EDISON INTERNATIONAL - Quarter Report: 2021 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One) | |
☑ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021 | |
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to |
Commission |
| Exact Name of Registrant |
| State or Other Jurisdiction of |
| IRS Employer |
1-9936 | EDISON INTERNATIONAL | California | 95-4137452 | |||
1-2313 | SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY | California | 95-1240335 |
EDISON INTERNATIONAL | SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY |
2244 Walnut Grove Avenue | 2244 Walnut Grove Avenue |
(P.O. Box 976) | (P.O. Box 800) |
Rosemead, California 91770 | Rosemead, California 91770 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Address of principal executive offices) |
(626) 302-2222 | (626) 302-1212 |
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) | (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Edison International:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, no par value | EIX | NYSE LLC |
Southern California Edison Company: None.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Edison International | Yes ☑ No ☐ | Southern California Edison Company | Yes ☑ No ☐ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Edison International | Yes ☑ No ☐ | Southern California Edison Company | Yes ☑ No ☐ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-12 of the Exchange Act.
Edison International |
| Large Accelerated Filer |
| Accelerated Filer |
| Non-accelerated Filer |
| Smaller Reporting Company |
| Emerging growth company |
☑ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ||||||
Southern California Edison Company | Large Accelerated Filer | Accelerated Filer | Non-accelerated Filer | Smaller Reporting Company | Emerging growth company | |||||
☐ | ☐ | ☑ | ☐ | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Edison International | ☐ | Southern California Edison Company | ☐ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Edison International | Yes ☐ No ☑ | Southern California Edison Company | Yes☐ No ☑ |
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:
Common Stock outstanding as of October 26, 2021: | |
Edison International | 379,908,256 Shares |
Southern California Edison Company | 434,888,104 Shares |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SEC Form 10-Q | ||
Reference Number | ||
iv | ||
1 | ||
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS | 4 | |
4 | ||
4 | ||
5 | ||
6 | ||
8 | ||
9 | ||
12 | ||
13 | ||
Wildfire Mitigation, Wildfire Insurance and Restoration Expenses | 13 | |
14 | ||
14 | ||
14 | ||
Three months ended September 30, 2021 versus September 30, 2020 | 16 | |
16 | ||
17 | ||
Nine months ended September 30, 2021 versus September 30, 2020 | 18 | |
18 | ||
19 | ||
20 | ||
20 | ||
21 | ||
21 | ||
22 | ||
22 | ||
23 | ||
24 | ||
26 | ||
26 | ||
26 | ||
27 |
i
28 | ||
29 | ||
29 | ||
33 | ||
33 | ||
34 | ||
34 | ||
34 | ||
34 | ||
34 | ||
34 | ||
36 | ||
36 | ||
Edison International Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | 37 | |
38 | ||
40 | ||
41 | ||
41 | ||
42 | ||
44 | ||
45 | ||
45 | ||
50 | ||
53 | ||
56 | ||
59 | ||
60 | ||
63 | ||
64 | ||
65 | ||
66 | ||
67 | ||
70 | ||
86 | ||
88 | ||
89 |
ii
90 | ||
90 | ||
91 | ||
92 | ||
92 | ||
92 | ||
92 | ||
92 | ||
92 | ||
92 | ||
92 | ||
94 | ||
95 |
This is a combined Form 10-Q separately filed by Edison International and Southern California Edison Company. Information contained herein relating to an individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf.
iii
GLOSSARY
The following terms and abbreviations appearing in the text of this report have the meanings indicated below.
2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events |
| the Thomas Fire, the Koenigstein Fire, the Montecito Mudslides and the Woolsey Fire, collectively |
2019/2020 Wildfires | wildfires that originated in Southern California in 2019 and 2020 where SCE's equipment may be alleged to be associated with the fire's ignition | |
2020 Form 10-K | Edison International's and SCE's combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 | |
AB 1054 | California Assembly Bill 1054, executed by the governor of California on July 12, 2019 | |
AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures |
| approximately $1.6 billion in wildfire risk mitigation capital expenditures that SCE will exclude from the equity portion of SCE's rate base as required under AB 1054 |
AB 1054 Liability Cap |
| a cap on the aggregate requirement to reimburse the Wildfire Insurance Fund over a trailing three calendar year period which applies if certain conditions are met and is equal to 20% of the equity portion of the utility's transmission and distribution rate base, excluding general plant and intangibles, in the year of the applicable prudency determination |
ARAM | Average rate assumption method | |
ARO(s) | asset retirement obligation(s) | |
BRRBA |
| Base Revenue Requirement Balancing Account |
CAISO |
| California Independent System Operator |
Capital Structure Compliance Period | January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, the current compliance period for SCE's CPUC authorized capital structure | |
CAPP | California Arrearage Payment Program | |
CCAs |
| community choice aggregators which are cities, counties, and certain other public agencies with the authority to generate and/or purchase electricity for their local residents and businesses |
CEMA | Catastrophic Event Memorandum Accounts | |
COVID-19 | Coronavirus disease 2019 | |
CPUC | California Public Utilities Commission | |
CSRP | Customer Service Re-platform, a SCE project to implement a new customer service system | |
DERs | distributed energy resources | |
Edison Energy |
| Edison Energy, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Edison Energy Group that is engaged in the competitive business of providing data-driven energy solutions to commercial, institutional and industrial customers |
Edison Energy Group |
| Edison Energy Group, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Edison International, that is a holding company for subsidiaries engaged in competitive businesses |
Electric Service Provider |
| an entity that offers electric power and ancillary services to retail customers, other than electrical corporations (like SCE) and CCAs |
ERRA |
| Energy Resource Recovery Account |
FERC |
| Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
FHPMA |
| Fire Hazard Prevention Memorandum Account |
Fitch | Fitch Ratings, Inc. | |
GAAP | generally accepted accounting principles | |
GHG | greenhouse gas | |
GRC | general rate case | |
GS&RP |
| Grid Safety and Resiliency Program |
Koenigstein Fire | a wind-driven fire that originated near Koenigstein Road in the City of Santa Paula in Ventura County, California, on December 4, 2017 | |
kV | unit of electrical potential equal to 1000 volts |
iv
MD&A | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results | |
Montecito Mudslides | the debris flows and flooding in Montecito, Santa Barbara County, California, that occurred in January 2018 | |
Moody's | Moody's Investors Service, Inc. | |
NERC | North American Electric Reliability Corporation | |
NRC | Nuclear Regulatory Commission | |
OEIS | Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety of the California Natural Resources Agency (previously, the OEIS was the Wildfire Safety Division (or WSD) of the CPUC) | |
PABA | Portfolio Allocation Balancing Account | |
Palo Verde | nuclear electric generating facility located near Phoenix, Arizona in which SCE holds a 15.8% ownership interest | |
PBOP(s) | postretirement benefits other than pension(s) | |
PG&E | Pacific Gas & Electric Company | |
PSPS | Public Safety Power Shutoffs | |
ROE | return on common equity | |
RPS | renewables portfolio standard | |
S&P | Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC | |
San Onofre | retired nuclear generating facility located in south San Clemente, California in which SCE holds a 78.21% ownership interest | |
SCE | Southern California Edison Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Edison International | |
SDG&E | San Diego Gas & Electric | |
SEC | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | |
SED | Safety and Enforcement Division of the CPUC | |
Tax Reform | Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017 | |
Thomas Fire | a wind-driven fire that originated in the Anlauf Canyon area of Ventura County, California, on December 4, 2017 | |
TKM | collectively, the Thomas Fire, the Koenigstein Fire and the Montecito Mudslides | |
TKM Subrogation Plaintiffs | the plaintiffs party to the TKM Subrogation Settlement, representing all the insurance subrogation plaintiffs in the TKM litigation at the time of the settlement | |
TKM Subrogation Settlement | a settlement entered into by Edison International and SCE in September 2020 in the TKM litigation to which the TKM Subrogation Plaintiffs are party | |
VCFD | Ventura County Fire Department | |
WEMA | Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account | |
WMP | a wildfire mitigation plan required to be filed under AB 1054 to describe a utility's plans to construct, operate, and maintain electrical lines and equipment that will help minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires caused by such electrical lines and equipment | |
Wildfire Insurance Fund | the insurance fund established under AB 1054 | |
Woolsey Fire | a wind-driven fire that originated in Ventura County in November 2018 | |
Woolsey Subrogation Plaintiffs | the plaintiffs party to the Woolsey Subrogation Settlement, representing all the insurance subrogation plaintiffs in the Woolsey Fire litigation at the time of the settlement | |
Woolsey Subrogation Settlement | a settlement entered into by Edison International and SCE in January 2021 in the Woolsey litigation to which the Woolsey Subrogation Plaintiffs are party |
v
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect Edison International's and SCE's current expectations and projections about future events based on Edison International's and SCE's knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events and include any statements that do not directly relate to a historical or current fact. Other information distributed by Edison International and SCE that is incorporated in this report, or that refers to or incorporates this report, may also contain forward-looking statements. In this report and elsewhere, the words "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "intends," "plans," "probable," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," and variations of such words and similar expressions, or discussions of strategy or plans, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Some of the risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause results to differ from those currently expected, or that otherwise could impact Edison International and SCE, include, but are not limited to the:
● | ability of SCE to recover its costs through regulated rates, including uninsured wildfire-related and debris flow-related costs, costs incurred to mitigate the risk of utility equipment causing future wildfires, costs incurred to implement SCE's new customer service system and costs incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; |
● | ability of SCE to implement its WMP and capital program; |
● | risks of regulatory or legislative restrictions that would limit SCE's ability to implement PSPS when conditions warrant or would otherwise limit SCE's operational PSPS practices; |
● | risks associated with implementing PSPS, including regulatory fines and penalties, claims for damages and reputational harm; |
● | ability of SCE to maintain a valid safety certification; |
● | ability to obtain sufficient insurance at a reasonable cost, including insurance relating to SCE's nuclear facilities and wildfire-related claims, and to recover the costs of such insurance or, in the event liabilities exceed insured amounts, the ability to recover uninsured losses from customers or other parties; |
● | extreme weather-related incidents (including events caused, or exacerbated, by climate change, such as wildfires, debris flows, droughts, high wind events and extreme heat events) and other natural disasters (such as earthquakes), which could cause, among other things, public safety issues, property damage, operational issues (such as rotating outages and issues due to damaged infrastructure), PSPS activations and unanticipated costs; |
● | risk that AB 1054 does not effectively mitigate the significant exposure faced by California investor-owned utilities related to liability for damages arising from catastrophic wildfires where utility facilities are alleged to be a substantial cause, including the longevity of the Wildfire Insurance Fund and the CPUC's interpretation of and actions under AB 1054, including its interpretation of the prudency standard established under AB 1054; |
● | ability of SCE to effectively attract, manage, develop and retain a skilled workforce, including its contract workers; |
● | decisions and other actions by the CPUC, the FERC, the NRC and other governmental authorities, including decisions and actions related to nationwide or statewide crisis, determinations of authorized rates of return or return on equity, the recoverability of wildfire-related and debris flow-related costs, issuance of SCE's wildfire safety certification, wildfire mitigation efforts, and delays in executive, regulatory and legislative actions; |
● | ability of Edison International or SCE to borrow funds and access bank and capital markets on reasonable terms; |
1
● | risks associated with the decommissioning of San Onofre, including those related to worker and public safety, public opposition, permitting, governmental approvals, on-site storage of spent nuclear fuel, delays, contractual disputes, and cost overruns; |
● | pandemics, such as COVID-19, and other events that cause regional, statewide, national or global disruption, which could impact, among other things, Edison International's and SCE's business, operations, cash flows, liquidity and/or financial results and cause Edison International and SCE to incur unanticipated costs; |
● | physical security of Edison International's and SCE's critical assets and personnel and the cybersecurity of Edison International's and SCE's critical information technology systems for grid control, and business, employee and customer data; |
● | risks associated with cost allocation resulting in higher rates for utility bundled service customers because of possible customer bypass or departure for other electricity providers such as CCAs and Electric Service Providers; |
● | risks inherent in SCE's capital investment program, including those related to project site identification, public opposition, environmental mitigation, construction, permitting, power curtailment costs (payments due under power contracts in the event there is insufficient transmission to enable acceptance of power delivery), changes in the CAISO's transmission plans, and governmental approvals; |
● | risks associated with the operation of electrical facilities, including worker and public safety issues, the risk of utility assets causing or contributing to wildfires, failure, availability, efficiency, and output of equipment and facilities, and availability and cost of spare parts; |
● | actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade Edison International or SCE's credit ratings or to place those ratings on negative watch or negative outlook; |
● | changes in tax laws and regulations, at both the state and federal levels, or changes in the application of those laws, that could affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities and effective tax rate; |
● | changes in future taxable income, or changes in tax law, that would limit Edison International's and SCE's realization of expected net operating loss and tax credit carryover benefits prior to expiration; |
● | changes in the fair value of investments and other assets; |
● | changes in interest rates and rates of inflation, including escalation rates (which may be adjusted by public utility regulators); |
● | governmental, statutory, regulatory, or administrative changes or initiatives affecting the electricity industry, including the market structure rules applicable to each market adopted by the NERC, CAISO, Western Electricity Council, and similar regulatory bodies in adjoining regions, and changes in the United States' and California's environmental priorities that lessen the importance the state places on GHG reduction; |
● | availability and creditworthiness of counterparties and the resulting effects on liquidity in the power and fuel markets and/or the ability of counterparties to pay amounts owed in excess of collateral provided in support of their obligations; |
● | cost and availability of labor, equipment and materials; |
● | potential for penalties or disallowance for non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including fines, penalties and disallowances related to wildfires where SCE's equipment is alleged to be associated with ignition; and |
2
● | cost of fuel for generating facilities and related transportation, which could be impacted by, among other things, disruption of natural gas storage facilities, to the extent not recovered through regulated rate cost escalation provisions or balancing accounts. |
Additional information about risks and uncertainties, including more detail about the factors described in this report, is contained throughout this report and in the 2020 Form 10-K, including the "Risk Factors" section. Readers are urged to read this entire report, including information incorporated by reference, as well as the 2020 Form 10-K, and carefully consider the risks, uncertainties, and other factors that affect Edison International's and SCE's businesses. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and neither Edison International nor SCE are obligated to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements. Readers should review future reports filed by Edison International and SCE with the SEC. Edison International and SCE post or provide direct links to (i) certain SCE and other parties' regulatory filings and documents with the CPUC and the FERC and certain agency rulings and notices in open proceedings in a section titled "SCE Regulatory Highlights," (ii) certain documents and information related to Southern California wildfires which may be of interest to investors in a section titled "Southern California Wildfires," and (iii) presentations, documents and information that may be of interest to investors in a section titled "Presentations" at www.edisoninvestor.com in order to publicly disseminate such information. The reports, presentations, documents and information contained on, or connected to, the Edison investor website are not deemed part of, and are not incorporated by reference into, this report.
The MD&A for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 discusses material changes in the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and other developments of Edison International and SCE since December 31, 2020 and as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This discussion presumes that the reader has read or has access to Edison International's and SCE's MD&A for the calendar year 2020 (the "2020 MD&A"), which was included in the 2020 Form 10-K.
Except when otherwise stated, references to each of Edison International, SCE, or Edison Energy Group mean each such company with its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. References to "Edison International Parent and Other" mean Edison International Parent and its consolidated competitive subsidiaries and "Edison International Parent" mean Edison International on a stand-alone basis, not consolidated with its subsidiaries. Unless otherwise described, all the information contained in this report relates to both filers.
3
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW
Highlights of Operating Results
Edison International is the parent holding company of SCE and Edison Energy Group. SCE is an investor-owned public utility primarily engaged in the business of supplying and delivering electricity to an approximately 50,000 square mile area of southern California. Edison Energy Group is a holding company for Edison Energy which is engaged in the competitive business of providing data-driven energy solutions to commercial, institutional and industrial customers. Edison Energy's business activities are currently not material to report as a separate business segment.
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| Change |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| Change | ||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to Edison International |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
SCE | $ | (284) | $ | (264) | $ | (20) | $ | 371 | $ | 336 | $ | 35 | ||||||
Edison International Parent and Other |
| (57) |
| (24) |
| (33) |
| (135) |
| (123) |
| (12) | ||||||
Edison International |
| (341) |
| (288) |
| (53) |
| 236 |
| 213 |
| 23 | ||||||
Less: Non-core items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
SCE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events claims and expenses, net of recoveries | (899) | (880) | (19) | (909) | (889) | (20) | ||||||||||||
Wildfire Insurance Fund expense |
| (39) |
| (61) |
| 22 |
| (116) |
| (181) |
| 65 | ||||||
Sale of San Onofre nuclear fuel | — | 21 | (21) | 7 | 58 | (51) | ||||||||||||
Disallowed historical capital expenditures in SCE's 2021 GRC decision | (47) | — | (47) | (47) | — | (47) | ||||||||||||
Re-measurement of tax liabilities | — | — | — | — | 18 | (18) | ||||||||||||
Edison International Parent and Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
Goodwill impairment and other | — | — | — | — | (28) | 28 | ||||||||||||
Total non-core items |
| (985) |
| (920) |
| (65) |
| (1,065) |
| (1,022) |
| (43) | ||||||
Core earnings (losses) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
SCE |
| 701 |
| 656 |
| 45 |
| 1,436 |
| 1,330 |
| 106 | ||||||
Edison International Parent and Other |
| (57) |
| (24) |
| (33) |
| (135) |
| (95) |
| (40) | ||||||
Edison International | $ | 644 | $ | 632 | $ | 12 | $ | 1,301 | $ | 1,235 | $ | 66 |
Edison International's earnings are prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management uses core earnings (losses) internally for financial planning and for analysis of performance. Core earnings (losses) are also used when communicating with investors and analysts regarding Edison International's earnings results to facilitate comparisons of the company's performance from period to period. Core earnings (losses) are a non-GAAP financial measure and may not be comparable to those of other companies. Core earnings (losses) are defined as earnings attributable to Edison International shareholders less non-core items. Non-core items include income or loss from discontinued operations and income or loss from significant discrete items that management does not consider representative of ongoing earnings, such as write downs, asset impairments and other income and expense related to changes in law, outcomes in tax, regulatory or legal proceedings, and exit activities, including sale of certain assets and other activities that are no longer continuing.
Edison International's third quarter 2021 losses increased $53 million from the third quarter of 2020, resulting from an increase in SCE's losses of $20 million and an increase in Edison International Parent and Other's losses of $33 million. SCE's higher losses consisted of $45 million of higher core earnings and $65 million of higher non-core losses. Edison International's earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 increased $23 million from the nine months ended September 30, 2020, resulting from an increase in SCE's earnings of $35 million and an increase in Edison International
4
Parent and Other's losses of $12 million. SCE's higher earnings consisted of $106 million of higher core earnings and $71 million of higher non-core losses.
The increase in SCE's core earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from the same period in 2020 was primarily due to higher revenue from the 2021 GRC final decision and higher FERC revenue, partially offset by increased wildfire mitigation expenses due to the timing of regulatory deferrals in the third quarter of 2020.
The increase in SCE's core earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from the same period in 2020 was primarily due to higher revenue from the 2021 GRC final decision, higher FERC revenue and lower operation and maintenance expenses, partially offset by lower insurance benefits and higher property taxes.
The increase in Edison International Parent and Other's net loss for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021 was due to higher core losses of $33 million and $40 million, respectively, and lower non-core losses of $28 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Edison International's increase in core losses was primarily due to higher preferred dividends as a result of a preferred equity issuance in 2021.
Consolidated non-core items for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 primarily included:
● | Charges of $1.2 billion ($909 million after-tax) recorded in 2021 and $1.2 billion ($889 million after-tax) recorded in 2020 for 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events claims and expenses, net of expected recoveries from FERC customers. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies" for further information. |
● | Charges of $161 million ($116 million after-tax) recorded in 2021 and $252 million ($181 million after-tax) recorded in 2020 from the amortization of SCE's contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies" for further information. |
● | Gains of $10 million ($7 million after-tax) recorded in 2021 and $80 million ($58 million after-tax) recorded in 2020 for SCE's sale of San Onofre nuclear fuel. |
● | An impairment charge of $79 million ($47 million after-tax) recorded in 2021 related to disallowed historical capital expenditures in SCE's 2021 GRC final decision. |
● | An impairment charge of $34 million ($25 million after-tax) recorded in 2020 for Edison International Parent and Other related to Edison Energy's goodwill. |
● | An income tax benefit of $18 million and income tax expense of $3 million recorded in 2020 for SCE and Edison International Parent and Other, respectively, due to re-measurement of uncertain tax positions related to the 2010 – 2012 California state tax filings currently under audit. |
See "Results of Operations" for discussion of SCE and Edison International Parent and Other results of operations.
2021 General Rate Case
The 2021 GRC consists of four separate tracks. Track 1 is similar to previous GRCs and addresses revenue requirements for the three-year period of 2021 – 2023. Tracks 2 and 3 address the reasonableness of 2018 – 2019 and 2020 wildfire mitigation costs that were incremental to amounts authorized in the 2018 GRC, respectively. Track 4 will address the revenue requirement for 2024. SCE is scheduled to submit its testimony for track 4 in May 2022. For further information on tracks 2 and 3 see "Liquidity and Capital Resources—Regulatory Proceedings."
5
Track 1 - Revenue Requirements
In August 2021, the CPUC approved a final decision on track 1 of the 2021 GRC, which resulted in a base rate revenue requirement of $6.9 billion in 2021, an increase of $1.0 billion over amounts authorized for 2020 in the 2018 GRC. This represented an increase of $331 million over revenue requirements authorized for 2020 through the 2018 GRC and subsequent WEMA and GS&RP CPUC approvals. The final decision provided balancing accounts for cost recovery of authorized wildfire insurance expenses and up to 115% of authorized vegetation management expenses. The final decision also allows SCE to seek recovery of wildfire insurance expenses above authorized levels and vegetation management expenses above 115% of authorized levels through reasonableness review applications. SCE expects vegetation management costs to exceed authorized levels due to increased labor rates required by California state law beginning October 2019. For more information see "—Wildfire Mitigation, Wildfire Insurance and Restoration Expenses."
The final decision allows operation and maintenance expenses to be escalated for 2022 and 2023 through the use of various escalation factors for labor, non-labor and medical expenses and escalation of wildfire capital additions based on forecast spending for both 2022 and 2023. This escalation methodology results in approved revenue requirements of $7.3 billion in 2022 and $7.7 billion in 2023.
In the absence of a 2021 GRC final decision, SCE recognized revenue in the first quarter and second quarters of 2021 based on the 2020 authorized GRC revenue requirement. The revenue requirements in the 2021 GRC final decision are retroactive to January 1, 2021. SCE recorded the prior period impact of the 2021 GRC final decision in the third quarter of 2021, which increased earnings by $129 million primarily due to the application of the 2021 GRC final decision to revenue, operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation expense, property and payroll taxes expense and income tax expense and a non-core impairment of utility property, plant and equipment of $79 million ($47 million after-tax) related to disallowed historical capital expenditures of pole replacements the CPUC determined were performed prematurely.
The CPUC has approved the establishment of a memorandum account making the authorized revenue requirement changes effective January 1, 2021. Under the final decision the increase in January 2021 to September 2021 authorized revenues of $722 million will be collected over a 27-month period beginning October 1, 2021.
Track 1 - Capital expenditures
The final decision authorized $4.9 billion of capital expenditures for 2021. Included in authorized capital expenditures is $2.4 billion of capital expenditures to install 4,500 miles of covered conductor between 2019 and 2023 as part of SCE's Wildfire Covered Conductor Program ("WCCP"). The final decision also approved a balancing account to track the difference between actual WCCP costs and amounts authorized. If spending is less than authorized, SCE will refund those amounts to customers. If spending exceeds authorized, SCE will recover spending up to 110% of the authorized amount from customers. SCE would be eligible to submit a subsequent reasonableness review application for any spending in excess of 110% of authorized amounts.
See "Results of Operations—SCE" and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities" for further information.
Capital Program
Total capital expenditures (including accruals) were $3.7 billion for the first nine months of both 2021 and 2020.
SCE's capital expenditure forecast has been updated since the filing of the 2020 Form 10-K to reflect planned CPUC jurisdictional spending as informed by the 2021 GRC final decision, expected utility owned storage expenditures and expected FERC capital expenditures.
Potential capital spending variability associated with future regulatory requests based on management judgment, potential for permitting delays and other operational considerations is reflected in the range case below. The CPUC-jurisdictional capital
6
spending forecast is in line with authorized spend over the 2021 GRC track 1 cycle. The completion of projects, the timing of expenditures, and the associated cost recovery may be affected by permitting requirements and delays, construction schedules, availability of labor, equipment and materials, financing, legal and regulatory approvals and developments, community requests or protests, weather and other unforeseen conditions.
SCE's 2021 – 2023 forecast for major capital expenditures is set forth in the table below:
Total | ||||||||||||
(in billions) |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2021 – 2023 | ||||
Traditional capital expenditures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Distribution1 | $ | 3.6 | $ | 4.5 | $ | 3.7 | $ | 11.8 | ||||
Transmission |
| 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 1.8 | ||||||
Generation |
| 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 0.3 | ||||||
Subtotal |
| 4.2 |
| 5.2 |
| 4.5 |
| 13.9 | ||||
Wildfire mitigation-related capital expenditures |
| 1.1 |
| 1.0 |
| 0.8 |
| 2.9 | ||||
Total capital expenditures | $ | 5.3 | $ | 6.2 | $ | 5.3 | $ | 16.8 | ||||
Total capital expenditures using range case discussed above | $ | 5.2 | $ | 6.0 | $ | 5.2 | $ | 16.4 |
1 | Includes forecast expenditures for utility owned storage described below. |
In July 2021, the California Governor issued an Emergency Proclamation related to accelerating construction of new energy capacity ahead of possible summer 2022 shortfalls. Subsequently, in October 2021, in response to a CPUC emergency reliability rulemaking proceeding, SCE contracted for the construction of utility owned storage at three sites in SCE's service territory with an aggregate capacity of 537.5 MW. These storage projects are expected to result in $1.0 billion of capital expenditures, through the anticipated in-service date in the summer of 2022, which will be included in rate base (reflected in the weighted average annual rate base forecast table below). In October 2021, SCE filed an advice letter requesting recovery of these expenditures and seeking balancing account treatment for the associated revenue requirement, to be reflected in rates beginning in the first quarter of 2022. Work on these projects will commence prior to approval of the advice letter. A CPUC decision on the advice letter is expected prior to the end of January 2022. SCE may terminate the contract for these projects for convenience, including if regulatory approval is not obtained. If SCE terminates the contract for convenience in January 2022, SCE could incur costs estimated to be approximately $500 million.
SCE expects to make additional CPUC capital expenditures, the recovery of which will be subject to future regulatory approval. These expenditures include WCCP capital expenditures exceeding amounts authorized in the 2021 GRC, and expenditures to be included in track 4 of the 2021 GRC and the 2025 GRC. These capital expenditures, excluded from the table above, are expected to be approximately $0.4 billion in 2023 and in a range of approximately $10.4 billion to $12.8 billion between 2024 and 2025.
SCE's authorized CPUC-jurisdictional rate base is determined through the GRC and other regulatory proceedings. Differences between actual and CPUC-authorized capital expenditures are addressed in subsequent GRC or other regulatory proceedings. FERC-jurisdictional rate base is generally determined based on actual capital expenditures.
Reflected below is SCE's weighted average annual rate base for 2021 – 2023 incorporating CPUC capital expenditures authorized in the 2021 GRC final decision, expected utility owned storage expenditures, expected FERC capital expenditures, and expected non-GRC projects or programs. The table below does not reflect the $1.6 billion of AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures. The table below reflects the July 2021 reduction in rate base from a $400 million payment from a third party for the 30-year use of a portion of the West of Devers transmission project.
(in billions) |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2023 | |||
Rate base for expected capital expenditures | $ | 35.3 | $ | 38.4 | $ | 41.5 | |||
Rate base for expected capital expenditures (using range case described above) | $ | 35.2 | $ | 38.2 | $ | 41.2 |
7
Including the additional CPUC capital expenditures described above and rate base associated with 2020 wildfire restoration capital expenditures subject to future CEMA applications, SCE's weighted average annual rate base could be up to $42.3 billion in 2023, $46.0 billion in 2024 and $49.4 billion in 2025.
For further information regarding the capital program see "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE—Capital Investment Plan."
2021 Cost of Capital Application
In August 2021, SCE filed its application with the CPUC for authority to establish its authorized cost of capital for utility operations for a three-year term beginning in 2022 and to reset the related annual cost of capital mechanism. SCE was not required to file a full cost of capital application until April 2022 for rates effective in 2023. However, SCE filed its application pursuant to the cost of capital mechanism's provision that the utilities have a right to file a cost of capital application at any time upon an extraordinary or catastrophic event that materially impacts their respective cost of capital and/or capital structure and affects them differently than the overall financial markets. SCE believes the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying government stimulus efforts constitute such an extraordinary event because they have led to a decrease in interest rates but an increase in SCE and other utilities' cost of equity, disrupting the traditional relationship between debt and equity assumed in adopting the cost of capital mechanism. SCE filed a joint motion with PG&E and SDG&E to consolidate all three utilities' cost of capital applications given the overlapping issues of law and fact, which was granted in October 2021.
In its application, SCE seeks a return on common equity of 10.53%, compared to its current CPUC ROE of 10.30%, an embedded cost of long-term debt of 4.32%, and an embedded cost of preferred equity of 5.90%. SCE also seeks to maintain its current capital structure of 52% common equity, 43% long-term debt, and 5% preferred equity. Based on the capital structure and cost factors discussed above, SCE's weighted average return on rate base would be 7.63% for 2022.
Based on SCE's 2021 GRC, including the post-test year ratemaking mechanism, SCE's request would be rate neutral for SCE's customers in 2022 relative to SCE's current cost of capital.
In the alternative, SCE requests in its application that the CPUC suspend any adjustment to its CPUC-authorized ROE in 2022 based on the cost of capital mechanism currently in place. Should the CPUC grant this alternative relief, SCE would adjust its cost of long-term debt and preferred equity for 2022, resulting in a reduction in SCE's revenue requirement of approximately $50 million compared to the current authorized cost of capital, and file a cost of capital application by April 2022 for rates effective beginning January 2023.
The cost of capital mechanism requires that in any year where the difference between the current 12-month October through September average Moody's utility bond rates and the mechanism’s benchmark exceeds a trigger of 100-basis points, as occurred in 2021, an advice letter is filed on October 15 of such year to implement an adjustment to the utilities' ROE. In October 2021 the CPUC ordered the utilities to file all materials that would have been included in the October 15 advice letters within the consolidated cost of capital proceeding.
If the cost of capital mechanism adjustment is triggered SCE's CPUC-authorized ROE would be adjusted down for 2022 from 10.30% to 9.72%. SCE's costs of long-term debt and preferred equity would also be adjusted for 2022 to reflect the then current embedded costs and projected interest rates. If the cost of capital mechanism adjustment is triggered, revenue requirements for 2022 are expected to reduce by $179 million. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE" for further details.
8
Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides
California has experienced unprecedented weather conditions in recent years due to climate change, and SCE's service territory remains susceptible to additional wildfire activity in 2021 and beyond. The worsening weather and fuel conditions across California increase the likelihood of wildfires, including those where SCE's equipment may be alleged to be associated with the fire's ignition. In response to worsening conditions and increased wildfire activity over the past several years, SCE has developed and is implementing its 2020 – 2022 WMP to reduce the risk of SCE equipment contributing to the ignition of wildfires. In addition, California has increased its investment in wildfire prevention and fire suppression capabilities.
In addition to the investments SCE is making as part of its WMP, SCE also uses its PSPS program to proactively de-energize power lines as a last resort to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events. SCE may be subject to mandated changes to, or restrictions on, its operational PSPS practices, regulatory fines and penalties, claims for damages and reputational harm if SCE does not execute PSPS in compliance with applicable rules and regulations or if it is determined that SCE has placed excessive or unreasonable reliance on PSPS. In June 2021, the CPUC issued a final decision which, among other things, will reduce future authorized revenue for the volumetric reductions in electricity sales resulting from PSPS events initiated after June 2021 until the CPUC determines that improvements in the PSPS program have been made.
Wildfires in SCE's territory in December 2017 and November 2018 caused loss of life, substantial damage to both residential and business properties, and service outages for SCE customers. Edison International and SCE have incurred material losses in connection with the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events.
SCE's equipment has been, and may further be, alleged to be associated with several wildfires that have originated in Southern California subsequent to 2018. Edison International and SCE expect that any losses incurred in connection with those fires will be covered by insurance, subject to self-insured retentions and co-insurance, or third-party receivables, and expect that any such losses after recoveries will not be material.
2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events
As discussed in the 2020 Form 10-K, multiple lawsuits related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events have been initiated against SCE and Edison International.
As of September 30, 2021, in addition to the Local Public Entity Settlement, the TKM Subrogation Settlement and the Woolsey Subrogation Settlement (all defined below), SCE has entered into settlements with approximately 4,000 individual plaintiffs in the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events litigation under which it has agreed to pay an aggregate of approximately $1.5 billion.
In addition, in October 2021, SCE and the SED executed an agreement (the "SED Agreement"), subject to CPUC approval, to resolve the SED's investigations into the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events and three other 2017 wildfires for, among other things, aggregate costs of $550 million. The $550 million in costs is comprised of a $110 million fine to be paid to the State of California General Fund, $65 million of shareholder-funded safety measures, and an agreement by SCE to waive its right to seek cost recovery in CPUC-jurisdictional rates for $375 million of third-party uninsured claims payments (the "SED Excluded Losses"). The SED Agreement provides that SCE may, on a permanent basis, exclude from its ratemaking capital structure any after-tax charges to equity or debt borrowed to finance costs incurred under the SED Agreement. The SED Agreement also imposes other obligations on SCE, including reporting requirements and safety-focused studies. SCE's obligations under the SED Agreement commence after CPUC approval of the SED Agreement is final and non-appealable. In the SED Agreement, SCE did not admit imprudence, negligence or liability with respect to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events or the three other 2017 wildfires.
Each reporting period, management reviews its loss estimates for remaining alleged and potential claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. The net result of management's third quarter 2021 review, including a review of information obtained as a result of achieving key milestones in the litigation process, including settlement activity to date and
9
the expiration of some statutes of limitations, was a $1.3 billion increase in estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events as of September 30, 2021. As a result, Edison International and SCE also recorded expected recoveries through FERC electric rates of $67 million against the charge, and the resulting net charge to earnings was $1.2 billion ($894 million after-tax). The estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events as of September 30, 2021 reflect the impact of the SED Agreement.
Through September 30, 2021, Edison International and SCE have recorded total pre-tax charges of $7.5 billion, expected recoveries from insurance of $2.0 billion and expected recoveries through FERC electric rates of $300 million related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. The after-tax net charges to earnings recorded through September 30, 2021 have been $3.8 billion.
As of September 30, 2021, SCE had paid $5.2 billion under executed settlements and had $84 million to be paid under executed settlements related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. As of the same date, SCE had recovered $2.0 billion through insurance and $137 million through FERC-jurisdictional electric rates.
After giving effect to all settlements entered into through September 30, 2021, Edison International and SCE's best estimate of expected losses for remaining alleged and potential claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events was $2.2 billion. As of the same date, Edison International and SCE had assets for expected recoveries through FERC electric rates of $162 million on their consolidated balance sheets and had exhausted expected insurance recoveries related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events.
Estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events litigation are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to change as additional information becomes available. Actual losses incurred may be higher or lower than estimated based on several factors, including: the uncertainty in estimating damages that have been or may be alleged, the ability to reach settlements through the ongoing claims mediation processes, uncertainties related to the litigation processes, uncertainty as to the legal and factual determinations to be made during litigation, including uncertainty as to the contributing causes of the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, the complexities associated with fires that merge and whether inverse condemnation will be held applicable to SCE with respect to damages caused by the Montecito Mudslides, and the uncertainty as to how these factors impact future settlements.
SCE will seek rate recovery of prudently-incurred, actual losses realized in connection with the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events in excess of available insurance, other than for CPUC-jurisdictional rate recovery of the $375 million of SED Excluded Losses. SCE believes that, in light of the CPUC's decision in a cost recovery proceeding involving SDG&E arising from several 2007 wildfires in SDG&E's service area, there is substantial uncertainty regarding how the CPUC will interpret and apply its prudency standard to an investor-owned utility in wildfire cost-recovery proceedings for fires ignited prior to July 12, 2019. Accordingly, while the CPUC has not made a determination regarding SCE's prudency relative to any of the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, SCE is unable to conclude, at this time, that uninsured CPUC-jurisdictional wildfire-related costs are probable of recovery through electric rates.
Current Wildfire Insurance Coverage
SCE has approximately $1.0 billion of wildfire-specific insurance coverage for events that may occur during the period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, subject to $50 million of self-insured retention and up to approximately $75 million of co-insurance, which results in net coverage of approximately $875 million. Various coverage limitations within the policies that make up SCE's wildfire insurance coverage could result in additional material self-insured costs, for instance in the event of multiple wildfire occurrences during a policy period or with a single wildfire with damages in excess of the policy limits. SCE believes that its insurance coverage for the July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 period meets its obligation to maintain reasonable insurance coverage under AB 1054.
10
2019 Wildfire Legislation
In July 2019, AB 1054 was signed by the governor of California and became effective immediately. The summary of the wildfire legislation in this report is based on SCE's interpretation of the legislation and is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read together with, AB 1054 and companion Assembly Bill 111.
AB 1054 Prudency Standard
Under AB 1054, the CPUC must apply a new standard when assessing the prudency of a utility in connection with a request for recovery of wildfire costs for wildfires ignited after July 12, 2019. Utilities with a valid safety certification will be presumed to have acted prudently related to a wildfire ignition unless a party in the cost recovery proceeding creates serious doubt as to the reasonableness of the utility's conduct, at which time, the burden shifts back to the utility to prove its conduct was prudent. If a utility does not have a valid safety certification, it will have the burden to prove, based on a preponderance of evidence, that its conduct was prudent.
Wildfire Insurance Fund
AB 1054 also provided for the Wildfire Insurance Fund to reimburse a utility for payment of certain third-party damage claims arising from certain wildfires that exceed, in aggregate in a calendar year, the greater of $1.0 billion or the insurance coverage required to be maintained under AB 1054. Through September 30, 2021, the participating investor-owned utilities, PG&E, SCE and SDG&E, have collectively contributed approximately $8.1 billion to the Wildfire Insurance Fund and have not sought reimbursement of wildfire claims from the fund.
Participating investor-owned utilities will be reimbursed from the Wildfire Insurance Fund for eligible claims, subject to the fund administrator's review. Utilities participating in the Wildfire Insurance Fund are not required to reimburse the fund for amounts withdrawn from the fund that the CPUC finds were prudently incurred and can recover such prudently incurred wildfire costs through electric rates if the fund has been exhausted. SCE will reimburse the fund for any withdrawn amounts if SCE receives payment of such amounts under an indemnification agreement or from an insurance provider or other third-party. SCE will also be required to reimburse the fund for withdrawn amounts that the CPUC disallows subject to the AB 1054 Liability Cap. A utility will not be eligible for the AB 1054 Liability Cap if it does not maintain a valid safety certification or its actions or inactions that resulted in the wildfire are found to constitute conscious or willful disregard of the rights and safety of others. Based on SCE's forecasted weighted-average 2021 transmission and distribution rate base, excluding general plant and intangibles, and using the equity portion of SCE's CPUC authorized capital structure of 52%, SCE's requirement to reimburse the Wildfire Insurance Fund for eligible claims disallowed in 2021 would be capped at approximately $3.2 billion. SCE will not be allowed to recover borrowing costs incurred to reimburse the fund for amounts that the CPUC disallows. The Wildfire Insurance Fund and, consequently, the AB 1054 Liability Cap, will terminate when the administrator determines that the fund has been exhausted.
Safety Certification and Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Under AB 1054, SCE can obtain an annual safety certification upon the submission of certain required safety information, including an approved WMP. On September 17, 2020, SCE obtained a safety certification that will be valid for 12 months. Notwithstanding its 12-month term, if SCE requested a new safety certification by September 13, 2021, then its current safety certification would remain valid until the OEIS acts on SCE's request for a new safety certification. SCE requested a new safety certification on September 13, 2021 and expects the OEIS to act on its request by December 13, 2021.
SCE submitted its 2020 – 2022 WMP in February 2020. In June 2020, the CPUC ratified the OEIS's conditional approval of SCE's 2020 – 2022 WMP. The approval was conditioned on SCE providing requested information to the OEIS, including additional descriptions of how SCE is implementing, and will implement, certain requirements imposed by the OEIS. SCE submitted updates to its 2020 – 2022 WMP in February 2021 to, among other things, report on implementation of its plan in 2020 and describe new and ongoing wildfire mitigation activities. In June 2021, SCE submitted revised updates to its 2020 –
11
2022 WMP in response to a revision notice received from the OEIS. In August 2021, the OEIS issued a resolution approving SCE's updates, and an action statement requiring SCE to remedy certain specified issues, including by reevaluating the scope and pace of its covered conductor program and providing additional clarity and consistency on risk mitigation analysis. As required under the action statement, SCE submitted a report regarding its progress on remedying these issues on November 1, 2021 and is required to submit an additional report in its 2022 WMP update.
Capital Expenditure Requirement
Under AB 1054, approximately $1.6 billion of spending by SCE on wildfire risk mitigation capital expenditures made after August 1, 2019, cannot be included in the equity portion of SCE's rate base. SCE can apply for irrevocable orders from the CPUC to finance these AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures, including through the issuance of securitized bonds, and can recover any prudently incurred financing costs. In November 2020, the CPUC issued an irrevocable order permitting SCE to finance approximately $340 million, comprised of AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures incurred in connection with GS&RP and prudently incurred financing costs, through the issuance of securitized bonds. As of September 30, 2021, SCE had spent all of the approximately $1.6 billion in AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures.
SCE issued securitized bonds in the amount of $338 million in February 2021. In June 2021, SCE filed an application with the CPUC requesting to finance up to $1.0 billion of wildfire mitigation and customer uncollectible costs and associated financing costs through the issuance of securitized bonds. The $1.0 billion request included approximately $518 million of AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures, comprised of $219 million approved in the 2021 GRC track 2 settlement and $299 million incurred in 2021 and approved in track 1 of the GRC. In October 2021, the CPUC issued a decision which allows SCE to issue recovery bonds to recover the AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures approved in tracks 1 and 2 of the 2021 GRC, but denied SCE's application to securitize the operations and maintenance expenditures approved in the GRC track 2 settlement and incremental residential uncollectible expenses. The decision directed SCE to recover the remaining costs in CPUC customer rates by submitting an advice letter to determine the amortization schedule and presumes that a three-year amortization period is reasonable.
SCE expects to seek additional irrevocable orders from the CPUC to finance the remaining AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE—Regulatory Proceedings—Financing Order" for further details.
For further information, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Initial and annual contributions to the wildfire insurance fund established pursuant to California Assembly Bill 1054" in the 2020 Form 10-K and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies—Contingencies—Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides" in this report.
CSRP
In April 2021, SCE implemented a new customer service system, which replaced a majority of SCE's customer systems. The project is referred to as the Customer Service Re-Platform (CSRP). During the post-implementation stabilization of CSRP, SCE has experienced operational issues, including delayed customer billings, generally in line with forecasted operational issues. SCE has tracked the cost of the CSRP system implementation in a previously approved memorandum account. Forecasted expenditures for the CSRP project are approximately $540 million in capital and $90 million in operations and maintenance expenses from inception through 2021.
In July 2021, SCE filed an application with the CPUC requesting approval of $483 million of capital expenditures and $40 million of operations and maintenance expenses recorded in the CSRP memorandum account through April 2021 resulting in revenue requirements of $411 million from 2021 to 2024. SCE expects to seek recovery of costs subsequent to April 2021 in a future application anticipated to be filed in 2022.
12
COVID-19
As discussed in the 2020 Form 10-K, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on global society and economies. As a result of the pandemic, Edison International and SCE have experienced increased costs, but the pandemic has not had a pervasive impact on SCE's or Edison International's ability to operate their business. However, the total impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Edison International and SCE are still emerging, and the extent of the impacts will depend on numerous evolving factors that Edison International and SCE are unable to accurately predict at this time, including the impact of any legal requirements or company policies for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, or testing, on SCE's ability to retain its skilled workforce.
As a result of the pandemic and increased estimates of uncollectible expenses, largely related to the economic impacts of the pandemic on SCE's customers, SCE has recognized $310 million of incremental costs as of September 30, 2021, of which $86 million has been deferred to memorandum accounts for future CPUC reasonableness review and $224 million has been transferred to balancing accounts pending recovery. In addition to the increases in expected uncollectible accounts, SCE has incurred incremental costs associated with sequestering certain SCE employees at essential work locations and coordination of SCE's response to the emergency.
In April 2021, the CPUC issued a decision to adopt a COVID-19 disconnection moratorium for medium-large commercial and industrial electric customers and established a memorandum account to track, and seek recovery of, the resulting costs.
In September 2021 SCE requested a revenue requirement of $58 million for incremental operation and maintenance expenses recorded to a CEMA related to COVID-19. For further information see "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE—Regulatory Proceedings—2021 CEMA Application."
In October 2021, the CPUC issued a decision which denied SCE's application to securitize up to $78 million of incremental residential uncollectible expenses and directed SCE to recover the expenses in customer rates. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE—Regulatory Proceedings—Financing Order" for further details.
In July 2021, California's state assembly passed legislation to authorize, fund and implement the CAPP, which is expected to reduce SCE's 2020 and 2021 customer arrearages for certain residential customers by up to $200 million. To the extent SCE's total uncollectible expenses are offset by the CAPP, no recovery will be sought through other mechanisms. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE—Regulatory Proceedings—Financing Order" for further details.
For further information see "Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities" in this filing and "Management Overview—COVID-19" and "Risk Factors" in the 2020 MD&A.
Wildfire Mitigation, Wildfire Insurance and Restoration Expenses
As discussed in the 2020 Form 10-K, in response to the increase in wildfire activity, and faster progression of and increased damage from wildfires across SCE's service territory and throughout California, SCE has incurred wildfire mitigation, wildfire insurance and wildfire and drought restoration related spending at levels significantly exceeding amounts authorized in its 2018 GRC. Although the 2021 GRC decision authorized the establishment of balancing accounts for expenses for vegetation management, wildfire insurance, and the WCCP program, balancing accounts were not established for other wildfire mitigation activities including inspections and maintenance and PSPS. Additionally, during the 2021 – 2023 GRC period, SCE expects to incur vegetation management expenses in excess of 115% of authorized amounts and capital expenditures for WCCP in excess of 110% of authorized amounts. Therefore, SCE expects to continue to incur wildfire mitigation expenses exceeding amounts authorized in its 2021 GRC and track these incremental amounts in various memorandum accounts.
As of September 30, 2021, SCE has recognized approximately $1.1 billion of regulatory assets related to incremental wildfire mitigation expenses, including depreciation expense from $2.5 billion of wildfire mitigation capital expenditures. The
13
regulatory assets include $401 million of operations and maintenance expense authorized for recovery in the GRC track 2 proceeding in January 2021. The CPUC denied SCE's request to securitize this amount and SCE will include the costs in customer rates as soon as practicable. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE—Regulatory Proceedings—Financing Order" for further details.
Additionally, SCE has recognized $287 million of regulatory assets associated with drought and wildfire restoration and $212 million of regulatory assets related to incremental wildfire insurance expenses. While SCE believes such costs are probable of future recovery, there is no assurance that SCE will collect all amounts currently deferred as regulatory assets.
As a result of balancing accounts established under the 2021 GRC track 1 decision, SCE transferred wildfire mitigation memorandum account balances of $163 million and wildfire insurance expenses of $163 million to corresponding balancing accounts. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities" for further information.
In August 2021, the CPUC issued a decision that authorized full recovery of requested drought restoration costs and approved a revenue requirement of $81 million. However, the decision rejected recovery of the $8 million revenue requirement associated with all $60 million of requested wildfire restoration costs related to 2017 wildfires, but would allow SCE to submit subsequent cost recovery applications for those costs. For additional information, see "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE—Regulatory Proceedings— Wildfire Related Regulatory Proceedings—2019 CEMA Application."
For additional information, see "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE" and "Liquidity and Capital Resources—SCE—Regulatory Proceedings—Wildfire Related Regulatory Proceedings."
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
SCE
SCE's results of operations are derived mainly through two sources:
● | Earning activities – representing revenue authorized by the CPUC and the FERC, which is intended to provide SCE a reasonable opportunity to recover its costs and earn a return on its net investment in generation, transmission and distribution assets. The annual revenue requirements are comprised of authorized operation and maintenance costs, depreciation, taxes and a return consistent with the capital structure. Also, included in earnings activities are revenue or penalties related to incentive mechanisms, other operating revenue, and regulatory charges or disallowances. |
● | Cost-recovery activities – representing CPUC- and FERC- authorized balancing accounts, which allow for recovery of specific project or program costs, subject to reasonableness review or compliance with upfront standards, as well as non-bypassable rates collected for SCE Recovery Funding LLC. Cost-recovery activities include rates which provide recovery, subject to reasonableness review of, among other things, fuel costs, purchased power costs, public purpose related-program costs (including energy efficiency and demand-side management programs), certain operation and maintenance expenses, and repayment of bonds and financing costs of SCE Recovery Funding LLC. SCE earns no return on these activities. |
Impact of 2021 GRC
In the absence of a 2021 GRC final decision, SCE recognized revenue in the first and second quarters of 2021 based on the 2020 authorized GRC revenue requirement. Upon receipt of the 2021 GRC final decision in August 2021, SCE recorded the first and second quarter retroactive impact, which increased core earnings by $129 million and resulted in a non-core
14
impairment of utility property, plant and equipment of $79 million ($47 million after-tax) related to disallowed historical capital expenditures of pole replacements the CPUC determined were performed prematurely.
The 2021 GRC final decision determines the amount of revenue that SCE is authorized to collect from customers to recover anticipated costs, including return on rate base. The 2021 GRC final decision approved an authorized revenue requirement of $6.9 billion in 2021, an increase of $1.0 billion over amounts authorized in the 2018 GRC and an increase of $331 million over revenue requirements authorized for 2020 including the 2018 GRC and subsequent WEMA and GS&RP approvals.
The table below reflects the 2020 GRC authorized revenue adjusted for revenue requirements from the WEMA and GS&RP approvals in 2020, which included revenue requirements for expenditures incurred from 2018 – 2020. Revenue requirements of $497 million for operation and maintenance expense and depreciation incurred in 2020 are not included in the table as they remain subject to approval in track 3 of the 2021 GRC.
This table sets out the authorized revenue and costs of service for revenue requirements authorized in 2020 as discussed above and the 2021 GRC final decision for the nine months ended September 30:
(in millions) |
| 2020 Authorized |
| Non-GRC |
| 2020 Adjusted Authorized |
| 2021 Final | Increase |
| ||||||
Authorized revenue | $ | 4,433 | $ | 614 | $ | 5,047 | $ | 5,163 | $ | 116 | ||||||
Cost of service: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Operation and maintenance |
| 1,254 |
| 574 |
| 1,828 |
| 1,668 |
| (160) | 2 | |||||
Depreciation |
| 1,316 |
| 14 |
| 1,330 |
| 1,423 |
| 93 | 3 | |||||
Property and payroll taxes |
| 269 |
| 1 |
| 270 |
| 296 |
| 26 |
| |||||
Income taxes |
| 103 |
| (2) |
| 101 |
| 149 |
| 48 |
| |||||
Authorized return |
| 1,491 |
| 27 |
| 1,518 |
| 1,627 |
| 109 | 4 | |||||
Total | $ | 4,433 | $ | 614 | $ | 5,047 | $ | 5,163 | $ | 116 |
|
1 | Reflects SCE's GRC authorized revenue as filed in SCE's September 2021 GRC implementation advice letter. |
2 | 2020 Adjusted Authorized Revenue includes $381 million of 2018 – 2019 wildfire insurance and wildfire mitigation expenditures, primarily operations and maintenance, that were authorized for recovery in 2020. |
3 | Authorized revenue for depreciation increased due to updated depreciation rates. |
4 | Authorized revenue for return increased due to authorized rate base growth. |
Authorized revenue increased $116 million for the nine-month period ended 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, which was comprised of an increase of $137 million in authorized revenue for earning activities and a decrease of $(21) million in authorized revenue for cost recovery activities. GRC revenue recognition for the first and second quarters of 2021 was based largely on 2020 GRC authorized revenue currently in rates.
The following tables summarize SCE's results of operations for the periods indicated. The presentation below separately identifies earning activities and cost-recovery activities. In the 2021 GRC final decision, the CPUC approved balancing accounts for cost recovery of vegetation management and wildfire insurance costs. As a result, SCE classified revenues and costs associated with these programs as cost recovery activities in 2021. Previously, SCE classified the recovery of actual costs incurred under these programs as earnings activities. The reclassification of revenues and costs had no impact on earnings.
15
The following table is a summary of SCE's results of operations for the periods indicated.
Three months ended September 30, 2021 versus September 30, 2020
| Three months ended September 30, 2021 | Three months ended September 30, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cost- | Cost- | |||||||||||||||||||
Earning | Recovery | Total | Earning | Recovery | Total | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Activities |
| Activities |
| Consolidated |
|
| Activities |
| Activities |
| Consolidated | |||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 2,395 | $ | 2,898 | $ | 5,293 | $ | 2,126 | $ | 2,509 | $ | 4,635 | ||||||||
Purchased power and fuel | — | 2,088 |
| 2,088 | — | 1,817 |
| 1,817 | ||||||||||||
Operation and maintenance | 363 | 837 |
| 1,200 | 515 | 711 |
| 1,226 | ||||||||||||
Wildfire-related claims, net of insurance recoveries | 1,273 | — |
| 1,273 | 1,297 | — |
| 1,297 | ||||||||||||
Wildfire Insurance Fund expense | 54 | — |
| 54 | 85 | — |
| 85 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 595 | 3 |
| 598 | 489 | — |
| 489 | ||||||||||||
Property and other taxes | 110 | 1 |
| 111 | 113 | — |
| 113 | ||||||||||||
Impairment and other expense (income) | 79 | — |
| 79 | (28) | — |
| (28) | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
| 2,474 |
| 2,929 | 5,403 |
| 2,471 |
| 2,528 | 4,999 | ||||||||||
Operating loss |
| (79) |
| (31) | (110) |
| (345) |
| (19) | (364) | ||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (208) | (3) | (211) |
| (178) |
| (10) | (188) | |||||||||||
Other income |
| 19 | 34 | 53 |
| 54 |
| 29 | 83 | |||||||||||
Loss before taxes |
| (268) |
| — | (268) |
| (469) |
| — | (469) | ||||||||||
Income tax benefit |
| (11) | — | (11) |
| (251) |
| — | (251) | |||||||||||
Net loss |
| (257) |
| — | (257) |
| (218) |
| — | (218) | ||||||||||
Less: Preferred and preference stock dividend requirements |
| 27 | — | 27 |
| 46 |
| — | 46 | |||||||||||
Net loss available for common stock | $ | (284) | $ | — | $ | (284) | $ | (264) | $ | — | $ | (264) | ||||||||
Net loss available for common stock | $ | (284) | $ | (264) | ||||||||||||||||
Less: Non-core expense |
|
|
|
|
| (985) |
|
|
|
|
| (920) | ||||||||
Core earnings1 |
|
|
| $ | 701 |
|
|
|
| $ | 656 |
1 | See use of non-GAAP financial measures in "Management Overview—Highlights of Operating Results." |
Earning Activities
Earning activities were primarily affected by the following:
● | Higher operating revenue of $269 million primarily due to the following: |
● | An increase of CPUC-related revenue of $282 million primarily due to an increase in authorized revenue of $116 million as discussed above, $137 million of which impacted earning activities, and $114 million of lower incremental tax benefits (offset in income taxes below). |
The change in authorized revenue included an increase of $258 million in GRC revenues from the 2021 GRC final decision offset by lower non-GRC authorized revenue of $121 million from the approval of the GS&RP balancing account in the third quarter of 2020.
● | A decrease in FERC-related revenue of $13 million primarily due to $18 million lower expected recoveries from customers in 2021 compared to 2020 for the FERC portion of wildfire-related claims and expenses partially offset by an increase in FERC revenue due to rate base growth (see "Management Overview—Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides—2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events" for further information on wildfire claims and expenses). |
16
● | Lower operation and maintenance costs of $152 million primarily due to the following: |
● | Lower expenses of $192 million related to 2020 wildfire insurance and vegetation management costs which were recovered in authorized revenue in 2020. In 2021 these costs are presented in cost recovery activities as a result of balancing accounts authorized in the 2021 GRC final decision. |
● | Higher expenses of $40 million primarily related to wildfire-related inspections and preventative maintenance expenses due to the timing of regulatory deferrals in the third quarter of 2020. |
● | Charges of $1.3 billion recorded in both 2021 and 2020 for wildfire-related claims and expenses related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies—Contingencies—Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides." |
● | Lower Wildfire Insurance Fund expense of $31 million due to the change in the estimated life of the Wildfire Insurance Fund which increased the amortization period of SCE contributions in 2021. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingences" for further information. |
● | Higher depreciation and amortization expense of $106 million primarily due to increased plant balances in 2021 and the change in depreciation rates from the adoption of the 2021 GRC final decision. |
● | Higher impairment and other expense (income) of $107 million primarily due to an impairment charge of $79 million recorded in 2021 related to disallowed historical capital expenditures in SCE's 2021 GRC final decision for pole replacements that the CPUC determined were performed prematurely. In 2020, SCE recorded a gain of $28 million related to the sale of San Onofre nuclear fuel. |
● | Higher interest expense of $30 million primarily due to increased borrowings. |
● | Lower other income of $35 million primarily due to lower insurance benefits and higher corporate spending funded by shareholders. |
● | Lower income tax benefit of $240 million primarily due to lower income tax benefits refunded to customers through balancing accounts (as discussed above) including the impact from an IRS private letter ruling, and lower pre-tax loss. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 8 Income Taxes." |
● | Lower preferred and preference stock dividends of $19 million primarily due to a loss on redemption of preferred securities in 2020. |
Cost-Recovery Activities
Operating revenue and the corresponding operating expenses in cost-recovery activities were primarily affected by the following:
● | Higher purchased power and fuel costs of $271 million primarily due to higher power and gas prices and higher capacity costs. |
● | Higher operation and maintenance costs of $126 million primarily due to: |
● | Vegetation management costs of $200 million were reported in cost recovery activities due to the balancing account approved in the 2021 GRC final decision. |
● | Uncollectible costs of $52 million were reported in cost recovery activities due to authorization to recover costs through RUBA in 2021. |
17
● | Wildfire insurance costs decreased by $178 million due to the 2020 approval to recover 2018 and 2019 wildfire expenses that had been deferred. |
● | Increase in other costs subject to cost recovery of $52 million. |
Nine months ended September 30, 2021 versus September 30, 2020
| Nine months ended September 30, 2021 | Nine months ended September 30, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cost- | Cost- | |||||||||||||||||||
Earning | Recovery | Total | Earning | Recovery | Total | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Activities |
| Activities |
| Consolidated |
|
| Activities |
| Activities |
| Consolidated | |||||||
Operating revenue | $ | 5,992 | $ | 5,560 | $ | 11,552 | $ | 5,642 | $ | 4,753 | $ | 10,395 | ||||||||
Purchased power and fuel |
| — | 4,384 |
| 4,384 | 2 | 3,811 |
| 3,813 | |||||||||||
Operation and maintenance |
| 1,493 | 1,266 |
| 2,759 | 1,801 | 1,019 |
| 2,820 | |||||||||||
Wildfire-related claims, net of insurance recoveries |
| 1,276 | — |
| 1,276 | 1,303 | — |
| 1,303 | |||||||||||
Wildfire Insurance Fund expense |
| 161 | — |
| 161 | 252 | — |
| 252 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 1,651 | 4 |
| 1,655 | 1,461 | — |
| 1,461 | |||||||||||
Property and other taxes |
| 351 | 2 |
| 353 | 326 | — |
| 326 | |||||||||||
Impairment and other expense (income) |
| 68 | — |
| 68 | (80) | — |
| (80) | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
| 5,000 |
| 5,656 | 10,656 |
| 5,065 |
| 4,830 | 9,895 | ||||||||||
Operating income |
| 992 |
| (96) | 896 |
| 577 |
| (77) | 500 | ||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (588) | (5) | (593) |
| (565) | (10) | (575) | ||||||||||||
Other income |
| 88 | 101 | 189 |
| 130 | 87 | 217 | ||||||||||||
Income before taxes |
| 492 |
| — | 492 |
| 142 |
| — | 142 | ||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
| 41 | — | 41 |
| (300) | — | (300) | ||||||||||||
Net income |
| 451 |
| — | 451 |
| 442 |
| — | 442 | ||||||||||
Less: Preferred and preference stock dividend requirements |
| 80 | — | 80 |
| 106 | — | 106 | ||||||||||||
Net income available for common stock | $ | 371 | $ | — | $ | 371 | $ | 336 | $ | — | $ | 336 | ||||||||
Net income available for common stock | $ | 371 | $ | 336 | ||||||||||||||||
Less: Non-core expense |
|
|
|
|
| (1,065) |
|
|
|
|
| (994) | ||||||||
Core earnings1 |
|
|
| $ | 1,436 |
|
|
|
| $ | 1,330 |
1 | See use of non-GAAP financial measures in "Management Overview—Highlights of Operating Results." |
Earning Activities
Earning activities were primarily affected by the following:
● | Higher operating revenue of $350 million primarily due to the following: |
● | An increase in CPUC-related revenue of $323 million primarily due to an increase in authorized revenue of $116 million, $137 million of which impacted earning activities, and $216 million of lower incremental tax benefits (offset in income taxes below). |
The change in authorized revenue included an increase of $258 million in GRC revenues from the 2021 GRC final decision offset by lower non-GRC authorized revenue of $121 million from the approval of the GS&RP balancing account in the third quarter of 2020.
● | An increase in FERC-related revenue and other operating revenue of $27 million primarily due to $36 million of FERC rate base growth and a $10 million increase in 2021 due to a change in estimate under the FERC formula rate mechanism partially offset by $18 million lower expected recoveries from customers in 2021 compared to 2020 for the FERC portion of wildfire-related claims and expenses. See "Management Overview—Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides—2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events." |
18
● | Lower operation and maintenance costs of $308 million primarily due to the following: |
● | Lower expenses of $167 million related to 2020 wildfire insurance and vegetation management costs which were recovered in authorized revenue in 2020. In 2021 these costs are presented in cost recovery activities as a result of balancing accounts authorized in the 2021 GRC final decision. |
● | Lower employee benefit expenses of $25 million from short-term incentive compensation. |
● | Lower expenses of $24 million subject to balancing account treatment, not wildfire-related. |
● | Lower expenses of $13 million related to the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily customer uncollectibles now reported in cost recovery activities, as a result of CPUC authorized cost recovery of residential uncollectible costs. |
● | Lower other expenses of $79 million primarily due to lower transmission and distribution expenses, environmental remediation costs, legal expenses and worker's compensation costs. |
● | Charges of $1.3 billion recorded in both 2021 and 2020 for wildfire-related claims and expenses related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events (see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies—Contingencies—Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides"). |
● | Lower Wildfire Insurance Fund expense of $91 million due to the change in the estimated life of the Wildfire Insurance Fund which increased the amortization period of SCE contributions in 2021. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingences" for further information. |
● | Higher depreciation and amortization expense of $190 million primarily due to increased plant balances in 2021 and the change in depreciation rates from the adoption of the 2021 GRC final decision. |
● | Higher property and other taxes of $25 million primarily due to higher property assessed values in 2021. |
● | Higher impairment and other expense (income) of $148 million primarily due to an impairment charge of $79 million recorded in 2021 related to disallowed historical capital expenditures in SCE's 2021 GRC final decision as discussed above, and $70 million decrease in gains from the sale of San Onofre nuclear fuel. |
● | Higher interest expense of $23 million primarily due to increased borrowings. |
● | Lower other income of $42 million primarily due to lower insurance benefits and lower interest income on balancing accounts. |
● | Lower income tax benefit of $341 million primarily due to lower income tax benefits related to the flow-through of property-related items refunded to customers through balancing accounts (as discussed above) including the impact from an IRS private letter ruling, higher pre-tax income, and a tax benefit in 2020 from the re-measurement of uncertain tax positions. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 8 Income Taxes." |
● | Lower preferred and preference stock dividends of $26 million primarily due to the redemption of preferred securities in 2020 and the related loss on the redemption. |
Cost-Recovery Activities
Operating revenue and the corresponding operating expenses in cost-recovery activities were primarily affected by the following:
● | Higher purchased power and fuel costs of $573 million primarily due to higher power and gas prices, including from extreme weather in February 2021, partially offset by a CAISO generation surcharge of $59 million incurred in 2020. |
19
● | Higher operation and maintenance costs of $247 million due to: |
● | Vegetation management costs of $200 million were reported in cost recovery activities due to the balancing account approved in the 2021 GRC final decision. |
● | Uncollectible costs of $112 million were reported in cost recovery activities due to authorization to recover costs through RUBA in 2021. |
● | A CAISO transmission refund received in 2020 for $66 million related to the CAISO generation surcharge mentioned above. |
● | Increase in other costs subject to cost recovery of $47 million. |
● | Wildfire insurance costs decreased by $178 million due to the 2020 approval to recover 2018 and 2019 wildfire expenses that had been deferred. |
● | Higher other income of $14 million primarily due to higher net periodic benefit income related to the non-service cost components for SCE's other post-retirement benefit plans. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 9. Compensation and Benefit Plans" for further information. |
Supplemental Operating Revenue Information
SCE's retail billed and unbilled revenue (excluding wholesale sales) was $4.9 billion and $4.3 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 respectively, and $10.6 billion and $9.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The increase for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same periods in 2020 is primarily due to the authorization for cost recovery as part of the GRC implementation through various balancing accounts and higher cost-recovery activities related to higher purchased power and fuel costs driven by higher power and gas prices. See "—Earnings Activities" and "—Cost-Recovery Activities" for further details.
As a result of the CPUC-authorized decoupling mechanism, SCE earnings are not affected by changes in retail electricity sales.
Income Taxes
SCE's income tax benefit decreased by $240 million and $341 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2021 is primarily due to lower flow-through tax benefits as a result of the adoption of the 2021 GRC final decision, an adjustment as a result of an IRS private letter ruling SCE received regarding the scope of the deferred tax normalization requirements and the computations required to comply with the average rate assumption method, as well as lower pre-tax loss. The decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 is primarily due to higher pre-tax income, lower flow-through tax benefits as a result of the adoption of the 2021 GRC final decision and from the IRS private letter ruling received by SCE and described above, and a tax benefit recorded in 2020 from the re-measurement of uncertain tax positions.
The effective tax rates were (4.1)% and (53.5)% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The effective tax rates were 8.3% and (211.3)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. SCE's effective tax rate is below the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the CPUC's ratemaking treatment for the current tax benefit arising from certain property-related and other temporary differences, which reverse over time. The accounting treatment for these temporary differences results in recording regulatory assets and liabilities for amounts that would otherwise be recorded to deferred income tax expense.
20
In October 2021, Edison International reached a settlement with the California Franchise Tax Board (“FTB”) for tax years 2007 – 2012. SCE anticipates recording a $42 million cash refund and approximately $37 million of core earnings benefit resulting from the settlement in the fourth quarter of 2021.
See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 8. Income Taxes" for a reconciliation of the federal statutory rate to the effective income tax rates.
Edison International Parent and Other
Results of operations for Edison International Parent and Other include amounts from other subsidiaries that are not significant as a reportable segment, as well as intercompany eliminations.
Loss from Operations
The following table summarizes the results of Edison International Parent and Other:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||||
Edison Energy Group and subsidiaries | $ | (6) | $ | (3) | $ | (11) | $ | (32) | |||||
Corporate expenses and other subsidiaries |
| (51) |
| (21) |
| (124) |
| (91) | |||||
Total Edison International Parent and Other | $ | (57) | $ | (24) | $ | (135) | $ | (123) | |||||
Less: Non-core expense | — | — | — | (28) | |||||||||
Core losses1 | $ | (57) | $ | (24) | $ | (135) | $ | (95) |
1 | See use of non-GAAP financial measures in "Management Overview—Highlights of Operating Results." |
The loss from operations of Edison International Parent and Other increased $33 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and increased $12 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
The increase of losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 is primarily due to higher preferred dividend expense as a result of Edison International's preferred equity issuance in 2021 and higher income taxes. In addition, Edison Energy recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $34 million ($25 million after-tax) in 2020 related to Edison Energy stemming from the economic impact of COVID-19. Edison International Parent recognized unrealized gains (losses) of $(6) million and $3 million on the investment in Proterra for the three and nine month periods ended September 2021, respectively. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 10. Investments."
In October 2021, Edison International reached a settlement with the FTB for tax years 2007 – 2012. Edison International Parent and Other anticipates recording an $18 million cash refund and approximately $115 million of discontinued operations earnings benefit resulting from the settlement in the fourth quarter of 2021.
21
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
SCE
SCE's ability to operate its business, fund capital expenditures, and implement its business strategy is dependent upon its cash flow and access to the bank and capital markets. SCE's overall cash flows fluctuate based on, among other things, its ability to recover its costs in a timely manner from its customers through regulated rates, changes in commodity prices and volumes, collateral requirements, interest obligations, dividend payments to and equity contributions from Edison International, obligations to preference shareholders, and the outcome of tax, regulatory and legal matters.
In the next 12 months, SCE expects to fund its cash requirements through operating cash flows, capital market financings, and equity contributions from Edison International Parent, as needed. SCE also has availability under its credit facilities to fund cash requirements.
In addition, in October 2021, the CPUC issued a decision which approved securitization of approximately $0.5 billion of SCE's request to finance up to $1.0 billion of wildfire mitigation and customer uncollectible costs and associated financing costs through the issuance of securitized bonds. The decision directed SCE to recover the remaining costs in customer rates. For further details, see "—Regulatory Proceedings—Financing Order."
During the first nine months of 2021, SCE issued a total of $5.0 billion first and refunding mortgage bonds, including $1.3 billion of floating rate first and refunding mortgage bonds. The floating rate bonds will pay interest at a floating rate equal to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus a spread. Included in the total issuance were $900 million first and refunding mortgage bonds to finance or refinance eligible sustainable projects. Eligible sustainable projects include categories such as renewable energy, clean transportation, energy efficiency and carbon reduction, climate change adoption, and socioeconomic advancement and empowerment. SCE maintains processes to ensure that proceeds from the sale of the bonds are only used for projects that are aligned with the Edison International sustainable financing framework issued in June 2021. For further details, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5. Debt and Credit Agreements."
In the second quarter of 2021, SCE entered into a term loan in the amount of $1.2 billion with a termination date of May 2022. For further details, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5. Debt and Credit Agreements." SCE used the proceeds to finance certain capital projects that meet the green loan principles set forth by international loan market organizations including the Loan Syndications and Trading Association, including ongoing funding of projects such as wildfire mitigation projects, including SCE WCCP, and repaying all outstanding indebtedness under its 364-day revolving credit agreement and term loan credit agreement, both entered into during March 2020 and previously used to fund such projects.
In the first quarter of 2021, SCE Recovery Funding LLC, a bankruptcy remote, wholly owned special purpose subsidiary of SCE, issued $338 million of Senior Secured Recovery Bonds Series 2021-A ("Recovery Bonds") in three tranches, of $138 million, $100 million and $100 million with final maturities in 2033, 2040 and 2045, respectively, and used the proceeds of the Recovery Bonds to acquire SCE's right to collect charges associated with the AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures from certain existing and future SCE customers ("Recovery Property"). SCE used the proceeds it received from the sale of the Recovery Property to reimburse itself for previously incurred AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures, including the retirement of related debt and financing costs. For further details, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3. Variable Interest Entities," "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5. Debt and Credit Agreements" and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities."
During the first nine months of 2021, Edison International made equity contributions to SCE of $1.3 billion.
Edison International is issuing securities with equity content as viewed by rating agencies, such as common or preferred stock, in 2021, to enable SCE to issue debt to finance payments for resolution of wildfire claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, including the debt SCE issued in April and August 2021 and for future resolution of claims, while
22
allowing Edison International and SCE to maintain investment grade credit ratings. For further details, see "—Edison International Parent and Other."
During the third quarter 2021, the S&P rating outlook for SCE was revised to stable from negative. The following table summarizes SCE's current, long-term issuer credit ratings and outlook from the major credit rating agencies:
| Moody's |
| Fitch |
| S&P | |
Credit Rating |
| Baa2 |
| BBB- |
| BBB |
Outlook |
| Stable |
| Stable |
| Stable |
SCE's credit ratings may be further affected if, among other things, regulators fail to successfully implement AB 1054 in a consistent and credit supportive manner or the Wildfire Insurance Fund is depleted by claims from catastrophic wildfires. Credit rating downgrades increase the cost and may impact the availability of short-term and long-term borrowings, including commercial paper, credit facilities, bond financings or other borrowings. In addition, some of SCE's power procurement contracts require SCE to pay related liabilities or post additional collateral if SCE's credit rating were to fall below investment grade. Incremental collateral requirements for power procurement contracts and environmental remediation obligations would result from a potential downgrade of SCE's credit rating to below investment grade. For further details, see "—Margin and Collateral Deposits."
The cost of capital mechanism set by the CPUC could impact SCE's results of operations and cash flows. The benchmark value for the current mechanism is the 12-month, October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019, average Moody's Baa utility bond yield of 4.5%. SCE's currently approved cost of capital includes an adjustment mechanism if the difference between the benchmark and the average of the same index for the 12-month period to September 30, 2021 exceeds 100-basis points. The current mechanism would adjust SCE's CPUC-authorized ROE by half the amount of the difference (up or down) and SCE's costs of long-term debt and preferred equity would also be adjusted to reflect the then current embedded costs and projected interest rates. In August 2021, SCE filed an application with the CPUC for authority to establish its authorized cost of capital for utility operations in 2022 and reset the related annual cost of capital mechanism. However, if the CPUC requires SCE to implement the current adjustment mechanism, the difference between the benchmark and the average of the same index for the 12-month period to September 30, 2021 was 117 basis points, therefore, the cost of capital adjustment mechanism will be triggered for 2022 and SCE's CPUC-authorized ROE would be adjusted down for 2022 from 10.30% to 9.72%. SCE's costs of long-term debt and preferred equity would also be adjusted for 2022 to reflect the then current embedded costs and projected interest rates. For further information see "Management Overview—2021 Cost of Capital Application."
Available Liquidity
At September 30, 2021, SCE had cash on hand of $484 million.
In the second quarter of 2021, SCE amended its June 2019 revolving credit facility to increase the commitment amount by $350 million, bringing the total to $3.4 billion and extend the termination date to May 2025. At September 30, 2021, SCE had approximately $3.1 billion available under its $3.4 billion revolving credit facility. The aggregate maximum principal amount under the SCE revolving credit facility may be increased up to $4.0 billion, provided that additional lender commitments are obtained. For further details, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5. Debt and Credit Agreements."
SCE may finance balancing account undercollections and working capital requirements to support operations and capital expenditures with commercial paper, its credit facilities or other borrowings, subject to availability in the bank and capital markets. As necessary, SCE will utilize its available liquidity, capital market financings, other borrowings or parent company contributions to SCE equity in order to meet its obligations as they become due, including costs related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. For further information, see "Management Overview—Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides."
23
Debt Covenant
SCE's credit facilities and term loan require a debt to total capitalization ratio as defined in the applicable agreements of less than or equal to 0.65 to 1. At September 30, 2021, SCE's debt to total capitalization ratio was 0.55 to 1.
At September 30, 2021, SCE was in compliance with all financial covenants that affect access to capital.
Regulatory Proceedings
Wildfire Related Regulatory Proceedings
2021 General Rate Case Wildfire Mitigation Memorandum Account Balances
SCE's GRC track 2 expenditures, which occurred during 2018 and 2019, predominantly related to enhanced overhead inspections, an expanded vegetation management program and expert consultant contract labor costs supporting SCE's wildfire mitigation activities. The majority of these expenditures were recorded in the WMP memorandum account and the FHPMA.
In January 2021, the CPUC approved a settlement between the parties to track 2 of the 2021 GRC. The revenue requirement under the settlement was $391 million, after adjusting for flow-through taxes. Due to the determination that the AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures associated with track 2 were reasonably incurred, they were eligible for recovery through securitization, and were not part of the settlement revenue requirement. For information on securitization of the approved expense, see "—Financing Order."
In March 2021, SCE made its 2021 GRC track 3 filing with the CPUC. In its filing, SCE requested reasonableness review of approximately $1.2 billion of wildfire mitigation costs incurred prior to 2021, consisting of $476 million of incremental operations and maintenance expenses and $679 million of incremental capital expenditures. The track 3 expenditures predominantly related to grid hardening, vegetation management, PSPS activities and enhancements to grid operations. The capital expenditures included $502 million of GS&RP capital expenditures not previously subject to settlement.
The $679 million in incremental capital expenditures to be reviewed by the CPUC in track 3 are AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures. After receipt of a final decision in track 3, SCE intends to seek a financing order from the CPUC to securitize these expenses if such expenses are deemed reasonable by the CPUC. In its track 3 filing, SCE requested recovery through customer rates of the $497 million of incremental operations and maintenance expenses and other costs.
The CPUC schedule for SCE's 2021 GRC includes a proposed decision on track 3 in the first quarter of 2022.
2020 Emergency Wildfire Restoration
Multiple wildfires occurred during 2020 which caused damage within SCE's service territory and to SCE's Big Creek hydroelectric facility. Restoration work is ongoing in relation to these wildfires. Through the third quarter of 2021, SCE has recorded $220 million of incremental operation and maintenance expenses and $316 million of incremental capital expenditures in relation to these restoration efforts. SCE expects to file CEMA requests for recovery of amounts incremental to authorized revenue requirements.
2019 CEMA Application
In July 2019, SCE filed a CEMA application with the CPUC to seek recovery of $79 million of operation and maintenance expenses related to 2017 – 2018 drought mitigation efforts and $8 million of revenue requirement associated with $60 million of capital expenditures and capital related expenses related to six 2017 wildfires.
In August 2021, the CPUC issued a decision that authorized full recovery of requested drought restoration costs and approved a revenue requirement of $81 million. However, the final decision denied without prejudice SCE's application to
24
recover a revenue requirement of $8 million for all six 2017 wildfires on the basis that SCE did not demonstrate that it was prudent in relation to the Thomas and Rye fires and that SCE had failed to segregate the costs attributable to the other four fires. Of the $8 million revenue requirement that was denied, $6 million was for the Thomas and Rye fires. The decision allows SCE to submit additional applications with the CPUC to recover the costs associated with the Thomas and Rye fires, does not specify a deadline for any such applications and directs that SCE must prove it was prudent in relation to the Thomas and/or Rye fires, as applicable, in any such future applications. With respect to the other four fires, the final decision directs SCE to file supplemental testimony by November 2021 segregating the restoration costs attributable to each such fire, for which SCE's prudency was not in question.
As of September 30, 2021, SCE has $187 million recorded in property, plant and equipment in relation to restoration costs related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, which require future regulatory filings before recovery may be allowed. These assets would be impaired if permanently disallowed by the CPUC in future cost recovery proceedings and are currently excluded from authorized rate base, pending further regulatory action.
Financing Order
In June 2021, SCE filed an application for an irrevocable order from the CPUC to finance up to $1.0 billion of wildfire mitigation and customer uncollectible costs and associated financing costs through the issuance of securitized bonds. These costs consist of approximately $518 million of AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures, comprised of $219 million approved in the 2021 GRC track 2 settlement and $299 million incurred in 2021 and approved in track 1 of the GRC, $401 million of wildfire-related operations and maintenance expenditures approved in the GRC track 2 settlement, and $78 million of incremental residential uncollectible expenses associated with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October 2021, the CPUC issued a decision which allows SCE to issue recovery bonds to recover the AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures approved in tracks 1 and 2 of the 2021 GRC, but denied SCE's application to securitize the operations and maintenance expenditures approved in the GRC track 2 settlement and incremental residential uncollectible expenses. The decision directed SCE to recover the remaining costs in CPUC customer rates by submitting an advice letter to determine the amortization schedule and presumes that a three-year amortization period is reasonable.
2022 FERC Formula Rate Annual Update
In June 2021, SCE provided its preliminary 2022 annual transmission revenue requirement update to interested parties. The update reflects an increase in SCE's transmission revenue requirement of $311 million or 28.6% higher than amounts included in the 2021 annual rates. The increase is primarily due to the portion of charges for wildfire-related claims recorded in 2020 subject to recovery from FERC customers, increased plant in service and recovery of prior year undercollections. SCE expects to file its 2021 annual update with the FERC by December 1, 2021 with the proposed rates effective January 1, 2022.
CAISO Mid-term Reliability
In June 2021, the CPUC issued a decision addressing the mid-term reliability needs of the CAISO electric system by requiring at least an aggregate of 11,500 MW of additional net qualifying capacity to be procured collectively by all of the load-serving entities subject to the CPUC's integrated resource planning authority. The aggregate additional capacity is required by 2026, with 2,000 MW required by 2023, an additional 6,000 MW required by 2024, an additional 1,500 MW required by 2025, and an additional 2,000 MW required by 2026. SCE's allocation of the requirements is 705 MW by 2023, 2,114 MW by 2024, 530 MW by 2025 and 707 MW by 2026, for a total of 4,056 MW.
2021 CEMA Application
In September 2021, SCE filed a CEMA application with the CPUC requesting a revenue requirement of $132 million related to various 2018 – 2020 events, which includes revenue requirements of $69 million related to incremental drought mitigation
25
operation and maintenance expenses incurred from 2019 – 2020, and $58 million related to incremental operation and maintenance expenses related to COVID-19.
Capital Investment Plan
Major Transmission Projects
West of Devers
The West of Devers Project consists of upgrading and reconfiguring approximately 48 miles of existing 220-kV transmission lines between the Devers, El Casco, Vista and San Bernardino substations, increasing the power transfer capabilities in support of California's renewable portfolio standards goals. The project was placed in service in May 2021. Environmental restoration activities are ongoing and will continue into 2022.
In July 2021, Morongo Transmission LLC ("Morongo") paid SCE $400 million for use of a portion of the project's transfer capability. Under the terms of the agreement with Morongo, SCE is providing Morongo with use of a portion of the West of Devers transmission line transfer capability for a period of 30 years, commencing in August 2021. After the 30-year contract term, the use of the transfer capability will revert back to SCE. For further details, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 7. Revenue."
Eldorado-Lugo-Mohave Upgrade
Construction for the project began in November 2020 and the project is expected to be operational in June 2023. SCE has revised the commercial operation date from 2022 due to shortages of a foam insulation material due to production delays within the United States resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme winter conditions in early 2021.
On January 20, 2021, the Secretary of the Interior issued a suspension order that effectively placed a 60-day hold on any new project construction on federal land. In February 2021, the Department of the Interior issued a waiver of the suspension order allowing the project to proceed.
Decommissioning of San Onofre
In the third quarter of 2021, SCE updated its decommissioning cost estimate for decommissioning activities to be completed at San Onofre Units 1, 2 and 3 to $3.5 billion (SCE share is $2.7 billion) in 2020 dollars. The decommissioning cost estimate included costs through the expected decommissioning completion date, currently estimated to be in 2053 for San Onofre Units 1, 2 and 3. SCE will file its updated decommissioning cost estimate with the CPUC by May 2022. Decommissioning cost estimates are subject to a number of uncertainties including the cost of disposal of nuclear waste, cost of removal of property, site remediation costs as well as a number of other assumptions and estimates, including when the federal government will provide for either interim or permanent off-site storage of spent nuclear fuel enabling the removal and transport of spent fuel canisters from the San Onofre site, as to which there can be no assurance. Cost estimates are subject to change as decommissioning proceeds and such changes may be material.
Margin and Collateral Deposits
Certain derivative instruments, power and energy procurement contracts and other contractual arrangements contain collateral requirements. In addition, certain environmental remediation obligations require financial assurance that may be in the form of collateral postings. Future collateral requirements may differ from the requirements at September 30, 2021 due to the addition of incremental power and energy procurement contracts with collateral requirements, if any, the impact of changes in wholesale power and natural gas prices on SCE's contractual obligations and the impact of SCE's credit ratings falling below investment grade.
26
The table below provides the amount of collateral posted by SCE to its counterparties as well as the potential collateral that would have been required as of September 30, 2021, if SCE's credit rating had been downgraded to below investment grade as of that date. The table below also provides the potential collateral that could be required due to adverse changes in wholesale power and natural gas prices over the remaining lives of existing power and energy procurement contracts.
In addition to the amounts presented in the table below, SCE has a service agreement with Southern California Gas Company under which Southern California Gas Company purchases, schedules and balances natural gas supplies for SCE owned generation and contracts for which SCE is the fuel manager. In September 2021, the production impacts in the Gulf of Mexico caused by hurricanes, along with pipeline constraints led to significant increases in natural gas prices which affected the potential collateral requirements calculated as specified within that agreement. As of September 30, 2021, Southern California Gas Company could have requested an additional $57 million of collateral from SCE which is based on a historically high September 2021 natural gas price. Southern California Gas Company did not require SCE to post this collateral.
In addition to amounts shown in the table, power and fuel contract counterparties may also institute new collateral requirements, applicable to future transactions to allow SCE to continue trading in power and fuel contracts at the time of a downgrade or upon significant increases in market prices. Furthermore, SCE may also be required to post up to $50 million in collateral in connection with its environmental remediation obligations, within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year in which the downgrade occurs.
(in millions) |
| ||
Collateral posted as of September 30, 20211 | $ | 252 | |
Incremental collateral requirements for purchased power and fuel contracts resulting from a potential downgrade of SCE's credit rating to below investment grade2 |
| 107 | |
Incremental collateral requirements for purchased power and fuel contracts resulting from adverse market price movement3 |
| 12 | |
Posted and potential collateral requirements | $ | 371 |
1 | Net collateral provided to counterparties and other brokers consisted of $252 million in letters of credit and surety bonds. |
2 | Represents potential collateral requirements for accounts payable and market-to-market valuation at September 30, 2021. Requirement varies throughout the period and is generally lower at the end of the month. |
3 | Incremental collateral requirements were based on potential changes in SCE's forward positions as of September 30, 2021 due to adverse market price movements over the remaining lives of the existing power contracts using a 95% confidence level. |
Regulatory Balancing and Memorandum Accounts
SCE's cost-recovery mechanism for its fuel and purchased power-related costs is primarily facilitated in two main balancing accounts, the ERRA and the PABA. SCE sets rates based on an annual forecast of the costs that it expects to incur during the subsequent year. At September 30, 2021, the ERRA was undercollected by approximately $348 million due to higher gas and power prices which resulted in SCE triggering an established mechanism requiring SCE to file an advice letter to advise the CPUC that SCE's undercollections had exceeded the trigger amount and request a rate change (See "Business—Overview of Ratemaking Process" in 2020 Form 10-K, for further information). Based on anticipated market conditions, SCE expects the ERRA undercollections to increase to approximately $700 million by December 31, 2021. SCE has requested that the rate increase be included with a scheduled rate change in March 2022. SCE expects to finance power procurement-related costs using commercial paper, its credit facilities and other borrowings until rates are adjusted.
27
Edison International Parent and Other
In the next 12 months, Edison International expects to fund its net cash requirements through cash on hand, dividends from SCE, and capital market and bank financings. Edison International may finance its ongoing cash requirements, including common stock dividends, working capital requirements, payment of obligations, and capital investments, including capital contributions to subsidiaries, with short-term or other financings, subject to availability in the bank and capital markets.
At September 30, 2021, Edison International Parent had cash on hand of $40 million.
In the second quarter of 2021, Edison International Parent amended its June 2019 revolving credit facility to extend the termination date to May 2025. At September 30, 2021 Edison International Parent had $420 million outstanding commercial paper, net of discount, at a weighted-average interest rate of 0.39% on the $1.5 billion revolving credit facility. The aggregate maximum principal amount under the Edison International Parent revolving credit facility may be increased up to $2.0 billion, provided that additional lender commitments are obtained.
Edison International is issuing securities with equity content as viewed by rating agencies, such as common or preferred stock, up to approximately $1.0 billion in 2021 to enable SCE to issue debt to finance payments for resolution of wildfire claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, including the debt SCE issued in April 2021 and debt for future resolution of claims, while allowing Edison International and SCE to maintain investment grade credit ratings.
In the first quarter of 2021, Edison International issued 1,250,000 shares of its 5.375% Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, liquidation value of $1,000 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), regarded by rating agencies as having 50% equity content. The proceeds were used to repay Edison International's commercial paper borrowings and for general corporate purposes, including making a $575 million equity contribution to SCE. For further details, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 14. Equity."
Edison International will consider issuing additional preferred equity, common stock through employee compensation and stock purchase programs and if needed further issuances through the existing at-the-market program to satisfy any remaining equity needs.
Edison International Parent expects to make further capital contributions to SCE in 2021 to maintain the common equity component of SCE's capital structure, after CPUC allowed exclusions, at 52% on a weighted average basis over the Capital Structure Compliance Period, or to meet SCE's capital investment needs. For further information, see "—SCE—SCE Dividends" in the 2020 MD&A.
Edison International Parent and Other's liquidity and its ability to pay operating expenses and pay dividends to common shareholders are dependent on access to the bank and capital markets, dividends from SCE, realization of tax benefits and its ability to meet California law requirements for the declaration of dividends. Prior to declaring dividends, Edison International's Board of Directors evaluates available information, including when applicable, information pertaining to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, to ensure that the California law requirements for the declarations are met. For information on the California law requirements on the declaration of dividends, see "—SCE—SCE Dividends" in the 2020 MD&A. Edison International intends to maintain its target payout ratio of 45% – 55% of SCE's core earnings, subject to the factors identified above.
Edison International's ability to declare and pay common dividends may be restricted under the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock. For further information see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 14. Equity."
Edison International Parent's credit facility requires a consolidated debt to total capitalization ratio as defined in the applicable agreements of less than or equal to 0.70 to 1. At September 30, 2021, Edison International's consolidated debt to total capitalization ratio was 0.62 to 1.
28
At September 30, 2021, Edison International Parent was in compliance with all financial covenants that affect access to capital.
During the third quarter 2021, the S&P rating outlook for Edison International Parent was revised to stable from negative. The following table summarizes Edison International Parent's current long-term issuer credit ratings and outlook from the major credit rating agencies:
| Moody's |
| Fitch |
| S&P | |
Long-term Issuer Credit Rating |
| Baa3 |
| BBB- |
| BBB |
Outlook |
| Stable |
| Stable |
| Stable |
Edison International Parent's credit ratings may be further affected if, among other things, regulators fail to successfully implement AB 1054 in a consistent and credit supportive manner or the Wildfire Insurance Fund is depleted by claims from catastrophic wildfires. Credit rating downgrades increase the cost and may impact the availability of short-term and long-term borrowings, including commercial paper, credit facilities, note financings or other borrowings.
Historical Cash Flows
SCE
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | (294) | $ | 1,162 | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| 4,377 |
| 2,530 | ||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| (3,654) |
| (3,686) | ||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 429 | $ | 6 |
29
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities
The following table summarizes major categories of net cash (used in) provided by operating activities as provided in more detail in SCE's consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.
Nine months ended September 30, | Change in cash flows | ||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021/2020 | |||
Net income |
| $ | 451 |
| $ | 442 |
|
| |
Non-cash items1 |
| 1,904 |
| 1,325 |
|
| |||
Subtotal |
| 2,355 | 1,767 |
| $ | 588 | |||
Changes in cash flow resulting from working capital2 |
| (953) |
| (720) |
| (233) | |||
Regulatory assets and liabilities |
| (484) |
| (1,074) |
| 590 | |||
Wildfire related claims3 | (2,120) | 1,267 | (3,387) | ||||||
Proceeds from Morongo Transmission LLC4 | 400 | — | 400 | ||||||
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities5 |
| 508 |
| (78) |
| 586 | |||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | $ | (294) | $ | 1,162 | $ | (1,456) |
1 | Non-cash items include depreciation and amortization, allowance for equity during construction, deferred income taxes, Wildfire Insurance Fund amortization expenses and other. |
2 | Changes in working capital items include receivables, accrued unbilled revenue, prepaid expenses, inventory, accounts payable, tax receivables and payables, and other current assets and liabilities. |
3 | Represents $3.4 billion of settlements of wildfire-related claims, partially offset by an increase in estimated wildfire-related claims of 1.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The 2020 amount represents an increase in estimated wildfire-related claims of $1.3 billion. |
4 | Represents $400 million proceeds from Morongo Transmission LLC for use of a portion of the West of Devers transmission line in the third quarter of 2021. |
5 | Includes changes in wildfire-related insurance receivables. Also includes nuclear decommissioning trusts. See "Nuclear Decommissioning Activities" below for further information. |
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities was impacted by the following:
Net income and non-cash items increased in 2021 by $588 million primarily due to the impact of adopting the 2021 GRC final decision, higher FERC revenue and lower operation and maintenance expenses, partially offset by lower insurance benefits and higher property taxes.
Net cash outflow for working capital was $953 million and $720 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Net cash outflow for working capital increased in 2021 mainly due to an increase in unbilled revenue and customer receivables of $1.2 billion in 2021 compared to $779 million in 2020.
Net cash used in regulatory assets and liabilities, including increases in net undercollections recorded in balancing accounts, was $484 million and $1.1 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. SCE has a number of balancing and memorandum accounts, which impact cash flows based on differences between timing of collection of amounts through rates and accrual expenditures. Cash flows were primarily impacted by the following:
2021
● | Net undercollections of BRRBA were $784 million and $622 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Net undercollections increased by $162 million primarily driven by adoption of 2021 GRC final decision, including authorized additional revenue requirement for the first nine months of 2021 to be collected over a 27-month period starting October 2021. The undercollections are partially offset by current year overcollection due to higher sales |
30
volume and rates, and recovery of prior year undercollections, including WEMA and GS&RP to be collected over a two-year and one-year period, respectively, starting October 2020. |
● | Undercollections of $218 million related to wildfire-related expenses that are probable of future recovery from customers, including wildfire risk mitigation costs, insurance premiums, service restoration and damage repair costs, partially offset by authorized revenue to recover certain wildfire insurance expenses and vegetation management expenses as a result of the 2021 GRC final decision. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities" for further information. |
● | Undercollections of CEMA accounts decreased by $74 million as a result of approval to recover drought restoration costs, which was transferred to BRRBA for recovery, partially offset by additional restoration costs due to wildfire events in 2020. |
● | Net overcollections of GHG and low carbon fuel standard revenue increased by $129 million primarily due to receipt of GHG auction revenue, partially offset by climate credits paid to the customer. |
● | Net undercollections for ERRA, PABA and the New System Generation Balancing Account ("NSGBA") increased by $105 million primarily due to current year undercollections as a result of higher gas and power prices, partially offset by higher sales load and rates than forecast, and recovery of prior PABA and NSGBA undercollections. |
● | Net undercollections of $119 million related to customer uncollectible expenses from COVID-19-related memorandum and balancing accounts. |
● | Undercollection of $71 million in the CSRP memorandum account related to CSRP implementation costs. |
2020
● | Net undercollections of BRRBA were $420 million at September 30, 2020, compared to net overcollections of |
$328 million at December 31, 2019. Net undercollections increased by $748 million primarily due to refunds of prior
overcollections (including incremental tax benefits and overcollections of distribution revenue that are being refunded
over an 18-month period, starting in July 2019, as part of SCE's 2018 GRC decision) and reclassification of approximately $500 million in undercollections from WEMA to be collected over a two-year period, starting October 2020, partially offset by current year overcollections due to higher distribution revenue primarily driven by higher residential usage.
● | Undercollections of $193 million related to wildfire-related expenses that are probable of future recovery from customers, including wildfire risk mitigation costs, insurance premiums, service restoration and damage repair costs, partially offset by an approximately $500 million reclassification to BRRBA as discussed above. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities" for further information. |
● | Net overcollections of FERC balancing accounts decreased by $94 million primarily due to a refund of prior year |
overcollections, $84 million expected recoveries from FERC customers related to 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events
and higher expenses related to wildfire and vegetation management, partially offset by overcollections due to current year billing at a higher ROE than approved in the 2019 Formula Rate Settlement.
● | Net undercollections for ERRA, PABA and NSGBA decreased by $154 million primarily due to recovery of prior ERRA and PABA undercollections, partially offset by undercollections in 2020 due to higher than forecasted power purchase price, lower than forecasted sales volume in current year, and refunds of prior overcollections from the New System Generation Balancing Account. |
31
● | Undercollections of $107 million related to incremental costs associated with COVID-19, primarily related to customer uncollectibles, sequestering certain SCE employees and coordination of SCE's response to the emergency. See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities" for further information. |
Cash flows provided by (used in) other noncurrent assets and liabilities were primarily related to wildfire insurance recoveries of $708 million and $73 million in the first nine months of 2021 and 2020, respectively. Cash flow for other noncurrent assets and liabilities in 2021 also includes payments of decommissioning costs of $191 million and net loss from investments of $20 million. Cash flow for other noncurrent assets and liabilities in 2020 includes payments of decommissioning costs of $164 million, partially offset by SCE's net earnings from nuclear decommissioning trust investments of $23 million. See "Nuclear Decommissioning Activities" below for further discussion.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
The following table summarizes cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. Issuances of debt are discussed in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5. Debt and Credit Agreements."
| Nine months ended September 30, | |||||
(in millions) | 2021 |
| 2020 | |||
Issuances of first and refunding mortgage bonds, including premium/discount and net of issuance costs | $ | 4,798 | $ | 2,330 | ||
Long-term debt repaid or repurchased |
| (1,031) |
| (698) | ||
Commercial paper financing, net |
| (725) |
| 73 | ||
Short-term debt financing, net |
| 750 |
| 1,129 | ||
Capital contributions from Edison International Parent |
| 1,308 |
| 1,107 | ||
Redemptions of preferred and preference stock |
| — |
| (308) | ||
Payment of common stock dividends to Edison International |
| (650) |
| (1,007) | ||
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends |
| (85) |
| (97) | ||
Other |
| 12 |
| 1 | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 4,377 | $ | 2,530 |
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities are primarily due to capital expenditures related to transmission and distribution investments ($3.9 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020). In addition, SCE had a net redemption of nuclear decommissioning trust investments of $204 million and $123 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. See "Nuclear Decommissioning Activities" below for further discussion.
Nuclear Decommissioning Activities
SCE's consolidated statements of cash flows include nuclear decommissioning activities, which are reflected in the following line items:
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||
Net (losses) earnings from nuclear decommissioning trust investments | $ | (20) | $ | 23 | ||
SCE's decommissioning costs |
| (191) |
| (164) | ||
Net cash provided by investing activities: |
|
| ||||
Proceeds from sale of investments | 3,218 | 4,754 | ||||
Purchases of investments |
| (3,014) |
| (4,631) | ||
Net cash impact | $ | (7) | $ | (18) |
32
Net cash used in operating activities relates to interest and dividends less administrative expenses, taxes and SCE's decommissioning costs. Investing activities represent the purchase and sale of investments within the nuclear decommissioning trusts, including the reinvestment of earnings from nuclear decommissioning trust investments. The net cash impact reflects timing of decommissioning payments ($191 million and $164 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively) and reimbursements to SCE from the nuclear decommissioning trust ($184 million and $146 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively).
Edison International Parent and Other
The table below sets forth condensed historical cash flow from operations for Edison International Parent and Other, including intercompany eliminations.
| Nine months ended September 30, | |||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (122) | $ | (91) | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| 129 |
| 117 | ||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| — |
| (8) | ||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7 | $ | 18 |
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was impacted by the following:
● | $122 million and $91 million cash outflow from operating activities in 2021 and 2020, respectively, primarily due to payments relating to interest and operating costs. |
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was as follows:
| Nine months ended September 30, | |||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Dividends paid to Edison International common shareholders | $ | (741) | $ | (691) | ||
Dividends paid to Edison International preferred shareholders | (35) | — | ||||
Dividends received from SCE |
| 650 |
| 1,007 | ||
Capital contributions to SCE |
| (1,308) |
| (1,107) | ||
Issuance of common stock |
| 28 |
| 896 | ||
Issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs | 1,235 | — | ||||
Long-term debt issuance, net of discount and issuance costs |
| — |
| 396 | ||
Long-term debt repayments |
| — |
| (400) | ||
Commercial paper borrowing, net |
| 290 |
| — | ||
Other |
| 10 |
| 16 | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 129 | $ | 117 |
Contingencies
SCE has contingencies related to wildfire and debris flow events, wildfire insurance, environmental remediation, nuclear insurance, spent nuclear fuel and the Upstream Lighting Program, which are discussed in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies."
33
MARKET RISK EXPOSURES
Edison International's and SCE's primary market risks are described in the 2020 Form 10-K. For further discussion of market risk exposures, including commodity price risk, credit risk, and interest rate risk, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 4. Fair Value Measurements" and "—Note 6. Derivative Instruments."
Commodity Price Risk
SCE records derivative instruments on its consolidated balance sheets as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value unless otherwise exempted from derivative treatment as normal purchases or sales. The fair value of outstanding derivative instruments used to mitigate exposure to commodity price risk was reflected as a net asset of $144 million and $108 million on SCE's consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. For further discussion of fair value measurements and the fair value hierarchy, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 4. Fair Value Measurements" and "— Note 6. Derivative Instruments."
Credit Risk
Credit risk exposure from counterparties for power and gas trading activities is measured as the sum of net accounts receivable (accounts receivable less accounts payable) and the current fair value of net derivative assets (derivative assets less derivative liabilities) reflected on the consolidated balance sheets. SCE enters into master agreements which typically provide for a right of setoff. Accordingly, SCE's credit risk exposure from counterparties is based on a net exposure under these arrangements. SCE manages the credit risk on the portfolio of counterparties based on credit ratings and other publicly disclosed information, such as financial statements, regulatory filings and press releases, to guide it in the process of setting credit levels, risk limits and contractual arrangements, including master netting agreements. Based on SCE's policies and risk exposures related to credit, SCE does not anticipate a material adverse effect on their financial statements as a result of counterparty nonperformance. At September 30, 2021, SCE's power and gas trading counterparty credit risk exposure was $141 million, which is associated with entities that have an investment grade rating of A or higher. SCE assigns a credit rating to counterparties based on the lower of a counterparty's S&P or Moody's rating.
For more information related to credit risks, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 6. Derivative Instruments."
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES
For a discussion of Edison International's and SCE's critical accounting policies, see "Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies" in the 2020 MD&A.
NEW ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
New accounting guidance is discussed in "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—New Accounting Guidance."
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Information responding to this section is included in the MD&A under the heading "Market Risk Exposures" and is incorporated herein by reference.
34
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Statements of Income | Edison International |
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions, except per-share amounts, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 5,299 | $ | 4,644 | $ | 11,574 | $ | 10,421 | ||||
Purchased power and fuel |
| 2,088 |
| 1,817 |
| 4,384 |
| 3,813 | ||||
Operation and maintenance |
| 1,222 |
| 1,248 |
| 2,817 |
| 2,885 | ||||
Wildfire-related claims, net of insurance recoveries |
| 1,273 |
| 1,297 |
| 1,276 |
| 1,303 | ||||
Wildfire Insurance Fund expense |
| 54 |
| 85 |
| 161 |
| 252 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 599 |
| 490 |
| 1,657 |
| 1,463 | ||||
Property and other taxes |
| 113 |
| 114 |
| 356 |
| 328 | ||||
Impairment and other expense (income) |
| 78 |
| (28) |
| 67 |
| (46) | ||||
Total operating expenses |
| 5,427 |
| 5,023 |
| 10,718 |
| 9,998 | ||||
Operating (loss) income |
| (128) |
| (379) |
| 856 |
| 423 | ||||
Interest expense |
| (245) |
| (222) |
| (694) |
| (676) | ||||
Other income |
| 47 |
| 84 |
| 195 |
| 217 | ||||
(Loss) income before income taxes |
| (326) |
| (517) |
| 357 |
| (36) | ||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
| (29) |
| (275) |
| 3 |
| (355) | ||||
Net (loss) income |
| (297) |
| (242) |
| 354 |
| 319 | ||||
Preferred and preference stock dividend requirements of SCE |
| 27 |
| 46 |
| 80 |
| 106 | ||||
Preferred stock dividend requirement of Edison International | 17 | — | 38 | — | ||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to Edison International common shareholders | $ | (341) | $ | (288) | $ | 236 | $ | 213 | ||||
Basic (loss) earnings per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding |
| 380 |
| 378 |
| 380 |
| 371 | ||||
Basic (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Edison International common shareholders | $ | (0.90) | $ | (0.76) | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.57 | ||||
Diluted (loss) earnings per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, including effect of dilutive securities |
| 380 |
| 378 |
| 380 |
| 372 | ||||
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Edison International common shareholders | $ | (0.90) | $ | (0.76) | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.57 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
36
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | Edison International |
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Net (loss) income | $ | (297) | $ | (242) | $ | 354 | $ | 319 | ||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| 6 |
| 6 | ||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| 6 |
| 6 | ||||
Comprehensive (loss) income |
| (295) |
| (240) |
| 360 |
| 325 | ||||
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| 27 |
| 46 |
| 80 |
| 106 | ||||
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Edison International | $ | (322) | $ | (286) | $ | 280 | $ | 219 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
37
Consolidated Balance Sheets | Edison International |
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
(in millions, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 524 | $ | 87 | ||
Receivables, less allowances of $245 and $188 for uncollectible accounts at respective dates |
| 1,612 |
| 1,130 | ||
Accrued unbilled revenue |
| 1,122 |
| 521 | ||
Insurance receivable |
| — |
| 708 | ||
Income tax receivables | — | 68 | ||||
Inventory |
| 412 |
| 405 | ||
Prepaid expenses |
| 327 |
| 281 | ||
Regulatory assets |
| 1,553 |
| 1,314 | ||
Wildfire Insurance Fund contributions |
| 204 |
| 323 | ||
Other current assets |
| 274 |
| 224 | ||
Total current assets |
| 6,028 |
| 5,061 | ||
Nuclear decommissioning trusts |
| 4,769 |
| 4,833 | ||
Marketable securities | 13 | — | ||||
Other investments |
| 35 |
| 53 | ||
Total investments |
| 4,817 |
| 4,886 | ||
Utility property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $11,093 and $10,681 at respective dates |
| 49,561 |
| 47,653 | ||
Nonutility property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $98 and $94 at respective dates |
| 193 |
| 186 | ||
Total property, plant and equipment |
| 49,754 |
| 47,839 | ||
Receivables, less allowances of $93 for uncollectible accounts at September 30, 2021 | 106 | — | ||||
Regulatory assets (includes $328 at September 30, 2021 related to Variable Interest Entities "VIEs") |
| 7,386 |
| 7,120 | ||
Wildfire Insurance Fund contributions |
| 2,410 |
| 2,443 | ||
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
| 1,532 |
| 1,088 | ||
Long-term insurance receivables | 76 | 75 | ||||
Other long-term assets |
| 914 |
| 860 | ||
Total long-term assets |
| 12,424 |
| 11,586 | ||
Total assets | $ | 73,023 | $ | 69,372 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
38
Consolidated Balance Sheets | Edison International |
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
(in millions, except share amounts, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
|
|
|
| ||
Short-term debt | $ | 3,042 | $ | 2,398 | ||
Current portion of long-term debt |
| 776 |
| 1,029 | ||
Accounts payable |
| 2,039 |
| 1,980 | ||
Wildfire-related claims | 84 | 2,231 | ||||
Customer deposits |
| 200 |
| 243 | ||
Regulatory liabilities |
| 583 |
| 569 | ||
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
| 355 |
| 215 | ||
Other current liabilities |
| 1,883 |
| 1,612 | ||
Total current liabilities |
| 8,962 |
| 10,277 | ||
Long-term debt (includes $320 at September 30, 2021 related to VIEs) |
| 23,342 |
| 19,632 | ||
Deferred income taxes and credits |
| 5,524 |
| 5,368 | ||
Pensions and benefits |
| 531 |
| 563 | ||
Asset retirement obligations |
| 2,739 |
| 2,930 | ||
Regulatory liabilities |
| 8,584 |
| 8,589 | ||
Operating lease liabilities |
| 1,177 |
| 873 | ||
Wildfire-related claims |
| 2,308 |
| 2,281 | ||
Other deferred credits and other long-term liabilities |
| 3,114 |
| 2,910 | ||
Total deferred credits and other liabilities |
| 23,977 |
| 23,514 | ||
Total liabilities |
| 56,281 |
| 53,423 | ||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) |
|
|
|
| ||
Preferred stock (50,000,000 shares authorized; 1,250,000 shares issued and at September 30, 2021) | 1,235 | — | ||||
Common stock, no par value (800,000,000 shares authorized; 379,887,286 and 378,907,147 shares and at respective dates) |
| 6,033 |
| 5,962 | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| (63) |
| (69) | ||
Retained earnings |
| 7,636 |
| 8,155 | ||
Total Edison International's shareholders' equity |
| 14,841 |
| 14,048 | ||
Noncontrolling interests – preference stock of SCE |
| 1,901 |
| 1,901 | ||
Total equity |
| 16,742 |
| 15,949 | ||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 73,023 | $ | 69,372 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
39
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | Edison International |
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||
(in millions, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Net income | $ | 354 | $ | 319 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
| |||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 1,709 |
| 1,512 | ||
Allowance for equity during construction |
| (92) |
| (87) | ||
Impairment and other |
| 67 |
| (46) | ||
Deferred income taxes |
| (1) |
| (344) | ||
Wildfire Insurance Fund amortization expense |
| 161 |
| 252 | ||
Other |
| 34 |
| 31 | ||
Nuclear decommissioning trusts |
| (204) |
| (123) | ||
Proceeds from Morongo Transmission LLC | 400 | — | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
| |||
Receivables |
| (706) |
| (556) | ||
Inventory |
| (10) |
| (24) | ||
Accounts payable |
| 282 |
| 7 | ||
Tax receivables and payables |
| 204 |
| 197 | ||
Other current assets and liabilities |
| (716) |
| (311) | ||
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net |
| (484) |
| (1,074) | ||
Wildfire-related insurance receivable |
| 707 |
| 73 | ||
Wildfire-related claims |
| (2,120) |
| 1,267 | ||
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities |
| (1) |
| (22) | ||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
| (416) |
| 1,071 | ||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Long-term debt issued, plus premium and net of discount and issuance costs of $40 and $26 for the respective periods |
| 4,798 |
| 2,726 | ||
Long-term debt repaid or repurchased |
| (1,031) |
| (1,098) | ||
Short-term debt issued |
| 2,105 |
| 1,929 | ||
Short-term debt repaid |
| (1,355) |
| (800) | ||
Common stock issued |
| 28 |
| 896 | ||
Preferred stock issued, net |
| 1,235 |
| — | ||
Preferred and preference stock redeemed |
| — |
| (308) | ||
Commercial paper (repayment) borrowing, net |
| (435) |
| 73 | ||
Dividends and distribution to noncontrolling interests |
| (85) |
| (97) | ||
Common stock dividends paid |
| (741) |
| (691) | ||
Preferred stock dividends paid | (35) | — | ||||
Other |
| 22 |
| 17 | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| 4,506 |
| 2,647 | ||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Capital expenditures |
| (3,948) |
| (3,897) | ||
Proceeds from sale of nuclear decommissioning trust investments |
| 3,218 |
| 4,754 | ||
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments |
| (3,014) |
| (4,631) | ||
Other |
| 90 |
| 80 | ||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| (3,654) |
| (3,694) | ||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| 436 |
| 24 | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
| 89 |
| 70 | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 525 | $ | 94 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
40
Consolidated Statements of Income | Southern California Edison Company |
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Operating revenue | $ | 5,293 | $ | 4,635 | $ | 11,552 | $ | 10,395 | ||||
Purchased power and fuel |
| 2,088 |
| 1,817 |
| 4,384 |
| 3,813 | ||||
Operation and maintenance |
| 1,200 |
| 1,226 |
| 2,759 |
| 2,820 | ||||
Wildfire-related claims, net of insurance recoveries |
| 1,273 |
| 1,297 |
| 1,276 |
| 1,303 | ||||
Wildfire Insurance Fund expense |
| 54 |
| 85 |
| 161 |
| 252 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 598 |
| 489 |
| 1,655 |
| 1,461 | ||||
Property and other taxes |
| 111 |
| 113 |
| 353 |
| 326 | ||||
Impairment and other expense (income) |
| 79 |
| (28) |
| 68 |
| (80) | ||||
Total operating expenses |
| 5,403 |
| 4,999 |
| 10,656 |
| 9,895 | ||||
Operating (loss) income |
| (110) |
| (364) |
| 896 |
| 500 | ||||
Interest expense |
| (211) |
| (188) |
| (593) |
| (575) | ||||
Other income |
| 53 |
| 83 |
| 189 |
| 217 | ||||
(Loss) income before taxes |
| (268) |
| (469) |
| 492 |
| 142 | ||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
| (11) |
| (251) |
| 41 |
| (300) | ||||
Net (loss) income |
| (257) |
| (218) |
| 451 |
| 442 | ||||
Less: Preferred and preference stock dividend requirements |
| 27 |
| 46 |
| 80 |
| 106 | ||||
Net (loss) income available for common stock | $ | (284) | $ | (264) | $ | 371 | $ | 336 |
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | Southern California Edison Company |
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Net (loss) income | $ | (257) | $ | (218) | $ | 451 | $ | 442 | ||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Pension and postretirement benefits other than pensions |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 5 |
| 4 | ||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 5 |
| 4 | ||||
Comprehensive (loss) income | $ | (255) | $ | (217) | $ | 456 | $ | 446 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
41
Consolidated Balance Sheets | Southern California Edison Company |
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
(in millions, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 484 | $ | 55 | ||
Receivables, less allowances of $245 and $188 for uncollectible accounts at respective dates |
| 1,606 |
| 1,126 | ||
Accrued unbilled revenue |
| 1,122 |
| 521 | ||
Insurance receivable | — | 440 | ||||
Insurance receivable from affiliate | — | 268 | ||||
Income tax receivables |
| — |
| 69 | ||
Inventory |
| 412 |
| 405 | ||
Prepaid expenses |
| 327 |
| 280 | ||
Regulatory assets |
| 1,553 |
| 1,314 | ||
Wildfire Insurance Fund contributions |
| 204 |
| 323 | ||
Other current assets |
| 267 |
| 216 | ||
Total current assets |
| 5,975 |
| 5,017 | ||
Nuclear decommissioning trusts |
| 4,769 |
| 4,833 | ||
Other investments |
| 27 |
| 37 | ||
Total investments |
| 4,796 |
| 4,870 | ||
Utility property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $11,093 and $10,681 at respective dates |
| 49,561 |
| 47,653 | ||
Nonutility property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $88 and $86 at respective dates |
| 187 |
| 180 | ||
Total property, plant and equipment |
| 49,748 |
| 47,833 | ||
Receivables, less allowances of $93 for uncollectible accounts at September 30, 2021 | 106 | — | ||||
Regulatory assets (includes $328 at September 30, 2021 related to VIEs) |
| 7,386 |
| 7,120 | ||
Wildfire Insurance Fund contributions |
| 2,410 |
| 2,443 | ||
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
| 1,525 |
| 1,085 | ||
Long-term insurance receivables | 76 | 75 | ||||
Other long-term assets |
| 883 |
| 843 | ||
Total long-term assets |
| 12,386 |
| 11,566 | ||
Total assets | $ | 72,905 | $ | 69,286 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
42
Consolidated Balance Sheets | Southern California Edison Company |
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
(in millions, except share amounts, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
|
|
|
| ||
Short-term debt | $ | 2,622 | $ | 2,268 | ||
Current portion of long-term debt |
| 376 |
| 1,029 | ||
Accounts payable |
| 2,046 |
| 1,983 | ||
Wildfire-related claims | 84 | 2,231 | ||||
Customer deposits |
| 200 |
| 243 | ||
Regulatory liabilities |
| 583 |
| 569 | ||
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
| 355 |
| 214 | ||
Other current liabilities |
| 1,753 |
| 1,294 | ||
Total current liabilities |
| 8,019 |
| 9,831 | ||
Long-term debt (includes $320 at September 30, 2021 related to VIEs) |
| 20,605 |
| 16,499 | ||
Deferred income taxes and credits |
| 6,986 |
| 6,783 | ||
Pensions and benefits |
| 125 |
| 144 | ||
Asset retirement obligations |
| 2,739 |
| 2,930 | ||
Regulatory liabilities |
| 8,584 |
| 8,589 | ||
Operating lease liabilities |
| 1,170 |
| 871 | ||
Wildfire-related claims |
| 2,308 |
| 2,281 | ||
Other deferred credits and other long-term liabilities |
| 3,001 |
| 2,708 | ||
Total deferred credits and other liabilities |
| 24,913 |
| 24,306 | ||
Total liabilities |
| 53,537 |
| 50,636 | ||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) |
|
|
|
| ||
Preference stock |
| 1,945 |
| 1,945 | ||
Common stock, no par value (560,000,000 shares authorized; 434,888,104 shares issued and outstanding at respective dates) |
| 2,168 |
| 2,168 | ||
Additional paid-in capital |
| 6,704 |
| 5,387 | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| (36) |
| (41) | ||
Retained earnings |
| 8,587 |
| 9,191 | ||
Total equity |
| 19,368 |
| 18,650 | ||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 72,905 | $ | 69,286 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
43
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | Southern California Edison Company |
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||
(in millions, unaudited) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Net income | $ | 451 | $ | 442 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
| ||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 1,703 |
| 1,506 | ||
Allowance for equity during construction |
| (92) |
| (87) | ||
Impairment and other expense (income) |
| 68 |
| (80) | ||
Deferred income taxes |
| 39 |
| (285) | ||
Wildfire Insurance Fund amortization expense |
| 161 |
| 252 | ||
Other |
| 25 |
| 19 | ||
Nuclear decommissioning trusts |
| (204) |
| (123) | ||
Proceeds from Morongo Transmission LLC | 400 | — | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
| ||||
Receivables |
| (704) |
| (564) | ||
Inventory |
| (10) |
| (24) | ||
Accounts payable |
| 286 |
| (19) | ||
Tax receivables and payables |
| 202 |
| 208 | ||
Other current assets and liabilities |
| (727) |
| (321) | ||
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net |
| (484) |
| (1,074) | ||
Wildfire-related insurance receivable |
| 707 |
| 73 | ||
Wildfire-related claims |
| (2,120) |
| 1,267 | ||
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities |
| 5 |
| (28) | ||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
| (294) |
| 1,162 | ||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Long-term debt issued, plus premium and net of discount and issuance costs of $40 and $30 for the respective periods |
| 4,798 |
| 2,330 | ||
Long-term debt repaid | (1,031) | (698) | ||||
Short-term debt borrowed |
| 2,105 |
| 1,129 | ||
Short-term debt repaid |
| (1,355) |
| — | ||
Capital contributions from Edison International Parent |
| 1,308 |
| 1,107 | ||
Preferred and preference stock redeemed |
| — |
| (308) | ||
Commercial paper (repayment) borrowing, net |
| (725) |
| 73 | ||
Dividends paid |
| (735) |
| (1,104) | ||
Other |
| 12 |
| 1 | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| 4,377 |
| 2,530 | ||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
| ||
Capital expenditures |
| (3,946) |
| (3,894) | ||
Proceeds from sale of nuclear decommissioning trust investments |
| 3,218 |
| 4,754 | ||
Purchases of nuclear decommissioning trust investments |
| (3,014) |
| (4,631) | ||
Other |
| 88 |
| 85 | ||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| (3,654) |
| (3,686) | ||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| 429 |
| 6 | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
| 56 |
| 24 | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 485 | $ | 30 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
44
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 1.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization and Basis of Presentation
Edison International is the parent holding company of Southern California Edison Company ("SCE") and Edison Energy Group, Inc. ("Edison Energy Group"). SCE is an investor-owned public utility primarily engaged in the business of supplying and delivering electricity to an approximately 50,000 square mile area of Southern California. Edison Energy Group is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Edison International and a holding company for Edison Energy, LLC ("Edison Energy") which is engaged in the competitive business of providing data driven energy solutions to commercial, institutional and industrial customers. Edison Energy's business activities are currently not material to report as a separate business segment. These combined notes to the consolidated financial statements apply to both Edison International and SCE unless otherwise described. Edison International's consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Edison International, SCE, and other wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries. References to Edison International refer to the consolidated group of Edison International and its subsidiaries. References to "Edison International Parent and Other" refer to Edison International Parent and its competitive subsidiaries and "Edison International Parent" refer to Edison International on a stand-alone basis, not consolidated with its subsidiaries. SCE's consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SCE, its wholly owned and controlled subsidiaries and a variable interest entity of which SCE is the primary beneficiary, SCE Recovery Funding LLC. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.
Edison International's and SCE's significant accounting policies were described in the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" included in Edison International's and SCE's combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "2020 Form 10-K"). This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the 2020 Form 10-K.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of adjustments of a normal recurring nature, have been made that are necessary to fairly state the consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") for the periods covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. The results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year. Certain prior period amounts have been conformed to the current period's presentation.
The December 31, 2020 financial statement data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash equivalents include investments in money market funds. Generally, the carrying value of cash equivalents equals the fair value, as these investments have original maturities of three months or less. The cash equivalents were as follows:
Edison International | SCE | |||||||||||
September 30, | December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||||
Money market funds | $ | 463 | $ | 62 | $ | 438 | $ | 38 |
45
Cash is temporarily invested until required for check clearing. Checks issued, but not yet paid by the financial institution, are reclassified from cash to accounts payable at the end of each reporting period as follows:
| Edison International |
| SCE | ||||||||||
September 30, | December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | ||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||||
Book balances reclassified to accounts payable | $ | 33 | $ | 69 | $ | 33 | $ | 69 |
The following table sets forth the cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash included in the consolidated statements of cash flows:
September 30, |
| December 31, | ||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Edison International: |
|
| ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 524 | $ | 87 | ||
Short-term restricted cash1 |
| 1 |
| 2 | ||
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | 525 | $ | 89 | ||
SCE: |
|
|
| |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 484 | $ | 55 | ||
Short-term restricted cash1 |
| 1 |
| 1 | ||
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | 485 | $ | 56 |
1 | Reflected in "Other current assets" on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets. |
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts
The allowance for uncollectible accounts is recorded based on SCE's estimate of expected credit losses and adjusted over the life of the receivables as needed. Since the customer base of SCE is concentrated in Southern California and exposes SCE to a homogeneous set of economic conditions, the allowance is measured on a collective basis on the historical amounts written-off, assessment of customer collectability and current economic trends, including unemployment rates and any likelihood of recession for the region. At September 30, 2021, this included the estimated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following tables set forth the changes in allowance for uncollectible accounts for SCE:
Three months ended | Three months ended | |||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | | Customers | | | All others | | Total | Customers | | All others | | Total | ||||||
Beginning balance |
| $ | 254 |
| $ | 16 | $ | 270 | $ | 75 |
| $ | 15 | $ | 90 | |||
Plus: current period provision for uncollectible accounts | ||||||||||||||||||
Included in operation and maintenance expenses in earning activities1 |
| 9 |
| 4 |
| 13 |
| 11 |
| 4 |
| 15 | ||||||
Included in operation and maintenance expenses in cost-recovery activities2 | 52 | — | 52 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Deferred to regulatory memorandum accounts |
| 7 |
| — |
| 7 |
| 43 |
| — |
| 43 | ||||||
Less: write-offs, net of recoveries |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 2 |
| 7 | ||||||
Ending balance |
| $ | 321 |
| $ | 17 | $ | 338 | ³ | $ | 124 |
| $ | 17 | $ | 141 |
46
Nine months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2021 | September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
(in millions) | | Customers | | | All others | | Total | Customers | | All others | | Total | ||||||
Beginning balance |
| $ | 175 |
| $ | 13 | $ | 188 | $ | 35 |
| $ | 14 | $ | 49 | |||
Plus: current period provision for uncollectible accounts | ||||||||||||||||||
Included in operation and maintenance expenses in earning activities1 |
| 27 |
| 11 |
| 38 |
| 39 |
| 11 |
| 50 | ||||||
Included in operation and maintenance expenses in cost-recovery activities2 | 112 | — | 112 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Deferred to regulatory memorandum accounts |
| 13 |
| — |
| 13 |
| 64 |
| — |
| 64 | ||||||
Less: write-offs, net of recoveries |
| 6 |
| 7 |
| 13 |
| 14 |
| 8 |
| 22 | ||||||
Ending balance |
| $ | 321 |
| $ | 17 | $ | 338 | ³ | $ | 124 |
| $ | 17 | $ | 141 |
1 | Earning activities is one of SCE's disaggregated revenue sources. Please refer to Note 7 for further details. |
2 | Cost-recovery activities is one of SCE's disaggregated revenue sources. Please refer to Note 7 for further details. This portion of costs from the allowance for uncollectible expenses is recovered through the residential uncollectibles balancing account. See Note 11 for further details. |
3 | In June 2021, CPUC issued a decision to allow residential and small business customers of the large investor-owned utilities with arrearages over 60 days old to be enrolled in 24-month payment plans. Accordingly, approximately $199 million of gross account receivables and $93 million of allowance for uncollectible accounts have been reclassified to "Long-term account receivables" on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2021. |
Nuclear Decommissioning and Asset Retirement Obligations
As a result of an update to SCE's cost estimate for decommissioning activities to be completed at San Onofre Units 1, 2 and 3, SCE recorded a decrease of $131 million to its asset retirement obligation ("ARO") in the third quarter of 2021.
Revenue Recognition
Regulatory Proceedings
2021 General Rate Case
SCE accounts for regulatory decisions in the period in which they are received and, accordingly, recorded the impact of the 2021 GRC decision in the third quarter of 2021. In the absence of a final decision in the 2021 GRC, SCE recognized revenue in the first and second quarter of 2021 based on the 2020 GRC authorized revenue requirement. The final decision, received in August 2021, authorized a base rate revenue requirement of $6.9 billion in 2021, an increase of $1.0 billion over revenue requirements authorized for 2020 in the 2018 GRC. See Note 11 for further information.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In April 2021, the Edison International Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") was approved by the shareholders and was effective beginning July 1, 2021. The maximum aggregate numbers of shares of Edison International's common stock that may be issued under the ESPP is 3,000,000 shares. The ESPP is administered by the SCE Benefits Committee and allows eligible employees to purchase shares of common stock. Eligible employees may authorize payroll deductions of between 1% and 10% of their compensation, up to a maximum of $25,000, to purchase shares of common stock at 97% of the market price of the common stock on the date of purchase, which is the last day of each six months offering period. The ESPP is considered non-compensatory and stock issuances under the ESPP will be recorded directly in equity.
47
Earnings Per Share
Edison International computes earnings per common share ("EPS") using the two-class method, which is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security. Edison International's participating securities are stock-based compensation awards, payable in common shares, which earn dividend equivalents on an equal basis with common shares once the awards are vested. See Note 14 for further information.
EPS attributable to Edison International common shareholders was computed as follows:
| Three months ended September 30, |
| Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||
(in millions, except per-share amounts) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Basic earnings per share: | ||||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders | $ | (341) | $ | (288) | $ | 236 | $ | 213 | ||||
Participating securities dividends |
| — |
| — |
| — | — | |||||
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders | $ | (341) | $ | (288) | $ | 236 | $ | 213 | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
| 380 |
| 378 |
| 380 | 371 | |||||
Basic (loss) earnings per share | $ | (0.90) | $ | (0.76) | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.57 | ||||
Diluted (loss) earnings per share: |
|
| ||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders | $ | (341) | $ | (288) | $ | 236 | $ | 213 | ||||
Participating securities dividends |
| — |
| — |
| — | — | |||||
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders | $ | (341) | $ | (288) | $ | 236 | $ | 213 | ||||
Income impact of assumed conversions |
| — |
| — |
| — | — | |||||
Net (loss) income available to common shareholders and assumed conversions | $ | (341) | $ | (288) | $ | 236 | $ | 213 | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
| 380 |
| 378 |
| 380 | 371 | |||||
Incremental shares from assumed conversions1 |
| — |
| — |
| — | 1 | |||||
Adjusted weighted average shares – diluted |
| 380 |
| 378 |
| 380 | 372 | |||||
Diluted (loss) earnings per share | $ | (0.90) | $ | (0.76) | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.57 |
1 | Due to the losses reported for the quarters ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, incremental shares were not included as the effect would be antidilutive. |
In addition to the participating securities discussed above, Edison International also may award stock options, which are payable in common shares and are included in the diluted earnings per share calculation. Stock option awards to purchase 11,315,504 and 9,158,974 shares of common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 11,351,651 and 9,079,789 shares of common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively were outstanding, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effect would have been antidilutive.
48
Subsequent Event
In October 2021, in response to a CPUC emergency reliability rulemaking proceeding, SCE contracted for the construction of utility owned storage at three sites in SCE's service territory with an aggregate capacity of 537.5 megawatts ("MW"). The storage projects are expected to result in $1.0 billion of capital expenditures, through the anticipated in-service date in the summer of 2022.
In October 2021, SCE filed an advice letter requesting recovery of these forecasted expenditures and seeking balancing account treatment for the associated revenue requirement, to be reflected in rates beginning in the first quarter of 2022. Work on these projects will commence prior to approval of the advice letter. A CPUC decision on the advice letter is expected prior to the end of January 2022. SCE may terminate the contract for these projects for convenience, including if regulatory approval is not obtained. If SCE terminates the contract for convenience in January 2022, SCE could incur costs estimated to be approximately $500 million.
New Accounting Guidance
Accounting Guidance Adopted
In August 2020, the FASB issued an accounting standards update to simplify the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. The amendments in this update affect entities that issue convertible instruments indexed to or potentially settled in an entity's own equity. This guidance also simplifies an entity's application of the derivatives scope exception for contracts in its own equity and amends certain aspects of the EPS guidance. Edison International and SCE have adopted this standard on January 1, 2021 using modified retrospective adoption approach. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on Edison International's and SCE's financial position or results of operations.
49
Note 2.Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
The following table provides Edison International's changes in equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021:
Noncontrolling | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity Attributable to Edison International Shareholders | Interests | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred | Common | Comprehensive | Retained | Preference | Total | ||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) |
| Stock | Stock |
| Loss |
| Earnings |
| Subtotal |
| Stock |
| Equity | ||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | — | $ | 5,962 | $ | (69) | $ | 8,155 | $ | 14,048 | $ | 1,901 | $ | 15,949 | |||||||
Net income | — |
| — |
| — |
| 263 |
| 263 |
| 27 |
| 290 | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | ||||||||
Common stock issued, net of issuance cost | — |
| 21 |
| — |
| — |
| 21 |
| — |
| 21 | ||||||||
Preferred stock issued, net of issuance cost | 1,237 | — | — | — | 1,237 | — | 1,237 | ||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends declared ($0.6625 per share) | — |
| — |
| — |
| (251) |
| (251) |
| — |
| (251) | ||||||||
Preferred stock dividend accrued ($3.434 per share) | — | — | — | (4) | (4) | — | (4) | ||||||||||||||
Dividends to noncontrolling interests ($15.625 - $35.936 per share for preference stock) | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (27) |
| (27) | ||||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation | — |
| 6 |
| — |
| — |
| 6 |
| — |
| 6 | ||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2021 | $ | 1,237 | $ | 5,989 | $ | (67) | $ | 8,163 | $ | 15,322 | $ | 1,901 | $ | 17,223 | |||||||
Net income | — |
| — |
| — |
| 335 |
| 335 |
| 26 |
| 361 | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | ||||||||
Common stock issued, net of issuance cost | — |
| 14 |
| — |
| — |
| 14 |
| — |
| 14 | ||||||||
Preferred stock issuance cost | (2) | — | — | — | (2) | — | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends declared ($0.6625 per share) | — |
| — |
| — |
| (252) |
| (252) |
| — |
| (252) | ||||||||
Preferred stock dividend accrued ($13.2882 per share) | — | — | — | (17) | (17) | — | (17) | ||||||||||||||
Dividends to noncontrolling interests ($15.625 - $35.936 per share for preference stock) | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (26) |
| (26) | ||||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation | — |
| 10 |
| — |
| — |
| 10 |
| — |
| 10 | ||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2021 | $ | 1,235 | $ | 6,013 | $ | (65) | $ | 8,229 | $ | 15,412 | $ | 1,901 | $ | 17,313 | |||||||
Net (loss) income | — |
| — |
| — |
| (324) |
| (324) |
| 27 |
| (297) | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | ||||||||
Common stock issued, net of issuance cost | — |
| 10 |
| — |
| — |
| 10 |
| — |
| 10 | ||||||||
Common stock dividends declared ($0.6625 per share) | — |
| — |
| — |
| (252) |
| (252) |
| — |
| (252) | ||||||||
Preferred stock dividend accrued ($13.4375 per share) | — | — | — | (17) | (17) | — | (17) | ||||||||||||||
Dividends to noncontrolling interests ($15.625 - $35.936 per share for preference stock) | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (27) |
| (27) | ||||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation | — |
| 10 |
| — |
| — |
| 10 |
| — |
| 10 | ||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 | $ | 1,235 | $ | 6,033 | $ | (63) | $ | 7,636 | $ | 14,841 | $ | 1,901 | $ | 16,742 |
50
The following table provides Edison International's changes in equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020:
Noncontrolling | |||||||||||||||||||||
Equity Attributable to Edison International Shareholders | Interests | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated | Preferred | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other | and | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred | Common | Comprehensive | Retained | Preference | Total | ||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) |
| Stock | Stock |
| Loss |
| Earnings |
| Subtotal |
| Stock |
| Equity | ||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | — | $ | 4,990 | $ | (69) | $ | 8,382 | $ | 13,303 | $ | 2,193 | $ | 15,496 | |||||||
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 183 |
| 183 |
| 30 |
| 213 | |||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | |||||||
Common stock issued, net of issuance cost | — | 88 | — | — | 88 | — | 88 | ||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends declared ($0.6375 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (232) |
| (232) |
| — |
| (232) | |||||||
Dividends to noncontrolling interests ($0.255 - $0.299 per share for preferred stock; $15.625 - $35.936 per share for preference stock) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (30) |
| (30) | |||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation |
| — |
| 7 |
| — |
| — |
| 7 |
| — |
| 7 | |||||||
Balance at March 31, 2020 | $ | — | $ | 5,085 | $ | (67) | $ | 8,333 | $ | 13,351 | $ | 2,193 | $ | 15,544 | |||||||
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 318 |
| 318 |
| 30 |
| 348 | |||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | |||||||
Common stock issued, net of issuance cost | — | 815 | — | — | 815 | — | 815 | ||||||||||||||
Common stock dividends declared ($0.6375 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (241) |
| (241) |
| — |
| (241) | |||||||
Dividends to noncontrolling interests ($0.255 - $0.299 per share for preferred stock; $15.625 - $35.936 per share for preference stock) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (30) |
| (30) | |||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation |
| — |
| 8 |
| — |
| — |
| 8 |
| — |
| 8 | |||||||
Balance at June 30, 2020 | $ | — | $ | 5,908 | $ | (65) | $ | 8,410 | $ | 14,253 | $ | 2,193 | $ | 16,446 | |||||||
Net (loss) income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (288) |
| (288) |
| 46 |
| (242) | |||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | |||||||
Common stock issued, net of issuance cost | — |
| 15 |
| — |
| — |
| 15 |
| — |
| 15 | ||||||||
Common stock dividends declared ($0.6375 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (241) |
| (241) |
| — |
| (241) | |||||||
Dividends to noncontrolling interests ($0.247 - $0.289 per share for preferred stock; $15.625 - $35.936 per share for preference stock) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (31) |
| (31) | |||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation and other |
| — |
| 7 |
| — |
| — |
| 7 |
| 1 |
| 8 | |||||||
Redemption of preferred and preference stock | — | — | — | — | — | (308) | (308) | ||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2020 | $ | — | $ | 5,930 | $ | (63) | $ | 7,881 | $ | 13,748 | $ | 1,901 | $ | 15,649 |
51
The following table provides SCE's changes in equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021:
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Other | |||||||||||||||||
Preference | Common | Paid-in | Comprehensive | Retained | Total | |||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) |
| Stock |
| Stock |
| Capital |
| Loss |
| Earnings |
| Equity | ||||||
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 1,945 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 5,387 | $ | (41) | $ | 9,191 | $ | 18,650 | ||||||
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 323 |
| 323 | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | ||||||
Capital contribution from Edison International Parent |
| — |
| — |
| 900 |
| — |
| — |
| 900 | ||||||
Dividends declared on common stock ($0.7473 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (325) |
| (325) | ||||||
Dividends on preference stock ($15.625 - $35.936 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (27) |
| (27) | ||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| (4) |
| — |
| — |
| (4) | ||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| 3 |
| — |
| — |
| 3 | ||||||
Balance at March 31, 2021 | $ | 1,945 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 6,286 | $ | (39) | $ | 9,162 | $ | 19,522 | ||||||
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 385 |
| 385 | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1 |
| — |
| 1 | ||||||
Capital contribution from Edison International Parent |
| — |
| — |
| 325 |
| — |
| — |
| 325 | ||||||
Dividends declared on common stock ($0.7473 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (325) |
| (325) | ||||||
Dividends declared on preference stock ($15.625 - $35.936 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (26) |
| (26) | ||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| 5 |
| — |
| — |
| 5 | ||||||
Balance at June 30, 2021 | $ | 1,945 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 6,616 | $ | (38) | $ | 9,196 | $ | 19,887 | ||||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (257) |
| (257) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | ||||||
Capital contribution from Edison International Parent |
| — |
| — |
| 83 |
| — |
| — |
| 83 | ||||||
Dividends declared on common stock ($0.7473 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (325) |
| (325) | ||||||
Dividends declared on preference stock ($15.625 - $35.936 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (27) |
| (27) | ||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation and other |
| — |
| — |
| 5 |
| — |
| — |
| 5 | ||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 | $ | 1,945 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 6,704 | $ | (36) | $ | 8,587 | $ | 19,368 |
52
The following table provides SCE's changes in equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020:
Preferred | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||
and | Additional | Other | ||||||||||||||||
Preference | Common | Paid-in | Comprehensive | Retained | Total | |||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) |
| Stock |
| Stock |
| Capital |
| Loss |
| Earnings |
| Equity | ||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 | $ | 2,245 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 3,939 | $ | (39) | $ | 9,514 | $ | 17,827 | ||||||
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 249 |
| 249 | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2 |
| — |
| 2 | ||||||
Capital contribution from Edison International Parent | — | — | 269 | — | — | 269 | ||||||||||||
Dividends declared on common stock ($0.6185 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (269) |
| (269) | ||||||
Dividends declared on preferred stock ($0.255 - $0.299 per share) and preference stock (15.625 - $35.936 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (30) |
| (30) | ||||||
Stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| (5) |
| — |
| — |
| (5) | ||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| 4 |
| — |
| (1) |
| 3 | ||||||
Balance at March 31, 2020 | $ | 2,245 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 4,207 | $ | (37) | $ | 9,463 | $ | 18,046 | ||||||
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 411 |
| 411 | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1 |
| — |
| 1 | ||||||
Capital contribution from Edison International Parent |
| — |
| — |
| 619 |
| — |
| — |
| 619 | ||||||
Dividends declared on common stock ($0.6185 per share) | — | — | — | — | (269) | (269) | ||||||||||||
Dividends declared on preferred and preference stock ($0.255 - $0.299 per share for preferred stock; $15.625 - $35.936 per share for preference stock) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (30) |
| (30) | ||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| 3 |
| — |
| — |
| 3 | ||||||
Balance at June 30, 2020 | $ | 2,245 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 4,829 | $ | (36) | $ | 9,575 | $ | 18,781 | ||||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (218) |
| (218) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1 |
| — |
| 1 | ||||||
Capital contribution from Edison International Parent |
| — |
| — |
| 219 |
| — |
| — |
| 219 | ||||||
Dividends declared on common stock ($0.6185 per share) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (269) |
| (269) | ||||||
Dividends declared on preferred and preference stock ($0.247 - $0.289 per share for preferred stock; $15.625 - $35.936 per share for preference stock) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (31) |
| (31) | ||||||
Noncash stock-based compensation and other |
| — |
| — |
| 3 |
| — |
| 1 |
| 4 | ||||||
Redemption of preferred and preference stock | (300) | — | 7 | — | (15) | (308) | ||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2020 | $ | 1,945 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 5,058 | $ | (35) | $ | 9,043 | $ | 18,179 |
Note 3.Variable Interest Entities
A variable interest entity ("VIE") is defined as a legal entity that meets one of two conditions: (1) the equity owners do not have sufficient equity at risk, or (2) the holders of the equity investment at risk, as a group, lack any of the following three characteristics: decision-making rights, the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity. The primary beneficiary is identified as the variable interest holder that has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The primary beneficiary is required to
53
consolidate the VIE. Commercial and operating activities are generally the factors that most significantly impact the economic performance of such VIEs. Commercial and operating activities include construction, operation and maintenance, fuel procurement, dispatch and compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements.
Variable Interest in VIEs that are Consolidated
SCE Recovery Funding LLC is a bankruptcy remote, wholly owned special purpose subsidiary, consolidated by SCE. SCE Recovery Funding LLC is a VIE and SCE is the primary beneficiary. SCE Recovery Funding LLC was formed in 2021 for the purpose of issuing and servicing securitized bonds related to SCE's AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures.
During the first quarter of 2021, SCE Recovery Funding LLC issued $338 million of securitized bonds in three tranches and used the proceeds to acquire SCE's right, title and interest in and to non-bypassable rates and other charges to be collected from certain existing and future customers in SCE's service territory, associated with the AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures ("Recovery Property"), until the bonds are paid in full and all financing costs have been recovered. The securitized bonds are secured by the Recovery Property and cash collections from the non-bypassable rates and other charges are the sole source of funds to satisfy the debt obligation. The bondholders have no recourse to SCE. For further details, see Note 5.
The following table summarizes the impact of SCE Recovery Funding LLC on SCE's and Edison International's consolidated balance sheets.
(in millions) | | September 30, 2021 |
Other current assets | $ | 30 |
Regulatory assets: Non-current | 328 | |
Regulatory liabilities: Current | (18) | |
Current portion of long-term debt | (15) | |
Other current liabilities | (3) | |
Long-term debt1 |
| (320) |
1 | The bondholders have no recourse to SCE. |
Variable Interest in VIEs that are not Consolidated
Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs")
SCE has PPAs that are classified as variable interests in VIEs, including agreements through which SCE provides the natural gas to fuel the plants and fixed price contracts for renewable energy. SCE has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs since it does not control the commercial and operating activities of these entities. Since payments for capacity are the primary source of income, the most significant economic activity for these VIEs is the operation and maintenance of the power plants.
As of the balance sheet date, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in SCE's consolidated balance sheets that relate to involvement with VIEs result from amounts due under the PPAs. Under these contracts, SCE recovers the costs incurred through demonstration of compliance with its CPUC-approved long-term power procurement plans. SCE has no residual interest in the entities and has not provided or guaranteed any debt or equity support, liquidity arrangements, performance guarantees, or other commitments associated with these contracts other than the purchase commitments described in Note 12 of the 2020 Form 10-K. As a result, there is no significant potential exposure to loss to SCE from its variable interest in these VIEs. The aggregate contracted capacity dedicated to SCE from these VIE projects was 3,455 MW and 5,356 MW at September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and the amounts that SCE paid to these projects were $248 million and $360 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $519 million and $661 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These amounts are recoverable in customer rates, subject to reasonableness review.
54
Unconsolidated Trusts of SCE
SCE Trust II, Trust III, Trust IV, Trust V, and Trust VI were formed in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively, for the exclusive purpose of issuing the 5.10%, 5.75%, 5.375%, 5.45%, and 5.00% trust preference securities, respectively ("trust securities"). The trusts are VIEs. SCE has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of these VIEs as it does not have the obligation to absorb the expected losses or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the trusts. SCE Trust II, Trust III, Trust IV, Trust V and Trust VI issued to the public trust securities in the face amounts of $400 million, $275 million, $325 million, $300 million, and $475 million (cumulative, liquidation amounts of $25 per share), respectively, and $10,000 of common stock each to SCE. The trusts invested the proceeds of these trust securities in Series G, Series H, Series J, Series K, and Series L Preference Stock issued by SCE in the principal amounts of $400 million, $275 million, $325 million, $300 million, and $475 million (cumulative, $2,500 per share liquidation values), respectively, which have substantially the same payment terms as the respective trust securities.
The Series G, Series H, Series J, Series K, and Series L Preference Stock and the corresponding trust securities do not have a maturity date. Upon any redemption of any shares of the Series G, Series H, Series J, Series K, or Series L Preference Stock, a corresponding dollar amount of trust securities will be redeemed by the applicable trust. The applicable trust will make distributions at the same rate and on the same dates on the applicable series of trust securities if and when the SCE board of directors declares and makes dividend payments on the related Preference Stock. The applicable trust will use any dividends it receives on the related Preference Stock to make its corresponding distributions on the applicable series of trust securities. If SCE does not make a dividend payment to any of these trusts, SCE would be prohibited from paying dividends on its common stock. SCE has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the payment of the trust securities and trust distributions, if and when SCE pays dividends on the related Preference Stock.
The Trust II, Trust III, Trust IV, Trust V and Trust VI balance sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 consisted of investments of $220 million, $275 million, $325 million, $300 million, and $475 million in the Series G, Series H, Series J, Series K and Series L Preference Stock, respectively, $220 million, $275 million, $325 million, $300 million, and $475 million of trust securities, respectively, and $10,000 each of common stock.
The following table provides a summary of the trusts' income statements:
Three months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Trust II |
| Trust III |
| Trust IV |
| Trust V |
| Trust VI | |||||
2021 |
| ||||||||||||||
Dividend income | $ | 5 | $ | 4 | $ | 4 | $ | 4 | $ | 6 | |||||
Dividend distributions |
| 5 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 6 | |||||
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Dividend income | $ | 5 | $ | 4 | $ | 4 | $ | 4 | $ | 6 | |||||
Dividend distributions |
| 5 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 4 |
| 6 |
Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Trust II |
| Trust III |
| Trust IV |
| Trust V |
| Trust VI | |||||
2021 |
| ||||||||||||||
Dividend income | $ | 15 | $ | 12 | $ | 13 | $ | 12 | $ | 18 | |||||
Dividend distributions |
| 15 |
| 12 |
| 13 |
| 12 |
| 18 | |||||
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Dividend income | $ | 15 | $ | 12 | $ | 13 | $ | 12 | $ | 18 | |||||
Dividend distributions |
| 15 |
| 12 |
| 13 |
| 12 |
| 18 |
55
Note 4.Fair Value Measurements
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (referred to as an "exit price"). Fair value of an asset or liability considers assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about nonperformance risk. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, nonperformance risk was not material for Edison International and SCE.
Assets and liabilities are categorized into a three-level fair value hierarchy based on valuation inputs used to determine fair value.
Level 1 – The fair value of Edison International's and SCE's Level 1 assets and liabilities is determined using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are available at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. This level includes exchange-traded equity securities, U.S. treasury securities, mutual funds, and money market funds.
Level 2 – Edison International's and SCE's Level 2 assets and liabilities include fixed income securities, primarily consisting of U.S. government and agency bonds, municipal bonds and corporate bonds, and over-the-counter derivatives. The fair value of fixed income securities is determined using a market approach by obtaining quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the instrument.
The fair value of SCE's over-the-counter derivative contracts is determined using an income approach. SCE uses standard pricing models to determine the net present value of estimated future cash flows. Inputs to the pricing models include forward published or posted clearing prices from an exchange (Intercontinental Exchange) for similar instruments and discount rates. A primary price source that best represents trade activity for each market is used to develop observable forward market prices in determining the fair value of these positions. Broker quotes, prices from exchanges, or comparison to executed trades are used to validate and corroborate the primary price source. These price quotations reflect mid-market prices (average of bid and ask) and are obtained from sources believed to provide the most liquid market for the commodity.
Level 3 – The fair value of SCE's Level 3 assets and liabilities is determined using an income approach through various models and techniques that require significant unobservable inputs. This level includes derivative contracts that trade infrequently such as congestion revenue rights ("CRRs"). Edison International Parent and Other does not have any Level 3 assets and liabilities.
Assumptions are made in order to value derivative contracts in which observable inputs are not available. In circumstances where fair value cannot be verified with observable market transactions, it is possible that a different valuation model could produce a materially different estimate of fair value. Modeling methodologies, inputs, and techniques are reviewed and assessed as markets continue to develop and more pricing information becomes available and the fair value is adjusted when it is concluded that a change in inputs or techniques would result in a new valuation that better reflects the fair value of those derivative contracts. See Note 6 for a discussion of derivative instruments.
56
SCE
The following table sets forth assets and liabilities of SCE that were accounted for at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy:
| September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
Netting | |||||||||||||||
and |
| ||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| Collateral1 |
| Total | |||||
Assets at fair value | |||||||||||||||
Derivative contracts | $ | — | $ | 128 | $ | 113 | $ | (97) | $ | 144 | |||||
Money market funds and other |
| 438 |
| 23 |
| — |
| — |
| 461 | |||||
Nuclear decommissioning trusts: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Stocks2 |
| 1,820 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,820 | |||||
Fixed Income3 |
| 1,084 |
| 1,603 |
| — |
| — |
| 2,687 | |||||
Short-term investments, primarily cash equivalents |
| 171 |
| 138 |
| — |
| — |
| 309 | |||||
Subtotal of nuclear decommissioning trusts4 |
| 3,075 |
| 1,741 |
| — |
| — |
| 4,816 | |||||
Total assets |
| 3,513 |
| 1,892 |
| 113 |
| (97) |
| 5,421 | |||||
Liabilities at fair value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Derivative contracts |
| — |
| 3 |
| 8 |
| (11) |
| — | |||||
Total liabilities |
| — |
| 3 |
| 8 |
| (11) |
| — | |||||
Net assets | $ | 3,513 | $ | 1,889 | $ | 105 | $ | (86) | $ | 5,421 |
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||
Netting | |||||||||||||||
and |
| ||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| Collateral1 |
| Total | |||||
Assets at fair value | |||||||||||||||
Derivative contracts | $ | — | $ | 6 | $ | 120 | $ | (18) | $ | 108 | |||||
Money market funds and other |
| 39 |
| 23 |
| — |
| — |
| 62 | |||||
Nuclear decommissioning trusts: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Stocks2 |
| 1,908 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1,908 | |||||
Fixed Income3 |
| 519 |
| 2,113 |
| — |
| — |
| 2,632 | |||||
Short-term investments, primarily cash equivalents |
| 447 |
| 52 |
| — |
| — |
| 499 | |||||
Subtotal of nuclear decommissioning trusts4 |
| 2,874 |
| 2,165 |
| — |
| — |
| 5,039 | |||||
Total assets |
| 2,913 |
| 2,194 |
| 120 |
| (18) |
| 5,209 | |||||
Liabilities at fair value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Derivative contracts |
| — |
| 10 |
| 12 |
| (22) |
| — | |||||
Total liabilities |
| — |
| 10 |
| 12 |
| (22) |
| — | |||||
Net assets | $ | 2,913 | $ | 2,184 | $ | 108 | $ | 4 | $ | 5,209 |
1 | Represents the netting of assets and liabilities under master netting agreements and cash collateral. |
2 | Approximately 73% and 71% of SCE's equity investments were in companies located in the United States at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. |
3 | Includes corporate bonds, which were diversified by the inclusion of collateralized mortgage obligations and other asset backed securities, of $30 million and $29 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. |
4 | Excludes net payables of $47 million and $206 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, which consist of payables and receivables related to SCE's pending securities purchases and sales as well as interest and dividend receivables. |
57
Edison International Parent and Other
Edison International Parent and Other assets measured at fair value and classified as Level 1 consisted of $13 million in an equity investment as of September 30, 2021 and money market funds of $25 million and $24 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, and classified as Level 2 consisted of short-term investments of $3 million and $5 million at September 30, 2021 and December 30, 2020, respectively.
SCE Fair Value of Level 3
The following table sets forth a summary of changes in SCE's fair value of Level 3 net derivative assets and liabilities:
| Three months ended |
| Nine months ended | |||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions) | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
Fair value of net assets at beginning of period | $ | 67 | $ | 34 | $ | 108 | $ | 78 | ||||
Purchases | — | 1 | — | 8 | ||||||||
Sales | (1) | (1) | (2) | (5) | ||||||||
Settlements |
| (30) |
| (69) |
| (46) |
| (95) | ||||
Total realized/unrealized losses 1,2 |
| 69 |
| 63 |
| 45 |
| 42 | ||||
Fair value of net assets at end of period | $ | 105 | $ | 28 | $ | 105 | $ | 28 |
1 | Due to regulatory mechanisms, SCE's realized and unrealized gains and losses are recorded as regulatory assets and liabilities. |
2 | There were no material transfers into or out of Level 3 during 2021 and 2020. |
The following table sets forth SCE's valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used to determine fair value for significant Level 3 assets and liabilities:
| Fair Value | Significant | Weighted | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | Valuation | Unobservable | Range | Average | |||||||||||
| Assets |
| Liabilities |
| Technique |
| Input |
| (per MWh) |
| (per MWh) | ||||
Congestion revenue rights |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
September 30, 2021 | $ | 113 | $ | 8 |
| Auction prices |
| CAISO CRR auction prices |
| $(6.89) - $64.56 | $ | 1.84 | |||
December 31, 2020 |
| 120 |
| 12 |
| Auction prices |
| CAISO CRR auction prices |
| (9.67) - 300.47 | 2.75 |
Level 3 Fair Value Uncertainty
For CRRs, increases or decreases in CAISO auction prices would result in higher or lower fair value, respectively, as of September 30, 2021.
Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts
SCE's nuclear decommissioning trust investments include equity securities, U.S. treasury securities, and other fixed income securities. Equity and treasury securities are classified as Level 1 as fair value is determined by observable market prices in active or highly liquid and transparent markets. The remaining fixed income securities are classified as Level 2. There are no securities classified as Level 3 in the nuclear decommissioning trusts.
58
Fair Value of Debt Recorded at Carrying Value
The carrying value and fair value of Edison International's and SCE's long-term debt (including current portion of long-term debt) are as follows:
| September 30, 2021 |
| December 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | ||||||||
(in millions) |
| Value1 |
| Value2 |
| Value1 |
| Value2 | ||||
Edison International | $ | 24,118 | $ | 26,389 | $ | 20,337 | $ | 23,824 | ||||
SCE |
| 20,981 |
| 23,018 |
| 17,204 |
| 20,365 |
1 | Carrying value is net of debt issuance costs. |
2 | The fair value of Edison International's and SCE's short-term and long-term debt is classified as Level 2. |
Note 5.Debt and Credit Agreements
Long-Term Debt
In the first quarter of 2021, SCE issued $150 million of 2.25% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2030 and $750 million of 2.95% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2051. The proceeds were primarily used to repay SCE's commercial paper borrowings and for general corporate purposes.
In the second quarter of 2021, SCE issued $400 million of Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus 0.64% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2023, $400 million of SOFR plus 0.83% of first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2024, $350 million of 0.70% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2023 and $700 million of 1.10% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2024. The proceeds of these issuances were used to fund the payment of wildfire claims exceeding insurance proceeds and repay commercial paper borrowings that were used to fund the payment of wildfire claims, including amounts paid under the Woolsey Subrogation Settlement. Additionally, SCE issued $450 million of 2.50% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2031 and $450 million of 3.65% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2051. The proceeds were used to finance or refinance eligible sustainable projects.
In August 2021, SCE issued $400 million of 0.70% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2023 and $450 million of 0.975% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2024. The proceeds of these issuances were used to fund payment of wildfire claims above the amount of expected insurance proceeds, to repay commercial paper borrowings used to fund the payment of such wildfire claims and for general corporate purposes.
Senior Secured Recovery Bonds
During the first quarter of 2021, SCE Recovery Funding LLC issued $338 million of Senior Secured Recovery Bonds, Series 2021-A, in three tranches ("Recovery Bonds") and used the proceeds to acquire SCE's right, title and interest in and to non-bypassable rates and other charges associated with the AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures to be collected from certain existing and future customers in SCE's service territory ("Recovery Property"). The three tranches of Recovery Bonds consisted of: $138 million, 0.861% with final maturity in 2033; $100 million, 1.94% with final maturity in 2040; and $100 million, 2.51% with final maturity in 2045. The Recovery Bonds are payable only from and secured by the Recovery Property. SCE Recovery Funding LLC is consolidated by SCE for financial reporting purposes, however, the Recovery Bonds do not constitute a debt or other legal obligation of, or interest in, SCE or any of its affiliates, except for SCE Recovery Funding LLC. SCE used the proceeds it received from the sale of Recovery Property to reimburse itself for previously incurred AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures, including the retirement of related debt and financing costs. For further details, see Note 3.
59
Credit Agreements and Short-Term Debt
The following table summarizes the status of the credit facilities at September 30, 2021:
(in millions, except for rates) | ||||||||||||||||||
Execution | Termination | SOFR | Outstanding | Outstanding | Amount | |||||||||||||
date | date | plus (bps) | Use of proceeds |
| Commitment |
| borrowings |
| letters of credit |
| available | |||||||
Edison International Parent | ||||||||||||||||||
June 2019 | May 2025 | 128 | Support commercial paper borrowings and general corporate purposes1, 2 | $ | 1,500 | $ | 420 | $ | — | $ | 1,080 | |||||||
Total Edison International Parent: | $ | 1,500 | $ | 420 | $ | — | $ | 1,080 | ||||||||||
SCE | ||||||||||||||||||
June 2019 | May 2025 | 108 | Support commercial paper borrowings and general corporate purposes2 | $ | 3,350 | $ | — | $ | 246 | $ | 3,104 | |||||||
Total SCE: | $ | 3,350 | $ | — | $ | 246 | $ | 3,104 | ||||||||||
Total Edison International: | $ | 4,850 | $ | 420 | $ | 246 | $ | 4,184 |
1 | At September 30, 2021 Edison International Parent had $420 million outstanding commercial paper, net of discount, at a weighted-average interest rate of 0.39%. |
2 | In April 2021, SCE and Edison International Parent amended their respective revolving credit facilities to extend each of the termination dates to May 2025 and implement the transition from LIBOR to SOFR. Additionally, SCE and the lenders agreed to increase the commitment amount by $350 million, bringing the total to $3.4 billion. The aggregate maximum principal amount under the SCE and Edison International Parent revolving credit facilities may be increased up to $4.0 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, provided that additional lender commitments are obtained. |
Term loan and other short-term debt
In the second quarter of 2021, SCE borrowed $1.2 billion under a term loan agreement due in May 2022 with a variable interest rate based on SOFR plus 0.60%. SCE used the proceeds to repay all outstanding indebtedness under SCE's 364-day revolving credit agreement and term loan credit agreement, both entered into during March 2020, for $800 million and $148 million, respectively, and to finance certain capital projects related to wildfire mitigation that meet the green loan principles set forth by international loan market organizations including the Loan Syndications and Trading Association. Additionally, SCE issued $475 million of SOFR plus 0.35% first and refunding mortgage bonds due in 2022. The proceeds were used to repay commercial paper borrowings and for general corporate purposes.
Note 6.Derivative Instruments
Derivative financial instruments are used to manage exposure to commodity price risk. These risks are managed in part by entering into forward commodity transactions, including options, swaps and futures. To mitigate credit risk from counterparties in the event of nonperformance, master netting agreements are used whenever possible and counterparties may be required to pledge collateral depending on the creditworthiness of each counterparty and the risk associated with the transaction.
Commodity Price Risk
Commodity price risk represents the potential impact that can be caused by a change in the market value of a particular commodity. SCE's electricity price exposure arises from energy purchased from and sold to wholesale markets as a result of differences between SCE's load requirements and the amount of energy delivered from its generating facilities and PPAs. SCE's natural gas price exposure arises from natural gas purchased for the Mountainview power plant and peaker plants,
60
Qualifying Facilities contracts where pricing is based on a monthly natural gas index and PPAs in which SCE has agreed to provide the natural gas needed for generation, referred to as tolling arrangements.
Credit and Default Risk
Credit and default risk represent the potential impact that can be caused if a counterparty were to default on its contractual obligations and SCE would be exposed to spot markets for buying replacement power or selling excess power. In addition, SCE would be exposed to the risk of non-payment of accounts receivable, primarily related to the sales of excess power and realized gains on derivative instruments.
Certain power and gas contracts contain master netting agreements or similar agreements, which generally allow counterparties subject to the agreement to offset amounts when certain criteria are met, such as in the event of default. The objective of netting is to reduce credit exposure. Additionally, to reduce SCE's risk exposures counterparties may be required to pledge collateral depending on the creditworthiness of each counterparty and the risk associated with the transaction.
Certain power and gas contracts contain a provision that requires SCE to maintain an investment grade rating from each of the major credit rating agencies, referred to as a credit-risk-related contingent feature. If SCE's credit rating were to fall below investment grade, SCE may be required to post additional collateral to cover derivative liabilities and the related outstanding payables. The net fair value of all derivative liabilities with these credit-risk-related contingent features were less than $1 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, for which SCE posted no collateral to its counterparties for its derivative liabilities and related outstanding payables for both periods. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on September 30, 2021, SCE would be required to post $18 million of collateral, all of which is related to outstanding payables.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
SCE presents its derivative assets and liabilities on a net basis on its consolidated balance sheets when subject to master netting agreements or similar agreements. Derivative positions are also offset against margin and cash collateral deposits. In addition, SCE has provided collateral in the form of letters of credit. Collateral requirements can vary depending upon the level of unsecured credit extended by counterparties, changes in market prices relative to contractual commitments and other factors. See Note 4 for a discussion of fair value of derivative instruments. The following table summarizes the gross and net fair values of SCE's commodity derivative instruments:
September 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Short-Term1 |
| Long-Term2 |
| Subtotal |
| Short-Term |
| Long-Term |
| Subtotal |
| Net Assets | |||||||
Commodity derivative contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Gross amounts recognized | $ | 213 | $ | 28 | $ | 241 | $ | 8 | $ | 3 | $ | 11 | $ | 230 | |||||||
Gross amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheets |
| (8) |
| (3) |
| (11) |
| (8) |
| (3) |
| (11) |
| — | |||||||
Cash collateral posted3 |
| (86) |
| — |
| (86) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (86) | |||||||
Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets | $ | 119 | $ | 25 | $ | 144 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 144 |
61
December 31, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Assets | Derivative Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Short-Term1 |
| Long-Term2 |
| Subtotal |
| Short-Term |
| Long-Term |
| Subtotal |
| Net Assets | |||||||
Commodity derivative contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Gross amounts recognized | $ | 103 | $ | 23 | $ | 126 | $ | 16 | $ | 6 | $ | 22 | $ | 104 | |||||||
Gross amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheets |
| (12) |
| (6) |
| (18) |
| (12) |
| (6) |
| (18) |
| — | |||||||
Cash collateral posted3 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (4) |
| — |
| (4) |
| 4 | |||||||
Net amounts presented in the consolidated balance sheets | $ | 91 | $ | 17 | $ | 108 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 108 |
1 | Included in "Other current assets" on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets. |
2 | Included in "Other long-term assets" on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets. |
3 | At September 30, 2021, SCE offset $86 million of cash collateral against derivative assets , of which $76 million was reflected in "Cash" and $10 million in "Receivables" on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2020, SCE posted $17 million of cash, of which $4 million was offset against derivative liabilities and $13 million was reflected in "Other current assets" on the consolidated balance sheets. |
Financial Statement Impact of Derivative Instruments
SCE recognizes realized gains and losses on derivative instruments as purchased power and fuel expense and expects that such gains or losses will be part of the purchased power costs recovered from customers. As a result, realized gains and losses do not affect earnings, but may temporarily affect cash flows. Due to expected future recovery from customers, unrealized gains and losses are recorded as regulatory assets and liabilities and therefore also do not affect earnings. The remaining effects of derivative activities and related regulatory offsets are reported in cash flows from operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
The following table summarizes the components of SCE's economic hedging activity:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 | 2020 |
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
Realized gains | $ | 66 | $ | 128 | $ | 193 | $ | 68 | ||||
Unrealized gains (losses) |
| 116 |
| 75 |
| 126 |
| (39) |
Notional Volumes of Derivative Instruments
The following table summarizes the notional volumes of derivatives used for SCE's economic hedging activities:
| | | | |||
Unit of | Economic Hedges | |||||
Commodity |
| Measure |
| September 30, 2021 |
| December 31, 2020 |
Electricity options, swaps and forwards |
| GWh |
| 1,036 |
| 1,581 |
Natural gas options, swaps and forwards |
| Bcf |
| 50 |
| 34 |
Congestion revenue rights |
| GWh |
| 41,573 |
| 41,151 |
62
Note 7.Revenue
SCE's revenue is disaggregated by two revenue sources:
● | Earning activities – representing revenue authorized by the CPUC and FERC, which is intended to provide SCE a reasonable opportunity to recover its costs and earn a return on its net investment in generation, transmission and distribution assets. The annual revenue requirements are comprised of authorized operation and maintenance costs, depreciation, taxes and a return consistent with the capital structure. Also, included in earnings activities are revenue or penalties related to incentive mechanisms, other operating revenue, and regulatory charges or disallowances. |
● | Cost-recovery activities – representing CPUC- and FERC- authorized balancing accounts, which allow for recovery of specific project or program costs, subject to reasonableness review or compliance with upfront standards, as well as non-bypassable rates collected for SCE Recovery Funding LLC. Cost-recovery activities include rates which provide recovery, subject to reasonableness review of, among other things, fuel costs, purchased power costs, public purpose related-program costs (including energy efficiency and demand-side management programs), certain operation and maintenance expenses, and repayment of bonds and financing costs of SCE Recovery Funding LLC. SCE earns no return on these activities. |
The following table is a summary of SCE's revenue:
Three months ended September 30, 2021 | Three months ended September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost- | Cost- | |||||||||||||||||
Earning | Recovery | Total | Earning | Recovery | Total | |||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Activities |
| Activities | Consolidated |
| Activities |
| Activities |
| Consolidated | |||||||
Revenues from contracts with customers1,2 | $ | 2,260 | $ | 2,804 | $ | 5,064 | $ | 1,893 |
| $ | 2,327 |
| $ | 4,220 | ||||
Alternative revenue programs and other operating revenue3 |
| 135 |
| 94 |
| 229 |
| 233 |
| 182 |
| 415 | ||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 2,395 | $ | 2,898 | $ | 5,293 | $ | 2,126 | $ | 2,509 | $ | 4,635 |
Nine months ended September 30, 2021 | Nine months ended September 30, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost- | Cost- | |||||||||||||||||
Earning | Recovery | Total | Earning | Recovery | Total | |||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Activities |
| Activities | Consolidated |
| Activities |
| Activities |
| Consolidated | |||||||
Revenues from contracts with customers1,2 | $ | 5,667 | $ | 5,422 | $ | 11,089 | $ | 5,175 |
| $ | 4,265 |
| $ | 9,440 | ||||
Alternative revenue programs and other operating revenue3 |
| 325 |
| 138 |
| 463 |
| 467 |
| 488 |
| 955 | ||||||
Total operating revenue | $ | 5,992 | $ | 5,560 | $ | 11,552 | $ | 5,642 | $ | 4,753 | $ | 10,395 |
1 | The revenue requirements in the 2021 GRC final decision are retroactive to January 1, 2021. SCE recorded the impact of the 2021 GRC decision in third quarter of 2021, including $404 million related to the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. |
2 | At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, SCE's receivables related to contracts from customers were $2.8 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, which include accrued unbilled revenue of $1.1 billion and $521 million, respectively. |
3 | Includes differences between amounts billed and authorized levels for both the CPUC and FERC. |
Deferred Revenue
In July 2021, Morongo Transmission LLC ("Morongo") paid SCE $400 million for the use of a portion of the West of Devers transmission line transfer capability. Under the terms of the agreement with Morongo, SCE will provide Morongo with the use of a portion of the West of Devers transmission line transfer capability for a period of 30 years, commencing in August 2021. After the 30-year contract term, the transfer capability will revert back to SCE. SCE recognized the entire proceeds as deferred revenue and will amortize deferred revenues from the use of the transfer capability over the 30-year term on a
63
straight-line basis resulting in revenue of $13 million per year. As of September 30, 2021, the deferred revenue is $398 million, of which $13 million and $385 million are included in "Other current liabilities" and "Other deferred credits and other long-term liabilities," respectively, on SCE's consolidated balance sheets. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, SCE has recognized revenue of $2 million.
Note 8.Income Taxes
Effective Tax Rate
The table below provides a reconciliation of income tax expense computed at the federal statutory income tax rate to the income tax provision:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||||
Edison International: | |||||||||||||
(Loss) income from operations before income taxes | $ | (326) | $ | (517) | $ | 357 | $ | (36) | |||||
Provision for income tax at federal statutory rate of 21% |
| (68) |
| (108) |
| 75 |
| (7) | |||||
Increase (decrease) in income tax from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
State tax, net of federal benefit |
| (39) |
| (67) |
| (28) |
| (74) | |||||
Property-related |
| (33) |
| (81) |
| (159) |
| (228) | |||||
Average rate assumption method ("ARAM") adjustment 1 | 87 | — | 87 | — | |||||||||
Change related to uncertain tax position2 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (15) | |||||
Insurance benefits | (2) | (5) | (7) | (12) | |||||||||
Wildfire related charges3 | 31 | — | 31 | — | |||||||||
Other |
| (5) |
| (14) |
| 4 |
| (19) | |||||
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ | (29) | $ | (275) | $ | 3 | $ | (355) | |||||
Effective tax rate |
| (8.9) | % |
| (53.2) | % |
| 0.8 | % |
| (986.1) | % | |
SCE: | |||||||||||||
(Loss) income from operations before income taxes | $ | (268) | $ | (469) | $ | 492 | $ | 142 | |||||
Provision for income tax at federal statutory rate of 21% |
| (56) |
| (98) |
| 103 |
| 30 | |||||
Increase (decrease) in income tax from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
State tax, net of federal benefit |
| (32) |
| (61) |
| (17) |
| (62) | |||||
Property-related |
| (33) |
| (81) |
| (159) |
| (228) | |||||
ARAM adjustment 1 | 87 | — | 87 | — | |||||||||
Change related to uncertain tax position2 | — | — | — | (18) | |||||||||
Insurance benefits | (2) | (5) | (7) | (12) | |||||||||
Wildfire related charges3 | 31 | — | 31 | — | |||||||||
Other |
| (6) |
| (6) |
| 3 |
| (10) | |||||
Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ | (11) | $ | (251) | $ | 41 | $ | (300) | |||||
Effective tax rate |
| (4.1) | % |
| (53.5) | % |
| 8.3 | % |
| (211.3) | % |
1 | In July 2021, SCE received the IRS's response to its private letter ruling request, regarding the scope of the deferred tax normalization requirements and the computations required to comply with the average rate assumption method. As a result, SCE's estimate changed and a cumulative true up of $87 million reduction in tax benefits was recorded in the third quarter of 2021, for the period of January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021. The above true up has an offsetting revenue adjustment resulting in no impact on earnings. |
2 | Primarily relates to the re-measurement of uncertain tax positions related to the 2010 – 2012 California state tax filings currently under audit. |
3 | Relates to portions of the estimated charge for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events recorded in the third quarter of 2021, assumed to be non-deductible for tax purposes. |
The CPUC requires flow-through ratemaking treatment for the current tax benefit arising from certain property-related and other temporary differences which reverse over time. Flow-through items reduce current authorized revenue requirements in
64
SCE's rate cases and result in a regulatory asset for recovery of deferred income taxes in future periods. The difference between the authorized amounts as determined in SCE's rate cases, adjusted for balancing and memorandum account activities, and the recorded flow-through items also result in increases or decreases in regulatory assets with a corresponding impact on the effective tax rate to the extent that recorded deferred amounts are expected to be recovered in future rates. For further information, see Note 11.
Tax Disputes
Tax years that remain open for examination by the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board ("FTB") are 2016 – 2020 and 2013 – 2020, respectively.
In October 2021, Edison International and subsidiaries reached a settlement with the FTB for tax years 2007 – 2012. Edison International anticipates recording a $60 million cash refund and approximately $148 million of earnings benefit resulting from the settlement in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Note 9.Compensation and Benefit Plans
Pension Plans
Net periodic pension expense components are:
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Edison International: | ||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | 34 | $ | 31 | $ | 102 | $ | 93 | ||||
Non-service cost (benefit) |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||
Interest cost |
| 26 |
| 31 |
| 78 |
| 92 | ||||
Expected return on plan assets |
| (56) |
| (55) |
| (168) |
| (163) | ||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1 | ||||
Amortization of net loss1 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 9 |
| 9 | ||||
Regulatory adjustment |
| 4 |
| 2 |
| 12 |
| 6 | ||||
Total non-service benefit2 | $ | (23) | $ | (19) | $ | (69) | $ | (55) | ||||
Total expense recognized | $ | 11 | $ | 12 | $ | 33 | $ | 38 | ||||
SCE: | ||||||||||||
Service cost | $ | 33 | $ | 31 | $ | 99 | $ | 91 | ||||
Non-service cost (benefit) |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Interest cost |
| 24 |
| 29 |
| 72 |
| 85 | ||||
Expected return on plan assets |
| (53) |
| (51) |
| (159) |
| (153) | ||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 1 | ||||
Amortization of net loss1 |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| 6 |
| 6 | ||||
Regulatory adjustment |
| 4 |
| 2 |
| 12 |
| 6 | ||||
Total non-service benefit2 | $ | (23) | $ | (18) | $ | (69) | $ | (55) | ||||
Total expense recognized | $ | 10 | $ | 13 | $ | 30 | $ | 36 |
1 | Represents the amount of net loss reclassified from other comprehensive loss. |
2 | Included in "Other income" on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated statement of income. |
65
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions ("PBOP")
Net periodic PBOP expense components for Edison International and SCE are:
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Service cost | $ | 10 | $ | 10 | $ | 30 | $ | 28 | ||||
Non-service cost (benefit) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Interest cost |
| 14 |
| 17 |
| 42 |
| 51 | ||||
Expected return on plan assets |
| (27) |
| (29) |
| (81) |
| (89) | ||||
Amortization of prior service cost |
| — |
| (1) |
| — |
| (1) | ||||
Amortization of net gain |
| (8) |
| (5) |
| (24) |
| (13) | ||||
Regulatory adjustment |
| 11 |
| 8 |
| 33 |
| 24 | ||||
Total non-service benefit1 | $ | (10) | $ | (10) | $ | (30) | $ | (28) | ||||
Total expense | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — |
1 | Included in "Other income" on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated statement of income. |
Note 10.Investments
Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts
Future decommissioning costs related to SCE's nuclear assets are expected to be funded from independent decommissioning trusts.
The following table sets forth amortized cost and fair value of the trust investments (see Note 4 for a discussion of fair value of the trust investments):
Amortized Cost | Fair Value | |||||||||||||
Longest | September 30, | December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | ||||||||||
(in millions) |
| Maturity Dates |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Stocks |
| — |
| N/A |
| N/A | $ | 1,819 | $ | 1,908 | ||||
Municipal bonds |
| 2054 |
| $ | 836 |
| $ | 1,013 |
| 990 |
| 1,218 | ||
U.S. government and agency securities |
| 2067 |
| 1,129 |
| 740 |
| 1,238 |
| 864 | ||||
Corporate bonds |
| 2070 |
| 394 |
| 460 |
| 459 |
| 550 | ||||
Short-term investments and receivables/payables1 |
| One-year |
| 252 |
| 281 |
| 263 |
| 293 | ||||
Total |
|
| $ | 2,611 | $ | 2,494 | $ | 4,769 | $ | 4,833 |
1 | Short-term investments include $59 million and $138 million of repurchase agreements payable by financial institutions which earn interest, are fully secured by U.S. Treasury securities and mature by October 1, 2021 and January 4, 2021 as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. |
Trust fund earnings (based on specific identification) increase the trust fund balance and the asset retirement obligation ("ARO") regulatory liability. Unrealized holding gains, net of losses, were $1.9 billion and $2.1 billion at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Trust assets are used to pay income taxes arising from trust investing activity. Deferred tax liabilities related to net unrealized gains were $511 million and $515 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Accordingly, the fair value of trust assets available to pay future decommissioning costs, net of deferred income taxes, totaled $4.3 billion at both September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
66
The following table summarizes the gains and losses for the trust investments:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Gross realized gains | $ | 77 | $ | 51 | $ | 328 | $ | 165 | ||||
Gross realized losses |
| (5) |
| (2) |
| (21) |
| (5) | ||||
Net unrealized (losses) gains for equity securities |
| (74) |
| 110 |
| (41) |
| 5 |
Due to regulatory mechanisms, changes in assets of the trusts from income or loss items have no impact on operating revenue or earnings.
Edison International's Investments
Edison International holds strategic investments in companies focused on developing electric technologies and services. In the second quarter of 2021, one of the investments, Proterra, became publicly traded on the NASDAQ under ticker symbol PTRA. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, Edison International recognized unrealized pre-tax loss of $8 million ($6 million after-tax) and unrealized pre-tax gain of $4 million ($3 million after-tax), respectively, which is reflected as "Other income" on the consolidated statements of income. See Note 16. As of September 30, 2021, the Proterra investment is measured at fair value of $13 million. For further information, see Note 4.
Note 11. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
Regulatory Assets
SCE's regulatory assets included on the consolidated balance sheets are:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Current: |
|
|
|
| ||
Regulatory balancing and memorandum accounts | $ | 1,367 | $ | 1,127 | ||
Power contracts |
| 167 |
| 165 | ||
Other |
| 19 |
| 22 | ||
Total current |
| 1,553 |
| 1,314 | ||
Long-term: |
|
|
|
| ||
Deferred income taxes, net of liabilities |
| 4,617 |
| 4,475 | ||
Pension and other postretirement benefits |
| — |
| 12 | ||
Power contracts |
| 104 |
| 239 | ||
Unamortized investments, net of accumulated amortization |
| 113 |
| 114 | ||
Unamortized loss on reacquired debt |
| 124 |
| 133 | ||
Regulatory balancing and memorandum accounts |
| 1,734 |
| 1,794 | ||
Environmental remediation |
| 246 |
| 247 | ||
Recovery assets1 | 328 | — | ||||
Other |
| 120 |
| 106 | ||
Total long-term |
| 7,386 |
| 7,120 | ||
Total regulatory assets | $ | 8,939 | $ | 8,434 |
1 | Represents the balance associated with the AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures related Recovery Properties and prudently incurred financing costs securitized in 2021 with issuance of the associated bond. The recovery period is until 2043, when the bonds and interest are paid in full. For further details, see Note 3. |
67
Regulatory Liabilities
SCE's regulatory liabilities included on the consolidated balance sheets are:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Current: |
|
|
|
| ||
Regulatory balancing and memorandum accounts | $ | 347 | $ | 471 | ||
Energy derivatives |
| 205 |
| 87 | ||
Other |
| 31 |
| 11 | ||
Total current |
| 583 |
| 569 | ||
Long-term: |
|
|
|
| ||
Cost of removal |
| 2,735 |
| 2,595 | ||
Re-measurement of deferred taxes |
| 2,332 |
| 2,283 | ||
Recoveries in excess of ARO liabilities1 |
| 2,047 |
| 1,930 | ||
Regulatory balancing and memorandum accounts |
| 736 |
| 1,062 | ||
Other postretirement benefits |
| 679 |
| 671 | ||
Other |
| 55 |
| 48 | ||
Total long-term |
| 8,584 |
| 8,589 | ||
Total regulatory liabilities | $ | 9,167 | $ | 9,158 |
1 | Represents the cumulative differences between ARO expenses and amounts collected in rates primarily for the decommissioning of SCE's nuclear generation facilities. Decommissioning costs recovered through rates are primarily placed in nuclear decommissioning trusts. This regulatory liability also represents the deferral of realized and unrealized gains and losses on the nuclear decommissioning trust investments. See Note 10 for further discussion. |
68
Net Regulatory Balancing and Memorandum Accounts
The following table summarizes the significant components of regulatory balancing and memorandum accounts included in the above tables of regulatory assets and liabilities:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Asset (liability) |
|
|
|
| ||
Energy resource recovery account | $ | 348 | $ | (89) | ||
Portfolio allocation balancing account |
| 98 |
| 497 | ||
New system generation balancing account |
| 57 |
| (10) | ||
Public purpose programs and energy efficiency programs |
| (1,174) |
| (1,130) | ||
Base revenue requirement balancing account |
| 784 |
| 622 | ||
GRC wildfire mitigation balancing accounts1 | 48 | — | ||||
Residential uncollectibles balancing account2 | 209 | — | ||||
Greenhouse gas auction revenue and low carbon fuel standard revenue |
| (254) |
| (125) | ||
FERC balancing accounts |
| 3 |
| 12 | ||
Wildfire and drought restoration accounts3 |
| 287 |
| 361 | ||
Wildfire-related memorandum accounts4 | 1,274 | 1,104 | ||||
COVID-19-related memorandum accounts | 86 | 176 | ||||
Customer service re-platform memorandum account5 | 101 | 30 | ||||
Tax accounting memorandum account and pole loading balancing account | 204 | (35) | ||||
Other |
| (53) |
| (25) | ||
Asset | $ | 2,018 | $ | 1,388 |
1 | The August 2021 final 2021 GRC decision approved the establishment of the vegetation management balancing account to track vegetation management expenses up to 115% of amounts authorized, the wildfire risk mitigation balancing account to track the costs of SCE's Wildfire Covered Conductor Program up to 110% of amounts authorized and the risk management balancing account to track the authorized costs of wildfire insurance. If spending is less than authorized, SCE will refund those amounts to customers. If spending is within the specified threshold, if any, for each balancing account, SCE will recover those costs from customers. Amounts above the specified threshold, or above amounts authorized if a higher threshold was not established, for each balancing account may be eligible for deferral to wildfire-related memorandum accounts. |
2 | In November 2020, the CPUC approved the establishment of the residential uncollectibles balancing account ("RUBA"), to track the difference (positive or negative) between the recorded uncollectibles expense for all customer groups and the total authorized uncollectibles revenue collected from all customers subject to a cap equal to the actual recorded uncollectibles expense for residential customers. |
3 | The wildfire and drought restoration accounts regulatory assets represent restoration costs that are recorded in a Catastrophic Event Memorandum Account ("CEMA"). |
4 | The wildfire-related memorandum accounts regulatory assets represent wildfire-related costs that are probable of future recovery from customers, subject to a reasonableness review. The Fire Hazard Prevention Memorandum Account ("FHPMA") is used to track costs related to fire safety and to implement fire prevention corrective action measures in extreme and very high fire threat areas. The Wildfire Expense Memorandum Account ("WEMA") is used to track incremental wildfire insurance costs and uninsured wildfire-related financing, legal and claims costs. During 2019, the CPUC approved a Wildfire Mitigation Plan memorandum account to track costs incurred to implement SCE's Wildfire Mitigation Plan that are not currently reflected in SCE's revenue requirements, a Grid Safety and Resiliency Program Memorandum Account ("GSRPMA") to track the costs of SCE's GS&RP that are incremental to costs approved for recovery in SCE's 2018 GRC and a fire risk mitigation memorandum account to track costs related to the reduction of fire risk that are incremental to costs approved for recovery in SCE's 2018 GRC that are not tracked in any other wildfire-related memorandum account. Revenue requirements of $326 million for 2021 expenses previously deferred as wildfire-related memorandum accounts and wildfire and drought restoration accounts were transferred to wildfire mitigation balancing accounts on approval of the 2021 GRC. The amount recorded to wildfire mitigation balancing accounts represents the difference between costs tracked in the balancing accounts and authorized revenues for those costs recorded to the base revenue requirement balancing account. |
69
5 | CSRP memorandum account was established in the 2018 GRC to track costs for implementation of a new customer service system not currently reflected in SCE's revenue requirements. |
Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies
Indemnities
Edison International and SCE have various financial and performance guarantees and indemnity agreements which are issued in the normal course of business.
Edison International and SCE have agreed to provide indemnifications through contracts entered into in the normal course of business. These are primarily indemnifications against adverse litigation outcomes in connection with underwriting agreements, indemnities for specified environmental liabilities and income taxes with respect to assets sold or other contractual arrangements. Edison International's and SCE's obligations under these agreements may or may not be limited in terms of time and/or amount, and in some instances Edison International and SCE may have recourse against third parties. Edison International and SCE have not recorded a liability related to these indemnities. The overall maximum amount of the obligations under these indemnifications cannot be reasonably estimated.
Contingencies
In addition to the matters disclosed in these Notes, Edison International and SCE are involved in other legal, tax, and regulatory proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies regarding matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Edison International and SCE believe the outcome of each of these other proceedings will not materially affect its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides
Wildfires in SCE's territory, including those where SCE's equipment may be alleged to be associated with the fire's ignition, have caused loss of life and substantial damage in recent years. Multiple factors have contributed to increased wildfire activity and faster progression of wildfires across SCE's service territory and in other areas of California. These include the buildup of dry vegetation in areas severely impacted by years of historic drought, lack of adequate clearing of hazardous fuels by responsible parties, higher temperatures, lower humidity, increased incidence of dry lightning, and strong Santa Ana winds. At the same time that wildfire risk has been increasing in Southern California, residential and commercial development has occurred and is occurring in some of the highest-risk areas. Such factors can increase the likelihood and extent of wildfires. SCE has determined that approximately 27% of its service territory is in areas identified as high fire risk.
California has experienced unprecedented weather conditions in recent years due to climate change, and SCE's service territory remains susceptible to additional wildfire activity in 2021 and beyond. The worsening weather and fuel conditions across California increase the likelihood of wildfires, including those where SCE's equipment may be alleged to be associated with the fire's ignition. In response to worsening conditions and increased wildfire activity over the past several years, SCE has developed and is implementing its 2020 – 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan ("WMP") to reduce the risk of SCE equipment contributing to the ignition of wildfires. In addition, California has increased its investment in wildfire prevention and fire suppression capabilities.
In addition to the investments SCE is making as part of its WMP, SCE also uses Public Safety Power Shutoffs ("PSPS") to proactively de-energize power lines as a last resort to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events. SCE initiated PSPS 12 times in 2020 as part of its wildfire mitigation efforts, impacting an aggregate of approximately 145,000 unique customers. In January 2021, the President of the CPUC sent SCE a letter expressing her concern regarding SCE's execution of PSPS in 2020 and notifying SCE that it must implement a PSPS action plan to reduce the impacts of PSPS on the customers and communities it serves. On a risk-informed basis, SCE is making efforts to reduce the frequency and impacts of PSPS in 2021 as compared to 2020, assuming that weather patterns in the 2021 are similar to
70
those experienced in 2020. SCE had initiated PSPS eight times in 2021 as of October 26, 2021, impacting an aggregate of approximately 98,000 unique customers. The 2021 events consist of a January 2021 event that impacted approximately 98,000 unique customers and seven other events that impacted an aggregate of approximately 300 unique customers. SCE may be subject to mandated changes to, or restrictions on, its operational PSPS practices, regulatory fines and penalties, claims for damages and reputational harm if SCE does not execute PSPS in compliance with applicable rules and regulations or if it is determined that SCE has placed excessive or unreasonable reliance on PSPS. In June 2021, the CPUC issued a final decision which, among other things, will reduce future authorized revenue for the volumetric reductions in electricity sales resulting from PSPS events initiated after June 2021 until the CPUC determines that improvements in the PSPS program have been made.
Edison International and SCE have incurred material losses in connection with the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, which are described below. SCE's equipment has been, and may further be, alleged to be associated with several wildfires that have originated in Southern California subsequent to 2018. Edison International and SCE expect that any losses incurred in connection with those fires will be covered by insurance, subject to self-insured retentions and co-insurance, or third-party receivables, and expect that any such losses after recoveries will not be material.
Liability Overview
The extent of liability for wildfire-related damages in actions against utilities depends on a number of factors, including whether the utility substantially caused or contributed to the damages and whether parties seeking recovery of damages will be required to show negligence in addition to causation. California courts have previously found utilities to be strictly liable for property damage along with associated interest and attorneys' fees, regardless of fault, by applying the theory of inverse condemnation when a utility's facilities were determined to be a substantial cause of a wildfire that caused the property damage. If inverse condemnation is held to be inapplicable to SCE in connection with a wildfire, SCE still could be held liable for property damages and associated interest if the property damages were found to have been proximately caused by SCE's negligence. If SCE were to be found negligent, SCE could also be held liable for, among other things, fire suppression costs, business interruption losses, evacuation costs, clean-up costs, medical expenses, and personal injury/wrongful death claims. Additionally, SCE could potentially be subject to fines and penalties for alleged violations of CPUC rules and state laws investigated in connection with the ignition of a wildfire.
Final determinations of liability for wildfire events, including determinations of whether SCE was negligent, would only be made during lengthy and complex litigation processes. Even when investigations are still pending or liability is disputed, an assessment of likely outcomes, including through future settlement of disputed claims, may require estimated losses to be accrued under accounting standards. Each reporting period, management reviews its loss estimates for remaining alleged and potential claims related to wildfire events. The process for estimating losses associated with alleged and potential wildfire related claims requires management to exercise significant judgment based on a number of assumptions and subjective factors, including, but not limited to: estimates of known and expected claims by third parties based on currently available information, opinions of counsel regarding litigation risk, the status of and developments in the course of litigation, and prior experience litigating and settling wildfire litigation claims. As additional information becomes available, management's estimates and assumptions regarding the causes and financial impact of wildfire events may change. For instance, as a result of additional information, management increased its estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events (as defined below) in the third quarter of 2021.
2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events
Wildfires in SCE's territory in December 2017 and November 2018 caused loss of life, substantial damage to both residential and business properties, and service outages for SCE customers. The investigating government agencies, the Ventura County Fire Department ("VCFD") and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ("CAL FIRE"), have determined that the largest of the 2017 fires in SCE's territory originated on December 4, 2017, in the Anlauf Canyon area of Ventura County (the investigating agencies refer to this fire as the "Thomas Fire"), followed shortly thereafter by a second fire that originated
71
near Koenigstein Road in the City of Santa Paula (the "Koenigstein Fire"). The December 4, 2017 fires eventually burned substantial acreage in both Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. According to CAL FIRE, the Thomas and Koenigstein Fires, collectively, burned over 280,000 acres, destroyed or damaged an estimated 1,343 structures and resulted in two confirmed fatalities. The largest of the November 2018 fires in SCE's territory, known as the "Woolsey Fire," originated in Ventura County and burned acreage in both Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. According to CAL FIRE, the Woolsey Fire burned almost 100,000 acres, destroyed an estimated 1,643 structures, damaged an estimated 364 structures and resulted in three confirmed fatalities. Four additional fatalities are alleged to have been associated with the Woolsey Fire.
As described below, multiple lawsuits related to the Thomas and Koenigstein Fires and the Woolsey Fire have been initiated against SCE and Edison International. Some of the Thomas and Koenigstein Fires lawsuits claim that SCE and Edison International have responsibility for the damages caused by debris flows and flooding in Montecito and surrounding areas in January 2018 (the "Montecito Mudslides") based on a theory alleging that SCE has responsibility for the Thomas and/or Koenigstein Fires and further alleging that the Thomas and/or Koenigstein Fires proximately caused the Montecito Mudslides. According to Santa Barbara County initial reports, the Montecito Mudslides destroyed an estimated 135 structures, damaged an estimated 324 structures, and resulted in 21 confirmed fatalities, with two additional fatalities presumed. One of the presumed fatalities has been confirmed.
The Thomas Fire, the Koenigstein Fire, the Montecito Mudslides (defined below) and the Woolsey Fire are each referred to as a "2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Event," and, collectively, referred to as the "2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events." Based on information available to SCE and consideration of the risks associated with litigation, Edison International and SCE expect to incur a material loss in connection with the remaining alleged and potential claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. The 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events are discussed further below.
Recent developments
As of September 30, 2021, in addition to the Local Public Entity Settlement, the TKM Subrogation Settlement and the Woolsey Subrogation Settlement (all defined below), SCE has entered into settlements with approximately 4,000 individual plaintiffs in the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events litigation under which it has agreed to pay an aggregate of approximately $1.5 billion.
In addition, in October 2021, SCE and the SED executed an agreement (the "SED Agreement") , subject to CPUC approval, to resolve the SED's investigations into the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events and three other 2017 wildfires for, among other things, aggregate costs of $550 million. The $550 million in costs is comprised of a $110 million fine to be paid to the State of California General Fund, $65 million of shareholder-funded safety measures, and an agreement by SCE to waive its right to seek cost recovery in CPUC-jurisdictional rates for $375 million of third-party uninsured claims payments (the "SED Excluded Losses"). The SED Agreement provides that SCE may, on a permanent basis, exclude from its ratemaking capital structure any after-tax charges to equity or debt borrowed to finance costs incurred under the SED Agreement. The SED Agreement also imposes other obligations on SCE, including reporting requirements and safety-focused studies. SCE's obligations under the SED Agreement commence after CPUC approval of the SED Agreement is final and non-appealable. In the SED Agreement, SCE did not admit imprudence, negligence or liability with respect to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events.
Each reporting period, management reviews its loss estimates for remaining alleged and potential claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. The net result of management's third quarter 2021 review, including a review of information obtained as a result of achieving key milestones in the litigation process, including settlement activity to date and the expiration of some statutes of limitations, was a $1.3 billion increase in estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events as of September 30, 2021. As a result, Edison International and SCE also recorded expected recoveries through FERC electric rates of $67 million against the charge, and the resulting net charge to earnings was $1.2
72
billion ($894 million after-tax). The estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events as of September 30, 2021 reflect the impact of the SED Agreement.
As of September 30, 2021, Edison International and SCE had paid $5.2 billion in settlements, had $84 million to be paid under executed settlements and had $2.2 billion of estimated losses for remaining alleged and potential claims reflected on their consolidated balance sheets related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. As of the same date, Edison International and SCE had assets for expected recoveries through FERC electric rates of $162 million on their consolidated balance sheets and had exhausted expected insurance recoveries related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events.
Estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events litigation are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to change as additional information becomes available. Actual losses incurred may be higher or lower than estimated based on several factors, including: the uncertainty in estimating damages that have been or may be alleged, the ability to reach settlements through the ongoing claims mediation processes, uncertainties related to the litigation processes, uncertainty as to the legal and factual determinations to be made during litigation, including uncertainty as to the contributing causes of the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, the complexities associated with fires that merge and whether inverse condemnation will be held applicable to SCE with respect to damages caused by the Montecito Mudslides, and the uncertainty as to how these factors impact future settlements.
The CPUC and FERC may not allow SCE to recover uninsured losses through electric rates if it is determined that such losses were not reasonably or prudently incurred. SCE will seek rate recovery of prudently-incurred, actual losses realized in connection with the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events in excess of available insurance, other than for CPUC-jurisdictional rate recovery of the $375 million of SED Excluded Losses. See "Loss Estimates for Third Party Claims and Potential Recoveries from Insurance and through Electric Rates" below for additional information.
External Investigations and Internal Review
The VCFD and CAL FIRE have jointly issued reports concerning their findings regarding the causes of the Thomas Fire and the Koenigstein Fire. The reports did not address the causes of the Montecito Mudslides. SCE has also received a non-final redacted draft of a report from the VCFD regarding Woolsey Fire (the "Redacted Woolsey Report"). SCE anticipates that the VCFD will release its final report regarding the Woolsey Fire in 2021. The VCFD and CAL FIRE findings do not determine legal causation of or assign legal liability for the Thomas, Koenigstein or Woolsey Fires; final determinations of legal causation and liability would only be made during lengthy and complex litigation.
The CPUC's Safety and Enforcement Division ("SED") has conducted investigations to assess SCE's compliance with applicable rules and regulations in areas impacted by the Thomas, Koenigstein and Woolsey Fires. As discussed above, in October 2021, SCE and the SED executed the SED Agreement, subject to CPUC approval, to resolve the SED's investigations into the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. If the SED Agreement is not approved by the CPUC, the CPUC may initiate proceedings to investigate these matters and SCE could be subject to material fines or penalties in connection with any such proceeding that is initiated.
The California Attorney General's Office has completed its investigation of the Thomas Fire and the Woolsey Fire without pursuing criminal charges.
SCE's internal review into the facts and circumstances of each of the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events is complex and time consuming. SCE expects to obtain and review additional information and materials in the possession of third parties during the course of its internal reviews and the litigation processes.
Thomas Fire
On March 13, 2019, the VCFD and CAL FIRE jointly issued a report concluding, after ruling out other possible causes, that the Thomas Fire was started by SCE power lines coming into contact during high winds, resulting in molten metal falling to the ground. However, the report does not state that their investigation found molten metal on the ground. At this time, based
73
on available information, SCE has not determined whether its equipment caused the Thomas Fire. Based on publicly available radar data showing a smoke plume in the Anlauf Canyon area emerging in advance of the report's indicated start time, SCE believes that the Thomas Fire started at least 12 minutes prior to any issue involving SCE's system and at least 15 minutes prior to the start time indicated in the report. SCE is continuing to assess the extent of damages that may be attributable to the Thomas Fire.
Koenigstein Fire
On March 20, 2019, the VCFD and CAL FIRE jointly issued a report finding that the Koenigstein Fire was caused when an energized SCE electrical wire separated and fell to the ground along with molten metal particles and ignited the dry vegetation below. As previously disclosed, SCE believes that its equipment was associated with the ignition of the Koenigstein Fire. SCE is continuing to assess the extent of damages that may be attributable to the Koenigstein Fire.
Montecito Mudslides
SCE's internal review includes inquiry into whether the Thomas and/or Koenigstein Fires proximately caused or contributed to the Montecito Mudslides, whether, and to what extent, the Thomas and/or Koenigstein Fires were responsible for the damages in the Montecito area and other factors that potentially contributed to the losses that resulted from the Montecito Mudslides. Many other factors, including, but not limited to, weather conditions and insufficiently or improperly designed and maintained debris basins, roads, bridges and other channel crossings, could have proximately caused, contributed to or exacerbated the losses that resulted from the Montecito Mudslides.
At this time, based on available information, SCE has not been able to determine whether the Thomas Fire or the Koenigstein Fire, or both, were responsible for the damages in the Montecito area. In the event that SCE is determined to have caused the fire that spread to the Montecito area, SCE cannot predict whether, if fully litigated, the courts would conclude that the Montecito Mudslides were caused or contributed to by the Thomas and/or Koenigstein Fires or that SCE would be liable for some or all of the damages caused by the Montecito Mudslides.
Woolsey Fire
SCE's internal review into the facts and circumstances of the Woolsey Fire is ongoing. SCE has reported to the CPUC that there was an outage on SCE's electric system in the vicinity of where the Woolsey Fire reportedly began on November 8, 2018. SCE is aware of witnesses who saw fire in the vicinity of SCE's equipment at the time the fire was first reported. While SCE did not find evidence of downed electrical wires on the ground in the suspected area of origin, it observed a pole support wire in proximity to an electrical wire that was energized prior to the outage.
The Redacted Woolsey Report states that the VCFD investigation team determined that electrical equipment owned and operated by SCE was the cause of the Woolsey Fire. Absent additional evidence, SCE believes that it is likely that its equipment was associated with the ignition of the Woolsey Fire. SCE expects to obtain and review additional information and materials in the possession of CAL FIRE and others during the course of its internal review and the Woolsey Fire litigation process, including SCE equipment that has been retained by CAL FIRE.
Litigation
Multiple lawsuits related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events naming SCE as a defendant have been filed by three categories of plaintiffs: individual plaintiffs, subrogation plaintiffs and public entity plaintiffs. A number of the lawsuits also name Edison International as a defendant and some of the lawsuits were filed as purported class actions. Because potential plaintiffs can still timely file claims related to some of the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, SCE expects to be the subject of additional lawsuits related to the events. The litigation could take a number of years to be resolved because of the complexity of the matters and number of plaintiffs.
74
As of October 26, 2021, SCE was aware of at least currently pending 280 lawsuits, representing approximately 3,000 plaintiffs, related to the Thomas and Koenigstein Fires naming SCE as a defendant. One hundred fifty-one of the 280 lawsuits also name Edison International as a defendant based on its ownership and alleged control of SCE. At least four of the lawsuits were filed as purported class actions. The lawsuits, which have been filed in the superior courts of Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles Counties allege, among other things, negligence, inverse condemnation, trespass, private nuisance, and violations of the public utilities and health and safety codes. An initial trial for a limited number of plaintiffs, sometimes referred to as a bellwether trial, on certain fire only matters is currently scheduled for March 17, 2022. The bellwether trial date may be further delayed to provide SCE and certain of the individual plaintiffs in the Thomas and Koenigstein Fire litigation the opportunity to pursue settlements of claims under a mediation program adopted to promote an efficient and orderly settlement process. Some individual plaintiffs have, and others may, opt to pursue trial outside of the settlement program.
Seventy-three of the 280 pending lawsuits mentioned in the paragraph above allege that SCE has responsibility for the Thomas and/or Koenigstein Fires and that the Thomas and/or Koenigstein Fires proximately caused the Montecito Mudslides, resulting in the plaintiffs' claimed damages. Forty-seven of the 73 Montecito Mudslides lawsuits also name Edison International as a defendant based on its ownership and alleged control of SCE. In addition to other causes of action, some of the Montecito Mudslides lawsuits also allege personal injury and wrongful death. A bellwether jury trial previously scheduled for October 12, 2020 was vacated due to the wide-spread disruption being caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of October 26, 2021, SCE was aware of at least 348 currently pending lawsuits, representing approximately 7,000 plaintiffs, related to the Woolsey Fire naming SCE as a defendant. Two hundred eighty-four of the 348 lawsuits also name Edison International as a defendant based on its ownership and alleged control of SCE. At least two of the lawsuits were filed as purported class actions. The lawsuits, which have been filed in the superior courts of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties allege, among other things, negligence, inverse condemnation, personal injury, wrongful death, trespass, private nuisance, and violations of the public utilities and health and safety codes. A bellwether jury trial previously scheduled for October 26, 2021 has been vacated to provide SCE and certain of the individual plaintiffs in the Woolsey Fire litigation the opportunity to pursue settlements of claims under a mediation program adopted to promote an efficient and orderly settlement process. Some individual plaintiffs may opt to pursue trial outside of the settlement program.
The Thomas and Koenigstein Fires and Montecito Mudslides lawsuits are being coordinated in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The Woolsey Fire lawsuits have also been coordinated in the Los Angeles Superior Court. On October 4, 2018, the Superior Court denied Edison International's and SCE's challenge to the application of inverse condemnation to SCE with respect to the Thomas and Koenigstein Fires and, on February 26, 2019, the California Supreme Court denied SCE's petition to review the Superior Court's decision. In January 2019, SCE filed a cross-complaint against certain local public entities alleging that failures by these entities, such as failure to adequately plan for flood hazards and build and maintain adequate debris basins, roads, bridges and other channel crossings, among other things, caused, contributed to or exacerbated the losses that resulted from the Montecito Mudslides. These cross-claims in the Montecito Mudslides litigation were not released as part of the Local Public Entity Settlements (as defined below).
Additionally, in September 2018, a derivative lawsuit for breach of fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court against certain current and former members of the Boards of Directors of Edison International and SCE. Edison International and SCE are identified as nominal defendants in the action. The derivative lawsuit generally alleges that the individual defendants violated their fiduciary duties by causing or allowing SCE to operate in an unsafe manner in violation of relevant regulations, resulting in substantial liability and damage from the Thomas and Koenigstein Fires and the Montecito Mudslides. The lawsuit is currently stayed.
In November 2018, a purported class action lawsuit alleging securities fraud and related claims was filed in federal court against Edison International, SCE and certain current and former officers of Edison International and SCE. The plaintiff alleges that Edison International and SCE made false and/or misleading statements in filings with the Securities and
75
Exchange Commission by failing to disclose that SCE had allegedly failed to maintain its electric transmission and distribution networks in compliance with safety regulations, and that those alleged safety violations led to fires that occurred in 2017 and 2018, including the Thomas Fire and the Woolsey Fire. In April 2021, the court granted a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The plaintiff has appealed the dismissal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
In January 2019, two separate derivative lawsuits alleging breach of fiduciary duties, securities fraud, misleading proxy statements, unjust enrichment, and related claims were filed in federal court against certain current and former members of the Boards of Directors and certain current and former officers of Edison International and SCE. Edison International and SCE are named as nominal defendants in those actions. The derivative lawsuits generally allege that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties and made misleading statements or allowed misleading statements to be made (i) between March 21, 2014 and August 10, 2015, with respect to certain ex parte communications between SCE and CPUC decisionmakers concerning the settlement of the San Onofre Order Instituting Investigation proceeding (the "San Onofre OII") and (ii) from February 23, 2016 to the present, concerning compliance with applicable laws and regulations concerning electric system maintenance and operations related to wildfire risks. The lawsuits generally allege that these breaches of duty and misstatements led to substantial liability and damage resulting from the disclosure of SCE's ex parte communications in connection with the San Onofre OII settlement, and from the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. The lawsuits are currently stayed.
Settlements
In the fourth quarter of 2019, SCE paid $360 million to a number of local public entities to resolve those parties' collective claims arising from the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events (the "Local Public Entity Settlements").
In the third quarter of 2020, Edison International and SCE entered into an agreement (the "TKM Subrogation Settlement") under which all of the insurance subrogation plaintiffs' in the Thomas Fire, Koenigstein Fire and Montecito Mudslides litigation (the "TKM Subrogation Plaintiffs") collective claims arising from the Thomas Fire, Koenigstein Fire or Montecito Mudslides have been resolved. Under the TKM Subrogation Settlement, SCE paid the TKM Subrogation Plaintiffs an aggregate of $1.2 billion in October 2020 and also agreed to pay $0.555 for each dollar in claims to be paid by the TKM Subrogation Plaintiffs to their policy holders on or before July 15, 2023, up to an agreed upon cap.
In January 2021, Edison International and SCE entered into an agreement (the "Woolsey Subrogation Settlement") under which all of the insurance subrogation plaintiffs' in the Woolsey Fire litigation (the "Woolsey Subrogation Plaintiffs") collective claims arising from the Woolsey Fire have been resolved. Under the Woolsey Subrogation Settlement, SCE paid the Woolsey Subrogation Plaintiffs an aggregate of $2.2 billion in March and April 2021. SCE has also agreed to pay $0.67 for each dollar in claims to be paid by the Woolsey Subrogation Plaintiffs to their policy holders on or before July 15, 2023, up to an agreed upon cap.
As of September 30, 2021, SCE has also entered into settlements with approximately 4,000 individual plaintiffs in the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events litigation. In 2020, SCE entered into settlements with individual plaintiffs in the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events litigation under which it agreed to pay an aggregate of approximately $300 million to those individual plaintiffs. Between December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2021, SCE also entered into settlements with individual plaintiffs in the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events litigation under which it agreed to pay an aggregate of approximately $1.2 billion to those individual plaintiffs.
Edison International and SCE did not admit wrongdoing or liability as part of any of the settlements described above. Other claims and potential claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events remain.
SCE continues to explore reasonable settlement opportunities with other plaintiffs in the outstanding 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events litigation.
76
Loss Estimates for Third Party Claims and Potential Recoveries from Insurance and through Electric Rates
At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets include fixed payments to be made under executed settlement agreements and accrued estimated losses of $2.3 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively, for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. The following table presents changes in estimated losses since December 31, 2020:
(in millions) |
| ||
Balance at December 31, 20201 | $ | 4,383 | |
Increase in accrued estimated losses to reflect best estimate |
| 1,265 | |
Amounts paid |
| (3,392) | |
Balance at September 30, 20212 | $ | 2,256 |
1 | At December 31, 2020, $2,231 million in current liabilities, wildfire-related claims, on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets includes an estimate for claims brought by insurance subrogation plaintiffs in the Woolsey Fire litigation, which were settled on January 22, 2021 for $2,212 million, and $19 million of other settlements executed in connection with the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. At December 31, 2020, the $2,281 million included in deferred credits and other liabilities, wildfire-related claims, on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets includes Edison International and SCE's best estimate of expected losses for remaining alleged and potential claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events after giving effect to the Woolsey Subrogation Settlement of $2,152 million and other wildfire-related claims estimates of $129 million. |
2 | At September 30, 2021, $84 million in current liabilities, wildfire-related claims, on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets consists of settlements executed in connection with the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events. At September 30, 2021, the $2,308 million included in deferred credits and other liabilities, wildfire-related claims, on Edison International's and SCE's consolidated balance sheets includes Edison International and SCE's best estimate of expected losses for remaining alleged and potential claims related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events of $2,172 million and other wildfire-related claims estimates of $136 million. |
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, Edison International's and SCE's income statements include charges for the estimated losses, net of expected recoveries from insurance and FERC customers, related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events as follows:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Charge for wildfire-related claims | $ | 1,265 | $ | 1,297 | $ | 1,265 | $ | 1,297 | ||||
Expected insurance recoveries |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||
Expected revenue from FERC customers |
| (67) |
| (84) |
| (67) |
| (84) | ||||
Total pre-tax charge |
| 1,198 |
| 1,213 |
| 1,198 |
| 1,213 | ||||
Income tax benefit |
| (304) |
| (339) |
| (304) |
| (339) | ||||
Total after-tax charge | $ | 894 | $ | 874 | $ | 894 | $ | 874 |
For events that occurred in 2017 and early 2018, principally the Thomas and Koenigstein Fires and Montecito Mudslides, SCE had $1.0 billion of wildfire-specific insurance coverage, subject to a self-insured retention of $10 million per occurrence. For the Woolsey Fire, SCE had an additional $1.0 billion of wildfire-specific insurance coverage, subject to a self-insured retention of $10 million per occurrence. Edison International and SCE record a receivable for insurance recoveries when recovery of a recorded loss is determined to be probable. The following table presents changes in expected
77
insurance recoveries associated with the estimated losses for the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events since December 31, 2020:
(in millions) |
|
| |
Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 708 | |
Insurance recoveries |
| (708) | |
Balance at September 30, 2021 | $ | — |
In total, through September 30, 2021, SCE has accrued estimated losses of $7.5 billion, has paid or agreed to pay approximately $5.3 billion in settlements and has recovered $2.0 billion from its insurance carriers in relation to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events.
Recovery of SCE's actual losses realized in connection with the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events in excess of available insurance is subject to approval by regulators. Under accounting standards for rate-regulated enterprises, SCE defers costs as regulatory assets when it concludes that such costs are probable of future recovery in electric rates. SCE utilizes objectively determinable evidence to form its view on probability of future recovery. The only directly comparable precedent in which a California investor-owned utility has sought recovery for uninsured wildfire-related costs is SDG&E's requests for cost recovery related to 2007 wildfire activity, where the FERC allowed recovery of all FERC-jurisdictional wildfire-related costs while the CPUC rejected recovery of all CPUC-jurisdictional wildfire-related costs based on a determination that SDG&E did not meet the CPUC's prudency standard. As a result, while SCE does not agree with the CPUC's decision, it believes that the CPUC's interpretation and application of the prudency standard to SDG&E creates substantial uncertainty regarding how that standard will be applied to an investor-owned utility in wildfire cost-recovery proceedings for fires ignited prior to July 12, 2019. SCE will continue to evaluate the probability of recovery based on available evidence, including judicial, legislative and regulatory decisions, including any CPUC decisions illustrating the interpretation and/or application of the prudency standard when making determinations regarding recovery of uninsured wildfire-related costs. While the CPUC has not made a determination regarding SCE's prudency relative to any of the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events, SCE is unable to conclude, at this time, that uninsured CPUC-jurisdictional wildfire-related costs are probable of recovery through electric rates. SCE would record a regulatory asset at the time it obtains sufficient information to support a conclusion that recovery is probable.
In July 2019, SCE filed a CEMA application with the CPUC to seek recovery of, among other things, approximately $60 million of capital expenditures and capital related expenses incurred to restore service to customers and to repair, replace and restore buildings and SCE's facilities damaged or destroyed as a result of six 2017 fires, primarily the Thomas and Koenigstein Fires. In August 2021, the CPUC issued a final decision which denied without prejudice SCE's application to recover a revenue requirement of $8 million for all six 2017 wildfires on the basis that SCE did not demonstrate that it was prudent in relation to the Thomas and Rye fires and had failed to segregate the costs attributable to the other four fires. Of the $8 million revenue requirement that was denied, $6 million was for the Thomas and Rye fires. CAL FIRE has determined that the Thomas and Rye fires were caused by SCE equipment. The decision allows SCE to submit additional applications with the CPUC to recover the costs associated with the Thomas and Rye fires, does not specify a deadline for any such applications, and directs that SCE must prove it was prudent in relation to the Thomas and/or Rye fires, as applicable, in any such future applications. With respect to the other four 2017 fires, the final decision directed SCE to file supplemental testimony by November 2021 segregating the restoration/repair costs attributable each such fire, for which SCE's prudency was not in question. As of September 30, 2021, SCE has $187 million in assets recorded in property, plant and equipment in relation to restoration costs related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events which may not be recoverable. These assets would be impaired if the restoration costs are permanently disallowed by the CPUC in future cost recovery proceedings. SCE continues to incur costs for reconstructing its system and restoring service to structures that were damaged or destroyed by the Thomas, Koenigstein and Woolsey Fires and plans to file additional applications with the CPUC to recover such costs. See "Recovery of Wildfire-Related Costs" below.
78
Through the operation of its FERC Formula Rate, and based upon the precedent established in SDG&E's recovery of FERC-jurisdictional wildfire-related costs, SCE believes it is probable it will recover its FERC-jurisdictional wildfire and mudslide related costs and has recorded total expected recoveries of $300 million within the FERC balancing account. This was the FERC portion of the total estimated losses accrued. As of September 30, 2021, collections have reduced the regulatory assets remaining in the FERC balancing account to $162 million.
2019/2020 Wildfires
Several wildfires significantly impacted portions of SCE's service territory in 2019 and 2020 (the wildfires that originated in Southern California in 2019 and 2020 where SCE's equipment may be alleged to be associated with the fire's ignition are referred to collectively as the "2019/2020 Wildfires"). Edison International and SCE expect that any losses incurred in connection with the 2019/2020 Wildfires will be covered by insurance, subject to self-insured retentions and co-insurance, and expect that any such losses after insurance recoveries will not be material. As of September 30, 2021, Edison International and SCE had estimated losses (established at the lower end of the reasonably estimated range of expected losses) of $123 million, and expected recoveries from insurance of $75 million, reflected on their consolidated balance sheets related to the 2019/2020 Wildfires.
One of the 2019/2020 Wildfires, the "Saddle Ridge" Fire, originated in Los Angeles county in October 2019 and burned approximately 9,000 acres, destroyed an estimated 19 structures, damaged an estimated 88 structures, and resulted in injuries to 8 individuals and one fatality. An investigation into the cause of the Saddle Ridge Fire is being led by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Based on pending litigation and without considering insurance recoveries, it is reasonably possible that SCE will incur a material loss in connection with the Saddle Ridge Fire, but the range of possible losses that could be incurred cannot be estimated at this time. SCE has not accrued a charge for potential losses relating to the Saddle Ridge Fire.
Another of the 2019/2020 Wildfires, the "Bobcat Fire" was reported in the vicinity of Cogswell Dam in Los Angeles County, California in September 2020. The United States Forest Service ("USFS") has reported that the Bobcat Fire burned approximately 116,000 acres in Los Angeles County, destroyed an estimated 87 homes, 1 commercial property and 83 minor structures, damaged an estimated 28 homes and 19 minor structures, and resulted in injuries to 6 firefighters. In addition, the USFS has estimated suppression costs at $80 million. A camera in the vicinity of Cogswell Dam captured the initial stages of a fire with the first observed smoke approximately six minutes before an SCE circuit in the area experienced an anomaly (a relay). An investigation into the cause of the Bobcat Fire is being led by the USFS, and the USFS has taken a specific section of an SCE overhead conductor in the vicinity of Cogswell Dam into possession as part of its investigation. SCE understands that the USFS has also taken three tree branches in the area into possession. The SED is also conducting an investigation of the Bobcat Fire. SCE has accrued a charge for potential losses relating to the Bobcat Fire. The accrued charge corresponds to the lower end of the reasonably estimated range of expected losses that may be incurred in connection with the Bobcat Fire and is subject to change as additional information becomes available.
Current Wildfire Insurance Coverage
SCE has approximately $1.0 billion of wildfire-specific insurance coverage for events that may occur during the period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, subject to $50 million of self-insured retention and up to approximately $75 million of co-insurance, which results in net coverage of approximately $875 million. Various coverage limitations within the policies that make up SCE's wildfire insurance coverage could result in additional material self-insured costs, for instance in the event of multiple wildfire occurrences during a policy period or with a single wildfire with damages in excess of the policy limits. SCE believes that its insurance coverage for the July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 period meets its obligation to maintain reasonable insurance coverage under AB 1054.
Based on policies currently in effect, SCE's 2021 wildfire insurance expense is expected to be approximately $425 million prior to any regulatory deferrals.
79
In August 2021, the CPUC issued a final decision in track 1 of the 2021 GRC proceeding which authorized $460 million for wildfire insurance expense for 2021 and a one-way balancing account to require any overcollection to be returned to customers. Under the final decision, SCE would continue to track incremental wildfire insurance expenses above authorized amounts in its WEMA and recovery of incremental amounts would be subject to future reasonableness review.
SCE tracks incremental insurance premium, self-insured retention and co-insurance costs related to wildfire liability insurance policies as well as other wildfire-related costs, including claims and legal costs, in its WEMA. In July 2019, SCE filed a WEMA application with the CPUC to seek recovery of an aggregate of $505 million, consisting of $478 million in wildfire insurance premium costs that had been incurred or were to be incurred before July 1, 2020 in excess of premiums approved in the 2018 GRC and the corresponding financing costs. In September 2020, the CPUC approved SCE's July 2019 WEMA application and authorized SCE to collect a total revenue requirement of $505 million over a two-year period. SCE included the authorized revenue requirement in rates in October 2020. In December 2020, SCE filed another WEMA application with the CPUC to seek recovery of an aggregate of $214 million, consisting of $204 million in wildfire insurance premium costs in excess of premiums approved in the 2018 GRC, representing wildfire insurance premiums for July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, the corresponding financing costs, memorandum account interest and a prior period premium adjustment.
SCE's cost of obtaining wildfire insurance coverage has increased significantly in recent years as a result of, among other things, the number of recent and significant wildfire events throughout California and the application of inverse condemnation to investor-owned utilities. As such, while SCE is required to maintain reasonable insurance coverage under AB 1054, SCE may not be able to obtain a reasonable amount of wildfire insurance, at a reasonable cost, for future policy periods.
Recovery of Wildfire-Related Costs
Pre-AB 1054 Cost Recovery
California courts have previously found investor-owned utilities to be strictly liable for property damage, regardless of fault, by applying the theory of inverse condemnation when a utility's facilities were determined to be a substantial cause of a wildfire that caused the property damage. The rationale stated by these courts for applying this theory to investor-owned utilities is that property damages resulting from a public improvement, such as the distribution of electricity, can be spread across the larger community that benefited from such improvement through recovery of uninsured wildfire-related costs in electric rates. However, in November 2017, the CPUC issued a decision denying SDG&E's request to include in its rates uninsured wildfire-related costs arising from several 2007 wildfires, finding that SDG&E did not meet the prudency standard because it did not prudently manage and operate its facilities prior to or at the outset of the 2007 wildfires. In July 2018, the CPUC denied both SDG&E's application for rehearing on its cost recovery request and a joint application for rehearing filed by SCE and PG&E limited to the applicability of inverse condemnation principles in the same proceeding. The California Court of Appeal, the California Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court have denied SDG&E's petitions for review of the CPUC's denial of SDG&E's application.
2019 Wildfire Legislation
In July 2019, AB 1054 was signed by the governor of California and became effective immediately. The summary of the wildfire legislation below is based on SCE's interpretation of AB 1054. A lawsuit challenging the validity of AB 1054 was filed in federal court on July 19, 2019. Edison International and SCE are unable to predict the outcome of this lawsuit.
AB 1054 Prudency Standard
Under AB 1054, the CPUC must apply a new standard when assessing the prudency of a utility in connection with a request for recovery of wildfire costs for wildfires ignited after July 12, 2019. Under AB 1054, the CPUC is required to find a utility to be prudent if the utility's conduct related to the ignition was consistent with actions that a reasonable utility would have
80
undertaken under similar circumstances, at the relevant point in time, and based on the information available at that time. Prudent conduct under the AB 1054 standard is not limited to the optimum practice, method, or act to the exclusion of others, but rather encompasses a spectrum of possible practices, methods, or acts consistent with utility system needs, the interest of the ratepayers, and the requirements of governmental agencies. AB 1054 also provides that the CPUC may determine that wildfire costs may be recoverable, in whole or in part, by taking into account factors within and outside the utility's control, including humidity, temperature, and winds. Further, utilities with a valid safety certification will be presumed to have acted prudently related to a wildfire ignition unless a party in the cost recovery proceeding creates serious doubt as to the reasonableness of the utility's conduct, at which time, the burden shifts back to the utility to prove its conduct was prudent. If a utility does not have a valid safety certification, it will have the burden to prove, based on a preponderance of evidence, that its conduct was prudent. The new prudency standard will survive the termination of the Wildfire Insurance Fund.
Utilities participating in the Wildfire Insurance Fund are not required to reimburse the fund for amounts withdrawn from the fund that the CPUC finds were prudently incurred and can recover such prudently incurred wildfire costs through electric rates if the fund has been exhausted.
Wildfire Insurance Fund
AB 1054 provided for the Wildfire Insurance Fund to reimburse a utility for payment of third-party damage claims arising from certain wildfires that exceed, in aggregate in a calendar year, the greater of $1.0 billion or the insurance coverage required to be maintained under AB 1054. The Wildfire Insurance Fund was established in September 2019 and is available for claims related to wildfires ignited after July 12, 2019 that are determined by the responsible government investigatory agency to have been caused by a utility.
SCE and SDG&E collectively made their initial contributions totaling approximately $2.7 billion to the Wildfire Insurance Fund in September 2019. Upon its emergence from bankruptcy, on July 1, 2020, PG&E made its initial contribution of approximately $4.8 billion to the Wildfire Insurance Fund. PG&E, SCE and SDG&E are also collectively expected to make aggregate contributions of approximately $3.0 billion to the Wildfire Insurance Fund through annual contributions to the fund over a 10-year period, of which they have made two annual contributions totaling approximately $600 million. In addition to PG&E's, SCE's and SDG&E's contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund, PG&E, SCE and SDG&E are expected to collect $6.1 billion, $6.1 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively, from their customers over a period through a dedicated rate component. The amount collected from customers may be directly contributed to the Wildfire Insurance Fund or used to support the issuance of up to $10.5 billion in bonds by the California Department of Water Resources, the proceeds of which would be contributed to the fund. In addition to funding contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund, the amount collected from utility customers will pay for, among other things, any interest and financing costs related to any bonds that are issued by the California Department of Water Resources to support the contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund.
SCE made an initial contribution of approximately $2.4 billion to the Wildfire Insurance Fund in September 2019 and committed to make ten annual contributions of approximately $95 million per year to the fund, by no later than January 1 of each year. Through September 30, 2021, SCE has contributed approximately $2.6 billion to the Wildfire Insurance Fund.
During 2020 SCE amortized its contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund over 10 years, based on evaluation of the fund's expected life based on fire experience. Based on information available in the first quarter of 2021 regarding catastrophic wildfires during 2019 and 2020, SCE reassessed its estimate of the life of the Wildfire Insurance Fund. Using 7 years of historical data (2014 – 2020) of wildfires caused by electrical utility equipment to create Monte Carlo simulations of expected loss, SCE expects the life of the fund to be 15 years from July 12, 2019 which will be reflected prospectively in amortization expense from January 1, 2021. As of September 30, 2021, the participating investor-owned utilities have not sought reimbursement of wildfire claims from the Wildfire Insurance Fund. SCE has considered the possible impact of PG&E seeking reimbursement from the fund for the Dixie fire, a July 2021 fire where PG&E's equipment has been alleged to be associated with the fire's ignition, and does not currently expect a change in the life of the fund as a result of the fire.
81
SCE's contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund will not be recoverable through electric rates and will be excluded from the measurement of SCE's CPUC-jurisdictional authorized capital structure. SCE will also not be entitled to cost recovery for any borrowing costs incurred in connection with its contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund. See Note 1 in the 2020 Form 10-K for information on the accounting impact of SCE's contributions to the Wildfire Insurance Fund.
Reimbursement from Wildfire Insurance Fund and AB 1054 Liability Cap
Participating investor-owned utilities will be reimbursed from the Wildfire Insurance Fund for eligible claims, subject to the fund administrator's review. SCE will reimburse the fund for any withdrawn amounts if SCE receives payment of such amounts under an indemnification agreement or from an insurance provider or other third-party. SCE will also be required to reimburse the fund for withdrawn amounts that the CPUC disallows, subject to the AB 1054 Liability Cap (as defined below). If the utility has maintained a valid safety certification and its actions or inactions that resulted in the wildfire are not found to constitute conscious or willful disregard of the rights and safety of others, the aggregate requirement to reimburse the fund over a trailing three calendar year period is capped at 20% of the equity portion of the utility's transmission and distribution rate base in the year of the prudency determination ("AB 1054 Liability Cap"). Based on SCE's forecasted weighted-average 2021 transmission and distribution rate base, excluding general plant and intangibles, and using the equity portion of SCE's CPUC authorized capital structure of 52%, SCE's requirement to reimburse the Wildfire Insurance Fund for eligible claims disallowed in 2021 would be capped at approximately $3.2 billion.
SCE will not be allowed to recover borrowing costs incurred to reimburse the fund for amounts that the CPUC disallows. The Wildfire Insurance Fund and, consequently, the AB 1054 Liability Cap will terminate when the administrator determines that the fund has been exhausted.
Safety Certification and Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Under AB 1054, SCE can obtain an annual safety certification upon the submission of certain required safety information, including an approved wildfire mitigation plan ("WMP"). On September 17, 2020, SCE obtained a safety certification that will be valid for 12 months. Notwithstanding its 12-month term, if SCE requested a new safety certification by September 13, 2021, then its current safety certification would remain valid until the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety of the California Natural Resources Agency ("OEIS," which was previously the Wildfire Safety Division of the CPUC) acts on SCE's request for a new safety certification. SCE requested a new safety certification on September 13, 2021 and expects the OEIS to act on its request by December 13, 2021.
Under AB 1054, SCE is required to submit a comprehensive WMP to the CPUC at least once every three years for review and approval. Beginning in 2020, each such comprehensive plan was required to cover at least a three-year period. In addition, SCE anticipates updating its comprehensive three-year plans annually in the intervening years.
SCE submitted its 2020 – 2022 WMP in February 2020. In June 2020, the CPUC ratified the OEIS's conditional approval of SCE's 2020 – 2022 WMP. The approval was conditioned on SCE providing requested information to the OEIS, including additional descriptions of how SCE is implementing, and will implement, certain requirements imposed by the OEIS. SCE submitted updates to its 2020 – 2022 WMP in February 2021 to, among other things, report on implementation of its plan in 2020 and describe new and ongoing wildfire mitigation activities. In June 2021, SCE submitted revised updates to its 2020 – 2022 WMP in response to a revision notice received from the OEIS. In August 2021, the OEIS issued a resolution approving SCE's updates, and an action statement requiring SCE to remedy certain specified issues, including by reevaluating the scope and pace of its covered conductor program and providing additional clarity and consistency on risk mitigation analysis. As required under the action statement, SCE submitted a report regarding its progress on remedying these issues on November 1, 2021 and is required to submit an additional report in its 2022 WMP update.
82
Capital Expenditure Requirement
Under AB 1054, approximately $1.6 billion of spending by SCE on wildfire risk mitigation capital expenditures made after August 1, 2019, cannot be included in the equity portion of SCE's rate base ("AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures"). SCE can apply for irrevocable orders from the CPUC to finance these AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures, including through the issuance of securitized bonds, and can recover any prudently incurred financing costs. As of September 30, 2021, SCE had spent all of the approximately $1.6 billion in AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures.
In November 2020, the CPUC issued an irrevocable order permitting SCE to finance approximately $340 million, comprised of AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures incurred in connection with GS&RP and prudently incurred financing costs, through the issuance of securitized bonds. SCE issued securitized bonds in the amount of $338 million in February 2021.
In June 2021, SCE filed an application with the CPUC requesting to finance up to $1.0 billion of wildfire mitigation and customer uncollectible costs and associated financing costs through the issuance of securitized bonds. The $1.0 billion request included approximately $518 million of AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures, comprised of $219 million approved in the 2021 GRC track 2 settlement and $299 million incurred in 2021 and approved in track 1 of the GRC.
In October 2021, the CPUC issued a decision which allows SCE to issue recovery bonds to recover the AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures approved in tracks 1 and 2 of the 2021 GRC, but denied SCE's application to securitize the operations and maintenance expenditures approved in the GRC track 2 settlement and incremental residential uncollectible expenses. The decision directed SCE to recover the remaining costs in CPUC customer rates by submitting an advice letter to determine the amortization schedule and presumes that a three-year amortization period is reasonable.
SCE expects to seek additional irrevocable orders from the CPUC to finance the remaining AB 1054 Excluded Capital Expenditures.
Environmental Remediation
SCE records its environmental remediation and restoration liabilities when site assessments and/or remedial actions are probable and a range of reasonably likely cleanup costs can be estimated. SCE reviews its sites and measures the liability quarterly, by assessing a range of reasonably likely costs for each identified site using currently available information, including existing technology, presently enacted laws and regulations, experience gained at similar sites, and the probable level of involvement and financial condition of other potentially responsible parties. These estimates include costs for site investigations, remediation, operation and maintenance, monitoring, and site closure. Unless there is a single probable amount, SCE records the lower end of this reasonably likely range of costs (reflected in "Other long-term liabilities") at undiscounted amounts as timing of cash flows is uncertain.
At September 30, 2021, SCE's recorded estimated minimum liability to remediate its 26 identified material sites (sites with a liability balance at September 30, 2021, in which the upper end of the range of expected costs is at least $1 million) was $258 million, including $170 million related to San Onofre. In addition to these sites, SCE also has 14 immaterial sites with a liability balance as of September 30, 2021, for which the total minimum recorded liability was $3 million. Of the $261 million total environmental remediation liability for SCE, $246 million has been recorded as a regulatory asset. SCE expects to recover $39 million through an incentive mechanism that allows SCE to recover 90% of its environmental remediation costs at certain sites (SCE may request to include additional sites in this mechanism) and $207 million through proceedings that allow SCE to recover up to 100% of the costs incurred at certain sites through customer rates. In addition, SCE has other identified sites including several sites for which there is a lack of currently available information, including the nature and magnitude of contamination, and the extent, if any, that SCE may be held responsible for contributing to any costs incurred for remediating these sites. Thus, no reasonable estimate of cleanup costs can be made for these sites.
The ultimate costs to clean up SCE's identified sites may vary from its recorded liability due to numerous uncertainties inherent in the estimation process, such as: the extent and nature of contamination; the scarcity of reliable data for identified
83
sites; the varying costs of alternative cleanup methods; developments resulting from investigatory studies; the possibility of identifying additional sites; and the time periods over which site remediation is expected to occur. SCE believes that, due to these uncertainties, it is reasonably possible that cleanup costs at the identified material sites and immaterial sites could exceed its recorded liability by up to $110 million and $9 million, respectively. The upper limit of this range of costs was estimated using assumptions least favorable to SCE among a range of reasonably possible outcomes.
SCE expects to clean up and mitigate its identified sites over a period of up to 30 years. Remediation costs for each of the next five years are expected to range from $8 million to $24 million. Costs incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were $6 million and $5 million, respectively.
Based upon the CPUC's regulatory treatment of environmental remediation costs incurred at SCE, SCE believes that costs ultimately recorded will not materially affect its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. There can be no assurance, however, that future developments, including additional information about existing sites or the identification of new sites, will not require material revisions to estimates.
Nuclear Insurance
SCE is a member of Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited ("NEIL"), a mutual insurance company owned by entities with nuclear facilities. NEIL provides insurance for nuclear property damage, including damages caused by acts of terrorism up to specified limits, and for accidental outages for active facilities. The amount of nuclear property damage insurance purchased for San Onofre and Palo Verde exceeds the minimum federal requirement of $50 million and $1.1 billion, respectively. If NEIL losses at any nuclear facility covered by the arrangement were to exceed the accumulated funds for these insurance programs, SCE could be assessed retrospective premium adjustments of up to approximately $30 million per year.
Federal law limits public offsite liability claims for bodily injury and property damage from a nuclear incident to the amount of available financial protection, which is currently approximately $13.5 billion for Palo Verde and $560 million for San Onofre. SCE and other owners of San Onofre and Palo Verde have purchased the maximum private primary insurance available through a Facility Form issued by American Nuclear Insurers. SCE withdrew from participation in the secondary insurance pool for San Onofre for offsite liability insurance effective January 5, 2018. Based on its ownership interests in Palo Verde, SCE could be required to pay a maximum of approximately $65 million per nuclear incident for future incidents. However, it would have to pay no more than approximately $10 million per future incident in any one year. Based on its ownership interests in San Onofre and Palo Verde prior to January 5, 2018, SCE could be required to pay a maximum of approximately $255 million per nuclear incident and a maximum of $38 million per year per incident for liabilities arising from events prior to January 5, 2018, although SCE is not aware of any such events.
Spent Nuclear Fuel
Under federal law, the DOE is responsible for the selection and construction of a facility for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The DOE has not met its contractual obligation to accept spent nuclear fuel. Extended delays by the DOE have led to the construction of costly alternatives and associated siting and environmental issues. Currently, both San Onofre and Palo Verde have interim storage for spent nuclear fuel on site sufficient for their current license period.
A settlement entered into between SCE, as operating agent of San Onofre, and the DOE provided for a claim submission/audit process for expenses incurred from 2014 – 2016, under which SCE submitted claims for damages caused by the DOE failure to accept San Onofre spent nuclear fuel each year and the DOE has approved reimbursement of and paid an aggregate of approximately $88 million (SCE's share was approximately $69 million). These damages awards have been refunded to customers.
In November 2019, SCE, as operating agent of San Onofre, filed a new complaint against the DOE to recover San Onofre related damages incurred from January 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018.
84
Upstream Lighting Program
From 2017 – 2019, SCE administered the Upstream Lighting Program, part of a statewide program administered by investor-owned utilities that offered discounted energy efficient light bulbs to customers through incentives to lighting manufacturers. The CPUC began investigating the programs administered by the investor-owned utilities based on reports that investor-owned utilities, including SCE, shipped a significant number of bulbs under the program that could not be tracked to customers. Beginning in January 2020, the CPUC has sought comments on remedies related to SCE's implementation of the Upstream Lighting Program from 2017 through 2019 program years. SCE undertook an independent investigation of bulbs shipped to retailers categorized as grocery and discount businesses during the 2017 to 2019 program years and found that there were overstocking of bulbs and program management shortcomings. Incentives paid to manufacturers for bulbs shipped to grocery and discount businesses during the relevant period, including those that were sold to customers, were approximately $91 million. In addition, SCE received incentives related to the bulbs shipped to grocery and discount businesses through an energy efficiency incentive mechanism ("ESPI Mechanism") of approximately $3.5 million related to the bulbs shipped in 2017 and 2018. SCE also expects to receive incentives of approximately $1.3 million under the ESPI Mechanism in 2022 related to bulbs shipped to grocery and discount businesses in 2018 and 2019.
In January 2021, the Public Advocates Office and The Utility Reform Network provided comments to the CPUC arguing that SCE imprudently managed the program and requesting: a refund of $33 million of ESPI awards, which includes incentives associated with the Upstream Lighting Program and other energy efficiency programs; a refund of $92 million of incentives paid to manufacturers and associated program administrative costs; $140 million in fines; and additional program improvements to be provided at shareholder expense. In March 2021, SCE filed reply comments arguing that remedies of approximately $21 million were appropriate.
SCE has accrued a charge for potential losses relating to the Upstream Lighting Program. The accrued charge corresponds to the lower end of the reasonably estimated range of expected losses that may be incurred in connection with the Upstream Lighting Program and is subject to change as additional information becomes available.
85
Note 13. Leases
Leases as Lessee
SCE enters into various agreements to purchase power, electric capacity and other energy products that may be accounted for as leases when SCE has dispatch rights that determine when and how a plant runs. SCE also leases property and equipment primarily related to vehicles, office space and other equipment. The terms of the contracts included in the table below are primarily 3 to 20 years for PPA leases, 5 to 72 years for office leases, and 5 to 13 years for the remaining other operating leases.
The following table summarizes SCE's lease payments for operating and finance leases as of September 30, 2021:
PPA Operating | Other Operating | PPA Finance | |||||||
(in millions) |
| Leases1 |
| Leases2 |
| Leases1 | |||
2021 | $ | 74 | $ | 10 | $ | — | |||
2022 |
| 355 |
| 38 |
| 1 | |||
2023 |
| 258 |
| 31 |
| 1 | |||
2024 |
| 73 |
| 26 |
| — | |||
2025 |
| 73 |
| 23 |
| — | |||
Thereafter |
| 768 |
| 119 |
| 5 | |||
Total lease payments | $ | 1,601 | $ | 247 | $ | 7 | |||
Amount representing interest3 |
| 265 |
| 58 |
| 4 | |||
Lease liabilities | $ | 1,336 | $ | 189 | $ | 3 |
1 | Excludes expected purchases from most renewable energy contracts, which do not meet the definition of a lease payment since renewable power generation is contingent on external factors. |
2 | Excludes escalation clauses based on consumer price or other indices and residual value guarantees that are not considered probable at the commencement date of the lease. |
3 | Lease payments are discounted to their present value SCE's incremental borrowing rates. |
86
Supplemental balance sheet information related to SCE's leases was as follows:
|
| September 30, |
| December 31, | |||
(in millions) | 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Operating leases: |
|
|
|
| |||
Operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets1 | $ | 1,525 | $ | 1,085 | |||
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
| 355 |
| 214 | |||
Operating lease liabilities |
| 1,170 |
| 871 | |||
Total operating lease liabilities1 | $ | 1,525 | $ | 1,085 | |||
Finance leases included in: |
|
|
|
| |||
Utility property, plant and equipment, gross | $ | 4 | $ | 4 | |||
Accumulated depreciation |
| (1) |
| — | |||
$ | 3 | $ | 4 | ||||
$ | — | $ | — | ||||
| 3 |
| 4 | ||||
Total finance lease liabilities | $ | 3 | $ | 4 |
1 | During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, three SCE PPA operating lease contracts commenced and one power contract was amended resulting in a total of $610 million additions in ROU assets and lease liabilities. |
The timing of SCE's recognition of the lease expense conforms to ratemaking treatment for SCE's recovery of the cost of electricity and is included in purchased power for operating leases and interest and amortization expense for finance leases. The following table summarizes the components of SCE's lease expense:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | |||||
PPA leases: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Operating lease cost | $ | 136 | $ | 35 | $ | 199 | $ | 74 | |||||
Finance lease cost |
| — | 1 | — | 2 | ||||||||
Variable lease cost1 |
| 893 | 676 | 2,163 | 1,582 | ||||||||
Total PPA lease cost | $ | 1,029 | $ | 712 | $ | 2,362 | $ | 1,658 | |||||
Other operating leases cost |
| 12 | 11 | 35 | 35 | ||||||||
Total lease cost | $ | 1,041 | $ | 723 | $ | 2,397 | $ | 1,693 |
1 | Includes lease costs from renewable energy contracts where payments are based on contingent external factors such as wind, hydro and solar power generation. |
87
Other information related to leases was as follows:
Nine months ended |
| Nine months ended |
| ||||||
(in millions, except lease term and discount rate) |
| September 30, 2021 |
|
| September 30, 2020 |
| |||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: |
|
|
|
| |||||
Operating cash flows from operating leases |
|
|
|
| |||||
PPA leases | $ | 199 | $ | 74 | |||||
Other leases |
| 33 |
| 33 | |||||
ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations: |
|
|
|
| |||||
PPA operating leases | $ | 610 | $ | 463 | |||||
Other operating leases |
| 38 |
| 42 | |||||
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years): |
|
|
|
| |||||
Operating leases |
|
|
|
| |||||
PPA leases |
| 10.26 |
| 9.83 | |||||
Other leases |
| 11.67 |
| 12.35 | |||||
PPA Finance leases |
| 15.92 |
| 10.90 | |||||
Weighted average discount rate: |
|
|
|
| |||||
Operating leases |
|
|
|
| |||||
PPA leases |
| 2.82 | % |
| 3.08 | % | |||
Other leases |
| 3.47 | % |
| 3.74 | % | |||
PPA Finance leases |
| 11.29 | % |
| 8.83 | % |
Note 14. Equity
Common Stock Issuances
Edison International did not issue any shares during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 through its "at-the-market" ("ATM") program established in May 2019. Under the ATM program, Edison International may sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $1.5 billion. As of September 30, 2021, shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of $1.3 billion remained available to be sold under the ATM program. Edison International has no obligation to sell the remaining available shares.
Edison International continued to settle its ongoing common stock requirements of various internal programs through issuance of new common stock. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, 52,100 shares of common stock were purchased by employees through the 401(k) defined contribution savings plan for net cash receipts of $3 million, 54,970 shares of common stock were issued as stock compensation awards for net cash receipts of $2 million and 77,468 shares of new common stock were issued in lieu of distributing $5 million to shareholders opting to receive dividend payments in the form of additional common stock. In June 2021, Edison International discontinued the issuance of new Edison International stock through the 401(k) defined contribution savings plan. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, stock purchases by employees through the 401(k) defined contribution savings plan were dividend payments made in the form of additional common stock.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, 465,400 shares of common stock were purchased by employees through the 401(k) defined contribution savings plan for net cash receipts of $27 million, 267,564 shares of common stock were issued as stock compensation awards for net cash receipts of $7 million, 225,383 shares of new common stock were issued in lieu of distributing $13 million to shareholders opting to receive dividend payments in the form of additional common stock and 21,792 shares of common stock related to optional cash investments of $1 million.
88
Equity Contributions
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, SCE received a total of $83 million and $1.3 billion in capital contributions from Edison International Parent, respectively, to support SCE's capital program, maintain the equity portion of SCE's capital structure at authorized levels and for general corporate purposes.
Preferred Stock Issuance
In March 2021, Edison International issued 1,250,000 shares of 5.375% Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, with a liquidation value of $1,000 per share (the "Series A preferred stock"). The dividends are payable on a semi-annual basis, commencing September 15, 2021. The dividend rate will be reset every five years beginning on March 15, 2026 to equal the then-current five-year U.S. Treasury rate plus a spread of 4.698%. The net proceeds of $1.2 billion were used to repay commercial paper borrowings and for general corporate purposes, including making a $575 million equity contribution to SCE.
Edison International may, at its option, redeem the Series A preferred stock in whole or in part during certain period of time prior to each of the dividend reset date at a price equal to $1,000 per share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends. Edison International may also, at its option, redeem the Series A preferred stock in whole but not in part at a price equal to $1,020 per share plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends within a certain period of time following any change in the criteria rating agencies use that would have adverse effects on the equity credit attributed by rating agencies to the Series A preferred stock.
The Series A preferred stock ranks senior to Edison International's common stock with respect to dividends rights and distribution rights upon liquidation. The Series A preferred stock is not subject to any mandatory sinking fund, retirement fund, purchase fund or other similar provisions. Holders of the shares of Series A preferred stock do not have the right to require Edison International to repurchase or redeem shares of the Series A preferred stock.
Note 15. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Edison International's accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, consist of:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Beginning balance | $ | (65) | $ | (65) | $ | (69) | $ | (69) | ||||
Pension and PBOP – net loss: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss1 |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| 6 |
| 6 | ||||
Change |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| 6 |
| 6 | ||||
Ending Balance | $ | (63) | $ | (63) | $ | (63) | $ | (63) |
1 | These items are included in the computation of net periodic pension and PBOP Plan expense. See Note 9 for additional information. |
SCE's accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, consists of:
Three months ended September 30, | Nine months ended September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Beginning balance | $ | (38) | $ | (36) | $ | (41) | $ | (39) | ||||
Pension and PBOP – net loss: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss1 |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 5 |
| 4 | ||||
Change |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 5 |
| 4 | ||||
Ending Balance | $ | (36) | $ | (35) | $ | (36) | $ | (35) |
1 | These items are included in the computation of net periodic pension and PBOP Plan expense. See Note 9 for additional information. |
89
Note 16. Other Income
Other income net of expenses is as follows:
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
SCE other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Equity allowance for funds used during construction | $ | 32 | $ | 36 | $ | 92 | $ | 87 | ||||
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies and life insurance benefits |
| 8 |
| 27 |
| 33 |
| 60 | ||||
Interest income |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 2 |
| 18 | ||||
Net periodic benefit income – non-service components |
| 33 |
| 28 |
| 99 |
| 83 | ||||
Civic, political and related activities and donations |
| (16) |
| (7) |
| (28) |
| (22) | ||||
Other |
| (5) |
| (3) |
| (9) |
| (9) | ||||
Total SCE other income | $ | 53 | $ | 83 | $ | 189 | $ | 217 | ||||
Other income (expense) of Edison International Parent and Other: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Net periodic benefit costs – non-service components |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (1) | ||||
Unrealized (losses) gains on investment in Proterra | (8) | — | 4 | — | ||||||||
Other |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 1 | ||||
Total Edison International other income | $ | 47 | $ | 84 | $ | 195 | $ | 217 |
Note 17. Supplemental Cash Flows Information
Supplemental cash flows information is:
Edison International | SCE | |||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||||
Cash payments (receipts): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Interest, net of amounts capitalized | $ | 728 | $ | 689 | $ | 642 | $ | 607 | ||||
Income taxes, net |
| (87) |
| (30) |
| (87) |
| (29) | ||||
Non-cash financing and investing activities: |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Dividends declared but not paid: |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Common stock |
| 252 |
| 241 |
| 325 |
| — |
SCE's accrued capital expenditures at September 30, 2021 and 2020 were $567 million and $490 million, respectively. Accrued capital expenditures will be included as an investing activity in the consolidated statements of cash flow in the period paid.
90
Note 18. Related-Party Transactions
In the second quarter of 2021, SCE entered into wildfire liability insurance contracts with premiums of approximately $160 million payable to Edison Insurance Services, Inc. ("EIS"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Edison International. In the second quarter of 2020, SCE entered into wildfire liability insurance contracts with premiums payable to EIS of $176 million. The related-party transactions included in SCE's consolidated balance sheets for wildfire-related insurance purchased from EIS and related expected insurance recoveries were as follows:
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
(in millions) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Current insurance receivable due from affiliate | $ | — | $ | 268 | ||
Prepaid insurance1 |
| 79 |
| 56 |
1 | Reflected in "Prepaid expenses" on SCE's consolidated balance sheets. |
The expense for wildfire-related insurance premiums paid to EIS was $41 million and $45 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and $128 million and $145 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
91
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The management of Edison International and SCE, under the supervision and with the participation of Edison International's and SCE's respective Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers, have evaluated the effectiveness of Edison International's and SCE's disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), respectively, as of the end of the third quarter of 2021. Based on that evaluation, Edison International's and SCE's respective Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers have each concluded that, as of the end of the period, Edison International's and SCE's disclosure controls and procedures, respectively, were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in Edison International's or SCE's internal control over financial reporting, respectively, during the third quarter of 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Edison International's or SCE's internal control over financial reporting.
Jointly Owned Utility Plant
Edison International's and SCE's respective scope of evaluation of internal control over financial reporting includes their Jointly Owned Utility Projects as discussed in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Property, Plant and Equipment in the 2020 Form 10-K.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events
See "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies—Contingencies—Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides" for information regarding legal proceedings related to the 2017/2018 Wildfire/Mudslide Events.
Environmental Proceedings
Each of Edison International and SCE have elected to disclose environmental proceedings described in Item 103(c)(3)(iii) of Regulation SK unless it reasonably believes that such proceeding will result in no monetary sanctions, or in monetary sanctions, exclusive of interest and costs, of less than $1,000,000.
RISK FACTORS
SCE's systems and network infrastructure are targets for physical and cyber attacks, intrusions or other catastrophic events that could result in their failure or reduced functionality.
Regulators such as NERC and U.S. Government agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Energy, have increasingly stressed that threat sources continue to seek to exploit potential vulnerabilities in the U.S. national electric grid and other energy infrastructures, and that such attacks and disruptions, both physical and cyber, are highly sophisticated and dynamic. The Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, reported by the Director of National Intelligence to the U.S. Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence in 2019, advised that some foreign powers have "the ability to launch cyber attacks that cause localized, temporary disruptive effects on critical infrastructure and provided "disrupting an electrical distribution network for at least a few hours" as an example of a possible disruption. In addition to addressing foreign powers, the Assessment also noted that "financially motivated cyber criminals very likely will expand their targets in the United States in the next few years." In 2020, several U.S. Government agencies highlighted the increasing risks related to ransomware attacks and cybersecurity risks related to the electric sector, including its supply
92
chains. While the 2021 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community notes that "cyber threats from nation states and their surrogates will remain acute," the 2021 ransomware attacks that shut down the operations of multiple businesses in the United States including a critical infrastructure company and a major food service company, serve as evidence that critical infrastructure in the United States, including SCE's electricity distribution system, are subject to, and can be disrupted by, cybersecurity attacks. SCE's operations require the continuous availability of critical information technology systems, sensitive customer and employee data and network infrastructure and information, all of which are targets for malicious actors. New cyber and physical threats arise as SCE moves from an analog to a digital electric grid. For example, SCE's grid modernization efforts and the move to a network-connected grid increases the number of opportunities and potential vulnerabilities that an adversary can target.
SCE depends on a wide array of vendors to provide it with services and equipment. Malicious actors may attack vendors to disrupt the services they provide to SCE, or to use those vendors as a cyber conduit to attack SCE. Additionally, the equipment and material provided by SCE's vendors may contain cyber vulnerabilities. A compromise of equipment and/or exfiltration of SCE data, whether by physical or by electronic means, could result in loss or changes to confidential or sensitive electronic data, loss of intellectual property and interruption of business processes. While some of SCE's vendors have experienced cybersecurity incidents, such incidents have not, to SCE's knowledge, resulted in a material impact to SCE to date.
SCE's systems have experienced, and will continue to experience, cybersecurity incidents involving attacks of malicious codes, attempts to disrupt service, unauthorized access attempts, and other illicit activities, but to SCE's knowledge it has not experienced a material cybersecurity or data breach to date. Though SCE actively monitors developments in this area and is involved in various industry groups and government initiatives, no security measures can completely shield its systems and infrastructure from cyber attacks, intrusions or other catastrophic events that could result in their failure or reduced functionality.
If SCE's information technology and operational technology systems' security measures were to be breached or a critical system failure were to occur without timely recovery, SCE could be unable to fulfill critical business functions, such as delivery of electricity to customers, and/or sensitive confidential personal and other data could be compromised, which could result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws, material financial loss to SCE or to its customers, loss of confidence in SCE's security measures, customer dissatisfaction, and significant litigation and/or regulatory exposure, all of which could materially affect SCE's financial condition and results of operations and materially damage the business reputation of Edison International and SCE.
93
EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number |
| Description |
10.1** | ||
31.1 | ||
31.2 | ||
32.1 | ||
32.2 | ||
101.1 | Financial statements from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Edison International for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, filed on November 2, 2021, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |
101.2 | Financial statements from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Southern California Edison Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, filed on November 2, 2021, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | |
104 | The cover page of this report formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101) |
** Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement, as required by Item 15(a)(3) of Form 10-K
Edison International and SCE will furnish a copy of any exhibit listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index upon written request and upon payment to Edison International or SCE of their reasonable expenses of furnishing such exhibit, which shall be limited to photocopying charges and, if mailed to the requesting party, the cost of first-class postage.
94
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
EDISON INTERNATIONAL |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Aaron D. Moss | By: | /s/ Kate Sturgess | |
Aaron D. Moss Vice President and Controller (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | Kate Sturgess Vice President and Controller (Duly Authorized Officer and | |||
Date: | November 2, 2021 |
| Date: | November 2, 2021 |
95