424B5 1 d119166d424b5.htm 424B5 424B5
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-253630

 

This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be subject to change. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED MARCH 8, 2021

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated February 26, 2021)

$                

 

LOGO

$                     Floating Rate First Mortgage Bonds due 20

$                     % First Mortgage Bonds due 20

$                     % First Mortgage Bonds due 20

$                     % First Mortgage Bonds due 20

 

 

We are offering $                 aggregate principal amount of our floating rate first mortgage bonds due 20     (the “floating rate mortgage bonds”), $                 aggregate principal amount of our     % first mortgage bonds due 20     (the “20     mortgage bonds”), $                 aggregate principal amount of our     % first mortgage bonds due 20     (the “20     mortgage bonds”) and $                 aggregate principal amount of our     % first mortgage bonds due 20    (the “20     mortgage bonds” and, together with the floating rate mortgage bonds, the 20    mortgage bonds and the 20     mortgage bonds, the “mortgage bonds”). We refer to the 20    mortgage bonds, the 20    mortgage bonds and the 20    mortgage bonds as the “fixed rate mortgage bonds.” The floating rate mortgage bonds will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR (as defined herein) for the applicable interest period plus     % (                basis points). The per annum interest rate on the 20     mortgage bonds will be     %, the per annum interest rate on the 20     mortgage bonds will be     % and the per annum interest rate on the 20     mortgage bonds will be     %.

We will pay interest on the floating rate mortgage bonds quarterly in arrears on                 ,                ,                  and                 of each year, beginning on                 , 2021. We will pay interest on the 20     mortgage bonds semi-annually in arrears on                  and                 of each year, beginning on                 , 2021. We will pay interest on the 20    mortgage bonds and the 20    mortgage bonds semi-annually in arrears on                  and                 of each year, beginning on                 , 2021. The floating rate mortgage bonds will mature on                 , 20    . The 20    mortgage bonds will mature on                 , 20    . The 20    mortgage bonds will mature on                 , 20    . The 20    mortgage bonds will mature on                 , 20    . The mortgage bonds will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The mortgage bonds will be secured by a first lien, subject to permitted liens, on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. See “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Lien of the Mortgage Indenture.”

There is no existing public market for the mortgage bonds. We do not intend to list the mortgage bonds on any securities exchange or seek their quotation on any automated quotation system.

 

 

Investing in the mortgage bonds involves risks. For a description of these risks, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-14 of this prospectus supplement and the section titled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of the 2020 Annual Report (as defined herein), incorporated by reference herein.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

     Price to the
Public(1)
     Underwriting
Discounts
     Proceeds to Pacific
Gas and Electric
Company Before
Expenses
 

Per Floating Rate Mortgage Bond

     %        %        %  

Total Floating Rate Mortgage Bonds

   $                    $                    $                

Per 20     Mortgage Bond

     %        %        %  

Total 20     Mortgage Bonds

   $        $        $    

Per 20     Mortgage Bond

     %        %        %  

Total 20     Mortgage Bonds

   $        $        $    

Per 20     Mortgage Bond

     %        %        %  

Total 20     Mortgage Bonds

   $        $        $    

 

(1)

Plus accrued interest from                 , 2021, if settlement occurs after that date.

The mortgage bonds will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, S.A. and Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as operator of the Euroclear System, on or about                 , 2021.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

BNP PARIBAS   Citigroup   Credit Suisse   MUFG

 

 

            , 2021


Table of Contents

This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus. Neither we nor any underwriter has authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. We do not take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. Neither we nor any underwriter is making an offer to sell the mortgage bonds in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date hereof.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     S-1  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     S-2  

SUMMARY

     S-7  

RISK FACTORS

     S-14  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     S-19  

CAPITALIZATION

     S-20  

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS AND PREFERRED STOCK

     S-21  

DESCRIPTION OF THE MORTGAGE BONDS

     S-27  

UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     S-48  

UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

     S-52  

LEGAL MATTERS

     S-59  

EXPERTS

     S-59  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     S-59  

CERTAIN DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     S-59  

Prospectus

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     i  

OUR COMPANY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     1  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     7  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     8  

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES OF PG&E CORPORATION

     9  

SENIOR NOTES

     9  

SUBORDINATED NOTES

     15  

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES OF PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY

     23  

UNSECURED SENIOR NOTES

     23  

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS

     34  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

     50  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     54  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SECURITIES PURCHASE UNITS

     57  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     59  

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

     60  

SELLING SECURITYHOLDER

     62  

GLOBAL SECURITIES

     65  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     67  

LEGAL MATTERS

     70  

EXPERTS

     70  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     70  

CERTAIN DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     70  

 

S-i


Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which describes more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement that PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. When used in this prospectus supplement, (i) the terms “we,” “our,” “us” and “the Company” refer to Pacific Gas and Electric Company and its subsidiaries, and the term “Corp” refers to our parent, PG&E Corporation, and (ii) the “underwriters” refers to the firms listed on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus supplement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given such terms in the Company’s and Corp’s Joint Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the “2020 Annual Report”), which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

S-1


Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain 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 prospectus supplement. 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; estimates and assumptions used in critical accounting policies, including those relating to insurance receivable, 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,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential” and similar expressions. We and Corp 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:

 

   

Corp’s and the Company’s historical financial information not being indicative of future financial performance as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases and the financial and other restructuring recently undergone by Corp and the Company in connection with their emergence from Chapter 11;

 

   

the ability of Corp and the Company to raise financing for operations and investment;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with appeals of the Confirmation Order;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with the 2019 Kincade fire, including the extent of the Company’s liability in connection with the 2019 Kincade fire and whether the Company will be able to timely recover related costs incurred therewith in excess of insurance; the timing of the insurance recoveries; the timing and outcome of the referral of the Cal Fire report in connection therewith to the Sonoma County District Attorney; and potential liabilities in connection with fines or penalties that could be imposed on the Company if the CPUC or any other enforcement agency were to bring an enforcement action;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with any other wildfires, including the extent of the Company’s liability in connection with the 2020 Zogg fire, and the timing of the insurance recoveries; and with any other wildfires that have occurred and/or may occur in the Company’s service territory for which the cause has yet to be determined;

 

   

the Company’s Community Wildfire Safety Program’s ability to help reduce wildfire threats and improve safety as a result of climate-driven wildfires and extreme weather, including the Company’s ability to comply with the targets and metrics set forth in its WMP; whether the Company is able to retain or contract for the workforce necessary to execute its Community Wildfire Safety Program; and the cost of the program and the timing of the outcome of any proceeding to recover such costs through rates;

 

   

the ability of Corp and the Company to securitize $7.5 billion of costs related to the 2017 Northern California wildfires in a financing transaction that is designed to be rate neutral to customers;

 

   

the impact of the Company’s implementation of its PSPS program, including the timing and outcome of the OII to Examine the Late 2019 Public Safety Power Shutoff Events and Order to Show Cause Against the Utility Related to Implementation of the October 2019 PSPS Events and the purported Public Safety Power Shutoff class action filed in December 2019, and whether any fines or penalties or civil liability for damages will be imposed on the Company as a result; the costs in connection with PSPS events, the timing and outcome of any proceeding to recover such costs through rates, and the effects on Corp’s and the Company’s reputations caused by implementation of the PSPS program;

 

S-2


Table of Contents
   

whether the Company may be liable for future wildfires, and the impact of AB 1054 on potential losses in connection with such wildfires, including the CPUC’s implementation of the procedures for recovering such losses;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with the requirement under AB 1054 that the Company maintain a valid safety certification pursuant to Section 8389(e) of the California Public Utilities Code and the potential implications for accessing the Wildfire Fund and in related CPUC proceedings in the event the Company fails to maintain a valid safety certification, which could also result in the appointment by the CPUC of an independent third-party monitor to oversee the Company’s operations as part of the Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement Process;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s ability to access the Wildfire Fund, including that the Wildfire Fund has sufficient remaining funds;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with certain indemnity obligations to current and former officers and directors, as well as potential indemnity obligations to underwriters for certain of the Company’s note offerings, in connection with three purported class actions that have been consolidated and denominated In re PG&E Corporation Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 18-035509, which has been enjoined as to Corp and the Company pursuant to the Plan with such claims to be resolved by the Bankruptcy Court as part of the claims reconciliation process in the Chapter 11 Cases;

 

   

the timing and outcome of future regulatory and legislative developments, including future wildfire reforms, inverse condemnation reform, and other wildfire mitigation measures or other reforms targeted at the Company or its industry;

 

   

the severity, extent and duration of the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Corp’s and the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows, as well as on energy demand in the Company’s service territory, the ability of the Company to collect on customer invoices, the ability of the Company to mitigate these effects, including with spending reductions, and the ability of the Company to recover any losses incurred in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of workforce disruptions;

 

   

whether the Company will be able to obtain full recovery of its significantly increased insurance premiums, and the timing of any such recovery;

 

   

whether the Company can obtain wildfire insurance at a reasonable cost in the future, or at all, and whether insurance coverage is adequate for future losses or claims;

 

   

increased employee attrition as a result of the challenging political and operating environment facing Corp and the Company;

 

   

the timing and outcomes of the FERC TO18 and TO19 rate cases, 2018 and 2019 CEMA applications, WEMA application, WMCE application, future applications for cost recovery of amounts recorded to the FRMMA, CPPMA, WMPMA, VMBA, WMBA, and RTBA, future cost of capital proceedings, and other ratemaking and regulatory proceedings;

 

   

the outcome of the probation and the Monitorship imposed by the federal court after the Company’s conviction in the federal criminal trial in 2017, the timing and outcomes of the debarment proceeding, potential reliability penalties or sanctions from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, or Western Electricity Coordinating Council, investigations that have been or may be commenced relating to the Company’s compliance with natural gas- and electric- related laws and regulations, and the ultimate amount of fines, penalties, and remedial costs that the Company may incur in connection with the outcomes including the costs of complying with any additional conditions of probation imposed in connection with the Company’s federal criminal proceeding, such as expenses associated with any material expansion of the Company’s vegetation management program, as well as the impact of additional conditions of probation on Corp’s and the Company’s ability to make distributions to shareholders;

 

S-3


Table of Contents
   

the effects on Corp’s and the Company’s reputations caused by matters such as the CPUC’s investigations and enforcement proceedings and the Company’s criminal guilty plea;

 

   

the outcome of future legislative or regulatory actions as part of the “Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement Process” or otherwise that may be taken, such as requiring the Company to transfer ownership of the Company’s assets to municipalities or other public entities, or implement corporate governance, operational or other changes;

 

   

whether the Company can control its operating costs within the authorized levels of spending, and timely recover its costs through rates; whether the Company can continue implementing a streamlined organizational structure and achieve project savings, the extent to which the Company incurs unrecoverable costs that are higher than the forecasts of such costs; and changes in cost forecasts or the scope and timing of planned work resulting from changes in customer demand for electricity and natural gas or other reasons;

 

   

whether the Company and its third-party vendors and contractors are able to protect the Company’s operational networks and information technology systems from cyber- and physical attacks, or other internal or external hazards;

 

   

the timing and outcome in the Court of Appeals of the appeal of the FERC’s order denying rehearing on March 17, 2020 granting the Company a 50-basis point ROE incentive adder for continued participation in the CAISO;

 

   

the outcome of current and future self-reports, investigations, or other enforcement proceedings that could be commenced or notices of violation that could be issued relating to the Company’s compliance with laws, rules, regulations, or orders applicable to its operations, including the construction, expansion, or replacement of its electric and gas facilities, electric grid reliability, audit, inspection and maintenance practices, customer billing and privacy, physical and cybersecurity, environmental laws and regulations; and the outcome of existing and future SED notices of violations;

 

   

the impact of government regulations that the Company is subject to, including environmental remediation laws, regulations, and orders; the ultimate amount of costs incurred to discharge the Company’s known and unknown remediation obligations; and the extent to which the Company is able to recover such compliance costs in rates or from other sources;

 

   

the impact of SB 100, signed into law on September 10, 2018, which increased the percentage from 50% to 60% of California’s electricity portfolio that must come from renewables by 2030; and establishes state policy that 100% of all retail electricity sales must come from renewable portfolio standard-eligible or carbon-free resources by 2045;

 

   

how the CPUC and the CARB implement state environmental laws relating to GHG, renewable energy targets, energy efficiency standards, distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, and similar matters, including whether the Company is able to continue recovering associated compliance costs, such as the cost of emission allowances and offsets under cap-and-trade regulations; and whether the Company is able to timely recover its associated investment costs;

 

   

the impact of the California governor’s executive order issued on January 26, 2018, to implement a new target of five million zero-emission vehicles on the road in California by 2030 and the California governor’s executive order issued on September 23, 2020, requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035 and additional measures to eliminate harmful emissions from the transportation sector;

 

   

the ultimate amount of unrecoverable environmental costs the Company incurs associated with the Company’s natural gas compressor station site located near Hinkley, California and the Company’s fossil fuel-fired generation sites;

 

   

the impact of new legislation or NRC regulations, recommendations, policies, decisions, or orders relating to the nuclear industry, including operations, seismic design, security, safety, relicensing, the storage of

 

S-4


Table of Contents
 

spent nuclear fuel, decommissioning, cooling water intake, or other issues; the impact of potential actions, such as legislation, taken by state agencies that may affect the Company’s ability to continue operating Diablo Canyon until its planned retirement;

 

   

the impact of wildfires, droughts, floods, high winds, lightning or other weather-related conditions or events, climate change, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, war, vandalism (including cyber-attacks), downed power lines, and other events, that can cause unplanned outages, reduce generating output, disrupt the Company’s service to customers, or damage or disrupt the facilities, operations, or information technology and systems owned by the Company, its customers, or third parties on which the Company relies, and the reparation and other costs that the Company may incur in connection with such conditions or events; the impact of the adequacy of the Company’s emergency preparedness; whether the Company incurs liability to third parties for property damage or personal injury caused by such events; whether the Company is subject to civil, criminal, or regulatory penalties in connection with such events; and whether the Company’s insurance coverage is available for these types of claims and sufficient to cover the Company’s liability;

 

   

the breakdown or failure of equipment that can cause damages, including fires, and unplanned outages; and whether the Company will be subject to investigations, penalties, and other costs in connection with such events;

 

   

the outcome of future legislative developments in connection with SB 350 (the Golden State Energy Act), a bill which was signed into law on June 30, 2020 and authorizes the creation by the California governor of a new entity “Golden State Energy,” a nonprofit public benefit corporation, for the purpose of acquiring the Company’s assets and serving electric and gas in the Company’s service territory in the event that the CPUC revokes the Company’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity;

 

   

whether the Company’s climate change adaptation strategies are successful;

 

   

the impact that reductions in Company customer demand for electricity and natural gas, driven by customer departures to CCAs and DA providers, have on the Company’s ability to make and recover its investments through rates and earn its authorized return on equity, and whether the Company is successful in addressing the impact of growing distributed and renewable generation resources, and changing customer demand for its natural gas and electric services;

 

   

the supply and price of electricity, natural gas, and nuclear fuel; the extent to which the Company can manage and respond to the volatility of energy commodity prices; the ability of the Company and its counterparties to post or return collateral in connection with price risk management activities; and whether the Company is able to recover timely its electric generation and energy commodity costs through rates, including its renewable energy procurement costs;

 

   

the amount and timing of charges reflecting probable liabilities for third-party claims; the extent to which costs incurred in connection with third-party claims or litigation can be recovered through insurance, rates, or from other third parties; and whether the Company can continue to obtain adequate insurance coverage for future losses or claims, especially following a major event that causes widespread third-party losses;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with any future substantial sales of shares of common stock of Corp by existing shareholders, including the Fire Victim Trust, the PIPE Investors and the Backstop Parties;

 

   

the impact of the regulation of utilities and their holding companies, including how the CPUC interprets and enforces the financial and other conditions imposed on Corp when it became the Company’s holding company, and whether the uncertainty in connection with the Company’s probation or enforcement matters will impact the Company’s ability to make distributions to Corp;

 

   

the outcome of federal or state tax audits and the impact of any changes in federal or state tax laws, policies, regulations, or their interpretation;

 

   

whether Corp or the Company undergoes an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as a result of which tax attributes could be limited;

 

S-5


Table of Contents
   

changes in the regulatory and economic environment, including potential changes affecting clean energy and tax policy as a result of the current federal administration and Congress; and

 

   

the impact of changes in GAAP, standards, rules, or policies, including those related to regulatory accounting, and the impact of changes in their interpretation or application.

For more information about the significant risks that could affect the outcome of the forward-looking statements and our future financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows, you should read the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the section titled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of the 2020 Annual Report incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, the documents that we have included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part and the documents that we refer to under the section of the accompanying prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information” completely and with the understanding that our actual future results could be materially different from what we expect when making the forward-looking statements. We qualify all our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the document incorporated by reference. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

S-6


Table of Contents

SUMMARY

This summary highlights certain information about our business and this offering. This is a summary of information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference herein or therein and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the mortgage bonds. For a more complete understanding of this offering and our business, you should read and carefully consider this entire prospectus supplement, including the section titled “Risk Factors,” the accompanying prospectus and all documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.

Our Company

We are one of the largest combination natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. We were incorporated in California in 1905 and are a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. We provide natural gas and electric service to approximately 16 million people throughout a 70,000-square-mile service area in northern and central California. We generate revenues mainly through the sale and delivery of electricity and natural gas to customers.

The principal executive offices of PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company are located at 77 Beale Street, P.O. Box 770000, San Francisco, California 94177. The telephone number of PG&E Corporation is (415) 973-1000 and the telephone number of Pacific Gas and Electric Company is (415) 973-7000. Our website address is www.pge.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement. We have included our website address in this prospectus supplement solely as an inactive textual reference.



 

S-7


Table of Contents

The Offering

 

Issuer

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a California corporation.

 

Mortgage Bonds Offered

$             aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate First Mortgage Bonds due 20    .

 

  $             aggregate principal amount of         % First Mortgage Bonds due 20    .

 

  $             aggregate principal amount of         % First Mortgage Bonds due 20    .

 

  $             aggregate principal amount of         % First Mortgage Bonds due 20    .

 

Maturities

The floating rate mortgage bonds will mature on             , 20    .

 

  The 20    mortgage bonds will mature on             , 20    .

 

  The 20    mortgage bonds will mature on             , 20    .

 

  The 20    mortgage bonds will mature on             , 20    .

 

Interest Rates

The floating rate mortgage bonds will bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR, plus     %.

 

  The per annum interest rate on the 20     mortgage bonds will be         %.

 

  The per annum interest rate on the 20     mortgage bonds will be         %.

 

  The per annum interest rate on the 20     mortgage bonds will be         %.

 

Interest Payment Dates

Interest on the floating rate mortgage bonds will be payable quarterly in arrears on            ,            ,            and             of each year, commencing on            , 2021. Interest on the 20    mortgage bonds will be payable semi-annually in arrears on             and              of each year, commencing on             , 2021. Interest on the 20    mortgage bonds and the 20     mortgage bonds will be payable semi-annually in arrears on             and              of each year, commencing on             , 2021.

 

Ranking and Security

The mortgage bonds will be our senior obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with our other existing or future first mortgage bonds issued under the Mortgage Indenture. At December 31, 2020, we had approximately $36.4 billion of first mortgage bonds outstanding under the Mortgage Indenture (including



 

S-8


Table of Contents
 

first mortgage bonds securing our credit facilities, all of which rank pari passu with the mortgage bonds). In addition, we would have had approximately $1.9 billion of availability to incur additional indebtedness under the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement (as defined herein), all of which would be secured by additional first mortgage bonds issued under the same indenture as the mortgage bonds.

 

  The mortgage bonds will be secured by a first lien, subject to Permitted Liens (as defined herein), on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. See “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Lien of the Mortgage Indenture.”

 

Use of Proceeds

The net proceeds from this offering will be $            , after deducting the respective underwriting discounts and before estimated offering expenses payable by us. We expect to use the net proceeds from the offering for (i) the prepayment of all of our $1.5 billion 364-day term loan facility (the “Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility”) outstanding under the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement (as defined herein) and (ii) the repayment of all of the borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility (the “Utility Revolving Credit Facility”) pursuant to the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement. Any remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of a portion of borrowings outstanding under the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility (as defined herein).

 

  At March 5, 2021, borrowings under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility totaled $1.5 billion. Such borrowings bear interest based at a floating rate (2.125% per annum at March 5, 2021). The Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility matures on June 30, 2021. The proceeds were used to fund transactions contemplated under the Plan.

 

  At March 5, 2021, borrowings under the Utility Revolving Credit Facility totaled approximately $845.0 million. Such borrowings bear interest based at a floating rate (2.125% per annum at March 5, 2021). The Utility Revolving Credit Facility matures on July 1, 2023, subject to two one-year extensions at our option. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.

 

  At March 5, 2021, outstanding borrowings under the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility totaled approximately $1.0 billion. Such borrowings bear interest based on a spread over LIBOR dependent on the tranche period thereto and any brokerage fees accrued. The Accounts Receivable Facility is scheduled to terminate on October 5, 2022, unless extended or earlier terminated, at which time no further advances will be available and the obligations thereunder must be repaid in full no later than (i) the date that is 180 days following such date or (ii) such earlier date on which the loans under the program become due and payable. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.


 

S-9


Table of Contents
  Certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates are agents or lenders under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility, the Utility Revolving Credit Facility and the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility, the borrowings under which will be prepaid or repaid with the net proceeds of this offering, and therefore will receive a portion of such proceeds upon such prepayment or repayment. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”

 

Conflicts of Interest

Certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates may receive 5% or more of the net proceeds of this offering, not including the underwriting discount, as a result of our intention to use the net proceeds to prepay borrowings outstanding under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility and to repay borrowings outstanding under the Utility Revolving Credit Facility and the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility. See “Use of Proceeds.” Any such underwriter would be considered to have a “conflict of interest” pursuant to Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Consequently, this offering will be made in compliance with FINRA Rule 5121. Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary in connection with the offering because the offering is of a class of securities that are investment grade rated. No affected underwriter will confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior written consent of the account holder. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest.”

 

Optional Redemption

We may redeem the floating rate mortgage bonds and the 20    mortgage bonds on or after             , 20     , at par. We may redeem the 20    mortgage bonds and the 20     mortgage bonds at any time prior to maturity, in whole or in part, at our option, at the redemption prices described under “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Optional Redemption.”

 

Basis for Issuance of the Mortgage Bonds

We will issue $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of the mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Indenture based upon Retired Securities. The Retired Securities consist of the collateral first mortgage bond securing the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility being prepaid on the date of closing of the mortgage bonds. The remaining mortgage bonds being issued under the Mortgage Indenture will be issued based upon the value of Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property. As of December 31, 2020, we could issue under the Mortgage Indenture (i) based upon the value of Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property, up to approximately $1.5 billion of additional first mortgage bonds ($             million after giving effect to this offering) and (ii) based upon Retired Securities, no additional first mortgage bonds were available to be issued. See “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Basis for Issuance of the Mortgage Bonds.”

 

Additional Mortgage Bonds

We may issue additional first mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Indenture (as defined herein) only in amounts not exceeding 70% of



 

S-10


Table of Contents
 

the net amount of property additions or in amounts equal to the aggregate principal amount of previously issued first mortgage bonds being canceled. See “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds.”

 

Certain Covenants

The Mortgage Indenture that will govern the mortgage bonds contains certain covenants limiting our ability to, among other things:

 

   

merge or consolidate with another entity; and

 

   

convey, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of our assets.

 

  These covenants are subject to the qualifications and exceptions described under “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Consolidation, Merger, Transfer of Mortgaged Property.”

 

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

We will issue the mortgage bonds of each series in the form of one or more fully registered global notes registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). Investors may elect to hold the interests in the global notes through any of DTC, Clearstream Banking, S.A. or Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as described under the heading “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Book-Entry Issuance; Global Securities.”

 

Mortgage Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Mortgage Trustee”).

 

Tax Considerations

For a discussion of the material income tax considerations of an investment in the mortgage bonds, see “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.” You should consult your own tax advisor to determine the tax considerations of an investment in the mortgage bonds.

 

Governing Law

The Mortgage Indenture and the mortgage bonds shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law or any successor to such statute), except to the extent that the 1939 Act (as defined herein) shall be applicable, provided that the law of the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property consisting of real property is located shall govern the creation of a mortgage lien on and security interest in, or perfection, priority or enforcement of the lien of the Mortgage Indenture or exercise of remedies with respect to, such portion of the Mortgaged Property.

 

Listing

The mortgage bonds will not be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system.

 

Risk Factors

See the risks that are described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of the 2020 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.


 

S-11


Table of Contents

Summary Historical Financial and Operating Information

Historical Financial Information

The following table sets forth summary historical consolidated financial data as of the dates and for the periods indicated. The summary historical consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future periods, and our results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any other future period. The summary historical financial data should be read in conjunction with the sections entitled “Capitalization,” “Risk Factors,” “Prospectus Summary—The Offering” in this prospectus supplement and our historical consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto, which are included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  

(In millions)

   2020     2019     2018  

Income Data:

      

Electric

   $ 13,902     $ 12,740     $ 12,713  

Natural Gas

     4,628       4,389       4,047  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Operating Revenues

     18,530       17,129       16,760  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

      

Cost of Electricity

     3,116       3,095       3,828  

Cost of Natural Gas

     782       734       671  

Operating and Maintenance

     8,776       8,750       7,153  

Wildfire-Related Claims, net of insurance recoveries

     251       11,435       11,771  

Wildfire Fund Expense

     413       —         —    

Depreciation, Amortization and Decommissioning

     3,469       3,233       3,036  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Operating Expenses

     16,807       27,247       26,459  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income (Loss)

     1,723       (10,118     (9,699
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest Income

     39       82       74  

Interest Expense

     (1,111     (912     (914

Other Income, net

     470       239       426  

Reorganization Items, net

     (310     (320     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

     811       (11,029     (10,113

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

     405       (3,407     (3,295
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss)

   $ 392     $ (7,636   $ (6,832
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flow Data:

      

Net Cash provided by (used in) Operating Activities

   $ (19,087   $ 4,810     $ 4,704  

Net Cash used in Investing Activities

     (7,748     (6,378     (6,564

Net Cash provided by Financing Activities

     26,070       1,395       2,708  


 

S-12


Table of Contents
     As at December 31,  

(In millions)

   2020      2019  

Balance Sheet Data:

     

Current Assets

   $ 9,393      $  9,736  

Net Property, Plant and Equipment

     66,136        61,635  

Total Assets

     97,454        84,614  

Current Liabilities

     13,496        7,741  

Liabilities Subject to Compromise

     —          49,736  

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     25,471        5,335  


 

S-13


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investing in the mortgage bonds involves risk. These risks are described below and in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of the 2020 Annual Report. See the section titled “Where You Can Find More Information.” Before making a decision to invest in the mortgage bonds, you should carefully consider these risks, as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Risks Relating to the Mortgage Bonds

The proceeds from any sale of collateral may be insufficient to satisfy all the obligations secured by the collateral, and additional indebtedness may be secured on a pari passu basis.

The mortgage bonds will be secured by a lien on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $36.4 billion of indebtedness and letters of credit outstanding secured on a pari passu basis by the collateral securing our first mortgage bonds (including first mortgage bonds securing our credit facilities). If we are entitled to incur any additional mortgage bonds in accordance with the incurrence limitations in the Mortgage Indenture and we do so (including to serve as collateral for other debt), the holders thereof will be entitled to share ratably with you in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding up of our company. Given the extensive number of real properties subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture, certain provisions of California law that limit enforcement of remedies and the requirement for certain approvals for property transfers from regulatory authorities, we cannot assure you that the collateral securing the first mortgage bonds can be readily sold following an acceleration of maturity of the mortgage bonds, or that the proceeds of any such sale would be sufficient to satisfy amounts due on the mortgage bonds and any other debt secured by the collateral in full or at all.

Uncertainty relating to the calculation of LIBOR and other reference rates and their planned discontinuance may materially adversely affect the value of the floating rate mortgage bonds.

National and international regulators and law enforcement agencies have conducted investigations into a number of rates or indices which are deemed to be “reference rates.” Actions by such regulators and law enforcement agencies may result in changes to the manner in which certain reference rates are determined, their discontinuance, or the establishment of alternative reference rates. In particular, on July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced that the FCA will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. On November 30, 2020, ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, with the support of the United States Federal Reserve and the FCA, announced plans to consult on ceasing publication of USD LIBOR on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two month USD LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other USD LIBOR tenors. On March 5, 2021, the FCA confirmed that USD LIBOR will no longer be published on December 31, 2021 for only the one week and two month USD LIBOR tenors, and on June 30, 2023 for all other USD LIBOR tenors, consistent with the ICE Benchmark Administration’s November 2020 announcement. While the FCA’s announcement extends the transition period to June 2023, the United States Federal Reserve has previously advised banks to cease entering into new contracts that use USD LIBOR as a reference rate as soon as practicable and in any event by December 31, 2021. At this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become accepted alternatives submissions to the administrator of LIBOR or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted, but such announcements indicate that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. As a result, certain LIBOR tenors will be discontinued prior to the maturity date of the floating rate mortgage bonds.

At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect that these developments, any discontinuance, modification or other reforms to LIBOR or any other reference rate, or the establishment of alternative reference rates may have on LIBOR, other benchmarks or floating rate debt securities, including the floating rate mortgage bonds.

 

S-14


Table of Contents

The market price of our floating rate mortgage bonds, in particular, will be influenced by the three-month LIBOR rate, volatility in such rate and events that affect LIBOR rates generally. Uncertainty as to the nature of such potential discontinuance, modification, alternative reference rates or other reforms may materially adversely affect the trading market for securities linked to such benchmarks, including the floating rate mortgage bonds. Furthermore, the use of alternative reference rates or other reforms could cause the interest rate calculated for the floating rate mortgage bonds to be materially different than expected.

If it is determined that LIBOR has been discontinued and an alternative reference rate for three-month LIBOR is used as described in “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Interest—Floating Rate Mortgage Bonds”, we or our designee (a “Designee”) may make certain adjustments to such rate, including applying a spread thereon or with respect to the business day convention, interest determination dates and related provisions and definitions, to make such alternative reference rate comparable to three-month LIBOR, in a manner that is consistent with industry-accepted practices or applicable regulatory or legislative actions or guidance for such alternative reference rate. See “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Interest—Floating Rate Mortgage Bonds.” Any of the specified methods of determining floating rate alternative reference rates or the permitted adjustments to such rates may result in interest payments on your floating rate mortgage bonds that are lower than or that do not otherwise correlate over time with the payments that would have been made on the floating rate mortgage bonds if published LIBOR continued to be available. Other floating rate debt securities issued by other issuers, by comparison, may be subject in similar circumstances to different procedures for the establishment of alternative reference rates. Any of the foregoing may have a material adverse effect on the amount of interest payable on your floating rate mortgage bonds, or the market liquidity and market value of your floating rate mortgage bonds.

Interest on the floating rate mortgage bonds will be calculated using a Benchmark Replacement selected by us or our Designee if a Benchmark Transition Event occurs.

As described in detail in the section “Description of the Mortgage Bonds—Interest—Effect of Benchmark Transition Event” (the “benchmark transition provisions”), if during the term of the floating rate mortgage bonds, we (or our Designee) determine that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to LIBOR, we (or our Designee) in our sole discretion will select a Benchmark Replacement as the base rate in accordance with the benchmark transition provisions. The Benchmark Replacement will include a spread adjustment, and technical, administrative or operational changes described in the benchmark transition provisions may be made to the interest rate determination if we (or our Designee) determine in our sole discretion they are required.

Our interests (or the interests of our Designee) in making the determinations described above may be adverse to your interests as a holder of the floating rate mortgage bonds. The selection of a Benchmark Replacement, and any decisions made by us (or our Designee) in connection with implementing a Benchmark Replacement with respect to the floating rate mortgage bonds, could result in adverse consequences to the applicable interest rate on the floating rate mortgage bonds, which could adversely affect the return on, value of and market for such securities. Further, there is no assurance that the characteristics of any Benchmark Replacement will be similar to LIBOR or that any Benchmark Replacement will produce the economic equivalent of LIBOR.

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) is a relatively new market index and as the related market continues to develop, there may be an adverse effect on the return on or value of the floating rate mortgage bonds.

If a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date occur, then the rate of interest on the floating rate mortgage bonds will be determined using SOFR (unless a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date also occur with respect to the Benchmark Replacements that are linked to SOFR, in which case the rate of interest will be based on the next-available Benchmark Replacement). In the following discussion of SOFR, when we refer to SOFR-linked notes or debt securities, we

 

S-15


Table of Contents

mean the floating rate mortgage bonds at any time when the rate of interest on those notes or debt securities is or will be determined based on SOFR.

The Benchmark Replacements specified in the benchmark transition provisions include Term SOFR, a forward-looking term rate which will be based on SOFR. Term SOFR is currently being developed under the sponsorship of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “NY Federal Reserve”), and there is no assurance that the development of Term SOFR will be completed. If a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date occur with respect to LIBOR and, at that time, a form of Term SOFR has not been selected or recommended by the Federal Reserve Board, the NY Federal Reserve, a committee thereof or successor thereto, then the next-available Benchmark Replacement under the benchmark transition provisions will be used to determine the amount of interest payable on the floating rate mortgage bonds for the next applicable interest period and all subsequent interest periods (unless a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date occur with respect to that next-available Benchmark Replacement).

These replacement rates and adjustments may be selected or formulated by (i) the Relevant Governmental Body (as defined in the benchmark transition provisions) (such as the Alternative Reference Rates Committee of the NY Federal Reserve), (ii) the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., or (iii) in certain circumstances, us (or our Designee). In addition, the benchmark transition provisions expressly authorize us (or our Designee) to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes with respect to, among other things, the determination of interest periods and the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest. The application of a Benchmark Replacement and Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, and any implementation of Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, could result in adverse consequences to the amount of interest payable on the floating rate mortgage bonds, which could adversely affect the return on, value of and market for the floating rate mortgage bonds. Further, there is no assurance that the characteristics of any Benchmark Replacement will be similar to the then-current Benchmark that it is replacing, or that any Benchmark Replacement will produce the economic equivalent of the then-current Benchmark that it is replacing.

The NY Federal Reserve began to publish SOFR in April 2018. Although the NY Federal Reserve has also begun publishing historical indicative SOFR going back to 2014, such prepublication historical data inherently involves assumptions, estimates and approximations. You should not rely on any historical changes or trends in SOFR as an indicator of the future performance of SOFR. Since the initial publication of SOFR, daily changes in the rate have, on occasion, been more volatile than daily changes in comparable benchmark or market rates. As a result, the return on and value of SOFR-linked debt securities may fluctuate more than floating rate debt securities that are linked to less volatile rates.

Also, since SOFR is a relatively new market index, SOFR-linked debt securities likely will have no established trading market when issued, and an established trading market may never develop or may not be very liquid. Market terms for debt securities indexed to SOFR, such as the spread over the index reflected in interest rate provisions, may evolve over time, and trading prices of the floating rate mortgage bonds may be lower than those of later-issued SOFR-linked debt securities as a result. Similarly, if SOFR does not prove to be widely used in securities like the floating rate mortgage bonds, the trading price of those securities may be lower than those of debt securities linked to rates that are more widely used. Debt securities indexed to SOFR may not be able to be sold or may not be able to be sold at prices that will provide a yield comparable to similar investments that have a developed secondary market, and may consequently suffer from increased pricing volatility and market risk.

The NY Federal Reserve notes on its publication page for SOFR that use of SOFR is subject to important limitations, indemnification obligations and disclaimers, including that the NY Federal Reserve may alter the methods of calculation, publication schedule, rate revision practices or availability of SOFR at any time without notice. There can be no guarantee that SOFR will not be discontinued or fundamentally altered in a manner that is materially adverse to you as a holder of the floating rate mortgage bonds. If the manner in which SOFR is calculated is changed or if SOFR is discontinued, that change or discontinuance may result in a reduction or elimination of the amount of interest payable on the floating rate mortgage bonds and a reduction in their trading prices.

 

S-16


Table of Contents

The Company’s substantial indebtedness, a large percentage of which is secured, may adversely affect our financial health and operating flexibility.

We have a substantial amount of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $36.4 billion of total indebtedness and letters of credit outstanding. Substantially all of our outstanding indebtedness, including the mortgage bonds hereby, is secured by substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. In addition, Corp had approximately $4.7 billion of additional indebtedness outstanding. Because we are Corp’s primary subsidiary, we expect that Corp will look to dividends from us to satisfy its debt obligations. See “Capitalization” for more information.

Since we have such a high level of debt, a substantial portion of cash flow from operations will be used to make payments on this debt. Furthermore, since a significant percentage of our assets is used to secure this debt, this reduces the amount of collateral available for future secured debt or credit support and reduces our flexibility in operating these secured assets. This high level of debt and related security could have other important consequences for us, including:

 

   

limiting our ability or increasing the costs to refinance our indebtedness;

 

   

limiting our ability to borrow additional amounts for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy or other purposes;

 

   

limiting our ability to use operating cash flow in other areas of our business because we must dedicate a substantial portion of these funds to service debt;

 

   

increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, including increases in interest rates, particularly given our substantial indebtedness that bears interest at variable rates, as well as to catastrophic events; and

 

   

limiting our ability to capitalize on business opportunities.

Under the terms of the agreements and indentures governing our indebtedness, including the Mortgage Indenture, we and our subsidiaries are permitted to incur additional indebtedness, some of which could be secured (subject to compliance with certain tests), and which could further accentuate these risks. As a result of our high level of indebtedness, we may be unable to generate sufficient cash through our operations to service our debt, including the mortgage bonds offered hereby, and we may need to refinance our indebtedness, including the mortgage bonds offered hereby, at or prior to maturity and be unable to obtain financing on suitable terms or at all, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results operations.

The documents that govern our indebtedness contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business.

Our material financing agreements, including certain credit agreements and indentures, contain various covenants limiting, subject to certain exceptions, among other things, our ability to:

 

   

incur or assume indebtedness or guarantees of indebtedness;

 

   

incur or assume liens;

 

   

sell or dispose of all or substantially all of our property or business;

 

   

merge or consolidate with other companies;

 

   

enter into sale leaseback transactions; and

 

   

enter into swap agreements.

The restrictions contained in these material financing agreements could affect our ability to operate our business and may limit our ability to react to market conditions or take advantage of potential business

 

S-17


Table of Contents

opportunities as they arise. For example, such restrictions could adversely affect our ability to finance our operations and expenditures, make strategic acquisitions, investments or alliances, restructure our organization or finance our capital needs. Additionally, our ability to comply with these covenants and restrictions may be affected by events beyond our control, including, but not limited to, prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions.

 

S-18


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds from this offering will be $                , after deducting the respective underwriting discounts and before estimated offering expenses payable by us. We expect to use the net proceeds from the offering for (i) the prepayment of all of the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility outstanding under the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement and (ii) the repayment of all of the borrowings outstanding under the Utility Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement. Any remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of a portion of borrowings outstanding under the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility.

At March 5, 2021, borrowings under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility totaled $1.5 billion. Such borrowings bear interest based at a floating rate (2.125% per annum at March 5, 2021). The Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility matures on June 30, 2021. The proceeds were used to fund transactions contemplated under the Plan.

At March 5, 2021, borrowings under the Utility Revolving Credit Facility totaled approximately $845.0 million. Such borrowings bear interest based at a floating rate (2.125% per annum at March 5, 2021). The Utility Revolving Credit Facility matures on July 1, 2023, subject to two one-year extensions at our option. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.

At March 5, 2021, outstanding borrowings under the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility totaled approximately $1.0 billion. Such borrowings bear interest based on a spread over LIBOR dependent on the tranche period thereto and any brokerage fees accrued. The Accounts Receivable Facility is scheduled to terminate on October 5, 2022, unless extended or earlier terminated, at which time no further advances will be available and the obligations thereunder must be repaid in full no later than (i) the date that is 180 days following such date or (ii) such earlier date on which the loans under the program become due and payable. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.

Certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates are agents or lenders under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility, the Utility Revolving Credit Facility and the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility, the borrowings under which will be prepaid or repaid with the net proceeds of this offering, and therefore will receive a portion of such proceeds upon such prepayment or repayment. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”

 

S-19


Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents, current liabilities and capitalization as of December 31, 2020 on an (x) actual basis and (y) as adjusted basis, after giving effect to (i) the issuance of the mortgage bonds in this offering and (ii) the application of the net proceeds therefrom. You should read this table in conjunction with the financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the information included under the heading “Summary Historical Financial and Operating Information” included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement.

 

     As of December 31,
2020
 

(in millions)

   Actual      As
Adjusted
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 261                      
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

     

Short-term borrowings(1)(2)

   $ 3,547     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capitalization:

     

Long-term debt(3)(4)

     32,664     

Shareholders’ equity(5)

     25,476     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Capitalization

   $ 58,140     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

At December 31, 2020 and March 5, 2021, outstanding borrowings under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility were $1.5 billion. At December 31 and March 5, 2021, outstanding borrowings under the Utility Revolving Credit Facility were $605.0 million and $845.0 million, respectively. Such amounts exclude letters of credit outstanding.

(2)

Adjusted to give effect only to (i) the issuance of the mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus supplement, net of any discounts and premiums and (ii) the expected prepayment of borrowings under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility and expected repayment of borrowings under the Utility Revolving Credit Facility with the proceeds of the mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus supplement, net of any discounts and premiums.

(3)

At December 31, 2020 and March 5, 2021, outstanding borrowings under the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility were $1.0 billion.

(4)

Adjusted to give effect only to (i) the issuance of the mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus supplement, net of any discounts and premiums and (ii) the expected repayment of borrowings under the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility with the proceeds of the mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus supplement, net of any discounts and premiums.

(5)

Includes $258 million of preferred stock without mandatory redemption provisions.

 

S-20


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS AND PREFERRED STOCK

Utility Credit Agreements

General

The descriptions of the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement and the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement (each as defined herein) in this section do not purport to be complete and are subject, and qualified in entirety by reference, to the full text of the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement and the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement, copies of which are included as Exhibit 10.3 and Exhibit 10.4, respectively, to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 2, 2020.

Utility Revolving Credit Agreement

On July 1, 2020, the Company entered into a $3.5 billion revolving credit agreement (the “Utility Revolving Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Citibank, N.A. as co-administrative agents, and Citibank, N.A., as designated agent.

Maturity and Prepayments

The Utility Revolving Credit Agreement has a maturity date three years after July 1, 2020, subject to two one-year extension options.

The Company may voluntarily repay outstanding loans under the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to eurodollar rate loans. Any voluntary prepayments made by the Company will not reduce the commitments under the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement.

Interest Rate and Fees

Borrowings under the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement bear interest based on the Company’s election of either (1) LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.375% to 2.50% based on the Company’s credit rating or (2) the base rate plus an applicable margin of 0.375% to 1.50% based on the Company’s credit rating. In addition to interest on outstanding principal under the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder, ranging from 0.25% to 0.50% per annum depending on the Company’s credit rating. The Utility Revolving Credit Agreement has a maximum letter of credit sublimit equal to $1.5 billion. The Company may also pay customary letter of credit fees based on letters of credit issued under the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement.

Security

Our obligations under the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement are secured by the issuance of first mortgage bonds secured by a first lien on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities, subject to certain exceptions, and rank pari passu with our other first mortgage bonds, including the mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus supplement and the other first mortgage bonds described under “—Refinanced First Mortgage Bonds” below.

Certain Covenants and Events of Default

The Utility Revolving Credit Agreement includes usual and customary provisions for revolving credit agreements of this type, including covenants limiting, with certain exceptions, (1) liens, (2) indebtedness, (3) sale and leaseback transactions, and (4) fundamental changes. In addition, the Utility Revolving Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintain a ratio of total consolidated debt to consolidated capitalization of no greater

 

S-21


Table of Contents

than 65% as of the end of each fiscal quarter. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with this covenant.

Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement

On July 1, 2020, the Company obtained a $3.0 billion secured term loan under a term loan credit agreement (the “Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The credit facilities under the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement consist of the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility and a $1.5 billion 18-month term loan facility (the “Utility 18-Month Term Loan Facility”). The Company borrowed the entire amount of the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility and the Utility 18-Month Term Loan Facility on July 1, 2020.

Maturity and Prepayments

The maturity date for the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility is June 30, 2021 and the maturity date for the Utility 18-Month Term Loan Facility is January 1, 2022.

The Company is required to prepay outstanding term loans under the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement (with all outstanding term loans made under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility being paid first), subject to certain exceptions, with 100% of the net cash proceeds of certain securitization transactions.

The Company may voluntarily repay outstanding loans under the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to eurodollar rate loans.

The Company expects to prepay the full $1.5 billion outstanding under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility with a portion of the proceeds of this offering. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Interest Rate and Fees

Borrowings under the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement bear interest based on the Company’s election of either (1) LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 2.00% with respect to the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility and 2.25% with respect to the Utility 18-Month Term Loan Facility, or (2) the base rate plus an applicable margin of 1.00% with respect to the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility and 1.25% with respect to the Utility 18-Month Term Loan Facility.

Security

Our obligations under the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement are secured by the issuance of first mortgage bonds secured by first lien on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities, subject to certain exceptions, and rank pari passu with our other first mortgage bonds, including the mortgage bonds offered by this prospectus supplement.

Certain Covenants and Events of Default

The Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement includes usual and customary provisions for term loan agreements of this type, including covenants limiting, with certain exceptions, (1) liens, (2) indebtedness, (3) sale and leaseback transactions, (4) fundamental changes, (5) entering into swap agreements and (6) modifications to the Mortgage Indenture. In addition, the Utility Term Loan Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintain a ratio of total consolidated debt to consolidated capitalization of no greater than 65% as of the end of each fiscal quarter. As of December 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with this covenant.

 

S-22


Table of Contents

Utility Accounts Receivable Facility

On October 5, 2020, PG&E AR Facility LLC (the “SPV”), a special purpose entity wholly owned by the Company entered into an accounts receivable securitization program (the “Utility Accounts Receivable Facility”). Under this program, we will sell certain of our receivables and certain related rights to payment and obligations with respect to such receivables and certain other related rights (collectively, the “Receivables”) to the SPV, which, in turn, will obtain loans secured by the Receivables.

Maturity

The Utility Accounts Receivable Facility may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain specified events, including failure by the SPV to pay amounts when due, certain defaults on indebtedness under our credit facility, certain judgments, a change of control, certain events negatively affecting the overall credit quality of transferred Receivables and bankruptcy and insolvency events. The Utility Accounts Receivable Facility is scheduled to terminate on October 5, 2022.

Interest Rate and Fees

The aggregate principal amount of the loans will not exceed $1.0 billion outstanding at any time and bear interest based on a spread over LIBOR dependent on the tranche period thereto and any brokerage fees accrued. The administrative agent for the program receives certain fees as agent.

Security

We have pledged 100% of the equity interests in the SPV as security for repayment of obligations.

Certain Covenants and Events of Default

The Utility Accounts Receivable Facility contains certain customary representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, including as to the eligibility of the Receivables being sold by the originator and securing the loans made by the lenders, as well as customary reserve requirements, accounts receivable securitization program termination events, originator termination events and servicer defaults. The accounts receivable securitization program termination events permit the lenders to terminate the underlying receivables financing agreement upon the occurrence of certain specified events, including failure by the SPV to pay amounts when due, certain defaults on indebtedness under the Company’s credit facility, certain judgments, a change of control, certain events negatively affecting the overall credit quality of transferred Receivables and bankruptcy and insolvency events.

Refinanced First Mortgage Bonds

As part of our emergence from bankruptcy on July 1, 2020, we issued $11.85294 billion aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds in satisfaction of all claims arising out of the Utility Short-Term Senior Notes, the Utility Long-Term Senior Notes and the Utility Funded Debt, consisting of the New Utility Short-Term Bonds, the New Utility Long-Term Bonds and the New Utility Funded Debt Exchange Bonds (together, the “Refinanced First Mortgage Bonds”).

The New Utility Short-Term Bonds consist of $875 million aggregate principal amount of new 3.45% first mortgage bonds due 2025 and $875 million aggregate principal amount of new 3.75% first mortgage bonds due 2028.

The New Utility Long-Term Bonds consist of $3.1 billion aggregate principal amount of new 4.55% first mortgage bonds due 2030 and $3.1 billion aggregate principal amount of new 4.95% first mortgage bonds due

 

S-23


Table of Contents

2050. The New Utility Funded Debt Exchange Bonds consist of $1.951 billion aggregate principal amount of new 3.15% first mortgage bonds due 2026 and $1.951 billion aggregate principal amount of new 4.50% first mortgage bonds due 2040.

Each such series of Refinanced First Mortgage Bonds was issued under the Mortgage Indenture and is secured by a first lien, subject to permitted liens, on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible property related to our facilities. The Refinanced Mortgage Bonds are the Company’s senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with our other existing or future first mortgage bonds issued under the Mortgage Indenture, including the mortgage bonds offered hereby.

The Mortgage Indenture contains covenants that limit our ability, to, among other things:

 

   

create liens on Mortgaged Property;

 

   

withdraw cash held by the Mortgage Trustee; and

 

   

merge or consolidate with another person, or convey, otherwise transfer or lease all or substantially all of our Mortgaged Property.

We may redeem each series of Refinanced First Mortgage Bonds at any time prior to maturity, in whole or in part, at a “make-whole” redemption price set forth in the applicable supplemental indenture, except that during a period prior to maturity specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, we may redeem each series of the Refinanced First Mortgage Bonds in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Refinanced First Mortgage Bonds being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

See “Description of the Debt Securities of Pacific Gas and Electric Company—Description of the First Mortgage Bonds” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of the terms and provisions of the Mortgage Indenture.

Utility Reinstated Collateralized Senior Notes

As part of our emergence from bankruptcy on July 1, 2020, we reinstated $9.575 billion aggregate principal amount of pre-petition Utility Reinstated Senior Notes. Each such series of Utility Reinstated Senior Notes was reinstated on the same contractual terms under the indenture under which it was originally issued.

The Utility Reinstated Collateralized Senior Notes consist of $850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.95% Senior Notes due 2047, $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.00% Senior Notes due 2046, $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.25% Senior Notes due 2046, $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.30% Senior Notes due 2045, $675,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.75% Senior Notes due 2044, $375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.60% Senior Notes due 2043, $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.45% Senior Notes due 2042, $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.75% Senior Notes due 2042, $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.50% Senior Notes due 2041, $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.65% Senior Notes due 2028, $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.30% Senior Notes due 2027, $1,150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.30% Senior Notes due 2027, $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2.95% Senior Notes due 2026, $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.50% Senior Notes due 2025, $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.75% Senior Notes due 2024, aggregate principal amount of the $350,000,000 3.40% Senior Notes due 2024, $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.85% Senior Notes due 2023, $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.25% Senior Notes due 2023 and $375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.25% Senior Notes due 2023.

We collateralized each series of Utility Reinstated Notes by delivering first mortgage bonds to the applicable unsecured trustee of such series. The Utility Reinstated Collateralized Senior Notes are the

 

S-24


Table of Contents

Company’s senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with our other existing or future first mortgage bonds issued under the Mortgage Indenture, including the mortgage bonds offered hereby.

We may redeem each series of Utility Reinstated Collateralized Senior Notes at any time prior to maturity, in whole or in part, at a “make-whole” redemption price set forth in the applicable supplemental indenture, except that during a period prior to maturity specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, we may redeem each series of the Utility Reinstated Collateralized Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Utility Reinstated Collateralized Senior Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

The indentures under which the Utility Reinstated Collateralized Senior Notes were issued include covenants limiting, with certain exceptions, sale and leaseback transactions and consolidation, merger, conveyance or other transfers.

Subsidiary Preferred Stock

On July 1, 2020, we reinstated $257,994,500 of shares of our preferred stock (the “Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock”). Each such series of Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock was reinstated on the same terms under which it was originally issued.

The Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock consists of 4,211,661 shares of 6% Nonredeemable First Preferred Stock, 1,173,163 shares of 5.5% Nonredeemable first Preferred Stock, 400,000 shares of 5% Nonredeemable First Preferred Stock, 1,778,172 shares of 5% First Preferred Series A Stock, 934,322 shares of 5% First Preferred Stock, 793,031 shares of 4.8% First Preferred Stock, 611,142 shares of 4.5% First Preferred Stock, and 418,291 shares of 4.36% First Preferred Series A Stock. All Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock that was reinstated on July 1, 2020 has a $25 par value.

Except as otherwise provided by law, holders of the Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock have voting rights on the basis of one vote per share on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders. Our shareholders may not cumulate votes in elections of directors. As a result, the holders of the Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock entitled to exercise more than 50% of the voting rights in an election of directors can elect all of the directors to be elected if they choose to do so. In such event, the holders of the remaining Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock voting for the election of directors will not be able to elect any persons to the Board of Directors.

Dividends

The holders of shares of the Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, out of funds legally available therefor, cumulative preferential dividends, when and as declared by our Board of Directors, at the rates set forth above.

Such dividends shall be declared and shall be either paid or set apart for payment before any dividend upon the shares of common stock shall be either declared or paid. All shares of Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock rank equally in priority with regard to preference in dividend rights, except that shares of different classes or different series thereof may differ as to the amounts of dividends to which they are entitled.

Liquidation Preference

Upon the liquidation or dissolution of the Company at any time and in any manner, the holders of the Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive an amount equal to the par value of such shares plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to and including the date fixed for such distribution or payment before any amount shall be paid to the holders of our common stock (all of which is held by Corp). All shares of the Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock rank equally in priority with regard to preference in liquidation rights, except that shares of different classes or different series thereof may differ as to the amounts of liquidation payments to which they are entitled.

 

S-25


Table of Contents

Redemption, Repurchase and Other Rights

None of the 6% Nonredeemable First Preferred Stock, 5.5% Nonredeemable First Preferred Stock and 5% Nonredeemable First Preferred Stock is subject to redemption. The remaining outstanding series of the Utility Reinstated Preferred Stock may be redeemed at our option, at any time or from time to time, at the redemption price fixed for such series of Preferred Stock together with accumulated and unpaid dividends at the rate fixed therefor to and including the date fixed for redemption. None of the Reinstated Utility Preferred Stock is subject to mandatory redemption. None of the Preferred Stock has preemptive rights or conversion rights.

 

S-26


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE MORTGAGE BONDS

The mortgage bonds represent four series of first mortgage bonds described in the accompanying prospectus under the section “Description of the Debt Securities of Pacific Gas and Electric Company—Description of the First Mortgage Bonds.” The following information concerning the mortgage bonds should be read in conjunction with the statements under such section of the accompanying prospectus, which the following information supplements and, in the event of any inconsistencies, supersedes. The following information does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety to, the terms of the Mortgage Indenture. The Mortgage Indenture is described in the accompanying prospectus and has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus is a part. We urge you to read the Mortgage Indenture and the mortgage bonds because the Mortgage Indenture and the mortgage bonds, and not this description, define your rights as holders of the applicable series of mortgage bonds. You may request copies of the Mortgage Indenture and the mortgage bonds at our address set forth under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

As used in this section, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates. In this section, references to “Corp” refer only to PG&E Corporation and not any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates.

The floating rate mortgage bonds are being offered in the aggregate principal amount of $         and will mature on                 , 20    .

The 20     mortgage bonds are being offered in the aggregate principal amount of $         and will mature on                 , 20    .

The 20     mortgage bonds are being offered in the aggregate principal amount of $         and will mature on                 , 20    .

The 20     mortgage bonds are being offered in the aggregate principal amount of $         and will mature on                 , 20    .

We will issue the mortgage bonds under a mortgage indenture, dated as of June 19, 2020 (as heretofore supplemented and amended and to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture establishing the mortgage bonds of such series (the “Supplemental Indenture”), the “Mortgage Indenture”), between us and the Mortgage Trustee. The Mortgage Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “1939 Act”) and the terms of the mortgage bonds will include those made part of the Mortgage Indenture by the 1939 Act.

Pursuant to the 1939 Act, if a default occurs on the mortgage bonds, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. may be required to resign as trustee under the Mortgage Indenture if it has a conflicting interest (as defined in the 1939 Act), unless the default is cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated within 90 days.

We will issue the mortgage bonds in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

We will issue the mortgage bonds in the form of one or more global securities, which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and registered in the name of DTC’s nominee. Information regarding DTC’s book-entry system is set forth under “—Book-Entry Issuance; Global Securities.”

The Mortgage Indenture constitutes a first lien, subject to Permitted Liens (as described below), on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. The Mortgage

 

S-27


Table of Contents

Indenture does not limit the amount of debt that we may issue under it. However, we may issue additional first mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Indenture only on the basis of, and to the extent we have available, Property Additions (as described below), retired mortgage bonds and cash. See “—Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds.” The mortgage bonds will be entitled to the benefit of the Mortgage Indenture equally and ratably with all other mortgage bonds issued under the Mortgage Indenture.

Interest

Floating Rate Mortgage Bonds

The floating rate mortgage bonds will bear interest at a variable rate. The interest rate for the floating rate mortgage bonds for a particular interest period will be a per annum rate equal to LIBOR as determined on the applicable interest determination date by the calculation agent appointed by us, which initially will be The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., plus     %. The interest rate on the floating rate mortgage bonds will be reset on the first day of each interest period other than the initial interest period (each an “interest reset date”). Interest on the floating rate mortgage bonds will be payable quarterly on                ,                 ,                  and                  of each year, beginning                 , 2021. An interest period is the period commencing on an interest payment date (or, in the case of the initial interest period, commencing on                 , 2021) and ending on the day preceding the next interest payment date. The initial interest period is                 , 2021 through                 , 2021.

The interest determination date for an interest period will be the second London Business Day preceding such interest period (the “interest determination date”). The interest determination date for the initial interest period will be                 , 2021. Promptly upon determination, the calculation agent will inform the Mortgage Trustee and us, or in certain circumstances described below, we or our designee (which may be an independent financial advisor or such other designee of ours (any of such entities, a “Designee”)) will inform the Mortgage Trustee, of the interest rate for the next interest period. Absent manifest error, the determination of the interest rate by the calculation agent, or in certain circumstances described below, by us or our Designee, shall be binding and conclusive on the holders of the floating rate mortgage bonds, the Mortgage Trustee and us. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the calculation agent or the Mortgage Trustee be the Designee.

If any interest payment date (other than the maturity date) falls on a date that is not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next Business Day, except that if that Business Day is in the immediately succeeding calendar month, the interest payment will be made on the next preceding Business Day, in each case with interest accruing to the applicable interest payment date (as so adjusted). If the maturity date of the floating rate mortgage bonds falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the related payment of principal and interest will be made on the next day that is a Business Day with the same effect as if made on the date that the payment was first due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from the maturity date. Interest on the floating rate mortgage bonds payable on each interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name that mortgage bond is registered as of the close of business on the regular record date for the applicable interest payment date (whether or not a Business Day). If there has been a default in the payment of interest on the floating rate mortgage bonds, the defaulted interest may be paid to the holders of the floating rate mortgage bonds as of a special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest which shall not be more than 30 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Mortgage Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.

In no event shall the calculation agent be responsible for determining any substitute for LIBOR, or for making any adjustments to any alternative benchmark or spread thereon, the business day convention, interest determination dates or any other relevant methodology for calculating any such substitute or successor benchmark. In connection with the foregoing, the calculation agent will be entitled to conclusively rely on any determinations made by us or our Designee and will have no liability for such actions taken at the direction of ours.

 

S-28


Table of Contents

Any determination, decision or election that may be made by us or our Designee in connection with a Benchmark Transition Event or a Benchmark Replacement, including any determination with respect to a rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, may be made by us or our Designee’s sole discretion, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the transaction documents, will become effective without consent from any other party. None of the Mortgage Trustee or the calculation agent will have any liability for any determination made by or on behalf of us or our Designee in connection with a Benchmark Transition Event or a Benchmark Replacement.

Interest on the floating rate mortgage bonds will be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days in each quarterly interest period and a 360-day year.

“LIBOR” will be determined by the calculation agent in accordance with the following provisions:

 

  (1)

With respect to any interest determination date, LIBOR will be the rate for deposits in United States dollars having a maturity of three months commencing on the first day of the applicable interest period that appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (as hereinafter defined) as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that interest determination date. If no rate appears, then LIBOR, in respect of that interest determination date, will be determined in accordance with the provisions described in (2) below.

 

  (2)

With respect to an interest determination date on which no rate appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page, as specified in (1) above, the calculation agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market (which may include affiliates of the underwriters), as selected by us, to provide the calculation agent with its offered quotation for deposits in United States dollars for the period of three months, commencing on the first day of the applicable interest period, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that interest determination date and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in United States dollars in that market at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, then LIBOR on that interest determination date will be the arithmetic mean of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, then LIBOR on the interest determination date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., in The City of New York, on the interest determination date by three major banks in The City of New York (which may include affiliates of the underwriters) selected by us for loans in United States dollars to leading European banks, having a three-month maturity and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in United States dollars in that market at that time; provided that if the banks selected by us are not providing quotations in the manner described by this sentence, LIBOR will be the same as the rate determined for the immediately preceding interest reset date or if there is no immediately preceding interest reset date, LIBOR will be the same as the rate determined for the initial interest period.

Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page” means the display designated on page “LIBOR01” on Reuters (or such other page as may replace the LIBOR01 page on that service or any successor service for the purpose of displaying LIBOR for U.S. dollar deposits of major banks).

“London Business Day” means any day on which dealings in United States dollars are transacted on the

London interbank market.

Notwithstanding the two foregoing paragraphs, if we or our Designee determine on or prior to the relevant interest determination date that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the then current Benchmark, then (i) we shall promptly provide notice of such determination to the calculation agent and (ii) the provisions set forth below under the heading “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event” (the “benchmark transition provisions”) will thereafter apply to all determinations, calculations and quotations made or obtained for the purposes of calculating the rate and amount of interest

 

S-29


Table of Contents

payable on the floating rate mortgage bonds during a relevant interest period. In accordance with the benchmark transition provisions, after a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred, the amount of interest that will be payable for each interest period on the floating rate mortgage bonds will be a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Benchmark Replacement and the margin of     %, as determined by us or our Designee.

However, if we or our Designee determine that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the then-current Benchmark, but for any reason the Benchmark Replacement has not been determined as of the relevant interest determination date, the interest rate for the applicable interest period will be equal to the interest rate on the last interest determination date for the floating rate mortgage bonds, as determined by us or our Designee.

All percentages resulting from any calculation of any interest rate for the floating rate mortgage bonds will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point being rounded upwards (e.g., 8.986865% (or 0.08986865) being rounded to 8.98687% (or 0.0898687)) and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upwards).

The interest rate on the floating rate mortgage bonds will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States laws of general application. Additionally, the interest rate on the floating rate mortgage bonds will in no event be lower than zero.

The calculation agent will, upon the request of any holder of the mortgage bonds, provide the interest rate then in effect with respect to the floating rate mortgage bonds. All calculations made by the calculation agent in the absence of manifest error will be conclusive for all purposes and binding on us and the holders of the floating rate mortgage bonds.

Effect of Benchmark Transition Event

Benchmark Replacement

If we or our Designee determine that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any determination of the Benchmark on any date, the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to the floating rate mortgage bonds in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes

In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, we or our Designee will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.

Decisions and Determinations

Any determination, decision, election or calculation that may be made by us or our Designee pursuant to the benchmark transition provisions described herein, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, may be made in our or our Designee’s sole discretion and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any documentation relating to the floating rate mortgage bonds, shall become effective without consent from the holders of the floating rate mortgage bonds or any other party.

 

S-30


Table of Contents

Certain Defined Terms

As used herein:

“Benchmark” means, initially, three-month U.S. dollar LIBOR; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to three-month U.S. dollar LIBOR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.

“Benchmark Replacement” means the Interpolated Benchmark with respect to the then-current Benchmark, plus the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Benchmark; provided that if we or our Designee cannot determine the Interpolated Benchmark as of the Benchmark Replacement Date, then “Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by us or our Designee as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

  (1)

the sum of (a) Term SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

  (2)

the sum of (a) Compounded SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

  (3)

the sum of (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

  (4)

the sum of (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; and

 

  (5)

the sum of (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by us or our Designee as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate debt securities at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by us or our Designee as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

 

  (1)

the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;

 

  (2)

if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; and

 

  (3)

the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by us or our Designee giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate debt securities at such time.

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “interest period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, changes to the definition of “Corresponding Tenor” solely when such tenor is longer than the interest period and other administrative matters) that we or our Designee decide may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if we or our Designee decide that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if we or our Designee determine that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as we or our Designee determine is reasonably necessary).

 

S-31


Table of Contents

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then- current Benchmark:

 

  (1)

in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark; and

 

  (2)

in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.

“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

  (1)

a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark, permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark;

 

  (2)

a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark, the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark, which states that the administrator of the Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark; or

 

  (3)

a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.

“Compounded SOFR” means the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate being established by us or our Designee in accordance with:

 

  (1)

the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining compounded SOFR; provided that:

 

  (2)

if and to the extent that we or our Designee determine that Compounded SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate that have been selected by us or our Designee giving due consideration to any industry- accepted market practice for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate debt securities at such time.

For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of Compounded SOFR shall exclude the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment and the margin specified in this prospectus supplement.

“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to a Benchmark Replacement means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the then-current Benchmark.

“Interpolated Benchmark” with respect to the Benchmark means the rate determined for the Corresponding Tenor by interpolating on a linear basis between (1) the Benchmark for the longest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is shorter than the Corresponding Tenor and (2) the Benchmark for the shortest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is longer than the Corresponding Tenor.

 

S-32


Table of Contents

“ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.

“ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.

“ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor, excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.

“Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is three- month U.S. dollar LIBOR, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two London banking days preceding the date of such determination, and (2) if the Benchmark is not three-month U.S. dollar LIBOR, the time determined by us or our Designee in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NY Federal Reserve, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NY Federal Reserve or any successor thereto.

“SOFR” with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the NY Federal Reserve, as the administrator of the benchmark, or a successor administrator, on the website of the NY Federal Reserve at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.

“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for the applicable Corresponding Tenor based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement, excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

Fixed Rate Mortgage Bonds

The 20     mortgage bonds will bear interest from                 , 20     at     % per annum, payable semiannually on each                  and                 , commencing on                 , 2021 to holders of record at the close of business on                  and                  immediately preceding the interest payment date    

The 20     mortgage bonds will bear interest from                 , 20     at     % per annum, payable semiannually on each                  and                 , commencing on                 , 2021 to holders of record at the close of business on                  and                  immediately preceding the interest payment date.

The 20     mortgage bonds will bear interest from                 , 20     at     % per annum, payable semiannually on each                  and                 , commencing on                 , 2021 to holders of record at the close of business on                  and                  immediately preceding the interest payment date.

Interest on the fixed rate mortgage bonds payable on each interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name that fixed rate mortgage bond is registered as of the close of business on the regular record date for the applicable interest payment date (whether or not a Business Day). However, interest payable at maturity will be paid to the person to whom the principal is paid. If there has been a default in the payment of interest on a series of the fixed rate mortgage bonds, the defaulted interest may be paid to the holders of the fixed rate mortgage bonds of such series as of a special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest which shall not be more than 30 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Mortgage Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.

 

S-33


Table of Contents

Interest on the fixed rate mortgage bonds will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Optional Redemption

Floating Rate Mortgage Bonds

Prior to                , 20    , we may not redeem the floating rate mortgage bonds. At any time on or after                , 20        , we may redeem the floating rate mortgage bonds, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the floating rate mortgage bonds being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

Fixed Rate Mortgage Bonds

Prior to                , 20    , we may not redeem the 20    mortgage bonds. At any time on or after                , 20    , we may redeem the 20     mortgage bonds, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 20         mortgage bonds being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

At any time prior to                 , 20     (the date that is      months prior to the maturity date of the 20     mortgage bonds (the “20     Par Call Date”)), we may, at our option, redeem the 20     mortgage bonds in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

   

100% of the principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds to be redeemed; or

 

   

as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the 20     mortgage bonds to be redeemed that would be due if the 20     mortgage bonds matured on the 20     Par Call Date (not including any portion of payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Adjusted Treasury Rate plus      basis points,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

At any time on or after the 20     Par Call Date, we may redeem the 20     mortgage bonds, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

At any time prior to                 , 20     (the date that is      months prior to the maturity date of the 20     mortgage bonds (the “20     Par Call Date”)), we may, at our option, redeem the 20     mortgage bonds in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

   

100% of the principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds to be redeemed; or

 

   

as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the 20     mortgage bonds to be redeemed that would be due if the 20     mortgage bonds matured on the 20     Par Call Date (not including any portion of payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Adjusted Treasury Rate plus      basis points,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

At any time on or after the 20     Par Call Date, we may redeem the 20     mortgage bonds, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date.

 

S-34


Table of Contents

As used in this section “Optional Redemption,” the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date and a series of mortgage bonds, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for such Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for the redemption date.

“Business Day” means any day that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law or regulation to close.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means, with respect to any redemption date and a series of mortgage bonds, the United States Treasury security selected by the applicable Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the applicable series of mortgage bonds to be redeemed (assuming, for such purpose, that the 20     mortgage bonds matured on the 20     Par Call Date and the 20    mortgage bonds matured on the 20     Par Call Date (the “remaining term”)), that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such series of mortgage bonds to be redeemed.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date and a series of mortgage bonds:

 

   

the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for that redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations; or

 

   

if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than four of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations so received.

“Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by us for the mortgage bonds.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, or their respective affiliates or successors, (2) one primary treasury dealer in certain U.S. government securities selected by MUFG Securities Americas Inc. and (3) one other primary treasury dealer in certain U.S. government securities selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date and a series of mortgage bonds, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us by that Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding that redemption date.

The redemption price of the mortgage bonds will be calculated assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

We will send notice of any redemption of the mortgage bonds at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of the mortgage bonds to be redeemed.

Unless we default in payment of the redemption price of the mortgage bonds, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the mortgage bonds or portions of the mortgage bonds called for redemption.

We will have the right to provide conditional redemption notices for redemptions that are contingent upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event or condition that cannot be ascertained prior to the time we are required to notify holders of the redemption. A conditional notice may state that if we have not deposited redemption funds with the Mortgage Trustee or a paying agent on or before the redemption date or we have directed the Mortgage Trustee or paying agent not to apply money deposited with it for redemption of mortgage bonds, we will not be required to redeem the mortgage bonds on the redemption date.

 

S-35


Table of Contents

If we are redeeming less than all of the mortgage bonds issued under the Mortgage Indenture at any time, in the case of mortgage bonds in certificated form, the Mortgage Trustee will select the mortgage bonds to be redeemed by lot or by such other method as the Mortgage Trustee shall deem fair and reasonable and, in the case of mortgage bonds in global form, DTC will select the mortgage bonds to be redeemed in accordance with its customary policies and procedures. No mortgage bonds of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part.

Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), we or our affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding mortgage bonds by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.

Open Market Purchases; Mandatory Redemption; No Sinking Fund

We may at any time and from time to time purchase mortgage bonds in the open market or otherwise. We will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the mortgage bonds.

Lien of the Mortgage Indenture

General

The Mortgage Indenture creates a first lien, subject to Permitted Liens, on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. We refer to property that is subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture as “Mortgaged Property” and property that is excepted from the lien of the Mortgage Indenture as “Excepted Property.”

The Mortgage Indenture provides that after-acquired property (other than after-acquired property qualifying as Excepted Property) located in the State of California will be subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture (subject to Permitted Liens); provided, however, that in the case of a consolidation or merger (whether or not we are the surviving corporation) or the transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property, the Mortgage Indenture will not be required to be a lien upon any of the properties then owned or thereafter acquired by the successor corporation except properties acquired from us in or as a result of that transaction, to the extent not constituting Excepted Property, and improvements, extensions and additions to those properties and renewals, replacements and substitutions of or for any part or parts thereof. In addition, after-acquired property may be subject to liens existing or placed thereon at the time of acquisition thereof, including, but not limited to, purchase money liens, and, in certain circumstances, liens attaching to the property prior to the recording or filing of an instrument specifically subjecting the property to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture.

The Mortgage Indenture provides that the Mortgage Trustee shall have a lien, prior to the mortgage bonds, on the Mortgaged Property and on all other property and funds held or collected by the Mortgage Trustee, other than property and funds held in trust for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the mortgage bonds, as security for the payment of the Mortgage Trustee’s reasonable compensation and expenses, and as security for the performance by us of our obligation to indemnify the Mortgage Trustee against certain liabilities.

Without the consent of the holders, we and the Mortgage Trustee may enter into supplemental indentures in order to subject additional property to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture (including property which would otherwise be Excepted Property). This property would thereupon constitute Property Additions (so long as it would otherwise qualify as Property Additions as described below) and be available as a basis for the issuance of additional first mortgage bonds. See “—Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds.”

We will issue the mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Indenture based upon the value of Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property. Pursuant to the Mortgage Indenture, the Company must cause the Supplemental Indenture (or a memorandum thereof) to be promptly recorded and filed in such manner and in such places, as

 

S-36


Table of Contents

may be required by law in order to perfect the liens created thereby and within 120 days following the date of such instrument, provide the Mortgage Trustee an opinion stating that the Supplemental Indenture (or a memorandum thereof) have been so recorded and filed. The Company has delivered the opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP dated October 19, 2020 as to the recording and filings of instruments prior to such date.

Excepted Property

The Mortgage Indenture constitutes a first lien, subject to Permitted Liens, on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities, located in the State of California, except for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, our corporate offices, certain specified properties as set forth in the Mortgage Indenture and the following Excepted Property (unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement):

 

   

all money, investment property and deposit accounts and security entitlements (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code as in effect on the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture), and all cash on hand or on deposit in banks or other financial institutions, shares of stock, joint ventures, interests in general or limited partnerships or limited liability companies, bonds, notes, other evidences of indebtedness and other securities, commodity accounts and policies of insurance on the lives of our officers and directors, of whatever kind and nature, in each case to the extent not paid or delivered to, deposited with or held by the Mortgage Trustee;

 

   

all accounts, chattel paper, commercial tort claims, documents, general intangibles (with certain exclusions such as licenses and permits to use the real property of others), instruments, letter-of-credit rights and letters of credit (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code) and all contracts, leases (including, but not limited to, the lease of certain real property at our Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant), operating agreements and other agreements of whatever kind and nature; all contract rights, bills and notes;

 

   

all revenues, income and earnings, all accounts receivable, rights to payment and unbilled revenues, and all rents, tolls, issues, product and profits, claims, credits, demands and judgments, including any rights in or to rates, revenue components, charges, tariffs, or amounts arising therefrom, or in any amounts that are accrued and recorded in a regulatory account for collections by us;

 

   

all governmental and other licenses, permits, franchises, consents and allowances including all emission allowances and greenhouse gas allowances (or similar rights) created under any similar existing or future law relating to abatement or control of pollution of the atmosphere, water or soil, other than all licenses and permits to use the real property of others, franchises to use public roads, streets and other public properties, rights of way and other rights, or interests relating to the occupancy or use of real property;

 

   

all patents, patent licenses and other patent rights, patent applications, trade names, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property, including computer software and software licenses;

 

   

all claims, credits, choses in action, and other intangible property;

 

   

all automobiles, buses, trucks, truck cranes, tractors, trailers, motor vehicles and similar vehicles and movable equipment; all rolling stock, rail cars and other railroad equipment; all vessels, boats, barges and other marine equipment; all airplanes, helicopters, aircraft engines and other flight equipment; and all parts, accessories and supplies used in connection with any of the foregoing;

 

   

all goods, stock in trade, wares, merchandise and inventory held for the purpose of sale or lease in the ordinary course of business; all materials, supplies, inventory and other items of personal property that are consumable (otherwise than by ordinary wear and tear) in their use in the operation of the Mortgaged Property;

 

   

all fuel, whether or not that fuel is in a form consumable in the operation of the Mortgaged Property, including separate components of any fuel in the forms in which those components exist at any time

 

S-37


Table of Contents
 

before, during or after the period of the use thereof as fuel; all hand and other portable tools and equipment; all furniture and furnishings; and computers and data processing, data storage, data transmission, telecommunications and other facilities, equipment and apparatus, which, in any case, are used primarily for administrative or clerical purposes or are otherwise not necessary for the operation or maintenance of the facilities, machinery, equipment or fixtures described in the granting clauses of the Mortgage Indenture as Mortgaged Property;

 

   

all personal property, the perfection of a security interest in which is not governed by the California Commercial Code;

 

   

all oil, gas and other minerals (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code) and all coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals and all timber, and all rights and interests in any of the foregoing, whether or not the minerals or timber have been mined or extracted or otherwise separated from the land; and all electric energy and capacity, gas (natural or artificial), steam, water and other products generated, produced, manufactured, purchased or otherwise acquired by us;

 

   

all property that is the subject of a lease agreement designating us as lessee and all our right, title and interest in and to that leased property and in, to and under that lease agreement, whether or not that lease agreement is intended as security (including, but not limited to, certain real property leased at our Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant);

 

   

all property, real, personal and mixed, which subsequent to the execution date of the Mortgage Indenture, has been released from the lien of the Mortgage Indenture, and any improvements, extensions and additions to those properties and renewals, replacements and substitutions of or for any parts thereof;

 

   

all property, real, personal and mixed, that is stated in the Mortgage Indenture to not be subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

all Environmental Remediation Sites;

 

   

all Diablo Canyon Property;

 

   

all General Office Property;

 

   

certain hydro properties identified in the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

all Mitigation Property;

 

   

all Surplus Property; and

 

   

all proceeds (as that term is defined in the California Commercial Code) of the foregoing Excepted Property;

provided, however, that Excepted Property shall not include the identifiable proceeds (as that term is defined in the California Commercial Code) of any Mortgaged Property that we have disposed of in violation of the terms of the Mortgage Indenture.

If an event of default occurs under the Mortgage Indenture, certain of the Excepted Property may become subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture.

The Mortgage Indenture permits us to create or allow to exist certain “Permitted Liens,” such as mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges, security interests, leases, reservations, restrictions, charges, encumbrances, or other liens on the Mortgaged Property which rank senior to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture.

“Permitted Liens” include:

 

   

to the extent we consolidate with, or merge into, another entity, liens on the assets of such entity in existence on the date of the consolidation or merger and securing debt of such entity, provided that the debt and liens were not created or incurred in anticipation of the consolidation or merger and do not extend to any other Mortgaged Property in existence immediately prior to the consolidation or merger;

 

S-38


Table of Contents
   

as to property acquired by us after the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture, liens existing or placed thereon at the time of the acquisition thereof, provided that the liens do not extend to any other Mortgaged Property;

 

   

liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or requirements which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

   

mechanics’, workmen’s, vendors’, repairmen’s, materialmen’s, warehousemen’s and carriers’ liens, inchoate liens, other liens incident to construction, liens or privileges of any of our employees for salary or wages earned, but not yet payable, and other liens, including, without limitation, liens for workers’ compensation awards, arising in the ordinary course of business for charges or requirements which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;

 

   

liens in respect of attachments, judgments or awards arising out of judicial or administrative proceedings (i) in an amount not exceeding the greater of (A) $10 million to the extent in existence in calendar year 2020; provided, that, with respect to measurement of these liens in existence in any subsequent calendar year, the amount shall be increased by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. City average, or urban CPI, for the period commencing on January 1, 2020 and ending on January 1 of the applicable calendar year and (B) three percent of the principal amount of the mortgage bonds then outstanding or (ii) with respect to which we shall (x) in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or other proceeding for review and with respect to which we shall have secured a stay of execution pending the appeal or other proceeding or (y) have the right to prosecute an appeal or other proceeding for review;

 

   

easements, encumbrances, leases, reservations, restrictions or other rights of others in, on, over and/or across, and laws, regulations and restrictions affecting, and defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations in title to, the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof; provided, however, that the easements, encumbrances, leases, reservations, rights, laws, regulations, restrictions, defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations (A) do not, in our opinion, materially impair the use by us of such Mortgaged Property for the purposes for which it is held by us or (B) have been insured over by a lender’s policy of title insurance in favor of the Mortgage Trustee, as mortgagee;

 

   

conservation easements in accordance with our Settlement Agreement as modified and approved by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California in its Opinion and Order of December 18, 2003 and the Stipulation Resolving Issues Regarding the Land Conservation Commitment, dated September 25, 2003, as filed with the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California;

 

   

defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations in title to real property subject to rights-of-way or other similar rights in favor of us or used or to be used by us primarily for right-of-way purposes or real property held under lease, easement, license or similar right; provided, however, that (i) we obtain from the apparent owner or owners of the real property a sufficient right, by the terms of the instrument granting the right-of-way, lease, easement, license or similar right, to the use thereof for the purposes for which we acquired it, (ii) such defects, irregularities, exceptions or limitations are subordinated to our interest in such real property, (iii) we have power under eminent domain or similar statutes to remove the defects, irregularities, exceptions or limitations to the extent such defects, irregularities, exceptions or limitations affect our interest therein or (iv) the defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations may be otherwise remedied without undue effort or expense; and defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations in title to flood lands, flooding rights and/or water rights;

 

   

liens upon real property or rights in or relating to real property for the purpose of the distribution of electricity or gas, for the purpose of telephonic, telegraphic, radio, wireless or other electronic communication or otherwise for the purpose of obtaining rights-of-way, which liens secure or evidence indebtedness or other obligations neither created, assumed nor guaranteed by us nor on account of which it customarily pays interest;

 

   

leases, licenses, or occupancy agreements existing at the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture affecting Mortgaged Property owned by us at that time, and renewals and extensions thereof; and

 

S-39


Table of Contents
 

leases, licenses, or occupancy agreements affecting that Mortgaged Property entered into after the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture, or affecting mortgaged properties acquired by us after that date which, in either case, (i) have terms of not more than 10 years (including extensions or renewals at the option of the tenant) or (ii) do not materially impair the use by us of the properties for the purposes for which they are held by us;

 

   

liens vested in lessors, licensors, franchisors or permittors for rent or other amounts to become due or for other obligations or acts to be performed, the payment of which rent or other amounts or the performance of which other obligations or acts is required under leases, subleases, licenses, franchises or permits, so long as the payment of the rent or other amounts or the performance of the other obligations or acts is not delinquent or is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;

 

   

controls, restrictions, obligations, duties and/or other burdens imposed by federal, state, municipal or other law, or by rules, regulations or orders of governmental authorities, upon the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or the operation or use thereof or upon us with respect to the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or the operation or use thereof or with respect to any franchise, grant, license, permit or public purpose requirement, or any rights reserved to or otherwise vested in governmental authorities to impose any such controls, restrictions, obligations, duties and/or other burdens;

 

   

rights which governmental authorities may have by virtue of franchises, grants, licenses, permits or contracts, or by virtue of law, to purchase, recapture or designate a purchaser of or order the sale of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, to terminate franchises, grants, licenses, permits, contracts or other rights or to regulate our property and business; and any and all our obligations correlative to any of these rights;

 

   

liens required by law or governmental regulations (i) as a condition to the transaction of any business or the exercise of any privilege or license, (ii) to enable us to maintain self-insurance or to participate in any funds established to cover any insurance risks, (iii) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or any pension or welfare benefit plan or (iv) to share in the privileges or benefits required for companies participating in one or more of the arrangements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above;

 

   

liens on the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof which are granted by us to secure duties or public or statutory obligations or to secure, or serve in lieu of, surety, stay or appeal bonds;

 

   

rights reserved to or vested in others to take or receive any part of any coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals, any timber and/or any electric capacity or energy, gas, water, steam and any other products, developed, produced, manufactured, generated, purchased or otherwise acquired by us or by others on our property;

 

   

rights and interests of persons other than us arising out of contracts, agreements and other instruments to which we are a party and which relate to the common ownership or joint use of property and all liens on the interests of persons other than us in property owned in common by those persons and us if and to the extent that the enforcement of those liens would not adversely affect our interests in that property in any material respect;

 

   

any restrictions on transfer or assignment and/or requirements of any assignee to qualify as a permitted transferee or assignee and/or a public utility or public service corporation;

 

   

any liens (A) which have been bonded over for the full amount in dispute or (B) for the payment of which other adequate security arrangements have been made;

 

   

easements, ground leases or right-of-way in, upon, over and/or across our property or rights-of-way in our favor for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, distribution lines, communication lines, railways, removal of coal or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real property, rights-of-way, facilities and/or equipment; provided, however, that the grant does not materially impair the use of the property or rights-of-way for the purposes for which the property or rights-of-way are held by us;

 

S-40


Table of Contents
   

prepaid liens and purchase money liens, as more particularly described in the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

liens contemplated by the Plan;

 

   

any lien incurred in connection with the issuance of Qualified Securitization Bonds (as such term is defined in the Mortgage Indenture);

 

   

any other liens which are in existence on the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture and the aggregate principal amount thereof does not exceed $30 million;

 

   

any other liens which then outstanding principal amounts do not, in the aggregate, exceed $65 million to the extent in existence in calendar year 2020, provided that with respect to any of these liens in existence in any subsequent calendar year, the amount shall be increased by the percentage increase in the urban CPI for the period commencing on January 1, 2020 and ending on January 1 of the applicable calendar year; and

 

   

the lien under the Mortgage Indenture in favor of the Mortgage Trustee with respect to the compensation and other amounts payable by us to the Mortgage Trustee in its capacity as Mortgage Trustee.

Basis for Issuance of the Mortgage Bonds

We will issue the $1.5 billion of mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Indenture based upon Retired Securities (as described below). The Retired Securities consist of the collateral first mortgage bond securing the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility being prepaid on the date of closing of the mortgage bonds. The remaining mortgage bonds being issued under the Mortgage Indenture will be issued based upon the value of Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property. As of December 31, 2020, we could issue under the Mortgage Indenture (i) based upon the value of Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property, up to approximately $1.5 billion of additional first mortgage bonds ($         million after giving effect to this offering) and (ii) based upon Retired Securities, no additional first mortgage bonds were available to be issued. Pursuant to the Mortgage Indenture, the Company must cause the Supplemental Indenture (or a memorandum thereof) to be promptly recorded and filed in such manner and in such places, as may be required by law in order to perfect the liens created thereby, and, within 120 days following the date of such instrument, to provide the Mortgage Trustee an opinion stating that the Supplemental Indenture (or a memorandum thereof) have been so recorded and filed.

Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds

We may issue additional first mortgage bonds of any series from time to time against Property Additions, Retired Securities and cash deposited with the Mortgage Trustee, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding:

 

   

70% of the aggregate of the net amounts of Property Additions which constitute Unfunded Property;

 

   

the aggregate principal amount of previously issued first mortgage bonds that have been canceled or that we have delivered to the Mortgage Trustee for cancellation or previously issued first mortgage bonds deemed to have been paid under the Mortgage Indenture, each of which we refer to as “Retired Securities”; or

 

   

the amount of cash deposited with the Mortgage Trustee.

Any such additional mortgage bonds either shall be fungible with the original mortgage bonds for federal income tax purposes or shall be issued under a different CUSIP.

“Property Additions” generally include any item, unit or element of property which is owned by us and is subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture except (with certain exceptions) goodwill, going concern value rights or intangible property, or any property the cost of acquisition or construction of which is properly chargeable to one of our operating expense accounts at the time of such acquisition or construction.

 

S-41


Table of Contents

The Mortgage Indenture includes limitations on the issuance of first mortgage bonds against property subject to liens and upon the increase of the amount of any senior liens on Funded Property.

“Funded Property” generally means Mortgaged Property which has been used as the basis for the issuance of first mortgage bonds or as the basis for the release or substitution of Mortgaged Property under the Mortgage Indenture.

“Retired Securities” means, generally, first mortgage bonds which are no longer outstanding under the Mortgage Indenture, which have not been retired by the application of funded cash and which have not been used as the basis for the authentication and delivery of first mortgage bonds, the release of property or the withdrawal of cash.

“Unfunded Property” generally means Mortgaged Property which has not previously been used as the basis for the issuance of first mortgage bonds (not otherwise retired) or as the basis for the release or substitution of Mortgaged Property.

Release of Mortgaged Property

We may release property from the lien of the Mortgage Indenture if we deliver to the Mortgage Trustee cash equal to the Funded Property Basis (as described below) of the property to be released, less any taxes and expenses incidental to any sale, exchange, dedication or other disposition of the property to be released. Any of the following or any combination of the following will be applied as a credit against the cash we will be required to deliver to the Mortgage Trustee:

 

   

the aggregate principal amount of obligations secured by a Purchase Money Lien on the property to be released, subject to certain limitations described below;

 

   

an amount equal to the Net Cost or Net Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of certified Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property after certain deductions and additions, primarily including adjustments to offset property retirements (except that the adjustments need not be made if the Property Additions were acquired, made or constructed within 90 days before our request for release);

 

   

an amount equal to ten-sevenths of the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds we would be entitled to issue on the basis of retired first mortgage bonds (with that entitlement being waived by operation of such release); and

 

   

an amount equal to ten-sevenths of the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds delivered to the Mortgage Trustee.

For purposes of this subsection, the following terms have the following meaning:

 

   

“Funded Property Basis” generally means the Net Cost of Funded Property or the Net Fair Value to us of the Funded Property at the time it became Funded Property, whichever is less.

 

   

“Net Cost” means, as of the date of calculation, the cost of the property, less, if such property is subject to a senior lien, the lesser of (i) the outstanding principal amount of any senior lien obligations as of the date of calculation or (ii) the cost of the property.

 

   

“Net Fair Value” means, as of the date of calculation, the fair value of the property, less, if such property is subject to a senior lien, the lesser of (i) the outstanding principal amount of any senior lien obligations as of the date of calculation or (ii) the fair value of the property.

 

   

“Purchase Money Lien” means, generally, a lien on the property being released which is retained by the transferor of such property to secure all or part of its purchase price or granted to one or more other persons in connection with the transfer or release thereof, or granted to or held by a Mortgage Trustee or agent for any such persons, and may include liens which cover property in addition to the property being released and/or which secure additional indebtedness.

 

S-42


Table of Contents

We will be permitted to release from the lien of the Mortgage Indenture Unfunded Property without depositing any cash with the Mortgage Trustee or providing any other credits if either (i) the lower of the Net Cost or Net Fair Value to us of all Unfunded Property (excluding the property to be released), after making certain adjustments, is at least zero, or (ii) the lower of the Net Cost or Net Fair Value to us of the Unfunded Property to be released, after making certain adjustments, does not exceed the lower of the Net Cost or Net Fair Value of all property acquired, made or constructed on or after 90 days before our request, after making certain adjustments. If neither (i) or (ii) in the immediately preceding sentence applies, we will be required to deliver a “make-up” amount in cash. We may apply as a credit against the cash we will be required to deliver to the Mortgage Trustee any of the items described under the bullet points in this section.

We also will be permitted to release in a calendar year property up to the lesser of $10 million (increased yearly by the urban CPI) or 3% of the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds then outstanding without complying with the other release provisions in the Mortgage Indenture. However, if, upon reliance on this release provision, we release Funded Property, we are required to deposit with the Mortgage Trustee, by the end of the calendar year, cash equal to 70% of the Funded Property Basis of the property released, net of certain credits.

The Mortgage Indenture provides simplified procedures for the release of property taken by eminent domain, and provides for dispositions of certain obsolete property and grants or surrender of certain rights without any release or consent by the Mortgage Trustee.

The provisions described above permitting the release of property (except property taken by eminent domain) will be operable only if no event of default has occurred and is continuing under the Mortgage Indenture.

Withdrawal of Cash

Unless an event of default has occurred and is continuing and subject to certain limitations, cash held by the Mortgage Trustee may, generally,

 

   

be withdrawn by us (i) to the extent of an amount equal to the Net Cost or Net Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property, after certain deductions and additions, primarily including adjustments to offset retirements (except that these adjustments need not be made if the Property Additions were acquired or made within 90 days before our request for withdrawal) or (ii) in an amount equal to ten-sevenths (10/7ths) of the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds that we would be entitled to issue on the basis of retired first mortgage bonds (with the entitlement to that issuance being waived by operation of the withdrawal) or (iii) in an amount equal to ten-sevenths (10/7ths) of the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding first mortgage bonds delivered to the Mortgage Trustee; or

 

   

upon our written request, applied to (i) the purchase of first mortgage bonds or (ii) the payment (or provision for payment) at stated maturity of any first mortgage bonds or the redemption (or provision for redemption) of any first mortgage bonds which are redeemable.

Evidence to be Furnished to the Mortgage Trustee Under the Mortgage Indenture

We will demonstrate compliance with Mortgage Indenture provisions by providing written statements to the Mortgage Trustee from our officers or persons we select. For instance, we may select an engineer to provide a written statement regarding the value of property being certified or released or counsel regarding compliance with the Mortgage Indenture generally. In certain major matters, applicable law requires that an accountant, engineer or other expert must be independent. We must file a certificate each year with respect to our compliance with the conditions and covenants under the Mortgage Indenture.

 

S-43


Table of Contents

Consolidation, Merger, Transfer of Mortgaged Property

We may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person (as described below) or convey, otherwise transfer or lease all or substantially all of our Mortgaged Property to any Person unless:

 

   

the Person formed by that consolidation or into which we are merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or other transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, company, joint stock company or business trust, organized and existing under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

that Person executes and delivers to the Mortgage Trustee a supplemental Mortgage Indenture that in the case of a consolidation, merger, conveyance or other transfer, or in the case of a lease if the term thereof extends beyond the last stated maturity of the mortgage bonds then outstanding, contains an assumption by the successor Person of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all mortgage bonds then outstanding and the performance and observance of every covenant and conditions under the Mortgage Indenture to be performed or observed by us;

 

   

that Person executes and delivers to the Mortgage Trustee a supplemental Mortgage Indenture that contains a grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage by the successor Person confirming the lien of the Mortgage Indenture on the Mortgaged Property and subjecting to the lien all property (other than Excepted Property) thereafter acquired by the successor Person that shall constitute an improvement, extension or addition to the Mortgaged Property or renewal, replacement or substitution of or for any part thereof and, at the election of the successor Person, subjecting to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture the other property, real, personal and mixed, then owned or thereafter acquired by the Person as the person shall specify in its sole discretion;

 

   

in the case of a lease, the lease is made expressly subject to termination by us at any time during the continuance of an event of default and by the purchaser of the property so leased at any sale of the property under the Mortgage Indenture, whether under the power of sale conferred by the Mortgage Indenture or pursuant to judicial proceedings;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating any indebtedness that becomes our obligation as a result of the transaction as having been incurred by us at the time of the transaction, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

   

we have delivered to the Mortgage Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the merger, consolidation, conveyance, lease or transfer, as the case may be, fully complies with all provisions of the Mortgage Indenture; provided, however, that the delivery of the officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel shall not be required with respect to any merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer or lease between us and any of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may merge or consolidate with or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to an affiliate that has no significant assets or liabilities and was formed solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of organization or our form of organization or for the purpose of forming a holding company; provided that the amount of our indebtedness is not increased; and provided, further, that the successor assumes all of our obligations under the Mortgage Indenture.

In the case of a conveyance or other transfer of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property to any other Person as contemplated under the Mortgage Indenture, upon the satisfaction of all the conditions described above we (as we would exist without giving effect to the transaction) would be released and discharged from all obligations under the Mortgage Indenture and on the mortgage bonds then outstanding unless we elect to waive the release and discharge.

The meaning of the term “substantially all” has not been definitively established and is likely to be interpreted by reference to applicable state law if and at the time the issue arises and will depend on the facts and circumstances existing at the time.

 

S-44


Table of Contents

For purposes of this subsection:

 

   

“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability partnership, joint venture, trust or unincorporated organization, or any other entity, whether or not a legal entity, or any Governmental Authority (as defined in the Mortgage Indenture).

Additional Covenants

We have agreed in the Mortgage Indenture, among other things:

 

   

to maintain a place of payment for any series of mortgage bonds; and

 

   

to maintain our corporate existence (subject to the provisions above relating to mergers and consolidations).

Book-Entry Issuance

Global Securities

The mortgage bonds will be represented by one or more global securities that will be deposited with and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Thus, we will not issue certificated securities to you for the mortgage bonds, except in the limited circumstances described below. Each global security will be issued to DTC, which will keep a computerized record of its participants whose clients have purchased the mortgage bonds. Each participant will then keep a record of its clients. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated security, a global security may not be transferred. DTC, its nominees and their successors may, however, transfer a global security as a whole to one another, and these transfers are required to be recorded on our records or a register to be maintained by the Mortgage Trustee. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in the global securities.

Beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and transfers of beneficial interests in the global security will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. DTC has provided us with the following information: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the United States Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC also records the settlements among direct participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for direct participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificated securities. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC.

DTC’s book-entry system is also used by other organizations such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that work through a direct participant. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

When you purchase mortgage bonds through the DTC system, the purchases must be made by or through a direct participant, which will receive credit for the mortgage bonds on DTC’s records. When you actually purchase the mortgage bonds, you will become their beneficial owner. Your ownership interest will be recorded only on the direct or indirect participants’ records. DTC will have no knowledge of your individual ownership of the mortgage bonds. DTC’s records will show only the identity of the direct participant and the amount of the mortgage bonds held by or through them. You will not receive a written confirmation of your purchase or sale or any periodic account statement directly from DTC. You should instead receive these from your direct or indirect participant. As a result, the direct or indirect participants are responsible for keeping accurate account of the

 

S-45


Table of Contents

holdings of their customers. The Mortgage Trustee will wire payments on the mortgage bonds to DTC’s nominee. The Mortgage Trustee and we will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of each global security for all purposes. Accordingly, the Mortgage Trustee, any paying agent and we will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on a global security to you or any other beneficial owners in that global security. Any redemption notices will be sent by us directly to DTC, which will, in turn, inform the direct participants (or the indirect participants), which will then contact you as a beneficial holder.

It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment of distributions or liquidation amounts, to proportionately credit direct participants’ accounts on the payment date based on their holdings. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to pass through any consenting or voting rights to such participants by using an omnibus proxy. Those participants will, in turn, make payments to and solicit votes from you, the ultimate owner of mortgage bonds, based on their customary practices. Payments to you will be the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the Mortgage Trustee or our company.

Mortgage bonds represented by one or more global securities will be exchangeable for certificated securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

 

   

DTC is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law, and a successor is not appointed by us within 90 days;

 

   

we decide to discontinue the book-entry system; or

 

   

an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the mortgage bonds.

If the global security is exchanged for certificated securities, the Mortgage Trustee will keep the registration books for the mortgage bonds at its corporate trust office and follow customary practices and procedures regarding those certificated securities.

Clearstream and Euroclear

Links have been established among DTC, Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, S.A. (“Clearstream”), which are two European book-entry depositaries similar to DTC, to facilitate the initial issuance of the mortgage bonds sold outside of the United States of America and cross-market transfers of the mortgage bonds associated with secondary market trading.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate transfers, they are under no obligation to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.

Clearstream and Euroclear will record the ownership interests of their participants in much the same way as DTC, and DTC will record the total ownership of each of the U.S. agents of Clearstream and Euroclear, as participants in DTC.

When mortgage bonds are to be transferred from the account of a DTC participant to the account of a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant, the purchaser must send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one day prior to settlement. Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, will instruct its U.S. agent to receive mortgage bonds against payment. After settlement, Clearstream or Euroclear will credit its participant’s account. Credit for the mortgage bonds will appear on the next day (European time).

Because settlement is taking place during New York business hours, DTC participants will be able to employ their usual procedures for sending mortgage bonds to the relevant U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Clearstream or Euroclear participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. As a result, to the DTC participant, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.

 

S-46


Table of Contents

When a Clearstream or Euroclear participant wishes to transfer mortgage bonds to a DTC participant, the seller will be required to send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one Business Day prior to settlement. In these cases, Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer these mortgage bonds against payment for them. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream or Euroclear participant the following day, with the proceeds back-valued to the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date, that is, the trade fails, proceeds credited to the Clearstream or Euroclear participant’s account will instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.

 

S-47


Table of Contents

UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion summarizes certain material United States (“U.S.”) federal income tax considerations relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the mortgage bonds. This summary only applies to investors who will hold their mortgage bonds as “capital assets” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”) and purchase their mortgage bonds for cash upon initial issuance at the “issue price” (the first price at which a substantial amount of the mortgage bonds is sold for money to investors, not including bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers).

This summary is based upon current U.S. federal income tax law, which is subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, such as investors subject to special tax rules (e.g., financial institutions (including banks), insurance companies, expatriates, broker dealers, REITs, regulated investment companies, traders in securities who elect a mark to market method of accounting, tax exempt organizations, persons that will hold the mortgage bonds as a part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, investors subject to section 451(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or investors therein, persons subject to alternative minimum tax or U.S. Holders (as defined below) that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar), all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ materially from those summarized below. This summary does not discuss all of the aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in light of your particular investment or other circumstances. We are not planning to seek a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the mortgage bonds. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not successfully challenge one or more of the conclusions stated herein. Each prospective investor is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax considerations of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the mortgage bonds.

For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a mortgage bond that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (1) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (2) a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (3) an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source or (4) a trust, if (a) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more “United States persons” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code control all substantial trust decisions or (b) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person. A beneficial owner of a mortgage bond that for U.S. federal income tax purposes is an individual, corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder is referred to herein as a “Non-U.S. Holder.”

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of mortgage bonds, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of such partnership. A partnership considering an investment in the mortgage bonds, and partners in such a partnership, are urged to consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax considerations of purchasing, owning and disposing of the mortgage bonds.

U.S. Holders

Interest

It is anticipated, and this discussion assumes, that the mortgage bonds will not be issued with more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Interest on a mortgage bond will generally be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time it is paid or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of tax accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

S-48


Table of Contents

Sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of the mortgage bonds

Upon a sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of the mortgage bonds, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realized on the disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such mortgage bonds. The amount realized will include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any property received for the mortgage bonds (other than any amount attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income (as described above under “Interest”) to the extent not previously included in income). A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a mortgage bond generally will be equal to the cost of the mortgage bond to such U.S. Holder decreased by any payments received on the mortgage bond other than stated interest. Any such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the mortgage bond is more than one year at the time of disposition. For non-corporate U.S. Holders, long-term capital gain generally will be subject to reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Additional tax on net investment income

The “net investment income” (or undistributed “net investment income,” in the case of a trust or estate) of certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, trusts or estates and that have modified adjusted gross income (or adjusted gross income, in the case of a trust or estate) above a certain threshold is subject to a 3.8% tax, in addition to otherwise applicable U.S. federal income tax. A U.S. Holder’s “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, interest income on and capital gain from the disposition of securities like the mortgage bonds, subject to certain exceptions. U.S. Holders who are individuals, trusts or estates are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of this tax to their investment in the mortgage bonds.

Non-U.S. Holders

Interest

As discussed above, it is anticipated, and this discussion assumes, that the mortgage bonds will not be issued with more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount. Subject to the discussions below concerning backup withholding and FATCA, all payments of interest on the mortgage bonds made to a Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from U.S. federal income and withholding tax; provided that: (1) such Non-U.S. Holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote, (2) such Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation with respect to which the Company is a “related person” (within the meaning of section 864(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code), (3) the beneficial owner of the mortgage bonds certifies, under penalties of perjury, to us or the paying agent on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or appropriate substitute form) that it is not a U.S. person and provides certain other information or satisfies certain other certification requirements and (4) such payments are not effectively connected with such Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

If a Non-U.S. Holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax (or a U.S. federal withholding tax at a lower applicable treaty rate), unless such Non-U.S. Holder provides us with a properly executed (1) IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or appropriate substitute form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty or (2) IRS Form W-8ECI (or appropriate substitute form) stating that interest paid or accrued on the mortgage bonds is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States and is includible in such Non-U.S. Holder’s gross income.

Sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of the mortgage bonds

Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding and except with respect to accrued but unpaid interest, which generally will be taxable as interest and may be subject to the rules described above under

 

S-49


Table of Contents

“—Interest,” a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on the receipt of payments of principal on a mortgage bond, or on any gain recognized upon the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of a mortgage bond, unless in the case of gain (1) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, in which case such gain will be taxed as described below under “Income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business,” or (2) such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition, and certain other conditions are met, in which case such Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to tax at 30% (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate) on the gain derived from such disposition, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses.

Income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business

If a Non-U.S. Holder of mortgage bonds is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if interest on the mortgage bonds or gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of the mortgage bonds is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on such income or gain in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. Holder. If the Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty between the United States and the Non-U.S. Holder’s country of residence, any “effectively connected” income or gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States. In addition, if such a Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, such holder may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable income tax treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits, subject to certain adjustments. Payments of interest that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business will not be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax provided that the Non-U.S. Holder claims exemption from withholding. To claim exemption from withholding, the Non-U.S. Holder must certify its qualification, which generally can be done by filing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form).

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

U.S. Holders

Payments of stated interest on, or the proceeds of the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of, a mortgage bond are generally subject to information reporting unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient (such as a corporation). Such payments may also be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding at a specified rate, currently 24%, if the recipient of such payment fails to supply a taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, as well as certain other information or otherwise fails to establish an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or credit against that U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Non-U.S. Holders

A Non-U.S. Holder may be required to comply with certain certification procedures to establish that the holder is not a United States person in order to avoid backup withholding at a specified rate, currently 24%, with respect to payments of stated interest on, or the proceeds of the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of, a mortgage bond. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against that Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. In certain circumstances, the name and address of the beneficial owner and the amount of interest paid on a mortgage bond, as well as the amount, if any, withheld, may be reported to the IRS. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides.

 

S-50


Table of Contents

FATCA

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and related U.S. Treasury guidance (“FATCA”), a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% will be imposed in certain circumstances on payments of interest on the mortgage bonds. In the case of payments made to a “foreign financial institution” (such as a bank, a broker, an investment fund or, in certain cases, a holding company), as a beneficial owner or as an intermediary, this tax generally will be imposed, subject to certain exceptions, unless such institution (i) has agreed to (and does) comply with the requirements of an agreement with the United States (an “FFI Agreement”) or (ii) is required by (and does comply with) applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign jurisdiction (an “IGA”) to, among other things, collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities or other relevant tax authorities certain information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution and, in either case, such institution provides the withholding agent with a certification as to its FATCA status. In the case of payments made to a foreign entity that is not a financial institution (as a beneficial owner), the tax generally will be imposed, subject to certain exceptions, unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification as to its FATCA status and, in certain cases, identifies any “substantial” U.S. owner (generally, any specified U.S. person that directly or indirectly owns more than a specified percentage of such entity). If a bond is held through a foreign financial institution that has agreed to comply with the requirements of an FFI Agreement or is subject to similar requirements under applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an IGA, such foreign financial institution (or, in certain cases, a person paying amounts to such foreign financial institution) generally will be required, subject to certain exceptions, to withhold tax on payments made to (i) a person (including an individual) that fails to provide any required information or documentation or (ii) a foreign financial institution that has not agreed to comply with the requirements of an FFI Agreement and is not subject to similar requirements under applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an IGA. We will not be obligated to make any “gross up” or additional payments in respect of amounts withheld on the mortgage bonds if we determine that we must so withhold in order to comply with FATCA in respect of the amounts described above. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in the mortgage bonds

The preceding discussion of U.S. federal tax considerations is for general information only. It is not tax advice. Each prospective investor should consult its own tax advisor regarding the particular U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of our common stock, including the consequences of any proposed change in applicable laws.

 

S-51


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

We have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the mortgage bonds with the underwriters listed below, for whom BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and MUFG Securities Americas Inc. are acting as representatives. Subject to certain conditions, each of the underwriters has severally, and not jointly, agreed to purchase the respective principal amounts of mortgage bonds indicated in the following table:

 

Name

   Principal
Amount of
floating rate
mortgage
bonds
     Principal
Amount of
20     mortgage
bonds
     Principal
Amount of
20     mortgage
bonds
     Principal
Amount of
20     mortgage
bonds
 

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

   $                $                $                $            

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

           

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

           

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

           
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $        $        $        $    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the mortgage bonds are subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of legal opinions relating to certain matters. The underwriters must purchase all of the mortgage bonds if they purchase any of the mortgage bonds. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of any of these liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the mortgage bonds subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the mortgage bonds, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The mortgage bonds sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the prices to the public set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement and may be offered to certain dealers at these prices less a concession not in excess of (i)     % of the aggregate principal amount of the floating rate mortgage bonds, (ii)     % of the aggregate principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds, (iii)     % of the aggregate principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds and (iv)     % of the aggregate principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds. The underwriters may allow, and those dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of (i)     % of the aggregate principal amount of the floating rate mortgage bonds, (ii)     % of the aggregate principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds, (iii)     % of the aggregate principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds and (iv)     % of the aggregate principal amount of the 20     mortgage bonds, to certain other dealers. If all of the mortgage bonds are not sold at the prices to the public, the underwriters may change the prices to the public and the other selling terms.

 

S-52


Table of Contents

The following table shows the underwriting discounts that we will pay to the underwriters in connection with the offering of the mortgage bonds:

 

     Paid by Us  

Per floating rate mortgage bond

         

Total floating rate mortgage bonds

   $            

Per 20     mortgage bond

         

Total 20     mortgage bonds

   $    

Per 20     mortgage bond

         

Total 20     mortgage bonds

   $    

Per 20     mortgage bond

         

Total 20     mortgage bonds

   $    

The expenses of this offering, not including the underwriting discounts, are estimated to be approximately $        .

New Issue

Each series of the mortgage bonds will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The mortgage bonds will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in each series of the mortgage bonds, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of any trading markets for the mortgage bonds.

Settlement

It is expected that delivery of the mortgage bonds will be made against payment for the mortgage bonds on or about the date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which is the      business day following the date of this prospectus supplement (such settlement cycle being referred to as “T+    ”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the mortgage bonds prior to the second business day preceding the date of delivery of the mortgage bonds will be required, by virtue of the fact that the mortgage bonds initially will settle in T+    , to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the mortgage bonds who wish to trade the mortgage bonds on the date of this prospectus supplement or the succeeding     business days should consult their own advisors.

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the prices of the mortgage bonds. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater aggregate principal amount of mortgage bonds than they are required to purchase in this offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the mortgage bonds while this offering is in process.

These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market prices of the mortgage bonds. As a result, the prices of the mortgage bonds may be higher than the prices that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

S-53


Table of Contents

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. In particular, certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates are agents or lenders under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility, the borrowings under which will be prepaid with the net proceeds of this offering, and therefore will receive a portion of such proceeds upon such prepayment.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities or instruments of ours (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) or persons and entities with relationships with us.

Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the mortgage bonds offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the mortgage bonds offered hereby.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

Conflicts of Interest

As described in “Use of Proceeds,” we plan to use the net proceeds to prepay borrowings outstanding under the Utility 364-Day Term Loan Facility and to repay borrowings outstanding under the Utility Revolving Credit Facility and the Utility Accounts Receivable Facility. Certain of the underwriters in this offering or their affiliates are agents or lenders under such facilities. As such, certain of the underwriters in this offering or their affiliates will receive 5% or more of the net proceeds of this offering, not including the underwriting discount. Any such underwriter would be considered to have a “conflict of interest” pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering will be made in compliance with FINRA Rule 5121. Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary in connection with the offering because the offering is of a class of securities that are investment grade rated. No affected underwriter will confirm sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior written consent of the account holder.

Selling Restrictions

Notices to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

 

S-54


Table of Contents

Any offer in Australia of the mortgage bonds may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the mortgage bonds without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The mortgage bonds applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring mortgage bonds must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain general information only and do not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Notices to Prospective Investors in Canada

The mortgage bonds may be sold only in to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the mortgage bonds must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notices to Prospective Investors in European Economic Area

The mortgage bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the mortgage bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the mortgage bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

 

S-55


Table of Contents

Notices to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The contents of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been reviewed or approved by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. The mortgage bonds may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the mortgage bonds may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to mortgage bonds which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Notices to Prospective Investors in Japan

The mortgage bonds have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Notices to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

This prospectus supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the mortgage bonds. The mortgage bonds may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the mortgage bonds to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the mortgage bonds constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the mortgage bonds may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Notices to Prospective Investors in United Arab Emirates

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been reviewed, approved or licensed by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (the “UAE”), the Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (the “SCA”) or any other relevant licensing authority in the UAE including any licensing authority incorporated under the laws and regulations of any of the free zones established and operating in the UAE including, without limitation, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, a regulatory authority of the Dubai International Financial Centre.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not intended to, and do not, constitute an offer, sale or delivery of shares or other securities under the laws of the UAE. Each underwriter has represented and agreed that the mortgage bonds have not been and will not be registered with the SCA or the UAE Central Bank, the Dubai Financial Market, the Abu Dhabi Securities Market or any other UAE regulatory authority or exchange.

 

S-56


Table of Contents

The issue and/or sale of the mortgage bonds has not been approved or licensed by the SCA, the UAE Central Bank or any other relevant licensing authority in the UAE, and does not constitute a public offer of securities in the UAE in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law, Federal Law No. 1 of 2015 (as amended) or otherwise, does not constitute an offer in the UAE in accordance with the Board Decision No. 37 of 2012 Concerning the Regulation of Investment Funds (whether by a Foreign Fund, as defined therein, or otherwise), and further does not constitute the brokerage of securities in the UAE in accordance with the Board Decision No. 27 of 2014 Concerning Brokerage in Securities.

Notices to Prospective Investors in United Kingdom

The mortgage bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom (“UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the mortgage bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the mortgage bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

Notices to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the mortgage bonds may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the mortgage bonds be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the mortgage bonds are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of S-40 whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the mortgage bonds pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA, (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer, (3) where the transfer is by operation of law, (4) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or (5) as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification—Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289 of Singapore) (the

 

S-57


Table of Contents

“SFA”), the issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the mortgage bonds are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Notices to Prospective Investors in Taiwan

The mortgage bonds have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan, the Republic of China (‘‘Taiwan’’), pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be offered or sold in Taiwan through a public offering or in any manner which would constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan or would otherwise require registration with or the approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering or sale of the mortgage bonds in Taiwan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Korea

The mortgage bonds may not be offered, sold and delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in the Republic of Korea (“Korea”) or to any resident of Korea S-36 except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of Korea, including the Korea Securities and Exchange Act and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the decrees and regulations thereunder. The mortgage bonds have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Services Commission of Korea for public offering in Korea. Furthermore, the mortgage bonds may not be resold to Korean residents unless the purchaser of the mortgage bonds complies with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to government approval requirements under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and its subordinate decrees and regulations) in connection with the purchase of the mortgage bonds.

 

S-58


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for us by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, New York, New York. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York represents the underwriters.

EXPERTS

The financial statements, and the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the effectiveness of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under File No. 001-02348. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The Company’s SEC filings are also available at our website: http://investor.pgecorp.com. Except for documents filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, no information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is to be considered part of this prospectus supplement.

CERTAIN DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The Company has “incorporated by reference” into this prospectus supplement certain information that it files with the SEC. This means that the Company can disclose important business, financial and other information in this prospectus supplement by referring you to the documents containing this information.

The Company incorporates by reference the document listed below and any future filings that it makes with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Current Reports on Form 8-K or portions thereof that are “furnished” under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K) from the date of this prospectus supplement until the termination of this offering:

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020;

 

   

Our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on May 17, 2019; and

 

   

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K  filed with the SEC on January  26, 2021, February  2, 2021, February  16, 2021, February  23, 2021, February  26, 2021, March  3, 2021 and March 4, 2021.

All information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement except to the extent that the information is updated or superseded by information filed with the SEC after the date the incorporated information was filed (including later-dated reports listed above) or by the information contained in this prospectus supplement. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference, as described above, will automatically update and supersede as of the date of such filing any previous information that had been part of this prospectus supplement, or that had been incorporated herein by reference.

 

S-59


Table of Contents

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus supplement has been delivered, on the written or oral request of that person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement other than exhibits to these documents, unless the exhibits are also specifically incorporated by reference herein. Requests for copies should be directed to the following address:

The Office of the Corporate Secretary

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

77 Beale Street

P.O. Box 770000

San Francisco, CA 94177

Telephone: (415) 973-8200

Facsimile: (415) 973-8719

 

S-60


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

PG&E Corporation

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants to Purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities

Securities Purchase Contracts

Securities Purchase Units

Depositary Shares

Subscription Rights

 

LOGO

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Debt Securities

Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities

Securities Purchase Contracts

Securities Purchase Units

 

 

PG&E Corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the selling securityholders who are named herein or may be named in a prospectus supplement, together or separately, may offer and sell an indeterminate amount of securities from time to time in one or more offerings. In addition, the selling securityholder named herein may offer and sell up to the number of shares of our common stock set forth under the heading Selling Securityholder. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that PG&E Corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company or the selling securityholder may offer.

Each time PG&E Corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company or a selling securityholder offers and sells securities, PG&E Corporation or Pacific Gas and Electric Company, as applicable, will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the terms of the offered securities. The supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.

The securities may be offered and sold on a delayed or continuous basis directly by PG&E Corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company or the selling securityholders, as applicable, through agents, underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time, through a combination of these methods, or through any other method as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. See “Plan of Distribution.” The applicable prospectus supplement will list any agents, underwriters or dealers that may be involved and the compensation they will receive.

To the extent that any selling securityholder resells any securities, the selling securityholder may be required to provide you with this prospectus and a prospectus supplement identifying and containing specific information about the selling securityholder and the terms of the securities being offered.

 

 

See “Risk Factors” on page 1 for information on certain risks related to the purchase of our securities described in this prospectus.

PG&E Corporation’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PCG.” On February 25, 2021, the last reported sale price of PG&E Corporation’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $10.88 per share. PG&E Corporation or Pacific Gas and Electric Company, as applicable, will provide information in the applicable prospectus supplement for the trading market, if any, for any other securities that may be offered hereby.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

February 26, 2021


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     i  

OUR COMPANY

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     1  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     2  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     7  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     8  

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES OF PG&E CORPORATION

     9  

SENIOR NOTES

     9  

SUBORDINATED NOTES

     15  

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES OF PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY

     23  

UNSECURED SENIOR NOTES

     23  

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS

     34  

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

     50  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     54  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SECURITIES PURCHASE UNITS

     57  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     59  

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

     60  

SELLING SECURITYHOLDER

     62  

GLOBAL SECURITIES

     65  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     67  

LEGAL MATTERS

     70  

EXPERTS

     70  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     70  

CERTAIN DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     70  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. When we refer to the “Utility” in this prospectus, we refer to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the principal operating subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. When we refer to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” in this prospectus under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Our Company” we mean PG&E Corporation and its subsidiaries, including the Utility, through which substantially all of PG&E Corporation’s operations are conducted. When such terms are used elsewhere in this prospectus, we refer either to PG&E Corporation or the Utility, as the case may be, as the applicable issuer of securities and not to any of their respective direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided. When we refer to the “selling securityholders” in this prospectus, we refer to the selling securityholders named in this prospectus or in any supplement to this prospectus or certain transferees, assignees, pledgees, donees or other successors-in-interest that received shares of common stock from the selling securityholders. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given such terms in PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Joint Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time offer and sell securities, or the selling securityholders may sell, in one or more offerings or resales an indeterminate amount of securities as described in this prospectus. In addition, the selling securityholder named herein may offer and sell up to the number of shares of our common stock set forth under the heading “Selling Securityholder”. This prospectus provides you with only a general description of the securities that we may offer or that the selling securityholders may sell. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For additional information regarding us and the offered securities, please refer to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

i


Table of Contents

Each time we or a selling securityholder offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the offering and the terms of the offered securities. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus also may add, delete, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should rely only on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement if this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement are inconsistent. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the additional information described under the section of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information.” In particular, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described under the section titled “Risk Factors” or otherwise included in any applicable prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you decide whether to purchase the securities. These risks and uncertainties, together with those not known to us or those that we may deem immaterial, could impair our business and ultimately affect our ability to make payments on the securities.

Neither we nor any selling securityholder take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. Neither we nor any selling securityholder have authorized any other person to provide you with information different from the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. Neither we, the selling securityholders nor any underwriter, dealer or agent will make an offer to sell the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the dates on their covers and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

ii


Table of Contents

OUR COMPANY

PG&E Corporation, incorporated in California in 1995, is a holding company whose primary operating subsidiary is Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a public utility operating in northern and central California. The Utility was incorporated in California in 1905. PG&E Corporation became the holding company of the Utility and its subsidiaries in 1997. The Utility generates revenues mainly through the sale and delivery of electricity and natural gas to customers.

Our executive offices are located at 77 Beale Street, P.O. Box 770000, San Francisco, California 94177. PG&E Corporation’s telephone number is (415) 973-1000 and the Utility’s telephone number is (415) 973-7000. We maintain a website at www.pge.com where general information about us is available. We are not incorporating the contents of the website into this prospectus or any accompany prospectus supplement.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. You are urged to carefully read and consider the risk factors described in PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Joint Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the SEC, which are all incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable supplement to this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations, financial results and the value of our securities.

 

1


Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement contain 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 prospectus. 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; estimates and assumptions used in critical accounting policies, including those relating to insurance receivable, 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,” “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:

 

   

PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s historical financial information not being indicative of future financial performance as a result of the voluntary cases commenced by PG&E Corporation and the Utility under chapter 11 of title 11 of the U.S. Code (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) and the financial and other restructuring recently undergone by PG&E Corporation and the Utility in connection with their emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases;

 

   

the ability of PG&E Corporation and the Utility to raise financing for operations and investment;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with appeals of the Confirmation Order;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with the 2019 Kincade fire, including the extent of the Utility’s liability in connection with the 2019 Kincade fire and whether the Utility will be able to timely recover related costs incurred therewith in excess of insurance; the timing of the insurance recoveries; the timing and outcome of the referral of the Cal Fire report in connection therewith to the Sonoma County District Attorney; and potential liabilities in connection with fines or penalties that could be imposed on the Utility if the CPUC or any other enforcement agency were to bring an enforcement action;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with any other wildfires, including the extent of the Utility’s liability in connection with the 2020 Zogg fire, and the timing of the insurance recoveries; and with any other wildfires that have occurred and/or may occur in the Utility’s service territory for which the cause has yet to be determined;

 

   

the Utility Community Wildfire Safety Program’s ability to help reduce wildfire threats and improve safety as a result of climate-driven wildfires and extreme weather, including the Utility’s ability to comply with the targets and metrics set forth in its WMP; whether the Utility is able to retain or contract for the workforce necessary to execute its Community Wildfire Safety Program; and the cost of the program and the timing of the outcome of any proceeding to recover such costs through rates;

 

   

the ability of PG&E Corporation and the Utility to securitize $7.5 billion of costs related to the 2017 Northern California wildfires in a financing transaction that is designed to be rate neutral to customers;

 

   

the impact of the Utility’s implementation of its PSPS program, including the timing and outcome of the OII to Examine the Late 2019 Public Safety Power Shutoff Events and Order to Show Cause Against the Utility Related to Implementation of the October 2019 PSPS Events and the purported Public Safety Power Shutoff class action filed in December 2019, and whether any fines or penalties or civil liability for damages will be imposed on the Utility as a result; the costs in connection with PSPS events, the timing and outcome of any proceeding to recover such costs through rates, and the effects on PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s reputations caused by implementation of the PSPS program;

 

2


Table of Contents
   

whether the Utility may be liable for future wildfires, and the impact of AB 1054 on potential losses in connection with such wildfires, including the CPUC’s implementation of the procedures for recovering such losses;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with the requirement under AB 1054 that the Utility maintain a valid safety certification pursuant to Section 8389(e) of the California Public Utilities Code and the potential implications for accessing the Wildfire Fund and in related CPUC proceedings in the event the Utility fails to maintain a valid safety certification, which could also result in the appointment by the CPUC of an independent third-party monitor to oversee the Utility’s operations as part of the Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement Process;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with the Utility’s ability to access the Wildfire Fund, including that the Wildfire Fund has sufficient remaining funds;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with certain indemnity obligations to current and former officers and directors, as well as potential indemnity obligations to underwriters for certain of the Utility’s note offerings in connection with three purported class actions that have been consolidated and denominated In re PG&E Corporation Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 18-035509, which has been enjoined as to PG&E Corporation and the Utility pursuant to the Plan with such claims to be resolved by the Bankruptcy Court as part of the claims reconciliation process in the Chapter 11 Cases;

 

   

the timing and outcome of future regulatory and legislative developments, including future wildfire reforms, inverse condemnation reform, and other wildfire mitigation measures or other reforms targeted at the Utility or its industry;

 

   

the severity, extent and duration of the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows, as well as on energy demand in the Utility’s service territory, the ability of the Utility to collect on customer invoices, the ability of the Utility to mitigate these effects, including with spending reductions, and the ability of the Utility to recover any losses incurred in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of workforce disruptions;

 

   

whether the Utility will be able to obtain full recovery of its significantly increased insurance premiums, and the timing of any such recovery;

 

   

whether the Utility can obtain wildfire insurance at a reasonable cost in the future, or at all, and whether insurance coverage is adequate for future losses or claims;

 

   

increased employee attrition as a result of the challenging political and operating environment facing PG&E Corporation and the Utility;

 

   

the timing and outcomes of the FERC TO18 and TO19 rate cases, 2018 and 2019 CEMA applications, WEMA application, WMCE application, future applications for cost recovery of amounts recorded to the FRMMA, CPPMA, WMPMA, VMBA, WMBA and RTBA, future cost of capital proceedings and other ratemaking and regulatory proceedings;

 

   

the outcome of the probation and the Monitorship imposed by the federal court after the Utility’s conviction in the federal criminal trial in 2017, the timing and outcomes of the debarment proceeding, potential reliability penalties or sanctions from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation or Western Electricity Coordinating Council, investigations that have been or may be commenced relating to the Utility’s compliance with natural gas- and electric- related laws and regulations, and the ultimate amount of fines, penalties, and remedial costs that the Utility may incur in connection with the outcomes including the costs of complying with any additional conditions of probation imposed in connection with the Utility’s federal criminal proceeding, such as expenses associated with any material expansion of the Utility’s vegetation management program, as well as the impact of additional

 

3


Table of Contents
 

conditions of probation on PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s ability to make distributions to shareholders;

 

   

the effects on PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s reputations caused by matters such as the CPUC’s investigations and enforcement proceedings and the Utility’s criminal guilty plea as described in PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Joint Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020;

 

   

the outcome of future legislative or regulatory actions as part of the “Enhanced Oversight and Enforcement Process” or otherwise that may be taken, such as requiring the Utility to transfer ownership of the Utility’s assets to municipalities or other public entities, or implement corporate governance, operational or other changes;

 

   

whether the Utility can control its operating costs within the authorized levels of spending, and timely recover its costs through rates; whether the Utility can continue implementing a streamlined organizational structure and achieve project savings, the extent to which the Utility incurs unrecoverable costs that are higher than the forecasts of such costs; and changes in cost forecasts or the scope and timing of planned work resulting from changes in customer demand for electricity and natural gas or other reasons;

 

   

whether the Utility and its third-party vendors and contractors are able to protect the Utility’s operational networks and information technology systems from cyber- and physical attacks, or other internal or external hazards;

 

   

the timing and outcome in the Court of Appeals of the appeal of the FERC’s order denying rehearing on March 17, 2020 granting the Utility a 50-basis point ROE incentive adder for continued participation in the CAISO;

 

   

the outcome of current and future self-reports, investigations, or other enforcement proceedings that could be commenced or notices of violation that could be issued relating to the Utility’s compliance with laws, rules, regulations, or orders applicable to its operations, including the construction, expansion, or replacement of its electric and gas facilities, electric grid reliability, audit, inspection and maintenance practices, customer billing and privacy, physical and cybersecurity, environmental laws and regulations; and the outcome of existing and future SED notices of violations;

 

   

the impact of government regulations that the Utility is subject to, including environmental remediation laws, regulations, and orders; the ultimate amount of costs incurred to discharge the Utility’s known and unknown remediation obligations; and the extent to which the Utility is able to recover such compliance costs in rates or from other sources;

 

   

the impact of SB 100, signed into law on September 10, 2018, which increased the percentage from 50% to 60% of California’s electricity portfolio that must come from renewables by 2030; and establishes state policy that 100% of all retail electricity sales must come from renewable portfolio standard-eligible or carbon-free resources by 2045;

 

   

how the CPUC and the CARB implement state environmental laws relating to GHG, renewable energy targets, energy efficiency standards, distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, and similar matters, including whether the Utility is able to continue recovering associated compliance costs, such as the cost of emission allowances and offsets under cap-and-trade regulations; and whether the Utility is able to timely recover its associated investment costs;

 

   

the impact of the California governor’s executive order issued on January 26, 2018, to implement a new target of five million zero-emission vehicles on the road in California by 2030 and the California governor’s executive order issued on September 23, 2020, requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035 and additional measures to eliminate harmful emissions from the transportation sector;

 

   

the ultimate amount of unrecoverable environmental costs the Utility incurs associated with the Utility’s natural gas compressor station site located near Hinkley, California and the Utility’s fossil fuel-fired generation sites;

 

4


Table of Contents
   

the impact of new legislation or NRC regulations, recommendations, policies, decisions, or orders relating to the nuclear industry, including operations, seismic design, security, safety, relicensing, the storage of spent nuclear fuel, decommissioning, cooling water intake, or other issues; the impact of potential actions, such as legislation, taken by state agencies that may affect the Utility’s ability to continue operating Diablo Canyon until its planned retirement;

 

   

the impact of wildfires, droughts, floods, high winds, lightning or other weather-related conditions or events, climate change, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, war, vandalism (including cyber-attacks), downed power lines, and other events, that can cause unplanned outages, reduce generating output, disrupt the Utility’s service to customers, or damage or disrupt the facilities, operations, or information technology and systems owned by the Utility, its customers, or third parties on which the Utility relies, and the reparation and other costs that the Utility may incur in connection with such conditions or events; the impact of the adequacy of the Utility’s emergency preparedness; whether the Utility incurs liability to third parties for property damage or personal injury caused by such events; whether the Utility is subject to civil, criminal, or regulatory penalties in connection with such events; and whether the Utility’s insurance coverage is available for these types of claims and sufficient to cover the Utility’s liability;

 

   

the breakdown or failure of equipment that can cause damages, including fires, and unplanned outages; and whether the Utility will be subject to investigations, penalties, and other costs in connection with such events;

 

   

the outcome of future legislative developments in connection with SB 350 (the Golden State Energy Act), a bill which was signed into law on June 30, 2020 and authorizes the creation by the California governor of a new entity, “Golden State Energy,” a nonprofit public benefit corporation, for the purpose of acquiring the Utility’s assets and serving electric and gas in the Utility’s service territory in the event that the CPUC revokes the Utility’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity;

 

   

whether the Utility’s climate change adaptation strategies are successful;

 

   

the impact that reductions in Utility customer demand for electricity and natural gas, driven by customer departures to CCAs and DA providers, have on the Utility’s ability to make and recover its investments through rates and earn its authorized return on equity, and whether the Utility is successful in addressing the impact of growing distributed and renewable generation resources, and changing customer demand for its natural gas and electric services;

 

   

the supply and price of electricity, natural gas, and nuclear fuel; the extent to which the Utility can manage and respond to the volatility of energy commodity prices; the ability of the Utility and its counterparties to post or return collateral in connection with price risk management activities; and whether the Utility is able to recover timely its electric generation and energy commodity costs through rates, including its renewable energy procurement costs;

 

   

the amount and timing of charges reflecting probable liabilities for third-party claims; the extent to which costs incurred in connection with third-party claims or litigation can be recovered through insurance, rates, or from other third parties; and whether the Utility can continue to obtain adequate insurance coverage for future losses or claims, especially following a major event that causes widespread third-party losses;

 

   

the risks and uncertainties associated with any future substantial sales of shares of common stock of PG&E Corporation by existing shareholders, including the Fire Victim Trust, the PIPE Investors and the Backstop Parties;

 

   

the impact of the regulation of utilities and their holding companies, including how the CPUC interprets and enforces the financial and other conditions imposed on PG&E Corporation when it became the Utility’s holding company, and whether the uncertainty in connection with the Utility’s probation or enforcement matters will impact the Utility’s ability to make distributions to PG&E Corporation;

 

5


Table of Contents
   

the outcome of federal or state tax audits and the impact of any changes in federal or state tax laws, policies, regulations, or their interpretation;

 

   

whether PG&E Corporation or the Utility undergoes an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), as a result of which tax attributes could be limited;

 

   

changes in the regulatory and economic environment, including potential changes affecting clean energy and tax policy, as a result of the current federal administration and Congress; and

 

   

the impact of changes in GAAP, standards, rules, or policies, including those related to regulatory accounting, and the impact of changes in their interpretation or application.

For more information about the significant risks that could affect the outcome of the forward-looking statements and our future financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, and cash flows, you should read the sections of the documents incorporated herein by reference titled “Risk Factors,” as well as the important factors that may be set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable supplement to this prospectus.

You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplements, the documents that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus, the documents that we have included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the documents that we refer to under the section of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information” completely and with the understanding that our actual future results could be materially different from what we expect when making the forward-looking statement. We qualify all our forward- looking statements by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus, the date of the document incorporated by reference or the date of any applicable prospectus supplement. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

6


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

Each prospectus supplement will describe the uses of the proceeds from the issuance of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds in the event that the securities are sold by a selling securityholder.

 

7


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

The following is a general description of the terms and provisions of the securities we and the selling securityholders may offer and sell by this prospectus. These summaries are not meant to be a complete description of each security. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each security. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the securities as described in this prospectus.

Holding Company Structure

PG&E Corporation conducts its operations primarily through its subsidiaries and substantially all of its consolidated assets are held by its subsidiaries. Accordingly, PG&E Corporation’s cash flow and its ability to meet its obligations under its debt securities are largely dependent upon the earnings and cash flows of its subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of these earnings and cash flows to PG&E Corporation in the form of dividends or loans or advances and repayment of loans and advances from the Utility. PG&E Corporation’s subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to pay any amounts due on its debt securities or to make any funds available for payment of amounts due on these debt securities.

Because PG&E Corporation is a holding company, its obligations under its debt securities will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of its subsidiaries, including all the existing and future liabilities of the Utility. Therefore, the rights of PG&E Corporation and its creditors, including the rights of the holders of its debt securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the liquidation or reorganization of the subsidiary will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. To the extent that PG&E Corporation is itself a creditor with recognized claims against any of its subsidiaries, its claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interest in, or mortgages or other liens on, the assets of the subsidiary and would be subordinated to any indebtedness or other liabilities of the subsidiary that are senior to the claims held by PG&E Corporation.

 

8


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES OF PG&E CORPORATION

SENIOR NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the senior notes, which may be unsecured or secured (“senior notes”). The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, (i) the unsecured senior note indenture to be entered into between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Unsecured Senior Note Indenture Trustee”), to be supplemented by supplemental indentures establishing the unsecured senior notes of each series and (ii) the senior secured note indenture, dated as of June 23, 2020, between PG&E Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Secured Senior Note Indenture Trustee,” and together with the Unsecured Senior Note Indenture Trustee, the “Senior Note Indenture Trustees”), to be supplemented by supplemental indentures establishing the secured senior notes of each series. The unsecured senior note indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, is referred to herein as the “Unsecured Senior Note Indenture.” The secured senior note indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Secured Senior Note Indenture,” and together with the Unsecured Senior Note Indenture, the “Senior Note Indentures.”

There will be no requirement under either the Unsecured Senior Note Indenture or the Secured Senior Note Indenture that our future issuances of senior notes be issued exclusively under either indenture. We will be free to employ other indentures or documentation containing provisions different from those included in either indenture or applicable to one or more issuances of unsecured senior notes or secured senior notes, as the case may be, in connection with future issuances of other senior notes.

We have summarized selected provisions of the Senior Note Indentures and the senior notes below. The information we are providing you in this prospectus concerning the senior notes and the Senior Note Indentures is only a summary of the information provided in those documents, and the summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Senior Note Indentures, including the form of applicable senior notes attached thereto. You should consult the applicable form of the senior notes themselves and the applicable Senior Note Indenture for more complete information on the senior notes as they, and not this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, govern your rights as a holder. The Secured Senior Note Indenture and the form of the Unsecured Senior Note Indenture are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The terms of the senior notes will include those stated in the Senior Note Indentures and those made a part of the Senior Note Indentures by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. Certain capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined in the applicable Senior Note Indenture.

In this section, references to “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” and “the Company” refer only to PG&E Corporation and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided.

General

The unsecured senior notes will be issued as unsecured senior debt securities under the Unsecured Senior Note Indenture and will rank equally with all other future unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Company. The unsecured senior notes will be effectively subordinated to all secured debt of the Company, including the secured senior notes. The secured senior notes will be issued as secured senior debt securities under the Secured Senior Note Indenture and will rank equally with all other future secured senior notes of the Company. As of December 31, 2020, we had (i) $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.00% senior secured notes due July 1, 2028 and (ii) $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior secured notes due July 1, 2030, in each case, outstanding under the Secured Senior Note Indenture. As of December 31, 2020, we had no unsecured senior notes outstanding. Neither Senior Note Indenture limits the aggregate principal amount of senior notes that may

 

9


Table of Contents

be issued under such Senior Note Indenture and each Senior Note Indenture provides that senior notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to a supplemental indenture to such Senior Note Indenture. The Senior Note Indentures give us the ability to reopen a previous series of senior notes and issue additional senior notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.

Provisions of a Particular Series

The prospectus supplement applicable to each series of senior notes will specify, among other things:

 

   

the title of such senior notes;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such senior notes;

 

   

the date or dates on which the principal of such senior notes is payable, including the maturity date, or the method or means by which those dates will be determined, and our right, if any, to extend those dates and the duration of any such extension;

 

   

the rate or rates at which such senior notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date, and the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such extension;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such senior notes shall be payable, the methods by which registration of transfer of senior notes and exchanges of senior notes may be effected, and by which notices and demands to or upon us in respect of such senior notes may be made, given, furnished, filed or served;

 

   

the period or periods within which, or date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which the senior notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;

 

   

our obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay such senior notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the holder and the terms and conditions upon which the senior notes will be so redeemed, purchased or repaid;

 

   

the denominations in which such senior notes shall be issuable;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the senior notes will be payable if other than U.S. dollars and the method for determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;

 

   

if the amount payable in respect of principal of or any premium or interest on any senior notes may be determined with reference to an index or formula, the manner in which such amount will be determined;

 

   

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the applicable Senior Note Indenture pertaining to such senior notes;

 

   

whether the senior notes of the series will be secured (including the terms of the collateral securing the senior notes of such series) or unsecured and the terms and provisions applicable to any such security arrangements with respect to the senior notes of such series; whether such senior notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security and, if so, the name of the depositary for any global securities;

 

   

any non-applicability of Section 1007 of the applicable Senior Note Indenture (Limitation on Liens) to the senior notes of such series or any exceptions or modifications of such section with respect to the senior notes of such series; and

   

any other terms of such senior notes.

We may sell senior notes at par or at a discount below their stated principal amount or at a premium. We will describe in a prospectus supplement material U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, and any other special considerations for any senior notes we sell that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars.

 

10


Table of Contents

The Senior Note Indentures do not contain provisions that afford holders of senior notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us.

Registration and Transfer

We shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange senior notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the senior notes of such series called for redemption, or (ii) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any senior notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any senior note being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of any senior notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such senior notes. Principal of and interest on senior notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as we may designate from time to time, except that, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the senior notes. Payment of interest on senior notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the senior notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the senior notes. We may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

All moneys paid by us to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal (and premium, if any) of or interest on the senior notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of such senior notes will from that time forward look only to us for payment of such principal and interest.

Covenants

Any covenants pertaining to a series of senior notes will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to such series of senior notes.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

We shall not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

 

   

such other person is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, company, joint stock company or business trust organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state in the United States or the District of Columbia and such other person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the senior notes and the performance of every covenant of the applicable Senior Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

   

we have delivered to the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of the applicable

 

11


Table of Contents
 

Senior Note Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may merge or consolidate with or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to an affiliate that has no significant assets or liabilities and was formed solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of organization or our form of organization; provided that the amount of our indebtedness is not increased; and provided, further that the successor assumes all of our obligations under the applicable Senior Note Indenture.

Modification

Each Senior Note Indenture contains provisions permitting us and the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding senior notes of each series that is affected, to modify the applicable Senior Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the senior notes of such series; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding senior note that is affected:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any senior note, or reduce the principal amount of any senior note or the rate of interest on any senior note or any premium payable upon the redemption of any senior note, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest of any senior note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any senior note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date); or

 

   

reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding senior notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable Senior Note Indenture or certain defaults under such Senior Note Indenture and their consequences) provided for in such Senior Note Indenture; or

 

   

modify any of the provisions of the applicable Senior Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of such Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding senior note that is affected.

In addition, we and the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of senior notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of senior notes.

Events of Default

Each Senior Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the senior notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the senior notes of such series:

 

   

failure for 30 days to pay interest on the senior notes of such series, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

 

   

failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest on the senior notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

 

   

failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a senior note of such series; or

 

   

failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of ours in the applicable Senior Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in such Senior Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of senior notes other than such series) for 90 days

 

12


Table of Contents
 

after written notice to us from the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee or to us and such Senior Note Indenture Trustee from the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding senior notes of such series; or

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the senior notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the senior notes of such series. If a Senior Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the senior notes of any series, then the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 33% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the senior notes of such series may declare the principal amount of the senior notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to us (and to such Senior Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in the last bullet above, the principal amount of all senior notes of that series then outstanding shall be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other action by such Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of such series. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the senior notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in the applicable Senior Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the senior notes of such series may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to such senior notes, other than the non-payment of the principal of such senior notes which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with such Senior Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all overdue interest (including, to the extent such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such senior notes) and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by such Senior Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of such Senior Note Indenture Trustee.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the senior notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the senior notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under the applicable Senior Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding senior note of such series affected.

Satisfaction and Discharge

Any senior note, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the applicable Senior Note Indenture, and our entire indebtedness in respect of the senior notes will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if certain conditions are satisfied, including an irrevocable deposit with the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee or any paying agent (other than us) in trust of:

 

   

money in an amount which will be sufficient; or

 

   

in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of the senior notes or portions thereof, Eligible Obligations (as defined below) which do not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide monies which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by such Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the paying agent, will be sufficient; or

 

   

a combination of either of the two items described in the two preceding bullet points which will be sufficient;

to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on the senior notes or portions thereof.

 

13


Table of Contents

This discharge of the senior notes through the deposit with the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee of cash or Eligible Obligations generally will be treated as a taxable disposition for U.S. federal income tax purposes by the holders of those senior notes. Prospective investors in the senior notes should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them in the event of such discharge.

For purposes of this subsection, “Eligible Obligations” for U.S. dollar-denominated senior notes, means securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States, entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof, or depositary receipts issued by a bank as custodian with respect to these obligations or any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof held by the custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt.

Information Concerning the Senior Note Indenture Trustees

The applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect to senior notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to senior notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in such Senior Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to senior notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to senior notes of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by such Senior Note Indenture at the request of any holder of senior notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by such Senior Note Indenture Trustee. The applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if such Senior Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

We and certain of our subsidiaries may maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with the Senior Note Indenture Trustees. The Senior Note Indenture Trustees and certain of their affiliates may also serve as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company are outstanding.

The applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the senior notes of one or more series upon written notice to us, and such Senior Note Indenture Trustee may be removed at any time by written notice delivered to it and us and signed by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of outstanding senior notes. No resignation or removal of a Senior Note Indenture Trustee will take effect until a successor trustee accepts appointment. In addition, under certain circumstances, we may remove the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee with respect to any series. We must give notice of resignation and removal of the applicable Senior Note Indenture Trustee with respect to a series or the appointment of a successor trustee as provided in the applicable Senior Note Indenture.

Governing Law

The Senior Note Indentures and the senior notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

Miscellaneous

We will have the right at all times to assign any of our rights or obligations under any Senior Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, we will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the applicable Senior Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to such Senior Note Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.

 

14


Table of Contents

SUBORDINATED NOTES

Set forth below is a description of the general terms of the subordinated notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the subordinated note indenture to be entered into between us and a trustee to be named (the “Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee”), to be supplemented by supplemental indentures establishing the subordinated notes of each series. The subordinated note indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, is referred to as the “Subordinated Note Indenture.” The form of the Subordinated Note Indenture was filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Form 8-K we filed on March 9, 2009 (File No. 001-12609). We have summarized selected provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture and the subordinated notes below. The information we are providing you in this prospectus concerning the subordinated notes and the Subordinated Note Indenture is only a summary of the information provided in those documents, and the summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture, including the form of subordinated notes attached thereto. You should consult the form of the subordinated notes themselves and the Subordinated Note Indenture for more complete information on the subordinated notes as they, and not this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, govern your rights as a holder. The terms of the subordinated notes will include those stated in the Subordinated Note Indenture and those made a part of the Subordinated Note Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. Certain capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture.

In this section, references to “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” and “the Company” refer only to PG&E Corporation and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided.

General

The subordinated notes will be issued as unsecured junior subordinated debt securities under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of subordinated notes that may be issued under the Subordinated Note Indenture and provides that subordinated notes may be issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Subordinated Note Indenture gives us the ability to reopen a previous issue of subordinated notes and issue additional subordinated notes of such series, unless otherwise provided.

Provisions of a Particular Series

The prospectus supplement applicable to each series of subordinated notes will specify, among other things:

 

   

the title of such subordinated notes;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of such subordinated notes;

 

   

the date or dates on which the principal of such subordinated notes is payable, including the maturity date, or the method or means by which those dates will be determined, and our right, if any, to extend those dates and the duration of any such extension;

 

   

the rate or rates at which such subordinated notes shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates will be determined, the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date, and the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such extension;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such subordinated notes shall be payable, the methods by which registration of the transfer of subordinated notes and exchanges of subordinated notes may be effected, and by which notices and demands to or upon us in respect of such subordinated notes may be made, given, furnished, filed or served;

 

   

the period or periods within which, or date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which the subordinated notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option, and any restrictions on such redemption;

 

15


Table of Contents
   

our obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay such subordinated notes pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the holder and the terms and conditions upon which the subordinated notes will be so redeemed, purchased or repaid;

 

   

the denominations in which such subordinated notes shall be issuable;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the subordinated notes will be payable if other than U.S. dollars and the method for determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;

 

   

if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Interest (as defined below)) on such subordinated notes may be determined with reference to an index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

   

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided in the Subordinated Note Indenture pertaining to such subordinated notes;

 

   

whether such subordinated notes shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security and, if so, the name of the depositary for any global securities; and

 

   

any other terms of such subordinated notes.

The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of subordinated notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us.

Registration and Transfer

We shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange subordinated notes of any series during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the subordinated notes of such series called for redemption, or (ii) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any subordinated notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any subordinated note being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of any subordinated notes will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of such subordinated notes. Principal of and interest on subordinated notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as we may designate from time to time, except that, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by wire transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to an interest payment as such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the subordinated notes. Payment of interest on subordinated notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the subordinated notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the subordinated notes. We may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

All moneys paid by us to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the subordinated notes of any series which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of such subordinated notes will from that time forward look only to us for payment of such principal (and premium, if any) and interest.

 

16


Table of Contents

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person (as defined below), unless:

 

   

in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture to the Subordinated Note Indenture, executed and delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest) on all the subordinated notes and the performance of every covenant of the Subordinated Note Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

   

the Company has delivered to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease complies with Article Eight of the Subordinated Note Indenture and that all conditions precedent relating to such transaction in the Subordinated Note Indenture have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge or consolidate with or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to an affiliate that has no significant assets or liabilities and was formed solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of organization of the Company or the form of organization of the Company; provided that the amount of indebtedness of the Company is not increased thereby; and provided, further that the successor assumes all obligations of the Company under the Subordinated Note Indenture.

The meaning of the term “substantially all” has not been definitively established and is likely to be interpreted by reference to applicable state law if and at the time the issue arises and will depend on the facts and circumstances existing at the time.

For purposes of this subsection, “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Subordination

The subordinated notes are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all of our Senior Indebtedness (as defined below). No payment of any principal, including redemption payments, if any, premium, if any, or interest on (including Additional Interest) the subordinated notes shall be made if:

 

   

any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due whether at the stated maturity of any such payment or by call for redemption and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has ended, with such default remaining uncured and such default has not been waived or otherwise ceased to exist;

 

   

the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default; or

 

   

notice has been given of the exercise of an option to require repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or otherwise.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshalling of assets or liabilities, or any

 

17


Table of Contents

bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the subordinated notes are entitled to receive or retain any payment or distribution. Subject to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the holders of the subordinated notes will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the subordinated notes are paid in full.

For purposes of this subsection, “assets of the Company” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordinated notes to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness that may at the time be outstanding; provided, however, that (i) the Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article Eight of the Subordinated Note Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this subsection if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article Eight of the Subordinated Note Indenture.

The term “Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to us:

 

   

any payment due in respect of our indebtedness, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture or incurred, created or assumed after such date, (a) in respect of money borrowed (including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and (b) evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds, notes or other similar instruments issued by us that, by their terms, are senior or senior subordinated debt securities;

 

   

all capital lease obligations;

 

   

all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations);

 

   

all obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction;

 

   

all obligations of the type referred to in first four bullet points above of other persons the payment of which we are responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and

 

   

all obligations of the type referred to in the first four bullet points above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or that ranks equally with the subordinated notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness between or among us or our affiliates. Such Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in the Subordinated Note Indenture irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness that we may issue. At December 31, 2020, the outstanding Senior Indebtedness of PG&E Corporation totaled approximately $4.7 billion.

 

18


Table of Contents

Additional Interest

“Additional Interest” is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture as (i) such additional amounts as may be required so that the net amounts received and retained by a holder of subordinated notes (if the holder is a Securities Trust (as defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture) formed to issue Trust Securities (as defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture), the proceeds of which are used to purchase subordinated notes of one or more series) after paying taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or any other taxing authority will not be less than the amounts the holder would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges been imposed; and (ii) any interest due and not paid on an interest payment date, together with interest on such interest due from such interest payment date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each interest payment date.

Certain Covenants

The Company covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for the benefit of the holders of each series of subordinated notes, that:

 

   

if the Company shall have given notice of its election to extend an interest payment period for such series of subordinated notes and such extension shall be continuing;

 

   

if the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment or other obligations under the guarantee with respect to the Trust Securities, if any, related to such series of subordinated notes; or

 

   

if an Event of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to such series of subordinated notes shall have occurred and be continuing;

(a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees other than the guarantee with respect to the series of Trust Securities, if any, related to such series of subordinated notes) issued by the Company which rank equally with or junior to the subordinated notes.

None of the foregoing, however, shall restrict:

 

   

any of the actions described in the preceding sentence resulting from any reclassification of the Company’s capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company’s capital stock for another class or series of the Company’s capital stock; or

 

   

the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged.

Modification

The Subordinated Note Indenture contains provisions permitting us and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated notes of each series that is affected, to modify the Subordinated Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the subordinated notes of such series; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding subordinated note that is affected:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any subordinated note, or reduce the principal amount of any subordinated note or the rate of interest (including Additional Interest) of any subordinated note or any premium payable upon the redemption of any subordinated note, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest on any subordinated note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any subordinated note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date); or

 

19


Table of Contents
   

reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding subordinated notes of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture or certain defaults under the Subordinated Note Indenture and their consequences) provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture; or

 

   

modify any of the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding subordinated note that is affected; or

 

   

modify the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the subordination of the subordinated notes in a manner adverse to such holder.

In addition, we and the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee may execute, without the consent of any holders of subordinated notes, any supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the creation of any new series of subordinated notes.

Events of Default

The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described events with respect to the subordinated notes of any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an “Event of Default” with respect to the subordinated notes of such series:

 

   

failure for 30 days to pay interest on the subordinated notes of such series, including any Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition of Additional Interest in the Subordinated Note Indenture) on such unpaid interest, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or

 

   

failure for 30 days to pay Additional Interest (as defined in clause (i) of the definition of Additional Interest in the Subordinated Note Indenture); or

 

   

failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest, including Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition of Additional Interest in the Subordinated Note Indenture), on the subordinated notes of such series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or

 

   

failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment when due by the terms of a subordinated note of such series; or

 

   

failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Company in the Subordinated Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in the Subordinated Note Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of subordinated notes other than such series) for 90 days after written notice to the Company from the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or to the Company and the Subordinated Note Trustee from the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated notes of such series; or

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the subordinated notes of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee with respect to the subordinated notes of such series. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the subordinated notes of any series, then the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 33% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the subordinated notes of such series may declare the principal amount of the subordinated notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the

 

20


Table of Contents

subordinated notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Subordinated Note Indenture, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the subordinated notes of such series may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Company has paid or deposited with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the subordinated notes of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the subordinated notes of such series, waive any past default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under Article Nine of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding subordinated note of such series affected.

Satisfaction and Discharge

Any subordinated note, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the Subordinated Note Indenture, and our entire indebtedness in respect of the subordinated notes will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged if certain conditions are satisfied, including an irrevocable deposit with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or any paying agent (other than us) in trust of:

 

   

money in an amount which will be sufficient; or

 

   

in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of the subordinated notes or portions thereof, Eligible Obligations (as defined below) which do not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide monies which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee or the paying agent, will be sufficient; or

 

   

a combination of either of the two items described in the two preceding bullet points which will be sufficient;

to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on the subordinated notes or portions thereof.

This discharge of the subordinated notes through the deposit with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee of cash or Eligible Obligations generally will be treated as a taxable disposition for U.S. federal income tax purposes by the holders of those subordinated notes. Prospective investors in the subordinated notes should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them in the event of such discharge.

For purposes of this subsection, “Eligible Obligations” for U.S. dollar-denominated subordinated notes, means securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States, entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof, or depositary receipts issued by a bank as custodian with respect to these obligations or any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof held by the custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt.

Information Concerning the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee

The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect to subordinated notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to subordinated notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default with respect to subordinated notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, shall exercise, with respect to subordinated notes

 

21


Table of Contents

of such series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Subordinated Note Indenture at the request of any holder of subordinated notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries may maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with the Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee. The Subordinated Note Indenture Trustee and certain of its affiliates may also serve as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which securities of the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company are outstanding.

Governing Law

The Subordinated Note Indenture and the subordinated notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

Miscellaneous

We will have the right at all times to assign any of our rights or obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ours; provided, that, in the event of any such assignment, we will remain primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Subordinated Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties to the Subordinated Note Indenture and their respective successors and assigns.

 

22


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES OF PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY

UNSECURED SENIOR NOTES

This prospectus describes certain general terms of the unsecured senior notes (“senior notes”) that we may sell from time to time under this prospectus. We will describe the specific terms of each series of senior notes we offer in a prospectus supplement. The senior notes will be issued under an indenture dated as of August 6, 2018 between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Senior Note Indenture Trustee”). The indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, is referred to as the “Indenture.” We have summarized selected provisions of the Indenture and the senior notes below. The information we are providing you in this prospectus concerning the senior notes and the Indenture is only a summary of the information provided in those documents, and the summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Indenture, including the forms of senior notes attached thereto. You should consult the senior notes themselves and the Indenture for more complete information on the senior notes as they, and not this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, govern your rights as a holder. The Indenture is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, and the terms of the senior notes will include those made part of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act.

In this section, references to “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to Pacific Gas and Electric Company and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided.

General

The senior notes are our unsecured general obligations and will rank equally in right of payment to all our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The senior notes will be effectively subordinated to all our secured debt, including our first mortgage bonds (as defined below) to be issued from time to time under our mortgage indenture. The mortgage indenture constitutes a first lien, subject to permitted liens, on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. The senior notes will be entitled to the benefit of the Indenture equally and ratably with all other senior notes issued under the Indenture.

The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt we may issue under it or the amount of debt we or our subsidiaries may otherwise incur. We may issue senior notes from time to time under the Indenture in one or more series by entering into supplemental indentures or by resolution of our board of directors.

Provisions of a Particular Series

The prospectus supplement applicable to each series of senior notes will specify, among other things:

 

   

the title of the senior notes;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the senior notes;

 

   

the date or dates on which the principal of the senior notes is payable, including the maturity date, or the method or means by which those dates will be determined, and our right, if any, to extend those dates and the duration of any extension;

 

   

the interest rate or rates of the senior notes, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method or means by which the interest rate or rates will be determined, and our ability to extend any interest payment periods and the duration of any extension;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, the dates on which we will pay interest on the senior notes and the regular record date, if any, for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such senior notes shall be payable;

 

23


Table of Contents
   

the methods by which registration of transfer of senior notes and exchanges of senior notes may be effected, and by which notices and demands to or upon us in respect of such senior notes may be made, given, furnished, filed or served;

 

   

any periods or periods within which, or date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which the senior notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option, and any restrictions on such redemptions;

 

   

any obligation of ours to redeem, purchase or repay the senior notes pursuant to any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption provisions or at the option of the holder and the terms and conditions upon which the senior notes will be so redeemed, purchased or repaid;

 

   

the denominations in which we will authorize the senior notes to be issued, if other than $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000;

 

   

whether we will offer the senior notes in the form of global securities and, if so, the name of the depositary for any global securities;

 

   

if the amount payable in respect of principal of or any premium or interest on any senior notes may be determined with reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside the Indenture, the manner in which such amount will be determined;

 

   

covenants for the benefit of the holders of that series;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the senior notes will be payable if other than U.S. dollars and the method for determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;

 

   

any exceptions to the provisions for legal holidays or business days in the Indenture;

 

   

if the principal of the senior notes is payable from time to time without presentation or surrender, any method or manner of calculating the principal amount that is outstanding at any time for purposes of the Indenture; and

 

   

any other terms of the senior notes.

We may sell senior notes at par or at a discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe in a prospectus supplement material U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, and any other special considerations for any senior notes we sell that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars.

Payment

Except as may be provided with respect to a series, interest, if any, on the senior notes payable on each interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name that senior note is registered as of the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment date. However, interest payable at maturity will be paid to the person to whom the principal is paid. If there has been a default in the payment of interest on any senior notes, the defaulted interest may be paid to the holders of the senior notes as of a special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest which shall not be more than 30 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.

Redemption

Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of a series of senior notes will be set forth in a prospectus supplement for the offered series. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, senior notes will be redeemable by us only upon notice sent to the holders of senior notes not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption and, if less than all the senior notes of a series are to be redeemed, the particular senior notes to be redeemed will be selected by the method

 

24


Table of Contents

provided for that particular series, or in the absence of any such provision, by such method of random selection as the registrar deems fair and appropriate; provided, however, that with respect to global securities (as defined herein), senior notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the procedures of the depositary.

We have reserved the right to provide conditional redemption notices for redemptions at our option or for redemptions that are contingent upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event or condition that cannot be ascertained prior to the time we are required to notify holders of the redemption. A conditional notice may state that if we have not deposited redemption funds with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or a paying agent on or before the redemption date or we have directed the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or paying agent not to apply money deposited with it for redemption of senior notes, we will not be required to redeem the senior notes on the redemption date.

Restrictions on Liens and Sale and Leaseback Transactions

The Indenture does not permit us or any of our Significant Subsidiaries (as defined below) to, (i) issue, incur, assume or permit to exist any Debt (as defined below) secured by a Lien (as defined below) on any of our Principal Property (as defined below), whether that Principal Property was owned when the Indenture was executed (August 6, 2018) or thereafter acquired, unless we provide that the outstanding senior notes will be equally and ratably secured by such Liens for as long as any such Debt shall be so secured or (ii) incur or permit to exist any Attributable Debt (as defined below) in respect of Principal Property; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction will not apply to the following:

 

   

any Lien existing on August 6, 2018;

 

   

to the extent we or any Significant Subsidiary consolidates with, or merges with or into, another entity, Liens on the property of such entity securing Debt in existence on the date of such consolidation or merger, provided that such Debt and Liens were not created or incurred in anticipation of such consolidation or merger and that such Liens do not extend to or cover any such Principal Property;

 

   

Liens on property acquired after August 6, 2018 and existing at the time of acquisition, as long as the Lien was not created or incurred in anticipation thereof and does not extend to or cover any other Principal Property;

 

   

Liens of any kind, including purchase money Liens, conditional sales agreements or title retention agreements and similar agreements, upon any property acquired, constructed, developed or improved by us or any Significant Subsidiary (whether alone or in association with others) which do not exceed the cost or value of the property acquired, constructed, developed or improved and which are created prior to, at the time of, or within 12 months after such acquisition (or in the case of property constructed, developed or improved, within 12 months after the completion of such construction, development or improvement and commencement of full commercial operation of such property, whichever is later) to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price or cost thereof; provided that the Liens shall not extend to any Principal Property other than the property so acquired, constructed, developed or improved;

 

   

Liens in favor of the United States, any state or any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or any political subdivision of the foregoing to secure payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of constructing or improving the property subject to the Lien, including Liens related to governmental obligations the interest on which is tax-exempt under Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor section of the Internal Revenue Code;

 

   

Liens in favor of us, one or more of our Significant Subsidiaries, one or more of our wholly owned Subsidiaries (as defined below) or any of the foregoing combination; and

 

   

replacements, extensions or renewals (or successive replacements, extensions or renewals), in whole or in part, of any Lien or of any agreement referred to in the first six bullet points above or replacements,

 

25


Table of Contents
 

extensions or renewals of the Debt secured thereby (to the extent that the amount of Debt secured by any such Lien is not increased from the amount originally so secured, plus any premium, interest, fee or expenses payable in connection with any replacements, refundings, refinancings, remarketings, extensions or renewals); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal is limited to all or a part of the same property (plus improvements thereon or additions or accessions thereto) that secured the Lien replaced, extended or renewed.

Notwithstanding the restriction described above, we or any Significant Subsidiary may (i) issue, incur or assume Debt secured by a Lien not described in the immediately preceding seven bullet points on any Principal Property owned on August 6, 2018 or thereafter acquired without providing that the outstanding senior notes be equally and ratably secured such Lien and (ii) issue or permit to exist Attributable Debt (as defined below) in respect of Principal Property, in either case, so long as the aggregate amount of such secured debt and Attributable Debt, together with the aggregate amount of all other Debt secured by Liens on Principal Property not described in the immediately preceding seven bullet points then outstanding and all other Attributable Debt in respect of Principal Property, does not exceed 10% of our Net Tangible Assets (as defined below), as determined by us as of a month end not more than 90 days prior to the closing or consummation of the proposed transaction.

For purposes of this subsection, the following terms have the following meaning:

 

   

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in the sale and leaseback transaction, including any period for which the lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. The present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in the transaction, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.

 

   

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

   

“Debt” means any debt of ours for money borrowed and guarantees by us of debt for money borrowed but in each case excluding liabilities in respect of Capital Lease Obligations or Swap Agreements.

 

   

“debt” of a Significant Subsidiary means any debt of such Significant Subsidiary for money borrowed and guarantees by such Significant Subsidiary of debt for money borrowed but in each case excluding liabilities in respect of Capital Lease Obligations or Swap Agreements.

 

   

“Excepted Property” means any right, title or interest of us or any of our Significant Subsidiaries in, to or under any of the following property, whether owned on August 6, 2018 or thereafter acquired:

 

   

all money, investment property and deposit accounts (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code as in effect on March 11, 2004 (which is the date of the indenture governing certain of the Company’s outstanding senior notes)), and all cash on hand or on deposit in banks or other financial institutions, shares of stock, interests in general or limited partnerships or limited liability companies, bonds, notes, other evidences of indebtedness and other securities, of whatever kind and nature;

 

   

all accounts, chattel paper, commercial tort claims, documents, general intangibles, instruments, letter-of-credit rights and letters of credit (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code as in effect on March 11, 2004), with certain exclusions such as licenses and permits to use the real property of others, and all contracts, leases (other than the lease of certain real property at our Diablo Canyon power plant), operating agreements and other agreements of whatever kind and nature; and all contract rights, bills and notes;

 

   

all revenues, income and earnings, all accounts receivable, rights to payment and unbilled revenues, and all rents, tolls, issues, product and profits, claims, credits, demands and judgments, including any rights in or to rates, revenue components, charges, tariffs, or amounts arising

 

26


Table of Contents
 

therefrom, or in any amounts that are accrued and recorded in a regulatory account for collection by us or any Significant Subsidiary;

 

   

all governmental and other licenses, permits, franchises, consents and allowances including all emission allowances (or similar rights) created under any similar existing or future law relating to abatement or control of pollution of the atmosphere, water or soil, other than all licenses and permits to use the real property of others, franchises to use public roads, streets and other public properties, rights of way and other rights, or interests relating to the occupancy or use of real property;

 

   

all patents, patent licenses and other patent rights, patent applications, trade names, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property, including computer software and software licenses;

 

   

all claims, credits, choses in action, and other intangible property;

 

   

all automobiles, buses, trucks, truck cranes, tractors, trailers, motor vehicles and similar vehicles and movable equipment; all rolling stock, rail cars and other railroad equipment; all vessels, boats, barges and other marine equipment; all airplanes, helicopters, aircraft engines and other flight equipment; and all parts, accessories and supplies used in connection with any of the foregoing;

 

   

all goods, stock in trade, wares, merchandise and inventory held for the purpose of sale or lease in the ordinary course of business; all materials, supplies, inventory and other items of personal property that are consumable (otherwise than by ordinary wear and tear) in their use in the operation of the principal property; all fuel, whether or not that fuel is in a form consumable in the operation of the principal property, including separate components of any fuel in the forms in which those components exist at any time before, during or after the period of the use thereof as fuel; all hand and other portable tools and equipment; and all furniture and furnishings;

 

   

all personal property the perfection of a security interest in which is not governed by the California Commercial Code;

 

   

all oil, gas and other minerals (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code as in effect on March 11, 2004) and all coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals and all timber, and all rights and interests in any of the foregoing, whether or not the minerals or timber have been mined or extracted or otherwise separated from the land; and all electric energy and capacity, gas (natural or artificial), steam, water and other products generated, produced, manufactured, purchased or otherwise acquired by us or any Significant Subsidiary;

 

   

all property which is the subject of a lease agreement other than a lease agreement that results from a sale and leaseback transaction designating us or any Significant Subsidiary as lessee and all our, or a significant subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to that property and in, to and under that lease agreement, whether or not that lease agreement is intended as security (other than certain real property leased at our Diablo Canyon power plant and the related lease agreement);

 

   

real, personal and mixed properties of an acquiring or acquired entity unless otherwise made a part of Principal Property; and

 

   

all proceeds (as that term is defined in the California Commercial Code as in effect on March 11, 2004) of the property listed in the preceding bullet points.

 

   

“Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, easement, lease, reservation, restriction, servitude, charge or similar right and any other lien of any kind, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease of a similar nature, and any defect, irregularity, exception or limitation in record title or, when the context so requires, any lien, claim or interest arising from anything described in this bullet point.

 

   

“Net Tangible Assets” means the total amount of our assets determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of a date determined in accordance with the Indenture, less (i) the sum of our consolidated current liabilities determined in accordance with GAAP and (ii) the amount of our

 

27


Table of Contents
 

consolidated assets classified as intangible assets, determined in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, such items as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents, and unamortized debt discount and expense and regulatory assets carried as an asset on our consolidated balance sheet.

 

   

“Principal Property” means any property of ours or any of our Significant Subsidiaries, as applicable, other than Excepted Property.

 

   

“Significant Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in Rule l-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided that, Significant Subsidiary shall not include any corporation or other entity substantially all the assets of which are Excepted Property.

 

   

“Subsidiary” means (i) any corporation at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock or interest of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) of which the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries has at least a majority ownership and power to direct the policies, management and affairs. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

   

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions.

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer

We may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person (as defined below) or convey, or otherwise transfer, or lease, all or substantially all of our Principal Property to any Person unless:

 

   

the Person formed by that consolidation or into which we are merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or other transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all of the principal properties and assets is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, company, joint stock company or business trust, organized and existing under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

the Person executes and delivers to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee a supplemental indenture that in the case of a consolidation, merger, conveyance or other transfer, or in the case of a lease if the term thereof extends beyond the last stated maturity of the senior notes then outstanding, contains an assumption by the successor corporation of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all senior notes then outstanding and the performance and observance of every covenant and condition under the Indenture to be performed or observed by us;

 

   

in the case of a lease, the lease is made expressly subject to termination by us at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default under the Indenture;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating any indebtedness that becomes our obligation as a result of the transaction as having been incurred by us at the time of the transaction, no default or Event of Default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

   

we have delivered to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the merger, consolidation, conveyance, lease or transfer, as the case may be, fully complies with all provisions of the Indenture; provided, however, that the delivery of the officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel shall not be required with respect to any merger, consolidation, conveyance, lease or transfer between us and any of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may merge or consolidate with or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to an affiliate that has no significant assets or liabilities and was formed solely for the purpose of changing

 

28


Table of Contents

our jurisdiction of organization or our form of organization or for the purpose of forming a holding company; provided that the amount of our indebtedness is not increased; and provided, further that the successor assumes all of our obligations under the Indenture.

In the case of a conveyance or other transfer of all or substantially all of our principal properties and assets to any Person as contemplated under the Indenture, upon the satisfaction of all the conditions described above, we (as we would exist without giving effect to the transaction) would be released and discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and under the senior notes then outstanding unless we elect to waive the release and discharge.

The meaning of the term “substantially all” has not been definitively established and is likely to be interpreted by reference to applicable state law if and at the time the issue arises and will depend on the facts and circumstances existing at the time.

For purposes of this subsection, “Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability partnership, joint venture, trust or unincorporated organization, or any other entity, whether or not a legal entity, or any Governmental Authority (as such term is defined in the Indenture).

Additional Covenants

We have agreed in the Indenture, among other things:

 

   

to maintain a place of payment for any series of senior notes;

 

   

to maintain our corporate existence (subject to the provisions above relating to mergers and consolidations); and

 

   

to deliver to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee an annual officer’s certificate with respect to our compliance with our obligations under the Indenture.

Modification of the Indenture; Waiver

We and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the senior notes of each affected series then outstanding under the Indenture, considered as one class, modify or amend the Indenture, including the provisions relating to the rights of the holders of senior notes of the affected series. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder of affected senior notes:

 

   

change the stated maturity (except as provided by the terms of a series of senior notes) of the principal of, or interest on, the senior note or reduce the principal amount or any premium payable on the senior note or reduce the interest rate of the senior note, or change the method of calculating the interest rate with respect to the senior note;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal of any discount senior note that would be payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the senior note;

 

   

change the coin, currency or other property in which the senior note or interest or premium on the senior note is payable;

 

   

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the senior note;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding senior notes of any series the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of defaults;

 

   

reduce the quorum or voting requirements applicable to holders of the senior notes; or

 

   

modify the provisions of the Indenture with respect to modification and waiver, except as provided in the Indenture.

 

29


Table of Contents

We and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee may, without the consent of any holder of senior notes, modify and amend the Indenture for certain purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of our covenants in the Indenture and in the senior notes;

 

   

add covenants or other provisions applicable to us and for the benefit of the holders of senior notes or one or more specified series thereof or to surrender any right or power conferred on us;

 

   

establish the form or terms of senior notes of any series as contemplated by the Indenture;

 

   

cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision of the Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with other provisions;

 

   

make any other additions to, deletions from or changes to the provisions under the Indenture so long as the additions, deletions or changes do not materially adversely affect the holders of any series of senior notes in any material respect;

 

   

change or eliminate any provision of the Indenture or add any new provision so long as the change, elimination or addition does not adversely affect the interests of holders of senior notes of any series in any material respect;

 

   

change any place or places for payment or surrender of senior notes and where notices and demands to us may be served;

 

   

comply with any requirement in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; and

 

   

comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the senior notes of each affected series then outstanding under the Indenture, voting as a single class, may waive compliance by us with our covenant in respect of our corporate existence and the covenants described under “Restrictions on Liens and Sale and Leaseback Transactions” and “Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer” and with certain other covenants and restrictions that may apply to a series of senior notes as provided in the Indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the senior notes outstanding may, on behalf of the holders of all of the senior notes, waive any past default under the Indenture and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any senior note and defaults in respect of a covenant or provision in the Indenture which cannot be modified, amended or waived without the consent of each holder of affected senior notes.

In order to determine whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding senior notes have taken an action under the Indenture as of a specified date:

 

   

the principal amount of a senior note that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of that date upon acceleration of the maturity to that date; and

 

   

senior notes owned by us or any other obligor upon the senior notes or any of our or their affiliates will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.

Events of Default

An “Event of Default” means any of the following events which shall occur and be continuing:

 

   

failure to pay interest on a senior note within 30 days after the interest becomes due and payable;

 

   

failure to pay the principal of, or sinking fund installments or premium, if any, on, a senior note when due and payable;

 

30


Table of Contents
   

failure to perform or breach of any other covenant or warranty applicable to us in the Indenture continuing for 90 days after the Senior Note Indenture Trustee gives us, or the holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the senior notes then outstanding give us and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, written notice specifying the default or breach and requiring us to remedy the default or breach, unless the Senior Note Indenture Trustee is directed by the holders of a principal amount of senior notes not less than the principal amount of senior notes the holders of which gave that notice to agree in writing to an extension of the period prior to its expiration;

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

   

the occurrence of any Event of Default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any of our Debt, whether the Debt existed on August 6, 2018 or is thereafter created, if the Event of Default: (i) is caused by a failure to pay principal after final maturity of the debt after the expiration of the grace period provided in the Debt (which we refer to as a “payment default”) or (ii) results in the acceleration of the Debt prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of the Debt, together with the principal amount of any other Debt under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $150 million or more.

The $150 million amount specified in the bullet point above shall be increased in any calendar year subsequent to 2018 by the same percentage increase in the urban CPI Index (as defined in the Indenture) for the period commencing January 1, 2018 and ending on January 1 of the applicable calendar year. “Debt” for the purpose of the bullet point above means any debt of ours for money borrowed but, in each case, excluding liabilities in respect of capital lease obligations or swap agreements.

For purposes of this subsection, the following terms have the following meaning:

 

   

“Debt” means any debt of the Company for money borrowed and guarantees by the Company of debt for money borrowed but in each case excluding liabilities in respect of Capital Lease Obligations or Swap Agreements.

 

   

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

   

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions.

If the Senior Note Indenture Trustee deems it to be in the interest of the holders of the senior notes, it may withhold notice of default, except defaults in the payment of principal of or interest or premium on or with respect to, any senior note.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 33% in aggregate principal amount of the senior notes outstanding, considered as one class, may declare all principal due and payable immediately by notice in writing to us (and to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee if given by holders); provided, however, that if an Event of Default occurs with respect to the specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, then the senior notes outstanding shall be due and payable immediately without further action by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or holders. If, after such a declaration of acceleration, we pay or deposit with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee all overdue interest and principal and premium on senior notes that would have been due otherwise, plus any interest and other conditions specified in the Indenture have been satisfied before a judgment or decree for payment has been obtained by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the event or events of default giving rise to the acceleration will be deemed

 

31


Table of Contents

to have been waived and the declaration of acceleration and its consequences will be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled.

No holder of senior notes will have any right to enforce any remedy under the Indenture unless the holder has given the Senior Note Indenture Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default, the holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the senior notes outstanding have requested the Senior Note Indenture Trustee in writing to institute proceedings in respect of the Event of Default in its own name as Senior Note Indenture Trustee under the Indenture and the holder or holders have offered the Senior Note Indenture Trustee reasonable indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities with respect to the request, the Senior Note Indenture Trustee has failed to institute any proceeding within 60 days after receiving the notice from holders, and no direction inconsistent with the written request has been given to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee during the 60-day period by holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of senior notes then outstanding.

The Senior Note Indenture Trustee is not required to risk its funds or to incur financial liability if there is a reasonable ground for believing that repayment to it or adequate indemnity against risk or liability is not reasonably assured.

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the senior notes then outstanding generally may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Senior Note Indenture Trustee; provided the direction could not conflict with any rule of law or with the Indenture, and could not involve the Senior Note Indenture Trustee in personal liability where indemnity would not, in the Senior Note Indenture Trustee’s sole discretion, be adequate.

Satisfaction and Discharge

Any senior note, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the Indenture, and our entire indebtedness in respect of the senior notes will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if certain conditions are satisfied, including an irrevocable deposit with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or any paying agent (other than us) in trust of:

 

   

money in an amount which will be sufficient; or

 

   

in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of the senior notes or portions thereof, eligible obligations (as described below) which do not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide monies which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the paying agent, will be sufficient; or

 

   

a combination of either of the two items described in the two preceding bullet points which will be sufficient;

to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on the senior notes or portions thereof.

This discharge of the senior notes through the deposit with the Senior Note Indenture Trustee of cash or eligible obligations generally will be treated as a taxable disposition for U.S. federal income tax purposes by the holders of those senior notes. Prospective investors in the senior notes should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them in the event of such discharge.

For this purpose, “eligible obligations” for U.S. dollar-denominated senior notes, means securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States, entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof, or depositary receipts issued by a bank as custodian with respect to these obligations or any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof held by the custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt.

 

32


Table of Contents

Transfer and Exchange

Subject to the terms of the Indenture, senior notes of any series may be exchanged for other senior notes of the same series of authorized denominations and of like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Subject to the terms of the Indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities, senior notes may be presented for exchange or registration of transfer at the office of the registrar without service charge, upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges imposed on registration of transfer or exchange. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, us or the registrar, as the case may be, being satisfied with the instruments of transfer.

If we provide for any redemption of a series of senior notes, we will not be required to execute, register the transfer of or exchange any senior note of that series for 15 days before a notice of redemption is given or register the transfer of or exchange any senior note selected for redemption.

Resignation or Removal of Trustee

The Senior Note Indenture Trustee may resign at any time upon written notice to us and the Senior Note Indenture Trustee may be removed at any time by written notice delivered to the Senior Note Indenture Trustee and us and signed by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding senior notes. No resignation or removal of a trustee will take effect until a successor trustee accepts appointment. In addition, under certain circumstances, we may remove the Senior Note Indenture Trustee. We must give notice of resignation and removal of the Senior Note Indenture Trustee or the appointment of a successor trustee to all holders of senior notes as provided in the indenture.

Trustees, Paying Agents and Registrars for the Senior Notes

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as the Senior Note Indenture Trustee, paying agent and registrar under the indenture. We may change either the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the senior notes, and we may act as paying agent. The Senior Note Indenture Trustee serves as trustee under our mortgage indenture and certain indentures of our parent company. We and our parent company maintain ordinary banking and trust relationships with a number of banks and trust companies, including The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

Governing Law

The Indenture and the senior notes are governed by New York law.

 

33


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS

This prospectus describes certain general terms of the first mortgage bonds (“first mortgage bonds”) that we may sell from time to time under this prospectus. We will describe the specific terms of each series of first mortgage bonds we offer in a prospectus supplement. The first mortgage bonds will be issued under an indenture dated as of June 19, 2020 between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Mortgage Trustee”), to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture to the mortgage indenture establishing the first mortgage bonds of each series. The indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, is referred to as the “Mortgage Indenture.” We have summarized selected provisions of the Mortgage Indenture and the first mortgage bonds below. The information we are providing you in this prospectus concerning the first mortgage bonds and the Mortgage Indenture is only a summary of the information provided in those documents, and the summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Mortgage Indenture, including the forms of first mortgage bonds attached thereto. You should consult the first mortgage bonds themselves and the Mortgage Indenture for more complete information on the first mortgage bonds as they, and not this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, govern your rights as a holder. The Mortgage Indenture is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The Mortgage Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, and the terms of the first mortgage bonds will include those made part of the Mortgage Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act.

In this section, references to “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” and “the Company” refer only to Pacific Gas and Electric Company and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided herein.

General

The Mortgage Indenture constitutes a first lien, subject to Permitted Liens (as described below), on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. The Mortgage Indenture does not limit the amount of debt that we may issue under it. However, we may issue first mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Indenture only on the basis of, and to the extent we have available, Property Additions (as described below), retired first mortgage bonds and cash. See “— Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds.” The first mortgage bonds will be entitled to the benefit of the Mortgage Indenture equally and ratably with all other first mortgage bonds issued under the Mortgage Indenture.

The prospectus supplement applicable to each issuance of first mortgage bonds will specify, among other things:

 

   

the title of the first mortgage bonds and, if other than the date of its authentication, the date of each first mortgage bond of such series;

 

   

any limitation on the aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds;

 

   

the date or dates on which the principal of any of the first mortgage bonds is payable, including the maturity date, or how to determine those dates, and our right, if any, to extend those dates and the duration of any extension;

 

   

the interest rate or rates of the first mortgage bonds, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method or means by which the interest rate or rates are to be determined, and our ability to extend any interest payment periods and the duration of any extension;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, the dates on which we will pay interest on the first mortgage bonds and the regular record date, if any, for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such first mortgage bonds shall be payable, the methods by which registration of transfer of first mortgage bonds and exchanges of first mortgage bonds may be effected, and by which notices and demands to or upon us in respect of such first mortgage bonds may be made, given, furnished, filed or served;

 

34


Table of Contents
   

any periods or periods within which, or date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which the first mortgage bonds may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;

 

   

any obligation of ours to redeem, purchase or repay any of the first mortgage bonds pursuant to any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption provisions or at the option of the holder and the terms and conditions upon which the first mortgage bonds will be so redeemed, purchased or repaid;

 

   

the denominations in which we will authorize the first mortgage bonds to be issued, if other than $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000;

 

   

whether we will offer the first mortgage bonds in the form of global securities and, if so, the name of the depositary for any global securities;

 

   

if the amount payable in respect of principal of or any premium or interest on any first mortgage bonds may be determined with reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside the Mortgage Indenture, the manner in which such amount will be determined;

 

   

any events of default applicable to that series of first mortgage bonds in addition to the events of default described under “— Events of Default”;

 

   

covenants for the benefit of the holders of that series;

 

   

the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the first mortgage bonds will be payable if other than U.S. dollars and the manner for determining the equivalent principal amount in U.S. dollars;

 

   

any exceptions to the provisions for legal holidays or business days in the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

if the principal of the first mortgage bonds is payable from time to time without presentation or surrender, any method or manner of calculating the principal amount that is outstanding at any time for all purposes of the Mortgage Indenture; and

 

   

any other terms of the first mortgage bonds.

We may sell first mortgage bonds at par or at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe in a prospectus supplement material U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, and any other special considerations for any first mortgage bonds we sell that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars.

Payment

Except as may be provided with respect to a series, interest, if any, on the first mortgage bonds payable on each interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name that first mortgage bond is registered as of the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment date. However, interest payable at maturity will be paid to the person to whom the principal is paid. If there has been a default in the payment of interest on any first mortgage bonds, the defaulted interest may be paid to the holders of the first mortgage bonds as of a special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest which shall not be more than 30 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Mortgage Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.

Redemption

Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of a series of first mortgage bonds will be set forth in a prospectus supplement for the offered series. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, first mortgage bonds will be redeemable by us only upon notice sent not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption and, if less than all the first mortgage bonds of a series are to be redeemed, the particular first mortgage bonds to be redeemed will be selected by the method provided for that particular series, or in the absence of any such provision, by such method of random selection as the registrar deems fair and

 

35


Table of Contents

appropriate; provided, however, that with respect to global securities (as described below), first mortgage bonds to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the procedures of the depositary.

We have reserved the right to provide conditional redemption notices for redemptions at our option or for redemptions that are contingent upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event or condition that cannot be ascertained prior to the time we are required to notify holders of the redemption. A conditional notice may state that if we have not deposited redemption funds with the Mortgage Trustee or a paying agent on or before the redemption date or we have directed the Mortgage Trustee or paying agent not to apply money deposited with it for redemption of first mortgage bonds, we will not be required to redeem the first mortgage bonds on the redemption date.

Lien of the Mortgage Indenture

General

The Mortgage Indenture creates a first lien, subject to Permitted Liens, on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities. We refer to property that is subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture as “Mortgaged Property” and property that is excepted from the lien of the Mortgage Indenture as “Excepted Property.”

The Mortgage Indenture provides that after-acquired property (other than after-acquired property qualifying as Excepted Property) located in the State of California will be subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture (subject to Permitted Liens); provided, however, that in the case of a consolidation or merger (whether or not we are the surviving corporation) or the transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property, the Mortgage Indenture will not be required to be a lien upon any of the properties then owned or thereafter acquired by the successor corporation except properties acquired from us in or as a result of that transaction, to the extent not constituting Excepted Property, and improvements, extensions and additions to those properties and renewals, replacements and substitutions of or for any part or parts thereof. In addition, after-acquired property may be subject to liens existing or placed thereon at the time of acquisition thereof, including, but not limited to, purchase money liens, and, in certain circumstances, liens attaching to the property prior to the recording or filing of an instrument specifically subjecting the property to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture.

The Mortgage Indenture provides that the Mortgage Trustee shall have a lien, prior to the first mortgage bonds, on the Mortgaged Property and on all other property and funds held or collected by the Mortgage Trustee, other than property and funds held in trust for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the first mortgage bonds, as security for the payment of the Mortgage Trustee’s reasonable compensation and expenses, and as security for the performance by us of our obligation to indemnify the Mortgage Trustee against certain liabilities.

Without the consent of the holders, we and the Mortgage Trustee may enter into supplemental indentures in order to subject additional property to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture (including property which would otherwise be Excepted Property). This property would thereupon constitute Property Additions (so long as it would otherwise qualify as Property Additions as described below) and be available as a basis for the issuance of additional first mortgage bonds. See “— Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds.”

Excepted Property

The Mortgage Indenture constitutes a first lien, subject to Permitted Liens, on substantially all of our real property and certain tangible personal property related to our facilities, located in the State of California, except for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, our corporate offices, certain specified properties as set forth in the Mortgage Indenture and the following Excepted Property (unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement):

 

   

all money, investment property and deposit accounts and security entitlements (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code as in effect on the date of execution of the Mortgage

 

36


Table of Contents
 

Indenture), and all cash on hand or on deposit in banks or other financial institutions, shares of stock, joint ventures, interests in general or limited partnerships or limited liability companies, bonds, notes, other evidences of indebtedness and other securities, commodity accounts and policies of insurance on the lives of our officers and directors, of whatever kind and nature, in each case to the extent not paid or delivered to, deposited with or held by the Mortgage Trustee;

 

   

all accounts, chattel paper, commercial tort claims, documents, general intangibles (with certain exclusions such as licenses and permits to use the real property of others), instruments, letter-of-credit rights and letters of credit (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code) and all contracts, leases (including, but not limited to, the lease of certain real property at our Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant), operating agreements and other agreements of whatever kind and nature; all contract rights, bills and notes;

 

   

all revenues, income and earnings, all accounts receivable, rights to payment and unbilled revenues, and all rents, tolls, issues, product and profits, claims, credits, demands and judgments, including any rights in or to rates, revenue components, charges, tariffs, or amounts arising therefrom, or in any amounts that are accrued and recorded in a regulatory account for collections by us;

 

   

all governmental and other licenses, permits, franchises, consents and allowances including all emission allowances and greenhouse gas allowances (or similar rights) created under any similar existing or future law relating to abatement or control of pollution of the atmosphere, water or soil, other than all licenses and permits to use the real property of others, franchises to use public roads, streets and other public properties, rights of way and other rights, or interests relating to the occupancy or use of real property;

 

   

all patents, patent licenses and other patent rights, patent applications, trade names, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property, including computer software and software licenses;

 

   

all claims, credits, choses in action, and other intangible property;

 

   

all automobiles, buses, trucks, truck cranes, tractors, trailers, motor vehicles and similar vehicles and movable equipment; all rolling stock, rail cars and other railroad equipment; all vessels, boats, barges and other marine equipment; all airplanes, helicopters, aircraft engines and other flight equipment; and all parts, accessories and supplies used in connection with any of the foregoing;

 

   

all goods, stock in trade, wares, merchandise and inventory held for the purpose of sale or lease in the ordinary course of business; all materials, supplies, inventory and other items of personal property that are consumable (otherwise than by ordinary wear and tear) in their use in the operation of the Mortgaged Property;

 

   

all fuel, whether or not that fuel is in a form consumable in the operation of the Mortgaged Property, including separate components of any fuel in the forms in which those components exist at any time before, during or after the period of the use thereof as fuel; all hand and other portable tools and equipment; all furniture and furnishings; and computers and data processing, data storage, data transmission, telecommunications and other facilities, equipment and apparatus, which, in any case, are used primarily for administrative or clerical purposes or are otherwise not necessary for the operation or maintenance of the facilities, machinery, equipment or fixtures described in the granting clauses of the Mortgage Indenture as Mortgaged Property;

 

   

all personal property, the perfection of a security interest in which is not governed by the California Commercial Code;

 

   

all oil, gas and other minerals (as those terms are defined in the California Commercial Code) and all coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals and all timber, and all rights and interests in any of the foregoing, whether or not the minerals or timber have been mined or extracted or otherwise separated from the land; and all electric energy and capacity, gas (natural or artificial), steam, water and other products generated, produced, manufactured, purchased or otherwise acquired by us;

 

37


Table of Contents
   

all property that is the subject of a lease agreement designating us as lessee and all our right, title and interest in and to that leased property and in, to and under that lease agreement, whether or not that lease agreement is intended as security (including, but not limited to, certain real property leased at our Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant);

 

   

all property, real, personal and mixed, which subsequent to the execution date of the Mortgage Indenture, has been released from the lien of the Mortgage Indenture, and any improvements, extensions and additions to those properties and renewals, replacements and substitutions of or for any parts thereof;

 

   

all property, real, personal and mixed, that is stated in the Mortgage Indenture to not be subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

all Environmental Remediation Sites;

 

   

all Diablo Canyon Property;

 

   

all General Office Property;

 

   

certain hydro properties identified in the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

all Mitigation Property;

 

   

all Surplus Property; and

 

   

all proceeds (as that term is defined in the California Commercial Code) of the foregoing Excepted Property;

provided, however, that Excepted Property shall not include the identifiable proceeds (as that term is defined in the California Commercial Code) of any Mortgaged Property that we have disposed of in violation of the terms of the Mortgage Indenture.

If an Event of Default occurs under the Mortgage Indenture, certain of the Excepted Property may become subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture.

The Mortgage Indenture permits us to create or allow to exist certain “Permitted Liens”, such as mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges, security interests, leases, reservations, restrictions, charges, encumbrances, or other liens on the Mortgaged Property which rank senior to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture.

“Permitted Liens” include:

 

   

to the extent we consolidate with, or merge into, another entity, liens on the assets of such entity in existence on the date of the consolidation or merger and securing debt of such entity, provided that the debt and liens were not created or incurred in anticipation of the consolidation or merger and do not extend to any other Mortgaged Property in existence immediately prior to the consolidation or merger;

 

   

as to property acquired by us after the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture, liens existing or placed thereon at the time of the acquisition thereof, provided that the liens do not extend to any other Mortgaged Property;

 

   

liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or requirements which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

   

mechanics’, workmen’s, vendors’, repairmen’s, materialmen’s, warehousemen’s and carriers’ liens, inchoate liens, other liens incident to construction, liens or privileges of any of our employees for salary or wages earned, but not yet payable, and other liens, including, without limitation, liens for workers’ compensation awards, arising in the ordinary course of business for charges or requirements which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;

 

   

liens in respect of attachments, judgments or awards arising out of judicial or administrative proceedings (i) in an amount not exceeding the greater of (A) $10 million to the extent in existence in

 

38


Table of Contents
 

calendar year 2020; provided, that, with respect to measurement of these liens in existence in any subsequent calendar year, the amount shall be increased by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. City average, or urban CPI, for the period commencing on January 1, 2020 and ending on January 1 of the applicable calendar year and (B) three percent of the principal amount of the first mortgage bonds then outstanding or (ii) with respect to which we shall (x) in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or other proceeding for review and with respect to which we shall have secured a stay of execution pending the appeal or other proceeding or (y) have the right to prosecute an appeal or other proceeding for review;

 

   

easements, encumbrances, leases, reservations, restrictions or other rights of others in, on, over and/or across, and laws, regulations and restrictions affecting, and defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations in title to, the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof; provided, however, that the easements, encumbrances, leases, reservations, rights, laws, regulations, restrictions, defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations (A) do not, in our opinion, materially impair the use by us of such Mortgaged Property for the purposes for which it is held by us or (B) have been insured over by a lender’s policy of title insurance in favor of the Mortgage Trustee, as mortgagee;

 

   

conservation easements in accordance with our Settlement Agreement as modified and approved by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California in its Opinion and Order of December 18, 2003 and the Stipulation Resolving Issues Regarding the Land Conservation Commitment, dated September 25, 2003, as filed with the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California;

 

   

defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations in title to real property subject to rights-of-way or other similar rights in favor of us or used or to be used by us primarily for right-of-way purposes or real property held under lease, easement, license or similar right; provided, however, that (i) we obtain from the apparent owner or owners of the real property a sufficient right, by the terms of the instrument granting the right-of-way, lease, easement, license or similar right, to the use thereof for the purposes for which we acquired it, (ii) such defects, irregularities, exceptions or limitations are subordinated to our interest in such real property, (iii) we have power under eminent domain or similar statutes to remove the defects, irregularities, exceptions or limitations to the extent such defects, irregularities, exceptions or limitations affect our interest therein or (iv) the defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations may be otherwise remedied without undue effort or expense; and defects, irregularities, exceptions and limitations in title to flood lands, flooding rights and/or water rights;

 

   

liens upon real property or rights in or relating to real property for the purpose of the distribution of electricity or gas, for the purpose of telephonic, telegraphic, radio, wireless or other electronic communication or otherwise for the purpose of obtaining rights-of-way, which liens secure or evidence indebtedness or other obligations neither created, assumed nor guaranteed by us nor on account of which it customarily pays interest;

 

   

leases, licenses, or occupancy agreements existing at the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture affecting Mortgaged Property owned by us at that time, and renewals and extensions thereof; and leases, licenses, or occupancy agreements affecting that Mortgaged Property entered into after the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture, or affecting mortgaged properties acquired by us after that date which, in either case, (i) have terms of not more than 10 years (including extensions or renewals at the option of the tenant) or (ii) do not materially impair the use by us of the properties for the purposes for which they are held by us;

 

   

liens vested in lessors, licensors, franchisors or permittors for rent or other amounts to become due or for other obligations or acts to be performed, the payment of which rent or other amounts or the performance of which other obligations or acts is required under leases, subleases, licenses, franchises or permits, so long as the payment of the rent or other amounts or the performance of the other obligations or acts is not delinquent or is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;

 

   

controls, restrictions, obligations, duties and/or other burdens imposed by federal, state, municipal or other law, or by rules, regulations or orders of governmental authorities, upon the Mortgaged Property

 

39


Table of Contents
 

or any part thereof or the operation or use thereof or upon us with respect to the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or the operation or use thereof or with respect to any franchise, grant, license, permit or public purpose requirement, or any rights reserved to or otherwise vested in governmental authorities to impose any such controls, restrictions, obligations, duties and/or other burdens;

 

   

rights which governmental authorities may have by virtue of franchises, grants, licenses, permits or contracts, or by virtue of law, to purchase, recapture or designate a purchaser of or order the sale of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, to terminate franchises, grants, licenses, permits, contracts or other rights or to regulate our property and business; and any and all our obligations correlative to any of these rights;

 

   

liens required by law or governmental regulations (i) as a condition to the transaction of any business or the exercise of any privilege or license, (ii) to enable us to maintain self-insurance or to participate in any funds established to cover any insurance risks, (iii) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or any pension or welfare benefit plan or (iv) to share in the privileges or benefits required for companies participating in one or more of the arrangements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above;

 

   

liens on the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof which are granted by us to secure duties or public or statutory obligations or to secure, or serve in lieu of, surety, stay or appeal bonds;

 

   

rights reserved to or vested in others to take or receive any part of any coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals, any timber and/or any electric capacity or energy, gas, water, steam and any other products, developed, produced, manufactured, generated, purchased or otherwise acquired by us or by others on our property;

 

   

rights and interests of persons other than us arising out of contracts, agreements and other instruments to which we are a party and which relate to the common ownership or joint use of property and all liens on the interests of persons other than us in property owned in common by those persons and us if and to the extent that the enforcement of those liens would not adversely affect our interests in that property in any material respect;

 

   

any restrictions on transfer or assignment and/or requirements of any assignee to qualify as a permitted transferee or assignee and/or a public utility or public service corporation;

 

   

any liens (A) which have been bonded over for the full amount in dispute or (B) for the payment of which other adequate security arrangements have been made;

 

   

easements, ground leases or right-of-way in, upon, over and/or across our property or rights-of-way in our favor for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, distribution lines, communication lines, railways, removal of coal or other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real property, rights-of-way, facilities and/or equipment; provided, however, that the grant does not materially impair the use of the property or rights-of-way for the purposes for which the property or rights-of-way are held by us;

 

   

prepaid liens and purchase money liens, as more particularly described in the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

liens contemplated by PG&E Corporation and the Company and the Shareholder Proponents’ Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization, dated as of June 19, 2020;

 

   

any lien incurred in connection with the issuance of Qualified Securitization Bonds (as such term is defined in the Mortgage Indenture);

 

   

any other liens which are in existence on the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture and the aggregate principal amount thereof does not exceed $30 million;

 

   

any other liens which then outstanding principal amounts do not, in the aggregate, exceed $65 million to the extent in existence in calendar year 2020, provided that with respect to any of these liens in existence in any subsequent calendar year, the amount shall be increased by the percentage increase in

 

40


Table of Contents
 

the urban CPI for the period commencing on January 1, 2020 and ending on January 1 of the applicable calendar year; and

 

   

the lien under the Mortgage Indenture in favor of the Mortgage Trustee with respect to the compensation and other amounts payable by us to the Mortgage Trustee in its capacity as Mortgage Trustee.

Issuance of Additional First Mortgage Bonds

We may issue first mortgage bonds of any series from time to time against Property Additions, Retired Securities and cash deposited with the Mortgage Trustee, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding:

 

   

70% of the aggregate of the net amounts of Property Additions which constitute Unfunded Property (as described below);

 

   

the aggregate principal amount of previously issued first mortgage bonds that have been canceled or that we have delivered to the Mortgage Trustee for cancellation or previously issued first mortgage bonds deemed to have been paid under the Mortgage Indenture, each of which we refer to as “Retired Securities”; or

 

   

the amount of cash deposited with the Mortgage Trustee.

“Property Additions” generally include any item, unit or element of property which is owned by us and is subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture except (with certain exceptions) goodwill, going concern value rights or intangible property, or any property the cost of acquisition or construction of which is properly chargeable to one of our operating expense accounts at the time of such acquisition or construction.

The Mortgage Indenture includes limitations on the issuance of first mortgage bonds against property subject to liens and upon the increase of the amount of any senior liens on Funded Property.

“Funded Property” generally means Mortgaged Property which has been used as the basis for the issuance of first mortgage bonds or as the basis for the release or substitution of Mortgaged Property under the Mortgage Indenture.

“Retired Securities” means, generally, first mortgage bonds which are no longer outstanding under the Mortgage Indenture, which have not been retired by the application of funded cash and which have not been used as the basis for the authentication and delivery of first mortgage bonds, the release of property or the withdrawal of cash.

“Unfunded Property” generally means Mortgaged Property which has not previously been used as the basis for the issuance of first mortgage bonds (not otherwise retired) or as the basis for the release or substitution of Mortgaged Property.

Release of Mortgaged Property

We may release property from the lien of the Mortgage Indenture if we deliver to the Mortgage Trustee cash equal to the Funded Property Basis (as described below) of the property to be released, less any taxes and expenses incidental to any sale, exchange, dedication or other disposition of the property to be released. Any of the following or any combination of the following will be applied as a credit against the cash we will be required to deliver to the Mortgage Trustee:

 

   

the aggregate principal amount of obligations secured by a Purchase Money Lien on the property to be released, subject to certain limitations described below;

 

   

an amount equal to the Net Cost or Net Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of certified Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property after certain deductions and additions, primarily including

 

41


Table of Contents
 

adjustments to offset property retirements (except that the adjustments need not be made if the Property Additions were acquired, made or constructed within 90 days before our request for release);

 

   

an amount equal to ten-sevenths of the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds we would be entitled to issue on the basis of retired first mortgage bonds (with that entitlement being waived by operation of such release); and

 

   

an amount equal to ten-sevenths of the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds delivered to the Mortgage Trustee.

For purposes of this subsection, the following terms have the following meaning:

 

   

“Funded Property Basis” generally means the Net Cost of Funded Property or the Net Fair Value to us of the Funded Property at the time it became Funded Property, whichever is less.

 

   

“Net Cost” means, as of the date of calculation, the cost of the property, less, if such property is subject to a senior lien, the lesser of (i) the outstanding principal amount of any senior lien obligations as of the date of calculation or (ii) the cost of the property.

 

   

“Net Fair Value” means, as of the date of calculation, the fair value of the property, less, if such property is subject to a senior lien, the lesser of (i) the outstanding principal amount of any senior lien obligations as of the date of calculation or (ii) the fair value of the property.

 

   

“Purchase Money Lien” means, generally, a lien on the property being released which is retained by the transferor of such property to secure all or part of its purchase price or granted to one or more other persons in connection with the transfer or release thereof, or granted to or held by a Mortgage Trustee or agent for any such persons, and may include liens which cover property in addition to the property being released and/or which secure additional indebtedness.

We will be permitted to release from the lien of the Mortgage Indenture Unfunded Property without depositing any cash with the Mortgage Trustee or providing any other credits if either (i) the lower of the Net Cost or Net Fair Value to us of all Unfunded Property (excluding the property to be released), after making certain adjustments, is at least zero, or (ii) the lower of the Net Cost or Net Fair Value to us of the Unfunded Property to be released, after making certain adjustments, does not exceed the lower of the Net Cost or Net Fair Value of all property acquired, made or constructed on or after 90 days before our request, after making certain adjustments. If neither (i) or (ii) in the immediately preceding sentence applies, we will be required to deliver a “make-up” amount in cash. We may apply as a credit against the cash we will be required to deliver to the Mortgage Trustee any of the items described under the bullet points in this section.

We also will be permitted to release in a calendar year property up to the lesser of $10 million (increased yearly by the urban CPI) or 3% of the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds then outstanding without complying with the other release provisions in the Mortgage Indenture. However, if, upon reliance on this release provision, we release Funded Property, we are required to deposit with the Mortgage Trustee, by the end of the calendar year, cash equal to 70% of the Funded Property Basis of the property released, net of certain credits.

The Mortgage Indenture provides simplified procedures for the release of property taken by eminent domain, and provides for dispositions of certain obsolete property and grants or surrender of certain rights without any release or consent by the Mortgage Trustee.

The provisions described above permitting the release of property (except property taken by eminent domain) will be operable only if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Mortgage Indenture.

 

42


Table of Contents

Withdrawal of Cash

Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and subject to certain limitations, cash held by the Mortgage Trustee may, generally,

 

   

be withdrawn by us (i) to the extent of an amount equal to the Net Cost or Net Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of Property Additions constituting Unfunded Property, after certain deductions and additions, primarily including adjustments to offset retirements (except that these adjustments need not be made if the Property Additions were acquired or made within 90 days before our request for withdrawal) or (ii) in an amount equal to ten-sevenths (10/7ths) of the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds that we would be entitled to issue on the basis of retired first mortgage bonds (with the entitlement to that issuance being waived by operation of the withdrawal) or (iii) in an amount equal to ten-sevenths (10/7ths) of the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding first mortgage bonds delivered to the Mortgage Trustee; or

 

   

upon our request, applied to (i) the purchase of first mortgage bonds or (ii) the payment (or provision for payment) at stated maturity of any first mortgage bonds or the redemption (or provision for redemption) of any first mortgage bonds which are redeemable.

Evidence to be Furnished to the Mortgage Trustee Under the Mortgage Indenture

We will demonstrate compliance with Mortgage Indenture provisions by providing written statements to the Mortgage Trustee from our officers or persons we select. For instance, we may select an engineer to provide a written statement regarding the value of property being certified or released or counsel regarding compliance with the Mortgage Indenture generally. In certain major matters, applicable law requires that an accountant, engineer or other expert must be independent. We must file a certificate each year with respect to our compliance with the conditions and covenants under the Mortgage Indenture.

Consolidation, Merger, Transfer of Mortgaged Property

We may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person (as described below) or convey, otherwise transfer or lease all or substantially all of our Mortgaged Property to any Person unless:

 

   

the Person formed by that consolidation or into which we are merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or other transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, company, joint stock company or business trust, organized and existing under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

that Person executes and delivers to the Mortgage Trustee a supplemental Mortgage Indenture that in the case of a consolidation, merger, conveyance or other transfer, or in the case of a lease if the term thereof extends beyond the last stated maturity of the first mortgage bonds then outstanding, contains an assumption by the successor Person of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all first mortgage bonds then outstanding and the performance and observance of every covenant and conditions under the Mortgage Indenture to be performed or observed by us;

 

   

that Person executes and delivers to the Mortgage Trustee a supplemental Mortgage Indenture that contains a grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage by the successor Person confirming the lien of the Mortgage Indenture on the Mortgaged Property and subjecting to the lien all property (other than Excepted Property) thereafter acquired by the successor Person that shall constitute an improvement, extension or addition to the Mortgaged Property or renewal, replacement or substitution of or for any part thereof and, at the election of the successor Person, subjecting to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture the other property, real, personal and mixed, then owned or thereafter acquired by the Person as the person shall specify in its sole discretion;

 

   

in the case of a lease, the lease is made expressly subject to termination by us at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default and by the purchaser of the property so leased at any sale of the

 

43


Table of Contents
 

property under the Mortgage Indenture, whether under the power of sale conferred by the Mortgage Indenture or pursuant to judicial proceedings;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating any indebtedness that becomes our obligation as a result of the transaction as having been incurred by us at the time of the transaction, no default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

   

we have delivered to the Mortgage Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the merger, consolidation, conveyance, lease or transfer, as the case may be, fully complies with all provisions of the Mortgage Indenture; provided, however, that the delivery of the officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel shall not be required with respect to any merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer or lease between us and any of our wholly owned subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may merge or consolidate with or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to an affiliate that has no significant assets or liabilities and was formed solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of organization or our form of organization or for the purpose of forming a holding company; provided that the amount of our indebtedness is not increased; and provided, further, that the successor assumes all of our obligations under the Mortgage Indenture.

In the case of a conveyance or other transfer of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property to any other Person as contemplated under the Mortgage Indenture, upon the satisfaction of all the conditions described above we (as we would exist without giving effect to the transaction) would be released and discharged from all obligations under the Mortgage Indenture and on the first mortgage bonds then outstanding unless we elect to waive the release and discharge.

The meaning of the term “substantially all” has not been definitively established and is likely to be interpreted by reference to applicable state law if and at the time the issue arises and will depend on the facts and circumstances existing at the time.

For purposes of this subsection:

 

   

“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability partnership, joint venture, trust or unincorporated organization, or any other entity, whether or not a legal entity, or any Governmental Authority (as defined in the Mortgage Indenture).

Additional Covenants

We have agreed in the Mortgage Indenture, among other things:

 

   

to maintain a place of payment for any series of first mortgage bonds; and

 

   

to maintain our corporate existence (subject to the provisions above relating to mergers and consolidations).

Modification of the Mortgage Indentures; Waiver

We and the Mortgage Trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds of each affected series then outstanding under the Mortgage Indenture, considered as one class, modify or amend the Mortgage Indenture, including the provisions relating to the rights of the holders of first mortgage bonds of that series. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder of affected first mortgage bonds:

 

   

change the stated maturity of, the principal of, reduce the principal amount or any premium payable on, reduce the interest rate of, or change the method of calculating the interest rate with respect to that first mortgage bond;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of that first mortgage bond;

 

44


Table of Contents
   

change the type of consideration (coin, currency or other property) used to pay the principal of, or interest or premium on that first mortgage bond;

 

   

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on, or with respect to, that first mortgage bond;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding first mortgage bonds of any series the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

reduce the percentage of principal amount of outstanding first mortgage bonds necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Mortgage Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

 

   

modify the provisions with respect to modification and waiver, except as provided in the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

reduce the quorum or voting requirements applicable to holders of the first mortgage bonds; or

 

   

permit the creation of any lien (not otherwise permitted by the Mortgage Indenture) ranking prior to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture, with respect to all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property or, except as otherwise expressly permitted under the Mortgage Indenture, release the lien of the Mortgage Indenture, terminate the lien of the Mortgage Indenture on all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property or deprive the holders of the first mortgage bonds of the benefit of the lien of the Mortgage Indenture.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds of each affected series then outstanding under the Mortgage Indenture, voting as a single class, may waive compliance by us with certain provisions of the Mortgage Indenture benefiting holders of first mortgage bonds of that series or the applicable first mortgage bonds. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds of any series outstanding under the Mortgage Indenture may, on behalf of the holders of all of the first mortgage bonds of that series, waive any past default under the Mortgage Indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except defaults in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any first mortgage bonds of that series and defaults in respect of a covenant or provision in the Mortgage Indenture which cannot be modified, amended or waived without the consent of each holder of affected first mortgage bonds.

We and the Mortgage Trustee may, without the consent of any holder of first mortgage bonds, amend the Mortgage Indenture and the first mortgage bonds for certain reasons, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

to evidence the succession of another person to us and the assumption by any such successor of our covenants in the Mortgage Indenture and in the first mortgage bonds;

 

   

add covenants or other provisions applicable to us and for the benefit of the holders of first mortgage bonds or one or more specified series thereof;

 

   

establish the form or terms of first mortgage bonds of any series as contemplated by the Mortgage Indenture;

 

   

cure any ambiguity;

 

   

correct or amplify the description of the Mortgaged Property, or to subject to the lien of the Mortgage Indenture additional property (including property of persons other than us);

 

   

specify any additional Permitted Liens with respect to that additional property;

 

   

add, change or eliminate any provision of the Mortgage Indenture so long as the addition, change or elimination does not adversely affect the interest of holders of first mortgage bonds of any series in any material respect;

 

   

change any place or places for payment or surrender of first mortgage bonds and where notices and demands to us may be served;

 

45


Table of Contents
   

comply with any requirement in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

   

comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository.

In order to determine whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding first mortgage bonds have taken an action under the Mortgage Indenture as of a specified date:

 

   

the principal amount of a discount bond that will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of that date upon acceleration of the maturity to that date; and

 

   

first mortgage bonds owned by us or any other obligor upon the first mortgage bonds or any of our or their affiliates will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding.

Events of Default

An “Event of Default” means any of the following events which shall occur and be continuing:

 

   

failure to pay interest on a first mortgage bond 60 days after such interest becomes due and payable; provided, however, that no such default shall constitute an “Event of Default” if we have made a valid extension of the interest payment period with respect to the first mortgage bonds of such series, of which such first mortgage bond is a party;

 

   

failure to pay the principal of or sinking fund installment, if any, or premium, if any, on, any first mortgage bond within 3 Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; provided, however, that no such default shall constitute an “Event of Default” if we have made a valid extension of the maturity of the first mortgage bonds of the series of which such first mortgage bond is a party;

 

   

failure to perform any other covenant or warranty applicable to us in the Mortgage Indenture continuing for 90 days after the Mortgage Trustee, or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds then outstanding, give us notice of the default and require us to remedy the default, unless the Mortgage Trustee, or the Mortgage Trustee and holders of a principal amount of first mortgage bonds not less than the principal amount of first mortgage bonds the holders of which gave that notice agree in writing to an extension of the period prior to its expiration; provided, however, that the Mortgage Trustee, or the Mortgage Trustee and the holders of such principal amount of first mortgage bonds, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have agreed to an extension of such period if corrective action is initiated by us within such period and is being diligently pursued;

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

   

the occurrence of any Event of Default as defined in any mortgage, mortgage indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any of our Debt (as defined below), whether the Debt exists on the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture, or shall thereafter be created, if the Event of Default: (i) is caused by a failure to pay principal after final maturity of the Debt after the expiration of the grace period provided in the Debt (which we refer to as a “payment default”), or (ii) results in the acceleration of the Debt prior to its express maturity, and in each case, the principal amount of any of that Debt, together with the principal amount of any other Debt under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $200 million or more, provided, however, that if the Event of Default under that mortgage, Mortgage Indenture or instrument is cured or waived or the acceleration is rescinded or the Debt is repaid, within a period of 20 days from the continuation of that Event of Default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of the acceleration, as the case may be, the Event of Default described in this bullet point shall be automatically cured; provided, further, that with respect to any mortgage, mortgage indenture or instrument that exists on the date of execution of the Mortgage Indenture, this provision only applies to the extent that the obligations to pay amounts thereunder are enforceable after July 1, 2020.

 

46


Table of Contents

The $200 million amount specified in the bullet point above shall be increased in any calendar year subsequent to 2020 by the same percentage increase in the urban CPI Index (as defined in the Mortgage Indenture) for the period commencing January 1, 2020 and ending on January 1 of the applicable calendar year.

For purposes of this subsection, “Debt” means any debt of us for money borrowed and guarantees by us of debt for money borrowed but in each case excluding liabilities in respect of Lease Obligations or Swap Agreements. “Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. “Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions.

If the Mortgage Trustee deems it to be in the interest of the holders of the first mortgage bonds, it may withhold notice of default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium or interest with respect to any first mortgage bond.

If an Event of Default occurs, the Mortgage Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds outstanding, considered as one class, may declare all principal (or, if any of the first mortgage bonds are Discount Bonds (as such term is defined in the Mortgage Indenture), such portion of the principal amount of such first mortgage bonds as may be specified in the terms thereof) immediately due and payable, provided, however, that if an Event of Default occurs with respect to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, then the principal amount (or, if any of the first mortgage bonds are Discount Bonds, such portion of the principal amount of such first mortgage bonds as may be specified in the terms thereof) of first mortgage bonds outstanding shall be due and payable immediately without further action by the Mortgage Trustee or holders. If the default has been cured and other specified conditions in the Mortgage Indenture have been satisfied before any Mortgaged Property has been sold and before a judgment or decree for payment has been obtained by the Mortgage Trustee as provided in the Mortgage Indenture, the event or events of default giving rise to the acceleration will be deemed to have been cured and the declaration of acceleration and its effect will be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled.

No holder of first mortgage bonds will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, or for any other remedy under the Mortgage Indenture unless the holder has given the Mortgage Trustee written notice of the Event of Default, the holders of at least 25% of the first mortgage bonds have requested the Mortgage Trustee in writing to institute proceedings with respect to the Event of Default in its own name as Mortgage Trustee under the Mortgage Indenture and have offered the Mortgage Trustee reasonable indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities with respect to the request, the Mortgage Trustee has failed to institute any proceeding within 60 days after receiving the notice from holders, and no direction inconsistent with the written request has been given to the Mortgage Trustee during the 60-day period by holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds then outstanding.

The Mortgage Trustee is not required to risk its funds or to incur financial liability if there is a reasonable ground for believing that repayment to it or adequate indemnity against risk or liability is not reasonably assured.

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, holders of a majority in principal amount of the first mortgage bonds may establish the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Mortgage Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Mortgage Trustee.

Discharge

Any first mortgage bond, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the Mortgage Indenture, and, at our election, our entire indebtedness in respect of the first

 

47


Table of Contents

mortgage bonds will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if certain conditions are satisfied, including an irrevocable deposit with the Mortgage Trustee or any paying agent (other than us), in trust of:

 

   

money (including funded cash not otherwise applied pursuant to the Mortgage Indenture) in an amount which will be sufficient, or

 

   

in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of the first mortgage bonds or portions thereof, Eligible Obligations (as described below) which do not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide monies which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by the Mortgage Trustee or the paying agent, will be sufficient, or

 

   

a combination of either of the two items described in the two preceding bullet points which will be sufficient,

to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on the first mortgage bonds or portions thereof.

For purposes of this subsection, “Eligible Obligations” include direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America, entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof, and depositary receipts or other instruments with respect to the obligations or any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof.

Transfer and Exchange

Subject to the terms of the Mortgage Indenture, first mortgage bonds of any series may be exchanged for other first mortgage bonds of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Subject to the terms of the Mortgage Indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities, first mortgage bonds may be presented for exchange or registration of transfer at the office of the registrar without service charge, upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Mortgage Trustee, us or the registrar, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request.

If we provide for any redemption of a series of first mortgage bonds in a prospectus supplement, we will not be required to execute, register the transfer of or exchange any first mortgage bond of that series for 15 days before a notice of redemption is given or register the transfer of or exchange any first mortgage bond selected for redemption.

Resignation or Removal of Mortgage Trustee

The Mortgage Trustee may resign at any time upon written notice to us but the Mortgage Trustee’s resignation will not take effect until a successor Mortgage Trustee accepts appointment. The Mortgage Trustee may be removed at any time by written notice delivered to the Mortgage Trustee and us and signed by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding first mortgage bonds. In addition, under certain circumstances, we may remove the Mortgage Trustee, or any holder who has been a bona fide holder of a first mortgage bond for at least six months may seek a court order for the removal of the Mortgage Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. We must give notice of resignation and removal of the Mortgage Trustee or the appointment of a successor trustee to all holders of first mortgage bonds as provided in the Mortgage Indenture.

Mortgage Trustee, Paying Agents and Registrars for the First Mortgage Bonds

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. serves as Mortgage Trustee under the Mortgage Indenture. We may change either the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the first mortgage bonds, and we may act as paying agent. The Mortgage Trustee serves as trustee under our senior note

 

48


Table of Contents

Indenture. We and our parent company maintain ordinary banking and trust relationships with a number of banks and trust companies, including The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

Governing Law

The Mortgage Indenture and the first mortgage bonds are governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law or any successor to such statute), except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable, provided that the law of the jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property consisting of real property is located shall govern the creation of a mortgage lien on and security interest in, or perfection, priority or enforcement of the lien of the Mortgage Indenture or exercise of remedies with respect to, such portion of the Mortgaged Property.

 

49


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

Unless indicated differently in a prospectus supplement, this section describes the terms of our common stock and preferred stock (together, the “capital stock”). The following description is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable law, our amended restated articles of incorporation (the “Amended Articles”) and amended and restated bylaws (the “Amended Bylaws”). In this section, references to “we”, “our”, “ours” and “us” refer only to PG&E Corporation and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided.

General

The Amended Articles authorize the issuance of 3,600,000,000 shares of common stock and 400,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of February 22, 2021, there were approximately 1,984,683,820 shares of our common stock, no par value, outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

Common Stock

We may issue our common stock from time to time upon such terms and for such consideration as may be determined by our board of directors. Such further issuances, up to the aggregate amounts authorized by the Amended Articles, will not require approval by our shareholders. We may also issue common stock from time to time under dividend reinvestment and employee benefit plans.

The Amended Articles restrict our ability to issue non-voting shares of our capital stock to the extent prohibited by Section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code for so long as such Section is in effect and applicable to us (the “Voting Restrictions”). Except as otherwise provided by law (including Section 703(b) of the California Corporations Code, which states that shares of a corporation owned by its subsidiary shall not be entitled to vote on any matter), holders of our common stock have voting rights on the basis of one vote per share on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders, subject to any class or series voting rights of holders of our preferred stock. Our shareholders may not cumulate votes in elections of directors. As a result, the holders of our common stock and (if issued) preferred stock entitled to exercise more than 50% of the voting rights in an election of directors can elect all of the directors to be elected if they choose to do so. In such event, the holders of the remaining common stock and preferred stock voting for the election of directors will not be able to elect any persons to the board of directors.

Holders of our common stock, subject to any prior rights or preferences of preferred stock outstanding, have equal rights to receive dividends if and when declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after payment of all prior claims, holders of our common stock would be entitled to receive any of our remaining assets, subject to any preferential rights of holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights to subscribe for additional shares of common stock or any of our other securities, nor do holders of our common stock have any redemption or conversion rights. Additionally, the rights of holders of common stock may be materially limited or qualified by the rights of holders of preferred stock that we may issue in the future.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PCG.”

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is EQ Shareowner Services, P. O. Box 64874, St. Paul, MN, 55164-0874.

 

50


Table of Contents

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series up to the aggregate amounts authorized by our restated articles of incorporation or the Amended Articles and to fix and determine the number of shares of preferred stock of any series, to determine the designation of any such series, to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series, and to determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon any such series. Currently there are no shares of our preferred stock outstanding.

Prior to the issuance of shares of each series of our preferred stock, our board of directors is required to adopt resolutions and file a certificate of determination with the Secretary of State of the State of California. The certificate of determination will fix for each series the designation and number of shares and the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the shares including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the title and stated value of the preferred stock;

 

   

voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock (in accordance with the Voting Restrictions, if applicable);

 

   

any rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions);

 

   

the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation applicable to the preferred stock;

 

   

whether dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock will accumulate;

 

   

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;

 

   

the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, including the conversion price (or manner of calculation) and conversion period;

 

   

the provision for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock;

 

   

the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;

 

   

liquidation preferences;

 

   

any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the class or series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and

 

   

any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock.

All shares of preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have any preemptive or similar rights.

In addition to the terms listed above, we will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following terms relating to the class or series of preferred stock being offered:

 

   

the number of shares of preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of the preferred stock;

 

   

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for the preferred stock;

 

   

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange; and

 

   

a discussion of any material and/or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock.

Until our board of directors determines the rights of the holders of a series of preferred stock, we cannot predict the effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of our common stock. However, the effect could include one or more of the following:

 

   

restricting dividends on our common stock;

 

51


Table of Contents
   

diluting the voting power of our common stock;

 

   

impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock; or

 

   

delaying or preventing a change in control of us without further action by our shareholders.

Rank

If issued, the preferred stock would rank, with respect to dividends and upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up:

 

   

senior to all classes or series of our common stock and to all of our equity securities ranking junior to the preferred stock;

   

on a parity with all of our equity securities the terms of which specifically provide that the equity securities rank on a parity with the preferred stock; and

   

junior to all of our equity securities the terms of which specifically provide that the equity securities rank senior to the preferred stock.

Ownership Restrictions

The Amended Articles impose certain restrictions on the transferability and ownership of our capital stock and any other interests designated as “stock” of PG&E Corporation by our board of directors as disclosed in an SEC filing by PG&E Corporation (such stock and other interests, the “Equity Securities,” and such restrictions on transferability and ownership, the “Ownership Restrictions”) in order to reduce the possibility of an equity ownership shift that could result in limitations on our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes from prior taxable years for Federal income tax purposes. Any acquisition of our capital stock that results in a shareholder being in violation of these restrictions may not be valid. The Ownership Restrictions may be waived by our board of directors on a case-by-case basis.

Subject to certain exceptions, the Ownership Restrictions restrict (i) any person or entity (including certain groups of persons) from directly or indirectly acquiring or accumulating 4.75% or more of our outstanding Equity Securities and (ii) the ability of any person or entity (including certain groups of persons) already owning, directly or indirectly, 4.75% or more of our Equity Securities from increasing their proportionate interest in our Equity Securities. Any transferee receiving Equity Securities that would result in a violation of the Ownership Restrictions will not be recognized as a shareholder of PG&E Corporation or entitled to any rights of shareholders, including, without limitation, the right to vote and to receive dividends or distributions, whether liquidating or otherwise, in each case, with respect to the Equity Securities causing the violation.

If PG&E Corporation were to elect to treat the Fire Victim Trust as a “grantor trust,” any shares owned by the Fire Victim Trust would effectively be excluded from the total number of outstanding Equity Securities when calculating a Person’s Percentage Ownership (as defined in the Amended Articles) for purposes of the Ownership Restrictions. For example, whereas the number of outstanding shares of PG&E Corporation common stock for corporate purposes as of February 22, 2021, was 1,984,683,820 shares, for purposes of the Ownership Restrictions, the number of outstanding common stock as of February 22, 2021, would be 1,506,940,230 (the number of outstanding shares of PG&E Corporation common stock less the number of shares of common stock owned by the Fire Victim Trust as of February 22, 2021). See the risk factors described in PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding the treatment of the Fire Victim Trust as a “grantor trust”.

The Ownership Restrictions remain in effect until the earliest of (i) the repeal, amendment or modification of Section 382 (and any comparable successor provision) of the Internal Revenue Code, in such a way as to render the restrictions imposed by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code no longer applicable to PG&E Corporation, (ii) the beginning of a taxable year in which our board of directors determines that no tax benefits attributable to net operating losses or other tax attributes are available, (iii) the date selected by our board of directors if it determines that the limitation amount imposed by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code as of such date in the event of an “ownership change” of PG&E Corporation (as defined in Section 382 of the Internal

 

52


Table of Contents

Revenue Code and Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1502-91 et seq.) would not be materially less than the net operating loss carryforwards or “net unrealized built-in loss” (within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1502-91 et seq.) of PG&E Corporation and (iv) the date selected by our board of directors if it determines that it is in the best interests of our shareholders for the Ownership Restrictions to be removed or released.

 

53


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

This section describes the general terms of the warrants that we may offer and sell by this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each warrant. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the warrants as described in this prospectus.

General

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities and, solely in the case of PG&E Corporation, preferred stock or common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from those securities. The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants we are offering. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. A copy of the warrant agreement will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the warrants.

Debt Warrants

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities. As explained below, each debt warrant will entitle its holder to purchase debt securities at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Debt warrants may be issued separately or together with debt securities.

The debt warrants are to be issued under debt warrant agreements to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies, as debt warrant agent, as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt warrants being offered by the prospectus supplement and this prospectus. A copy of the debt warrant agreement, including a form of debt warrant certificate representing the debt warrants, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the debt warrants.

The particular terms of each issue of debt warrants, the debt warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing debt warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:

 

   

the title of the debt warrants;

 

   

the initial offering price;

 

   

the title, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants;

 

   

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

   

the title and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued and the number of the debt warrants issued with each debt security;

 

   

the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price at which that principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of each debt warrant;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum number of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the debt warrants;

 

54


Table of Contents
   

whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form and, if registered, where they may be transferred and registered;

 

   

antidilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any;

 

   

redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants; and

 

   

any additional terms of the debt warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exercise of the debt warrants.

Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and, if in registered form, may be presented for registration of transfer and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent or any other office indicated in the related prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not be entitled to payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, or to enforce any of the covenants in the applicable indenture.

Equity Warrants

PG&E Corporation may issue warrants for the purchase of its preferred stock or common stock. As explained below, each equity warrant will entitle its holder to purchase equity securities at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Equity warrants may be issued separately or together with equity securities.

The equity warrants are to be issued under equity warrant agreements to be entered into between PG&E Corporation and one or more banks or trust companies, as equity warrant agent, as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the equity warrants being offered by the prospectus supplement and this prospectus. A copy of the equity warrant agreement, including a form of equity warrant certificate representing the equity warranty, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of the equity warrants.

The particular terms of each issue of equity warrants, the equity warrant agreement relating to the equity warrants and the equity warrant certificates representing equity warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:

 

   

the title of the equity warrants;

 

   

the initial offering price;

 

   

the aggregate number of equity warrants and the aggregate number of shares of the equity security purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants;

 

   

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of the equity securities with which the equity warrants are issued, and the number of equity warrants issued with each equity security;

 

   

the date, if any, on and after which the equity warrants and the related equity security will be separately transferable;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum number of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the equity warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the equity warrants;

 

   

antidilution provisions of the equity warrants, if any;

 

   

redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the equity warrants; and

 

   

any additional terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the equity warrants.

 

55


Table of Contents

Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled, solely by virtue of being holders, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as a holder of the equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants.

Ownership of equity warrants and exercise by holders thereof may be subject to certain limitations in accordance with the Ownership Restrictions described in the section entitled “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock—Ownership Restrictions” in this prospectus.

 

56


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SECURITIES PURCHASE UNITS

This section describes the general terms of the securities purchase contracts and securities purchase units that we may offer and sell by this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each securities purchase contract and securities purchase unit. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the securities purchase contracts and securities purchase units as described in this prospectus.

Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units

PG&E Corporation may issue stock purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from or sell to it, and obligating it to sell to or purchase from the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at a future date or dates, or a variable number of shares of common stock or preferred stock for a stated amount of consideration. The price per share and the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. Any such formula may include antidilution provisions to adjust the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock issuable pursuant to the stock purchase contracts upon certain events.

The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and either:

(i) senior or subordinated debt securities of PG&E Corporation; or

(ii) debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, which, in either case, may or may not serve as security for the holder’s obligations to purchase or sell the shares under the stock purchase contracts.

The stock purchase contracts may require PG&E Corporation to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations in a specified manner and in certain circumstances PG&E Corporation may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder’s obligations under the original stock purchase contract.

Ownership of stock purchase contracts and exercise by holders thereof may be subject to certain limitations in accordance with the Ownership Restrictions described in the section entitled “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock—Ownership Restrictions” in this prospectus.

Debt Purchase Contracts and Debt Purchase Units

We may issue debt purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified principal amount of debt securities at a future date or dates. The purchase price and the interest rate may be fixed at the time the debt purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the debt purchase contracts.

The debt purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units consisting of debt purchase contracts and either:

(i) senior or subordinated debt securities of PG&E Corporation; or

(ii) debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, which, in either case, may or may not serve as security for the holder’s obligations to purchase the securities under the debt purchase contracts.

The debt purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the debt purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The debt purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations in a specified manner and in certain circumstances we may deliver

 

57


Table of Contents

newly issued prepaid debt purchase contracts upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder’s obligations under the original debt purchase contract.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the general terms of any purchase contracts or purchase units and, if applicable, prepaid purchase contracts. The description in the prospectus supplement will not purport to be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to:

 

   

the purchase contracts;

 

   

the collateral, depositary and custodial arrangements, if applicable, relating to such purchase contracts or purchase units; and

 

   

if applicable, the prepaid purchase contracts and the document pursuant to which such prepaid purchase contracts will be issued.

Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts and the purchase units will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

58


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

This section describes the general terms of the depositary shares we may offer and sell by this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for the depositary shares. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update, or change the terms and conditions of the depositary shares as described in this prospectus. In this section, references to “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to PG&E Corporation and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided.

We may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares, each representing a fraction (to be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock) of a share of a particular class or series of preferred stock as described below. In the event we elect to do so, depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares will be issued to the public.

The shares of any class or series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and one or more depositaries selected by us. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by such depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of the related class or series of preferred shares in accordance with the terms of the offering described in the related prospectus supplement.

The depositary shares may be subject to certain limitations in accordance with the Ownership Restrictions described in the section entitled “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock—Ownership Restrictions” in this prospectus.

 

59


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

This section describes the general terms of the subscription rights that we may offer and sell by this prospectus. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each subscription right. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the subscription rights as described in this prospectus.

In this section, references to “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to PG&E Corporation and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided.

General

We may issue subscription rights to purchase common stock. Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with any subscription rights offering to our shareholders, we may enter into backstop commitment letters or other standby purchase arrangements with one or more parties pursuant to which such parties will purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such subscription rights offering. In connection with a subscription rights offering to our shareholders, we will distribute a prospectus supplement to our shareholders on the record date that we set for receiving subscription rights in such subscription rights offering.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any subscription rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:

 

   

the title of the subscription rights;

 

   

the exercise price for the subscription rights;

 

   

the number of the subscription rights issuable to each rightholder;

 

   

the extent to which the subscription rights will be transferable;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire (subject to any extension);

 

   

the extent to which the rights will include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;

 

   

if applicable, the material terms of any backstop commitment letters or other standby purchase arrangements that we may enter into in connection with the subscription rights offering;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of the subscription rights; and

 

   

any other terms of the subscription rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights.

Exercise of Subscription Rights

Each subscription right will entitle the holder of the subscription right to purchase for cash such amount of shares of our common stock at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Subscription rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such subscription rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights will become void.

Subscription rights may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. The prospectus supplement for any issuance of subscription rights will describe the procedures for payment of the applicable subscription price and the settlement of the subscription rights that are

 

60


Table of Contents

exercised, including the terms of any applicable escrow arrangements. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to backstop commitment letters or other standby purchase arrangements, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Ownership of subscription rights and exercise by holders thereof may also be subject to certain limitations in accordance with the Ownership Restrictions described in the section entitled “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock—Ownership Restrictions” in this prospectus.

 

61


Table of Contents

SELLING SECURITYHOLDER

This prospectus covers the offering for resale from time to time, in one or more offerings, of up to 477,743,590 shares of our common stock by the selling securityholder named herein. In this section, references to “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to PG&E Corporation and not to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided.

The following table sets forth (i) the name of the selling securityholder, (ii) the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the selling securityholder as of February 22, 2021 and (iii) the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the selling securityholder following the completion of this offering (assuming the selling securityholder sells all of its shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus). The immediately following table also sets forth the percentage of common stock beneficially owned by the selling securityholder after giving effect to the sale by the selling securityholder of all shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus, based on 1,984,683,820 shares of our common stock outstanding as of February 22, 2021.

The shares of common stock covered by this prospectus were issued to the selling securityholder in order to satisfy, release and discharge certain wildfire-related claims in connection with the Chapter 11 Cases. For additional information regarding the issuances of these shares of common stock, see the section entitled “—Material Relationships with the Selling Securityholder—Fire Victim Trust Issuance” below.

The selling securityholder is not making any representation that any shares of common stock covered by this prospectus will be offered for sale. Because the selling securityholder may dispose of all, none or some portion of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus, no estimate can be given as to the number of shares that will be beneficially owned by the selling securityholder upon termination of this offering. In addition, the selling securityholder may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of its shares of common stock in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act after the date on which the information in the table is presented. For purposes of the table below, however, we have assumed that after termination of this offering, none of the shares of common stock registered for resale under this prospectus will be beneficially owned by the selling securityholder, and we have further assumed that the selling securityholder will not acquire beneficial ownership of any additional shares of common stock during this offering.

To our knowledge, except as described below in the section entitled “Selling Securityholder—Material Relationships with the Selling Securityholder” and the notes to the following table, the selling securityholder has held no position or office or had any other material relationship with us or any of our affiliates or predecessors during the past three years.

We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time in the future to update or change this selling securityholders list and the shares of common stock that may be resold pursuant to this prospectus. See the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” for further information regarding the selling securityholder’s method of distributing these shares.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned Prior to the
Offering(1)
     Shares of Common
Stock to be Sold
Pursuant to this
Offering
     Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned After the
Offering(1)
     Percentage of Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned After
the Offering(1)
 

Fire Victim Trust(2)

     477,743,590        477,743,590        —          —    

 

(1)

The amounts and percentages of common stock beneficially owned by the named selling securityholder are determined in accordance with the SEC’s rules, pursuant to which a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares voting or investment power or has the right to acquire such power within 60 days through exercise of any option, warrant or other right. Securities that can be so acquired are deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing such person’s ownership percentage, but not for purposes of computing any other person’s percentage. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest.

 

62


Table of Contents
(2)

The shares of common stock listed herein are held directly by the Fire Victim Trust. The Trustee (as defined below) may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock held by the Fire Victim Trust. The Trustee specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by the Fire Victim Trust that he does not directly own or control. The address of the Fire Victim Trust is Two Embarcadero Center, Suite 1500, San Francisco CA, 94111. See “Material Relationships with the Selling Securityholder” below for additional information.

Material Relationships with the Selling Securityholder

The following summary does not purport to be complete and is subject, and qualified in its entirety by reference, to the applicable documents incorporated by reference herein. We urge you to read these documents because they, and not the following summaries, outline the material relationships with the selling securityholder.

Fire Victim Trust Issuance

In full satisfaction, release and discharge of the wildfire-related claims of certain individuals, public entities and other claimants (the “Fire Victim Claims”), on July 1, 2020, we and the Utility funded the Fire Victim Trust with aggregate consideration consisting of $6.75 billion in cash (including $1.35 billion on a deferred basis) and 476,995,175 shares of common stock of reorganized PG&E Corporation representing 22.19% of the outstanding common stock of reorganized PG&E Corporation as of July 1, 2020, the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization (as defined below) in the Chapter 11 Cases (the “Effective Date”), subject to potential adjustments, (plus certain other rights), in each case in accordance with the terms of the PG&E Corporation and the Utility and the Shareholder Proponents’ Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization, dated as of June 19, 2020 (the “Plan of Reorganization”). Pursuant to such adjustment rights, we issued an additional 748,415 shares to the Fire Victim Trust on August 3, 2020, resulting in an aggregate 477,743,590 shares issued to the Fire Victim Trust in accordance with the terms of the Plan of Reorganization (the “Fire Victim Trust Shares”).

In connection with the issuance of the Fire Victim Trust Shares, we entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Fire Victim Trust RRA”) with the Hon. John K. Trotter (Ret.), solely in his capacity as trustee of the Fire Victim Trust (the “Trustee”). Among other things, pursuant to the terms of the Fire Victim Trust RRA:

 

   

we are required (i) to file a registration statement shortly following the Effective Date to effect the registration of the Fire Victim Trust Shares and (ii) to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 20 days thereafter (we timely discharged these obligations and the corresponding registration statement became effective on August 7, 2020);

 

   

subject to customary suspension rights, we are required to use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain continuously effective under, and properly amended, supplemented and replaced as required by, the Securities Act until the date as of which there are no longer “registrable securities” (as defined in the Fire Victim Trust RRA) outstanding;

 

   

subject to certain limitations, the Fire Victim Trust has the right (i) to require us to assist the Fire Victim Trust with effecting periodic underwritten offerings of Fire Victim Trust Shares and (ii) to include Fire Victim Trust Shares in offerings of common stock by us (whether for our account or the account of any other equity holder); and

 

   

subject to certain requirements, the Fire Victim Trust will agree to customary lock-up periods not to exceed 90 days following offerings of common stock by us (whether for our own account or the account of the Fire Victim Trust or otherwise).

In addition, we are required to pay the fees and expenses incident to our registration obligations under the Fire Victim Trust RRA, including fees and expenses for one counsel for the Fire Victim Trust (subject to a cap) in connection with the initial registration and each assisted underwritten offering, but excluding any underwriting discounts or commissions or fees and expenses of the Fire Victim Trust. The Fire Victim Trust RRA contains customary indemnification and contribution provisions.

 

63


Table of Contents

As provided in the Fire Victim Trust RRA, all Fire Victim Trust Shares in excess of 9.9% of the outstanding shares of our common stock are subject to “mirror voting,” whereby such shares will be voted in the same proportion as the votes of all other PG&E Corporation shareholders on all matters except for those directly related to the natural environment or safety.

Other Selling Securityholders

Information about selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment to this registration statement, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference.

 

64


Table of Contents

GLOBAL SECURITIES

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

Unless we indicate differently in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, securities purchase contracts, securities purchase units or depositary shares initially will be issued in book entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities (collectively, “global securities”). The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary (“DTC”), and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.

DTC has advised us that it is:

 

   

a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

 

   

a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

 

   

a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

   

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

   

a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, including transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, which eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC National Securities Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, referred to as “indirect participants,” that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of securities within the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for those securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a “beneficial owner,” is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities except under the limited circumstances described below.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co, or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not affect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

 

65


Table of Contents

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time. Beneficial owners of securities may wish to take certain steps to augment the transmission to them of notices of significant events with respect to the securities, such as redemptions, tenders, defaults, and proposed amendments to the security documents. For example, beneficial owners of securities may wish to ascertain that the nominee holding the securities for their benefit has agreed to obtain and transmit notices to beneficial owners. In the alternative, beneficial owners may wish to provide their names and addresses to the registrar and request that copies of notices be provided directly to them.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC or its nominee. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such issue to be redeemed.

In any case where a vote may be required with respect to securities of a particular series, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will give consents for or vote the global securities, unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC will send an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

Principal and interest payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the paying agent in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC, the paying agent or us, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may otherwise be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the applicable indenture.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the securities at any time by giving us reasonable notice. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, certificates representing the securities are required to be printed and delivered. Also, we may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository), in which event, certificates representing the securities will be printed and delivered to DTC.

We have obtained the information in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system from sources that are believed to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

 

66


Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We or the selling securityholder may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time:

 

   

to underwriters or dealers for resale to the public or to institutional investors;

 

   

through agents to the public or to institutional investors;

 

   

directly to one or more purchasers, shareholders or holders of subscription rights;

 

   

in “at the market offerings” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, or in a rights offering or a securities exchange or otherwise; or

 

   

through a combination of any of these methods or any other method permitted by law.

This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The distribution of our securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

   

at a fixed price, or prices, which may be changed from time to time;

 

   

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

   

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

   

at negotiated prices.

As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been advised by the selling securityholder named herein as to any plan of distribution. The selling securityholder named herein, or its pledgees, donees (including charitable organizations), transferees or other successors-in-interest, may from time to time, sell any or all of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus either directly by such person, or through underwriters, dealers or agents or on any exchange on which the shares of common stock may from time to time be traded, in the over-the-counter market, or in independently negotiated transactions or otherwise. The selling securityholder named herein may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares of our common stock:

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

   

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares of common stock as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or in crosses, in which the same broker acts as agent on both sides of the trade;

 

   

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

   

any exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

   

the pledge of shares of common stock for any loan or obligation;

 

   

privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

through the writing or settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which the prospectus will form a part;

 

   

through distribution by a selling securityholder or its successor in interest to its members, general or limited partners or shareholders (or their respective members, general or limited partners, beneficiaries or shareholders);

 

   

broker-dealers may agree with the selling securityholder to sell a specified number of such shares of common stock at a stipulated price per share;

 

   

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

   

a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

   

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

67


Table of Contents

We or the selling securityholder may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or agents may be designated to solicit such offers. The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities we or the selling securityholder may sell will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of such securities, and the proceeds to us from such sale, any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchange on which such securities may be listed.

The selling securityholder may also sell shares of common stock under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, or otherwise as permitted pursuant to applicable law, rather than under this prospectus.

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling securityholder may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling securityholder (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of the shares of common stock under this prospectus, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to the prospectus.

In connection with sales of the shares of common stock under this prospectus or interests therein, the selling securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling securityholder may also sell the shares of common stock short and deliver them to close their short positions, or loan or pledge the shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell them. The selling securityholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities that require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selling securityholder has been advised that they may not deliver the shares of common stock registered on the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part to cover short sales of the shares of common stock made prior to the date the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC.

The selling securityholder may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by the selling securityholder that are subject to this prospectus, and the pledgees or secured parties will, upon foreclosure in the event of default, be deemed to be selling securityholders. If and to the extent such foreclosure occurs, the number of securities under this prospectus on behalf of such selling securityholders will decrease by the number of securities subject to any such foreclosure. The selling securityholder may also transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

A selling securityholder that is an entity may elect to make an in-kind distribution of shares of common stock to its members, general or limited partners, beneficiaries or shareholders pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part by delivering a prospectus. To the extent that such members, general or limited partners, beneficiaries or shareholders are not affiliates of ours, such members, partners, beneficiaries or shareholders would thereby receive freely tradable shares of common stock pursuant to the distribution through a registration statement. Additionally, to the extent that entities, members, partners or shareholders are affiliates of ours received shares in any such distribution, we may file a prospectus supplement in order to permit such affiliates to resell shares of common stock pursuant to this prospectus.

If underwriters participate in the sale, such securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a

 

68


Table of Contents

fixed public offering price, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices based on prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of those firms. The specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular securities together with the members of the underwriting syndicate, if any. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities, if any are purchased.

We or the selling securityholder may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. The prospectus supplement will set forth the name of any agent involved in the offer or sale of securities in respect of which such prospectus supplement is delivered and any commissions payable by us to such agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

The selling securityholder and any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any discounts or commissions received by them on the sale or resale of securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters and agents and their affiliates may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

Each series of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, securities purchase contracts, securities purchase units and subscription rights, will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, securities purchase contracts, securities purchase units and subscription rights may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.

To facilitate a securities offering, any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, short covering transactions and penalty bids or stabilizing transactions in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

 

   

Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position.

 

   

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying securities so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

 

   

Short covering positions involve purchases of securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions.

 

   

Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions.

These activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it otherwise would be. If commenced, these activities may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time.

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. There can be no assurances that the selling securityholder will sell any or all of the securities offered under this prospectus.

 

69


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the offered securities will be passed upon for us by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and/or Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. Certain legal matters in connection with the offered securities will be passed on for any agents, dealers or underwriters by their counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The financial statements, and the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

PG&E Corporation and the Utility file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under File Nos. 001-12609 and 001-02348, respectively. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including PG&E Corporation and the Utility, that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s SEC filings are also available at our website: http://investor.pgecorp.com. Except for documents filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, no information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is to be considered part of this prospectus.

CERTAIN DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

PG&E Corporation and the Utility have “incorporated by reference” into this prospectus certain information that they file with the SEC. This means that PG&E Corporation and the Utility can disclose important business, financial and other information in this prospectus by referring you to the documents containing this information.

PG&E Corporation and the Utility incorporate by reference the documents and information listed below and any future filings that they make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Current Reports on Form 8-K or portions thereof that are “furnished” under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K) from the date of this prospectus until the termination of each offering of securities under this prospectus:

 

   

PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020;

 

   

PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on May 17, 2019;

 

   

PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Current Reports as Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 26, 2021, February 2, 2021, February 16, 2021, February 23, 2021, and February 26, 2021; and

 

   

the description of the common stock of PG&E Corporation contained in its Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on February 21, 1996, including any amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus except to the extent that the information is updated or superseded by information filed with the SEC after the date the incorporated information was filed (including later-dated reports listed above) or by the information contained in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference, as described above, will automatically update and supersede as of the date of such filing any previous information that had been part of this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, or that had been incorporated herein by reference.

 

70


Table of Contents

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, on the written or oral request of that person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus other than exhibits to these documents, unless the exhibits are also specifically incorporated by reference herein. Requests for copies should be directed to the following address:

The Office of the Corporate Secretary

PG&E Corporation

77 Beale Street

P.O. Box 770000

San Francisco, CA 94177

Telephone: (415) 973-8200

Facsimile: (415) 973-8719

 

71


Table of Contents

 

 

$                

 

 

LOGO

$                     Floating Rate First Mortgage Bonds due 20

$                     % First Mortgage Bonds due 20

$                     % First Mortgage Bonds due 20

$                     % First Mortgage Bonds due 20

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

BNP PARIBAS

Citigroup

Credit Suisse

MUFG

 

 

            , 2021