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Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to the PG&E Corporation Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Release. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question during that time, press star followed by the number one on your telephone keypad. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded. I will now hand today's call over to Jonathan Arnold, Vice President of Investor Relations. Go ahead, sir.
Jonathan Arnold
Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us for PG&E's fourth quarter 2024 earnings call. With us today, Patty Poppe, Chief Executive Officer, and Carolyn Burke, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. We also have other members of the leadership team here with us in our Oakland headquarters. First, I should remind you that today's discussion will include forward-looking statements about our outlook for future financial results.
These statements are based on information currently available to management. Some of the important factors which could affect our actual financial results are described on the second page of today's earnings presentation. The presentation also includes a reconciliation between non-GAAP and GAAP financial measures. The slides, along with other relevant information, can be found online at investor.pgecorp.com. We'd also encourage you to review our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. With that, it's my pleasure to hand the call over to our CEO, Patty Poppe.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Jonathan Arnold
End quote.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Carolyn Burke
Thank you, Patty, and good morning, everyone. Today, I am pleased to cover three main topics with you. First, our full year 2024 results, second, a reiteration of our five-year capital and financing plans. And third, how we continue to build upon our foundation of financial safety and execute against our simple affordable model. Starting here on slide ten, we're showing you our 2024 earnings walk. Our core earnings of $1.36 are up 11% or $0.13 over 2023.
The main driver was higher customer capital investment, which contributed $0.26. This includes the benefit of the higher 2024 ROE of 10.7%, which we previously told you we would redeploy. And we did. Non-fuel O&M savings contributed $0.07 to our results. And included savings achieved for various programs such as improving our inspections, as well as lower contract spend enabled by strategic sourcing. We are all about the ends here at PG&E, and you can see that with our 2024 results.
We've been very clear about our commitment to share any upside with customers and investors. RV deployment for the full year was $0.16. And went towards programs that support risk mitigation, such as inspections, gas line corrosion mitigation, and distribution maintenance. Redeployment also results in de-risking future years, helping us deliver consistent and predictable results for customers and investors. Turning to slide eleven, there is no change to our five-year $63 billion capital plan through 2028.
And we still see an incremental at least $5 billion of additional investment needs. As we've discussed before, there's no shortage of customer beneficial work on our transmission and distribution systems. The second phase of our SB 410 application is still pending. As Patty discussed, large load demand applications are growing. Here's how we're thinking about this incremental demand. First, we could simply add to the $63 billion plan.
Second, we could high grade or prioritize investment tied to new load which can also improve customer affordability. And third, we could extend the duration of our sector-leading rate-based growth story. As we get approval for incremental capital, including in 2025 and 2026, through our pending SB 410 filing, you can expect us to revisit the work plan and to carefully weigh out the merits of these three distinct options.
Or a combination thereof. All three of them offer pathways to make an already strong plan even stronger. We have also not changed our five-year financing plan as shown here on slide twelve. I am pleased to remind you that in November and early December, we took advantage of favorable market conditions to complete a $2.75 billion equity offering. As well as Equity Content Junior subordinated notes. These combined completed the $3 billion equity funding shown here.
With our equity needs through 2028 derisked, we can focus on providing affordable and resilient power to Northern and Central California. Our financing plan was built to support achieving investment-grade ratings and prioritizing customer capital investment, our brand of thoughtful conservatism is also built into this plan. We maintain flexibility both with our low dividend and our commitment, not obligation, to pay down $2 billion of parent debt.
In terms of financial safety, we've been laser-focused on building a healthy balance sheet and reaching investment grade. Our December equity issuance put us back in compliance with our authorized regulatory capital structure ahead of schedule. We also benefit from our differentiated dividend payout. We believe 20% by 2028 is an appropriate sustainable level for us given our near-term balance sheet priorities and need for customer capital investment on our system.
Our robust capital plan contributes to cash from operations, which in turn drives balance sheet health and investment-grade supportive credit metrics. As you can see here on slide thirteen, we more than doubled operating cash flow from 2022. The GRC has been a key driver of this improvement. As well as the interim rate relief we've seen from the CPUC. We also reached our target of mid-teens FFO to debt during 2024, and our forecast shows continuing cash flow growth in 2025, consistent with our strong rate base growth.
Turning to slide fourteen, as you know, we're actively pursuing investment-grade ratings and expect the recent and continuing improvements in our balance sheet and cash flow just discussed ultimately to be reflected in actions by rating agencies. As we consider ways to strengthen the AB 1054 construct, we continue to reinforce with policymakers the role state policy can play in ensuring the financial health of the state's investor-owned utilities. With customers being key beneficiaries.
Our simple affordable model shown here on slide fifteen continues to deliver results for customers. It's how we make our industry-leading capital growth affordable. As I've said before, it's a no big bets approach. We work each element each and every day. O&M savings where we continue to exceed our annual target. Beneficial load growth, approached with a competitive mindset. And efficient financing opportunities. Aggressively pursued.
All on the behalf of our customers. You already heard from Patty how we're enabling beneficial load growth. The second element here. On the efficient financing element, lower interest expense from improving credit quality and other financing opportunities help make our critical customer investments more affordable. I'll remind you, our five-year plan does not assume the savings from the DOE loan nor achieving investment grade.
Turning to slide sixteen. I am very pleased to share with you that our 2024 non-fuel O&M savings are a 4% reduction over 2023. Again exceeding our 2% target. We've now saved over $200 million in O&M expense in each of the past three years. Including saving over $500 million in 2023 and nearly another $350 million in 2024. I am now confidently calling this a trend. In 2024, we achieved savings in our inspection program by utilizing a risk-informed checklist to focus on conditions that lead to asset failure.
We also found savings through contract rationalization and optimization, and we continue to save on insurance premiums. This is a core capability that we've built here at PG&E which can deliver future savings year after year. I continue to see abundant opportunities in 2025 and beyond. We will file our general rate case application in May this year. And I look forward to reflecting new savings in our forecast and passing future benefits onto our customers.
I see this upcoming filing as another opportunity to do what we say. By delivering on stabilizing bills we continue to build trust with our regulators. Again, performance is power. In the meantime, customers are starting to see the impact of our continued efforts to stabilize bills this year. Assuming similar usage, combined residential gas and electric bills remained flat January 2025 compared to January 2024. Turning to slide seventeen.
We have an active filing year on the regulatory front. In addition to our GRC, this year, we also plan to file our 2026 cost of capital application as well as our ten-year undergrounding plan. Lastly, here on slide eighteen is a reminder of value proposition, consistent, predictable performance, serving our customers, and delivering for our investors. 10% rate base growth through 2028. 10% core EPS growth in 2025, and at least 9% core EPS growth each year from 2026 through 2028. With that, I'll hand it back to Patty.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Questions & answers
Shar Pourreza
Hey, guys. Good morning.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Shar Pourreza
Q1
Patty, so starting off on the California wildfire construct, I mean, the fires in the south have created a potential stress for 1054. Is there a recognition of the wildfire funding problem or do you think we need to see more progress on investigations and while fund like, payouts to start to get clarity if there's any constructs that need to be changed. So is the state currently working on any improvements, regulatory or legislatively, or are they taking a wait and see approach?
Patty Poppe · Operator
Shar Pourreza
Q2
Okay. Perfect. That's helpful. Color, Patty. And then just and you noted on the load expectations for data centers stepping up to 5.5 gigs, but some of that ramp times is, you know, in the current decade guess, what's driving that? Is there more investment needed on the grid side to accommodate the load? And is there any regulatory constructs that could help accelerate some of that interconnection like SB 410 did for distribution? Thanks.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Steve Fleishman
Q3
Hi. Good morning. So I guess just following up first on it's great to hear, Anne, in that new role. Obviously, it'd be helpful to get more certainty on you know, dealing with maybe any changes on AB 1054 by the fall, and I guess the session goes usually till, like, August. Can you just talk about legislative process and timing and tense of urgency.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Steve Fleishman
Q4
Great. That's helpful, Patty. Just one other question just related to the Eden fire. The I mean, the circumstances that have occurred seemed to be kind of a bit abnormal set of circumstances. If it did happen, and I guess, first of all, it is related to transmission. It does seem to maybe be also related to an idle line that hadn't been used a long time. Maybe you could just since we're always so focused on distribution and undergrounding and things like that, just talk about anything that you see related to what you've been doing in your wildfire mitigation that's kinda relevant to know given these circumstances we've seen so far and anything you might change in terms of what you're doing?
Patty Poppe · Operator
Nicholas Campanella
Q5
Hey. Good morning, everyone. Thanks for taking my questions. I just wanna morning. I just wanted to kinda clarify and follow-up on Steve's question there. Just you know, it does seem like there's some competing interest from the insurance industry, which is also suffering losses. And know, is a protracted nature of wildfire drawdowns here, you mentioned in the meantime, AB 1054 is working exactly how it's intended to.
Just you know, what's the risk of this being, like, a multiyear legislative effort rather than something that gets done at the end of August? Could you just kinda frame your confidence level there? Thanks.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Nicholas Campanella
Q6
I appreciate that. Thanks for that answer, and clearly, just the cost of capital in the state has changed. In the last month, and just wondering if you can kinda talk about how that impacts your upcoming filing that's expected. And is there any scenario where that would maybe get pushed out, or do you see yourself still coming in at this point? Thanks.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Rich Sunderland
Q7
Hi. Good morning. Thank you for the time today.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Rich Sunderland
Q8
In thinking more broadly about the fire issues, do you think the firefighting capabilities in the region are sufficient for growing wildfire risks are there ways you could invest capital in support of those efforts?
Patty Poppe · Operator
Rich Sunderland
Q9
Great. Thank you. And then sort of the data center pipe update, does the half billion to $1.6 billion of investment per gigawatt framework still hold? And is that the way to think about the 1.4 gigawatts identified in final engineering I guess, more broadly. Just when do you think you'll have final clarity on the investment needed to support that?
Patty Poppe · Operator
Julien Dumoulin-Smith
Q10
Hey. Good morning, team. Thank you guys very much for the time and patience for all the detail here. And and maybe to follow-up and build off of hey. Good morning. Thanks for thanks for for the time. Maybe building up off of what's been said this far, wanna speak to the prospects of a, quote, new fund or or or re contributing to the fund? It seems like a very difficult prospect to to see know, I stand up a new fund anew here.
Can you speak to what other avenues might exist or how you see us coming together? I mean, municipals were not part of the initial conversation, I'm curious how that fits into the calculus today, especially given the more urban nature of what's just transpired. But I'd I would love to, like, tailor in and say fixate for a quick second on the fund, and then I got a quick follow-up on that. But thank you again.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Julien Dumoulin-Smith
Q11
Yeah. I hear you loud and clear on those points. Maybe this is a quick follow-up. I mean, how do you think about your own filings and efforts? You know, I get that OEIS is involved here too, but how do you think about the totality of the wildfire, undergrounding efforts today, and then in parallel, how do you think about you know, derisking, shall we say, more urbanized or quasi urbanized environment you know, given maybe the nature of this last fire and and rethinking your your investment plan here. I get that it's already in play.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Anthony Crowdell
Q12
Hey. Good morning. Thanks so much for taking the question. Just one quick one and then a follow-up. I guess, on the IG rating, what we thought you know, Moody's typically puts it on a year review, and I think it was positive outlook last February. I'm wondering if you could share any conversation you've had with Moody's, following the events in Southern California.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Anthony Crowdell
Q13
Would it be fair to say that I think if all the questions earlier today are more on the wildfire fund, whether it's a size or a replenishment mechanism, that that may have to be resolved prior to a credit agency action or or I'm really jumping the gun with that.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Carly Davenport
Q14
Hey. Good morning. Thank you so much for taking the question.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Carly Davenport
Q15
Hey, maybe just two quick ones for me. First, just on the O&M reduction you have embedded in both the long-term plan and the 2025 plan. Guess, how would you just think about cadence of potentially revisiting that assumption? Is that is that catalyst to GRC filing or or anything else that you should be looking out for there?
Patty Poppe · Operator
Carly Davenport
Q16
That's great to hear. Thank you for that. And then maybe just one on the DOE loan. I know that you got that closed in January, just kind of how are you thinking about the cadence of disbursements and any potential impacts from some of the aims sort of pause some of this IRA funding.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Gregg Orrill
Q17
Yeah. Thank you. Hi, Patty. Hi, Carolyn.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Carolyn Burke
Hi. How are you?
Gregg Orrill
Q17
Good. Good. Just you talked about the potential to bring CapEx into the plan from SB 410 and related to the load growth that you're seeing. And and sort of the implications around that, extending the runway of growth and high grading the company, how do you think about that as a possibility of you know, raising the growth rate. I know it's already industry-leading.
Patty Poppe · Operator
Gregg Orrill
Q18
Sounds good. Thanks.
Patty Poppe · Operator
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