “2022 WMCE Interim Rate Relief Subject to Refund” in Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

On December 22, 2023, the Utility filed an unopposed joint settlement with intervenors for an additional $70 million revenue requirement, which is incremental to the previously approved interim rate relief. If the CPUC adopts the settlement agreement, it would resolve all costs recorded to accounts other than the VMBA and the WMBA. The settlement agreement did not address the Utility’s revenue requirement request of $916 million associated with costs recorded to the VMBA or the WMBA, for which cost recovery will be determined separately by the CPUC.

On December 19, 2024, the CPUC extended the statutory deadline to resolve the remaining issues in the proceeding to September 30, 2025.

2023 WMCE Application

On December 1, 2023, the Utility filed an application with the CPUC requesting cost recovery of approximately $2.18 billion of recorded expenditures, resulting in a proposed revenue requirement of approximately $1.86 billion (the “2023 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 2022.

The recorded expenditures consist of $1.6 billion in expenses and $559 million in capital expenditures. Of these amounts, approximately 15% of expense, or $239 million, and 30% of capital expenditures, or $167 million, relate to the Utility’s response to the 2022-2023 extreme winter storms CEMA event.

On September 16, 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision on interim rate recovery that grants the Utility interim rate relief of $944 million, plus interest, subject to refund, to be recovered over at least 17 months starting October 1, 2024. The remaining $914 million, plus interest, would be recovered to the extent it is approved after the CPUC issues a final decision. Cost recovery requested in this application is subject to the CPUC’s reasonableness review, which could result in some or all of the interim rate relief being subject to refund.

The CPUC’s procedural schedule indicates a final decision by the second quarter of 2025.

2024 WMCE Application

On November 21, 2024, the Utility filed an application with the CPUC requesting cost recovery of approximately $596 million of recorded expenditures in the CEMA and other accounts, resulting in a revenue requirement of approximately $435 million (the “2024 WMCE application”). The costs addressed in this application include those incurred in connection with rebuild and restoration activities, certain catastrophic wildfire and weather events, and other programs supporting gas, customer, and climate initiatives. These costs were incurred primarily in 2023.

The recorded expenditures consist of $80 million in expense and $516 million in capital expenditures. Of these amounts, approximately $50 million of expense and $396 million of capital expenditures relate to community rebuild and restoration activities and other catastrophic events included in CEMA.

Wildfire and Gas Safety Costs Recovery Application

On June 15, 2023, the Utility filed a WGSC application with the CPUC requesting cost recovery of approximately $2.5 billion of recorded expenditures related to wildfire mitigation costs and gas safety and electric modernization costs.

The recorded expenditures for wildfire mitigation consist of $726 million in expenses and $1.5 billion in capital expenditures and cover activities during the years 2020 to 2022. The recorded expenditures for gas safety and electric modernization consist of $120 million in expenses and $118 million in capital expenditures and cover activities during the years 2017 to 2022. If approved, the requested cost recovery would result in an aggregate revenue requirement of $688 million. The costs addressed in the WGSC application are incremental to those previously authorized in the Utility’s 2020 GRC and other proceedings.

The Utility recorded these costs to the memorandum and balancing accounts as set forth in the following table:

In connection with the WGSC application, the Utility also requested interim rate relief of $583 million. The remaining $105 million would be recovered after the CPUC issues a final decision. On March 7, 2024, the CPUC approved a final decision authorizing the Utility to recover $516 million in interim rates to be recovered over at least 12 months starting April 1, 2024.

The administrative law judge has adopted a schedule that would result in a proposed decision on the wildfire mitigation costs in the first half of 2025 and a final decision on the gas safety and electric modernization costs by June 2025.

Forward-Looking Rate Cases

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 “cost of capital” proceedings to adjust its regulated return on rate base. The Utility’s future earnings will depend on the revenue requirements authorized in such rate cases. The Utility also expects to file its SB 884 cost application with the CPUC after the OEIS approves guidelines. See “SB 884 10-Year Distribution Undergrounding Program” below.

Decisions in GRC proceedings have historically been expected prior to the commencement of the period to which the rates would apply. In recent decades, decisions in GRC proceedings have been delayed. Delayed decisions may cause the Utility to develop its budgets based on 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 risks associated with the lower level of work achieved compared to that funded by the CPUC.

The Utility’s forward-looking rate cases that are pending, have pending appeals, or were completed during the year ended December 31, 2024 are summarized in the following table:

2023 General Rate Case

Phase 1

On November 17, 2023, the CPUC issued a final decision on Phase 1.

The Utility is authorized to collect through rates the approved revenue requirement increases beginning January 1, 2024 and to amortize the incremental revenue increases related to 2023 for 24 months over the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025.

The final decision authorized the following:

For more information, see “Regulatory Matters” in the 2023 Form 10-K.

Phase 2 and Energization Timelines Order Instituting Rulemaking

On September 15, 2023, the Utility served opening testimony proposing to recover energization costs incremental to the forecasts of the Utility’s Phase 1 2023 GRC. Energization activities include new business connections and capacity-related work to allow for the connections and reduce energization timelines. On July 16, 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision approving a memorandum account with interim rate relief, subject to annual caps and reasonableness review in the 2027 GRC application. The overall expenditure cap was set at $2.26 billion for the period of 2024 to 2026. The decision also provides the Utility the ability to request revisions to the 2025 and 2026 cap amounts under certain conditions. On October 4, 2024, the Utility filed a motion to increase the 2025 and 2026 cap amounts by an aggregate $3.1 billion, which reflects approximately $300 million originally included in 2024, for a net increase of $2.8 billion.

On October 18, 2024, the assigned commissioner issued an amended scoping memo providing for a final decision in spring 2025.

Cost of Capital Proceedings

2023 Cost of Capital Application

On December 19, 2022, the CPUC issued a final decision adopting a new cost of capital, ROE, cost of preferred stock, and cost of debt for the Utility’s electric generation, electric distribution, natural gas distribution, and natural gas transmission and storage rate base beginning on January 1, 2023. On October 22, 2024, the CPUC issued the decision in Phase 2 modifying the Cost of Capital mechanism and setting new returns on equity effective January 1, 2025.

On November 6, 2024, the Utility submitted an advice letter with updated 2025 cost of capital rates. On December 4, 2024, the CPUC approved the advice letter and the following cost of capital rates, which went into effect beginning January 1, 2025:

The Utility will file the next cost of capital application on March 20, 2025 for test year 2026.

Transmission Owner Rate Cases

Transmission Owner Rate Case for 2024 (the “TO21” rate case)

On October 13, 2023, the Utility filed its TO21 rate case with the FERC. In the filing, the Utility forecasted a 2024 retail electric transmission revenue requirement of $2.83 billion. The proposed amount reflects an approximately 11% decrease over the rate year 2023 retail revenue requirement of $3.18 billion, due in part to a refund to customers (see “Transmission Owner Rate Case Revenue Subject to Refund” in Note 15 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8) and the transaction to lease entitlements associated with certain transmission assets (see “Liquidity and Financial Resources - Other Financings” above). The Utility made investments of approximately $1.22 billion in 2023 and forecasts that it will make investments of approximately $1.43 billion in 2024 for various capital projects to be placed in service before the end of 2024. The Utility requested that FERC approve a 12.37% base ROE as well as a 0.5% adder for its participation in the CAISO. The TO21 filing also addresses the Utility’s capital structure and several new issues including wildfire self-insurance recovery from transmission customers.

On December 29, 2023, the FERC issued an order accepting the TO21 filing subject to refund, establishing a January 1, 2024 effective date, and establishing a settlement and hearing process, but denying the 0.5% ROE adder for participation in the CAISO, which results in a forecast transmission revenue requirement of $2.78 billion. On January 29, 2024, the Utility filed a request for rehearing of the FERC’s denial of the 0.5% ROE adder for participation in the CAISO. On June 12, 2024, the FERC issued an order denying the Utility’s request for rehearing. On June 18, 2024, the Utility and California IOUs filed an appeal of the FERC’s order denying the Utility’s request for rehearing. The utilities’ joint opening brief was filed on September 11, 2024 and reply brief was filed on December 17, 2024.

On December 18, 2024, the settlement judge issued a status report to the FERC stating that the Utility and the other parties have reached a settlement in principle on all issues in the TO21 rate case. The parties will draft an offer of settlement to be filed with the FERC for approval.

Other Regulatory Proceedings

2023-2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan

On March 27, 2023, the Utility submitted the 2023-2025 WMP. The 2023-2025 WMP addresses the Utility’s wildfire safety programs and initiatives focused on reducing the potential for catastrophic wildfires related to electrical equipment and reducing the customer impact of EPSS and PSPS events. On December 29, 2023, the OEIS issued a final decision approving the Utility’s 2023-2025 WMP. On February 15, 2024, the CPUC ratified the OEIS’s approval. On January 8, 2024, the Utility filed a change order request to update some of the forecasted work in the WMP for 2024. On May 31, 2024, the OEIS issued a decision approving in part and denying in part the change order request.

The Utility submitted an updated 2025 WMP on April 2, 2024, as directed by the OEIS. On November 19, 2024, the OEIS issued a final approval of the Utility’s 2025 WMP update. On January 16, 2025, the CPUC ratified the OEIS’s approval.

Extension of Diablo Canyon Operations

On September 2, 2022, SB 846 became law. SB 846 supports the extension of operations at DCPP through no later than 2030, with the potential for an earlier retirement date. Under the legislation, the Utility continues to operate DCPP on behalf of all CPUC-jurisdictional LSEs, and all customers of those LSEs are responsible for the cost of extended operations.

The key steps to continued operations are NRC license renewal and approvals from California state agencies, including the CPUC, CEC, California State Lands Commission, California Coastal Commission, and other state agencies. As set forth below, many of these approvals have been received.

On February 28, 2023, and in consultation with the CAISO and CPUC, the CEC determined that it is prudent to extend the operation of DCPP to support electric system reliability through 2030.

The Utility leases land from the state for the water intake structure, breakwaters, cooling water discharge channel, and other structures on state land associated with DCPP. On June 5, 2023, the California State Lands Commission approved an extension of the Utility’s lease at DCPP through October 31, 2030.

On August 15, 2023, the California State Water Resources Control Board approved the Utility’s plan for once-through cooling at DCPP.

On November 7, 2023, the Utility submitted an application for license renewal with the NRC. On December 19, 2023, the NRC deemed the application sufficient, which allows continued operations at DCPP past the plant’s current licenses until the relicensing review is complete. The NRC’s schedule indicates that it will issue a final safety evaluation report and supplemental environmental impact statement by June 2025.

On December 14, 2023, the CPUC approved extended operations at DCPP until October 31, 2029 for Unit 1 and October 31, 2030 for Unit 2. The approval is subject to the following conditions: (1) the NRC continues to authorize DCPP operations; (2) the loan agreement authorized by SB 846 is not terminated; and (3) the CPUC does not make a future determination that DCPP extended operations are imprudent or unreasonable.

On May 3, 2024, the CEC issued a report concluding that no suitable supply-side resources can be brought online as alternatives to DCPP’s energy and capacity output prior to the planned retirement dates in 2024 and 2025.

On December 19, 2024, the CPUC issued a final decision. As a result, the Utility will recover $711 million through rates (compared to its request of $761 million) for net recovery of its costs to operate DCPP from 2023 through 2025.

SB 884 10-Year Distribution Undergrounding Program

On March 7, 2024, the CPUC approved a resolution that establishes an expedited utility distribution infrastructure undergrounding program pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 8388.5. The resolution addresses the process and requirements for the CPUC’s review of any large electrical corporation’s 10-year distribution infrastructure undergrounding plan and conditional approval of its related costs.

The OEIS issued draft guidelines on May 8, 2024, revised guidelines on September 10, 2024, and second revised guidelines on January 7, 2025.

The Utility expects to submit its undergrounding plan to the OEIS after final guidelines are issued before submitting its cost application to the CPUC, as directed in Public Utilities Code Section 8388.5.