Core Viewpoint - U.S.-based utility PG&E Corp plans to invest $73 billion by 2030 for transmission upgrades to accommodate the increasing electricity demand driven by data centers [1] Company Summary - PG&E Corp is focusing on significant infrastructure investments to enhance its transmission capabilities [1] - The planned expenditure of $73 billion indicates a strategic response to the surge in electricity demand from the data center sector [1] Industry Summary - The utility industry is experiencing heightened demand for electricity, particularly from data centers, necessitating substantial investments in infrastructure [1] - The trend of increasing electricity consumption from data centers is likely to influence future utility investment strategies across the sector [1]

PG&E Corporation Investor Update Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) - **Date of Call**: September 29, 2025 Key Industry and Legislative Developments - **Legislation**: Senate Bill 254 was signed into law on September 19, 2025, aimed at improving the framework for utility liability related to climate-driven wildfires [3][4] - **Financial Measures**: SB 254 establishes an $18 billion continuation account to cover future wildfire claims, providing timely compensation for victims and smoothing bill impacts for customers [4][5] - **Utility Contributions**: PG&E's share of contributions to the continuation account will decrease from $193 million to $144 million annually starting in 2029, reflecting a 25% reduction [5] Financial Outlook and Performance - **Earnings Guidance**: PG&E's non-GAAP core EPS guidance for 2025 is $1.48 to $1.52, representing a 10% increase over 2024 [14] - **Long-term Growth**: Projected average annual core EPS growth of at least 9% from 2026 through 2030, supported by a 9% annual rate base growth during the same period [12][15] - **Capital Investment**: PG&E plans to invest approximately $73 billion over the next five years, including $2.9 billion for wildfire mitigation capital expenditures [15] Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns - **Dividend Policy**: PG&E targets a dividend payout ratio of 20% by 2028, maintaining this level through 2030 [17] - **Stock Repurchase Consideration**: If stock prices remain depressed and no significant policy reforms occur, PG&E may consider opportunistic stock repurchases, pending board approval [11][22] Wildfire Mitigation and Community Impact - **Mitigation Efforts**: PG&E is committed to ongoing wildfire mitigation efforts, including undergrounding power lines and enhancing grid safety to support new developments [12][54] - **Community Hardening**: Emphasis on community hardening to prevent wildfire spread, which is crucial for addressing California's housing crisis and ensuring insurability [29][54] Regulatory and Legislative Engagement - **Future Legislative Actions**: PG&E anticipates further legislative discussions in 2026 regarding comprehensive wildfire reform, focusing on liability socialization and community resilience [7][8][28] - **Cost of Capital**: PG&E is actively engaged in discussions regarding its cost of capital, with expectations for adjustments based on ongoing regulatory processes [45][58] Conclusion - **Commitment to Stakeholders**: PG&E emphasizes its dedication to serving customers and maintaining financial performance while navigating regulatory challenges and capital allocation strategies [61]

Financial Performance & Guidance - The company projects 2025 non-GAAP core EPS to be in the range of $1.48 to $1.52[15] - The company anticipates an average annual rate base growth of approximately 9% from 2026 to 2030[16] - The company expects bills to be flat to down in 2027[16] Capital Expenditure & Investment - The company plans for $73 billion in CapEx from 2026 to 2030[18] - The company identifies at least $5 billion in customer beneficial investment opportunities through 2030, which are not included in the CapEx or rate base numbers[19, 20] Wildfire Risk Mitigation & Funding - A new Wildfire Fund Continuation Account is created, providing $18 billion for future wildfires[7] - PG&E's share of the Wildfire Fund is rebalanced, lowered by 25% from 64.20% to 47.85%[7] - The utility will contribute $373 million per year for contingent funding over 5 years if needed and $144 million annually from 2029-2045[41] Credit Rating & Financing - The company aims to sustain FFO/Debt in the mid-teens[25] - The company plans to reach a 20% dividend payout by 2028[25] Non-Core Items Impacting Earnings - Unrecoverable net interest is estimated to negatively impact earnings by $350 to $400 million after tax[36, 38] - Estimated non-core items guidance is between $470 and $510 million[36]

Core Insights - The Calistoga Resiliency Center (CRC) is a pioneering microgrid platform developed by Energy Vault and PG&E to enhance power resiliency in California during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) due to wildfire risks [1][2][3] Group 1: Project Overview - The CRC serves approximately 1,600 PG&E customers and features a 293 megawatt hour (MWh) microgrid system, providing at least 48 hours of continuous energy supply with a peak output of 8.5 megawatts (MW) during PSPS events [2][3] - The facility integrates hydrogen fuel cells with lithium-ion batteries, creating a zero-emission energy solution that aligns with California's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) [2][3] Group 2: Technological Innovations - Energy Vault's VaultOS™ Energy Management System orchestrates the microgrid's performance, enabling black-start and grid-forming capabilities while coordinating with PG&E's Distribution Control Center [2][3] - The use of liquid hydrogen allows for extended runtime and cost-effective resiliency services without interrupting power supply [3] Group 3: Strategic Importance - The project is part of Energy Vault's "Own & Operate" strategy, which aims to deliver long-term value through recurring revenue and community impact [3][4] - The CRC serves as a model for future utility-scale hybrid microgrid deployments, showcasing a scalable and bankable solution for regions prone to wildfires [3][5] Group 4: Financial Aspects - The project was facilitated by $28 million in financing, including the sale of the Investment Tax Credit, demonstrating Energy Vault's ability to maximize capital efficiency [4] Group 5: Broader Context - PG&E has deployed 13 distribution microgrids since 2021, with the CRC being the largest and first fully renewable system, aimed at supporting essential services during outages [7] - PG&E is also investing in community-driven microgrid initiatives, committing up to $43 million for new projects in the North Coast region [8]

Group 1 - PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is recognized as one of the best nuclear energy stocks to invest in due to its significant upside potential [1] - Morgan Stanley upgraded PG&E from 'Underweight' to 'Equal Weight' and raised its price target from $19 to $20 on September 18, 2025 [2] - Previous downgrades were related to wildfire concerns, but analysts now see a better risk-reward profile due to a replenished fund and PG&E's approximately 50% discount to sector P/E ratios [3] Group 2 - PG&E serves customers in northern and central California through its Pacific Gas and Electric subsidiary, producing electricity from various sources including nuclear, hydropower, and solar [4]

Core Points - PG&E Corporation declared a third quarter 2025 cash dividend of $0.025 per share on its common stock, payable on October 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2025 [1] - PG&E's utility subsidiary announced preferred stock dividends for the three-month period ending October 31, 2025, with various rates for its eight series of preferred stock, payable on November 15, 2025 [2] Summary by Category Dividend Announcements - The third quarter 2025 cash dividend for common stock is set at $0.025 per share, with a payment date of October 15, 2025 [1] - Preferred stock dividends include: - 5.00% Series A: $0.31250 - 4.80%: $0.30000 - 4.50%: $0.28125 - 4.36%: $0.27250 - 6.00%: $0.37500 - 5.50%: $0.34375 - 5.00%: $0.31250 These dividends are payable on November 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of October 31, 2025 [2] Company Overview - PG&E Corporation is a holding company based in Oakland, California, and serves 16 million customers across a 70,000-square-mile area in Northern and Central California through its subsidiary, Pacific Gas and Electric Company [2]

Core Points - PG&E Corporation Foundation is donating $1.12 million to local food banks and meal programs to address food insecurity, providing approximately 3.13 million meals for those in need [2][4][5] - The funding will support over 50 food distribution organizations across 46 counties in Northern and Central California, highlighting the importance of this support amid federal cuts to food assistance programs [3][4][6] - The grants are part of Hunger Action Month, emphasizing the need for action against hunger, especially in communities of color where food insecurity is more pronounced [4][5] Funding and Impact - The contribution aims to assist families struggling with food access, with local food banks already providing food assistance to 1 in 6 people in certain counties [6] - Grant amounts are determined based on county poverty and unemployment levels to ensure equitable distribution of resources [7] Emergency Preparedness - PG&E has agreements with 25 local food banks in high fire-risk areas to provide food replacement during Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, which are implemented to prevent wildfires [8] - Community Resource Centers are opened during PSPS events to offer basic supplies and support to affected customers [10]

Core Viewpoint - PG&E received an upgrade from Underweight to Equal Weight with a new price target of $20, increased from $19, indicating improved confidence in the utility's investment strategy [4] Group 1: Company Performance - PG&E's stock declined by 1.1% in Thursday's trading despite the upgrade, reflecting market reactions to the news [4] - Morgan Stanley's analysis suggests a more favorable outlook on PG&E's investment, which may influence future performance [4]

Group 1 - PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is considered one of the best low-cost stocks to buy, with Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith maintaining a Buy rating and raising the price target from $19 to $22 [1] - The introduction of a leaked wildfire bill into SB254, which is a securitization bill, has bolstered investor confidence in PG&E as the wildfire season approaches, with the bill remaining largely unchanged from its leaked version [2] - Citi analyst Ryan Levine also reiterated a Buy rating on PG&E with a price target of $21, highlighting the company's role in providing electricity and natural gas to Northern and Central California [3]

Market Overview - The current investment landscape appears stable but is experiencing underlying chaos due to geopolitical tensions, deglobalization, rising debt levels, and supply chain disruptions [2] - Nominal growth is faster but also more volatile and unpredictable, with companies needing to find internal resilience as external support from low interest rates and inflation diminishes [2] Structural Innovations - Innovations such as AI, blockchain, GLP-1 therapies, and decarbonization are fundamentally reshaping business growth [3] - Traditional business models, particularly in software, are threatened by AI's ability to produce similar outputs at low costs [3] Economic Shifts - The year 2025 is seen as a pivotal point marking the end of the initial phase of significant economic regime shifts, with multiple macroeconomic pillars unwinding simultaneously [5] - The U.S. Treasury is now offering meaningful yields on new debt, leading to an annual interest expense approaching $1 trillion, which presents immediate fiscal challenges [10] Supply Chain and Inflation - Governments are localizing supply chains and building strategic stockpiles, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs in infrastructure and manufacturing [11][12] - A new regime of persistent inflation is anticipated, driven by constrained supply and inelastic demand, affecting affordability for consumers and corporations [13] Corporate Performance - The ClearBridge Value Strategy outperformed its benchmark, with strong contributions from sectors like utilities and communication services, particularly benefiting from AI-related developments [19][20] - The health care sector faced challenges due to regulatory concerns and rising medical costs, impacting major companies like UnitedHealth Group [21] Portfolio Positioning - A shift towards value-oriented investments is noted, with sectors tied to industrial activity and energy production expected to benefit from infrastructure rebuilding [23] - The strategy emphasizes the importance of companies with pricing power and real assets, as traditional safe havens face valuation pressures [23] Outlook - The U.S. economy is currently supported by fiscal expansion, but concerns about sustainability are rising, with tariffs and immigration policies likely to increase inflation and reduce growth [26][27] - Opportunities are identified in real assets like gold and copper, which serve as hedges against inflation and geopolitical risks [27]