e424b2
This
preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus relate to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act of 1933, but are not complete and may be
changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these
securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
|
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-109994
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED
MARCH 8, 2007
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated November 10, 2005)
$
% Senior
Notes
due ,
20
We are offering
$
aggregate principal amount of
our % Senior Notes
due ,
20 , which we refer to in this prospectus supplement
as the senior notes. The senior notes will be issued
in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
Interest on the senior notes will be payable semi-annually in
arrears on each March 1 and September 1, commencing
September 1, 2007.
We may redeem the senior notes in whole or in part at any time
at the redemption prices set forth in this prospectus supplement.
The senior notes will be unsecured and will rank equally with
all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
There is no existing public market for the senior notes. We do
not intend to list the senior notes on any securities exchange
or any automated quotation system.
Investing in these senior notes involves risks. See
Risk Factors on
page S-3.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per Senior Note
|
|
Total
|
Public Offering
Price(1)
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Underwriting Discount
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Proceeds to Pacific Gas and
Electric Company (before expenses)
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of original
issuance of the senior notes which is expected to be
March , 2007.
|
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved
or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy
or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The senior notes are expected to be delivered on or about
March , 2007 through the book-entry facilities
of The Depository Trust Company.
Joint Book-Running Managers
|
|
|
Barclays
Capital |
Citigroup |
Deutsche
Bank Securities |
Co-Managers
|
|
ABN
AMRO Incorporated |
BNY
Capital Markets, Inc. |
|
|
Loop
Capital Markets, LLC |
The
Williams Capital Group, L.P. |
March , 2007
This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with
the accompanying prospectus. You should rely only on the
information contained in this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by
reference. Neither we nor any underwriter has authorized any
other person to provide you with different or additional
information. If anyone provides you with different or additional
information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor any
underwriter is making an offer to sell the senior notes in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You
should assume that the information contained in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as
of the date hereof.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
Prospectus Supplement
|
|
|
|
S-3
|
|
|
|
S-3
|
|
|
|
S-3
|
|
|
|
S-3
|
|
|
|
S-4
|
|
|
|
S-5
|
|
|
|
S-6
|
|
|
|
S-11
|
|
|
|
S-12
|
|
Prospectus
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
16
|
Unless otherwise indicated, when used in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus, the terms
we, our and us refer to
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and its subsidiaries.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus
contain forward-looking statements that are necessarily subject
to various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements
in this prospectus supplement are based on current estimates,
expectations and projections about future events, and
assumptions regarding these events and managements
knowledge of facts as of the date of this prospectus supplement.
These forward-looking statements relate to, among other matters,
estimated capital expenditures, our estimated rate base,
estimated environmental remediation liabilities, the anticipated
outcome of various regulatory and legal proceedings, future cash
flows, and the level of future equity or debt issuances, and are
also identified by words such as assume,
expect, intend, plan,
project, believe, estimate,
predict, anticipate, aim,
may, might, should,
would, could, goal,
potential and similar expressions. We are not able
to predict all the factors that may affect future results. See
Forward-Looking Statements in Part I,
Item 1 of our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, which is
incorporated by reference, for some of the factors that could
cause future results to differ materially from those expressed
or implied by the forward-looking statements, or from historical
results.
S-2
RISK
FACTORS
Investing in the senior notes involves risk. These risks are
described under Risk Factors in Item 1A of our
annual report on
Form 10-K
for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, which is
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. See Where You Can Find More
Information in the accompanying prospectus. Before making
a decision to invest in the senior notes, you should carefully
consider these risks as well as other information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus.
OUR
COMPANY
We are a leading vertically integrated electricity and natural
gas utility. We were incorporated in California in 1905 and are
a wholly owned subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. We operate in
northern and central California and are engaged in the
businesses of electricity and natural gas distribution,
electricity generation, electricity transmission, and natural
gas transportation and storage. We have more customers than any
other investor-owned utility in the United States. At
December 31, 2006, we served approximately 5.1 million
electricity distribution customers and approximately
4.2 million natural gas distribution customers. Our
principal executive office is located at 77 Beale Street, P.O.
Box 770000, San Francisco, California 94177, and our
telephone number is
(415) 973-7000.
The principal executive office of PG&E Corporation is
located at One Market, Spear Tower, Suite 2400,
San Francisco, California 94105.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be
approximately $ million,
after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and
estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the
net proceeds from the sale of the senior notes to repay
outstanding commercial paper and for working capital purposes.
At March 7, 2007, the outstanding amount of our commercial
paper was approximately $570 million and the weighted
average yield on our outstanding commercial paper was
approximately 5.37% per annum.
RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our historical ratio of earnings
to fixed charges for each of the fiscal years indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
2003
|
|
2002
|
|
2.98x
|
|
3.56x
|
|
10.75x
|
|
2.51x
|
|
3.91x
|
For the purpose of computing our ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings represent net income adjusted for
the minority interest in losses of less than 100% owned
affiliates, equity in undistributed income or losses of less
than 50% owned affiliates, income taxes and fixed charges
(excluding capitalized interest). Fixed charges
include interest on long-term debt and short-term borrowings
(including a representative portion of rental expenses),
amortization of bond premium, discount and expense, interest on
capital leases, allowance for funds used during construction
debt, and earnings required to cover the preferred stock
dividend requirements and preferred security distribution
requirements of a majority-owned trust.
S-3
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization
as of December 31, 2006, and as adjusted to give effect to
the issuance and sale of the senior notes and the use of
proceeds from this offering as set forth under Use of
Proceeds above. This table should be read in conjunction
with our consolidated financial statements and related notes for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. See Where You Can Find More Information
in the accompanying prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted
|
|
|
|
(in millions)
|
|
|
Current Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term borrowings(1)
|
|
$
|
759
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Long-term debt, classified as
current:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion of rate reduction
bonds(2)
|
|
|
290
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion of energy recovery
bonds(3)
|
|
|
340
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term debt, classified
as current
|
|
$
|
631
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalization:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt(4)
|
|
$
|
6,697
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Energy recovery bonds(3)
|
|
|
1,936
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders equity(5)
|
|
|
8,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
16,833
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Short-term borrowings consisted of $300 million borrowed
under the former accounts receivable facility and
$459 million of commercial paper. |
(2) |
|
PG&E Funding LLC, a legally separate but wholly owned,
consolidated subsidiary of us, issued rate reduction bonds, or
RRBs, the proceeds of which were used to purchase from us the
right, known as transition property, to be paid a
specified amount from a non-bypassable charge levied on
residential and small commercial customers which is collected by
us. We remit the proceeds of the
non-bypassable
charge to PG&E Funding LLC for the payment of the RRBs
principal, interest and miscellaneous associated expenses. The
RRBs are secured solely by the transition property. Our
creditors have no recourse to the assets of PG&E Funding LLC
and its creditors have no recourse to our assets. |
(3) |
|
PG&E Energy Recovery Funding LLC, or PERF, a legally
separate but wholly owned, consolidated subsidiary of us, issued
energy recovery bonds, or ERBs, supported by a dedicated rate
component, or DRC, the proceeds of which were used to purchase
from us the right, known as recovery property, to be
paid a specified amount from a DRC. DRC charges are collected by
us and remitted to PERF for payment of the ERBs principal,
interest and miscellaneous associated expenses. The ERBs are
secured solely by the recovery property. Our creditors have no
recourse to the assets of PERF and its creditors have no
recourse to our assets. |
(4) |
|
Actual Long-term debt consisted of $1,613 million of
pollution control bonds and $5,084 million of senior notes
and As Adjusted Long-term debt also includes the senior notes
offered hereby, in each case, net of discounts and premiums. |
(5) |
|
Includes $258 million of preferred stock without mandatory
redemption provisions. |
S-4
RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS
General
Rate Case
On February 13, 2007, a proposed decision was issued by an
administrative law judge, or ALJ, presiding over our 2007
General Rate Case, or GRC, pending at the California Public
Utilities Commission, or the CPUC. On the same day, an alternate
proposed decision was issued by the assigned CPUC Commissioner
in the case. The ALJs proposed decision differs from the
settlement agreement reached among us, the CPUCs Division
of Ratepayer Advocates, and other parties. The alternate
proposed decision issued by the assigned Commissioner recommends
that the proposed settlement agreement be approved.
The ALJs proposed decision would modify the revenue
requirements proposed in the settlement agreement in a number of
areas, including hydroelectric operations, rate base and the
treatment of certain tax issues. Instead of the
$213 million total revenue requirement increase over 2006
authorized revenues proposed in the settlement agreement, the
ALJs proposed decision would result in a total revenue
requirement increase of approximately $170 million over
2006 authorized revenues ($43 million less than the amount
proposed in the settlement agreement for the same period).
Both the ALJs proposed decision and the alternate proposed
decision would accept the settlement agreement terms for an
annual increase, known as an attrition adjustment, in authorized
revenues in each of 2008, 2009 and 2010. The settlement
agreement provides that our 2007 authorized revenues would be
increased by $125 million in each of 2008 and 2009. In
addition, we would receive a one-time additional amount of
$35 million in 2009 for a planned second refueling at
Diablo Canyon. We also would receive an increase of
$90 million in 2010.
The following table sets forth the amount of the changes to 2006
authorized revenue requirements, by category, that would result
from the revenue requirements recommended in the ALJs
proposed decision and in the CPUC Commissioners alternate
proposed decision and the differences between the resulting
revenue requirement change:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternate Proposed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decision
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed Decision
|
|
(Recommended
|
|
|
|
|
(Recommended
|
|
Increase (Decrease)
|
|
Difference
|
|
|
Increase (Decrease)
|
|
From 2006
|
|
Between
|
|
|
From 2006
|
|
Authorized Amount)
|
|
Recommended
|
Category
|
|
Authorized Amount)
|
|
(Reflects Settlement Agreement)
|
|
Amounts
|
|
|
($ in millions)
|
|
Electric distribution
|
|
$
|
199
|
|
|
$
|
222
|
|
|
$
|
(23
|
)
|
Gas distribution
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
Electric generation
|
|
|
(38
|
)
|
|
|
(30
|
)
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
Total revenue requirement increase
(decrease) for 2007
|
|
$
|
170
|
|
|
$
|
213
|
|
|
$
|
(43
|
)
|
Both the proposed decision and the alternate proposed decision
accept the settlement agreements proposal to set the
Utilitys GRC revenue requirements for a four-year period,
2007-2010.
Under this proposal, our next GRC would be effective
January 1, 2011.
The CPUC rules of procedure generally require that a proposed
decision have been issued at least 30 days before the CPUC
can vote on the decision. The next scheduled meeting at which
the CPUC could issue a final decision in the 2007 GRC will be
held on March 15, 2007.
We cannot predict when the CPUC will issue a final decision or
whether the settlement agreement will be approved.
Transmission
Owner Rate Case
In addition, on February 15, 2007, we submitted an offer of
settlement reached by the parties in our transmission owner rate
case pending at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or the
FERC. The
S-5
settlement proposes to set the Utilitys transmission
retail revenue requirements at $674 million, an increase of
approximately $68 million over current authorized revenue
requirements. We had originally requested approval of an annual
transmission revenue requirement of approximately
$719 million, an increase of approximately
$113 million over current authorized revenue requirements.
If the FERC approves the proposed settlement, the revenue
requirement changes will be deemed to have been effective as of
March 1, 2007.
We cannot predict when the FERC will issue a final decision or
whether the settlement agreement will be approved.
Credit
Facility
On February 26, 2007, we entered into a five-year amended
and restated agreement for a $2.0 billion revolving credit
facility, or our working capital facility. The amendment
increased the amount of our working capital facility from
$1.35 billion to $2.0 billion and lowered interest
rates and fees. The credit agreement contains usual and
customary covenants for credit facilities of this type including
covenants limiting liens, mergers, substantial asset sales and
other fundamental changes. The credit agreement also requires
that we maintain a ratio of total consolidated debt to total
consolidated capitalization of not more than 0.65 to 1.00 as of
the end of each fiscal quarter. Subject to obtaining commitments
from existing or new lenders and satisfying other conditions
specified in the credit agreement, we may increase our working
capital facility to $3 billion. In addition, at our request
and at the sole discretion of each lender, the facility may be
extended for additional periods.
Termination
of Accounts Receivable Facility
Concurrently with our execution of our five-year amended and
restated revolving credit agreement, we terminated our accounts
receivable facility. There were no loans outstanding under the
facility at the time of termination. The facility was scheduled
to expire on March 5, 2007.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE SENIOR NOTES
General
You should read the following information in conjunction with
the statements under Description of the Senior Notes
in the accompanying prospectus.
We are offering the senior notes in an initial principal amount
of $ . We will issue the senior
notes under an existing indenture, which was originally entered
into on March 11, 2004 and amended and restated on
April 22, 2005, between us and The Bank of New York Trust
Company, N.A., as Trustee, as supplemented by a supplemental
indenture between us and the Trustee. Please read the indenture
because it, and not this description, defines your rights as
holders of the senior notes. We have filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission a copy of the indenture as an exhibit to
the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement
and the accompanying prospectus are a part.
Pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, if a
default occurs on the senior notes, The Bank of New York Trust
Company, N.A. will be required to resign as trustee under the
indenture, unless the default is cured, duly waived or otherwise
eliminated within 90 days.
We will issue the senior notes in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000.
We will issue the senior notes as a separate series under the
indenture. We may without consent of the holders of the senior
notes, issue additional senior notes under the indenture having
the same terms in all respects as the senior notes offered by
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and
which may form a single series with the senior notes.
We will issue the senior notes in the form of one or more global
securities, which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The
Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and registered in the name of
DTCs nominee. Information regarding DTCs book-entry
system is set forth below under Book-Entry System; Global
Notes.
S-6
The senior notes:
|
|
|
|
|
will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any
time as described under Optional
Redemption below;
|
|
|
|
will mature
on ; and
|
|
|
|
will bear interest at % payable semi-annually on each
March 1 and September 1, commencing on
September 1, 2007 to holders of record on the 15th day
of the month immediately preceding the interest payment date.
|
Interest on the senior notes will accrue
from ,
2007. Interest on the senior notes will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day
year consisting of twelve
30-day
months. If any payment date falls on a day that is not a
business day, the payment will be made on the next business day,
but we will consider that payment as being made on the date that
the payment was due to you. In that event, no interest will
accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the
payment date.
Ranking
The senior notes will be our direct, unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with all our
other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The senior notes
will be effectively subordinated to all our secured debt. As of
February 28, 2007, we had approximately $5.1 billion
of notes outstanding under the indenture for the senior notes.
As of December 31, 2006, we did not have any outstanding
secured debt for borrowed money. The indenture contains no
restrictions on the amount of additional indebtedness that may
be incurred by us.
Optional
Redemption
We may, at our option, redeem the senior notes in whole or in
part at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of:
|
|
|
|
|
100% of the principal amount of the senior notes to be redeemed,
plus accrued interest on those senior notes to the redemption
date, or
|
|
|
|
as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest on the senior notes to be redeemed (not including any
portion of payments of interest accrued as of the redemption
date) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis
at the Adjusted Treasury Rate
plus
basis points,
|
plus, in either case, accrued interest on those senior notes to
the redemption date.
The redemption price will be calculated assuming a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months.
We will mail notice of any redemption at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
registered holder of the senior notes to be redeemed.
Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and
after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the
senior notes or portions of the senior notes called for
redemption.
Adjusted Treasury Rate means, with respect to any
redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual
equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as
a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for the redemption date.
Business Day means any day that is not a day on
which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or
required by law or regulation to close.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States
Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a
maturity comparable to the remaining term of the senior notes
that would be used, at the time of
S-7
selection and in accordance with customary financial practice,
in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable
maturity to the remaining term of the senior notes.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any
redemption date:
|
|
|
|
|
the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for that
redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of the
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations; or
|
|
|
|
if we obtain fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, the average of all Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations so received.
|
Quotation Agent means the Reference Treasury Dealer
appointed by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer means (1) each of
Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and their respective successors,
unless any of them ceases to be a primary U.S. Government
securities dealer in the United States (Primary Treasury
Dealer), in which case we shall substitute another Primary
Treasury Dealer; and (2) any other Primary Treasury Dealer
selected by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with
respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption
date, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked
prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case
as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us
by that Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the third Business Day preceding that redemption
date.
If we redeem only some of the senior notes, DTCs practice
is to choose by lot the amount to be redeemed from the senior
notes held by each of its participating institutions. DTC will
give notice to these participants, and these participants will
give notice to any street name holders of any
indirect interests in the senior notes according to arrangements
among them. These notices may be subject to statutory or
regulatory requirements. We will not be responsible for giving
notice of a redemption of the senior notes to anyone other than
DTC. If senior notes to be redeemed are no longer held through
DTC and fewer than all the senior notes are to be redeemed,
selection of senior notes for redemption will be made by the
trustee in any manner the trustee deems fair and appropriate.
Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including,
without limitation, United States federal securities laws), we
or our affiliates may, at any time and from time to time,
purchase outstanding senior notes by tender, in the open market
or by private agreement.
No
Sinking Fund
There is no provision for a sinking fund for the senior notes.
Covenants
The indenture restricts us and any of our subsidiaries which are
significant subsidiaries from incurring or assuming
secured debt or entering into sale and leaseback transactions,
except in certain circumstances. The accompanying prospectus
describes this covenant (see Restrictions on Liens and
Sale and Leaseback Transactions in the accompanying
prospectus) and other covenants contained in the indenture in
greater detail and should be read prior to investing.
Book-Entry
System; Global Notes
Except as set forth below, the senior notes will initially be
issued in the form of one or more global notes. The senior notes
will be issued as fully-registered securities registered in the
name of Cede & Co. (DTCs partnership nominee) or
such other name as may be requested by an authorized
representative of DTC. One fully-registered security certificate
will be issued for the senior notes in the aggregate principal
amount of such issue, and will be deposited with DTC or the
trustee on behalf of DTC. If, however, the aggregate principal
amount of any issue exceeds $500 million, one certificate
will be issued with respect to each $500 million of
principal amount and an additional certificate will be issued
with respect to any remaining
S-8
principal amount of such issue. Investors may hold their
beneficial interests in a global note directly through DTC or
indirectly through organizations which are participants in the
DTC system.
Unless and until they are exchanged in whole or in part for
certificated notes, the global notes may not be transferred
except as a whole by DTC or its nominee.
DTC has advised us as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New
York Banking Law, a banking organization within the
meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal
Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the
meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing
agency registered under the provisions of Section 17A
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
|
|
|
DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 2.2 million
issues of U.S. and
non-U.S. equity,
corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instrument
from over 100 countries that DTCs direct participants
deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement
among direct participants of sales and other securities
transactions in deposited securities through electronic
book-entry transfers and pledges between direct
participants accounts. This eliminates the need for
physical movement of securities certificates. Direct
participants include both U.S. and
non-U.S. securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly
owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing
Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of
DTCs direct participants, and members of the National
Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing
Corporation, and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation, as well
as by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock
Exchange LLC and the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. Access to the DTC system is available to others, including
both U.S. and
non-U.S. securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing
corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a direct participant, either directly or
indirectly. DTC has S&Ps highest rating: AAA. The DTC
rules applicable to its direct and indirect participants are on
file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at
www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org.
|
|
|
|
Purchases of the senior notes under the DTC system must be made
by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit
for the senior notes on DTCs records. The ownership
interest of each actual purchaser of each senior note, or the
beneficial owner, is, in turn, to be recorded on the direct and
indirect participants record. Beneficial owners will not
receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase.
Beneficial owners are, however, expected to receive written
confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as
periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or
indirect participant through which the beneficial owner entered
into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the
senior notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books
of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of
beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive
certificates representing their ownership interests in senior
notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for
the senior notes is discontinued.
|
|
|
|
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all senior notes deposited
by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of
DTCs partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such
other name as may be requested by an authorized representative
of DTC. The deposit of senior notes with DTC and their
registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other
nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC
has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the senior
notes; DTCs records reflect only the identity of the
direct participants to whose accounts the senior notes are
credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The
direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for
keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
|
|
|
|
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct
participants, by direct participants to indirect participants,
and by direct participants and indirect participants to
beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Beneficial owners of the senior notes
may wish to take certain steps to
|
S-9
|
|
|
|
|
augment the transmission to them of notices of significant
events with respect to the senior notes, such as redemptions,
tenders, defaults and proposed amendments to the senior note
documents. For example, beneficial owners of senior notes may
wish to ascertain whether the nominee holding the senior notes
for their benefit has agreed to obtain and transmit notices to
beneficial owners. In the alternative, beneficial owners may
wish to provide their names and addresses to the registrar and
request that copies of notices be provided directly to them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the
senior notes within a series are being redeemed, DTCs
practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of
each direct participant in the series to be redeemed.
|
|
|
|
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee)
will consent or vote with respect to senior notes unless
authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTCs
procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus
proxy to the issuer as soon as possible after the record date.
The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.s consenting
or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts
senior notes are credited on the record date (identified in a
listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
|
|
|
|
Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the
senior notes will be made to Cede & Co. or such other
nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of
DTC. DTCs practice is to credit direct participants
accounts upon DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding
detail information from the issuer or the agent on payable date
in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTCs
records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is
the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in
bearer form or registered in street name, and will
be the responsibility of the participant and not of DTC nor its
nominee, agent or the issuer, subject to any statutory or
regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend
payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be
requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the
responsibility of the issuer or agent, disbursement of the
payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of
DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners
will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
|
|
|
|
DTC may discontinue providing its services as depositary with
respect to the senior notes at any time by giving reasonable
notice to the issuer or the agent. Under such circumstances, in
the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, senior
note certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
|
We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry
transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary). In
that event, senior note certificates will be printed and
delivered.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTCs
book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe
to be reliable but we take no responsibility for the accuracy
thereof.
S-10
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting
agreement between us and the underwriters named below, for whom
Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are acting as representatives, we
have agreed to sell to each of the underwriters, and each of the
underwriters has severally and not jointly agreed to purchase
from us, the principal amount of notes set forth opposite its
name below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal Amount
|
|
Underwriter
|
|
of Senior Notes
|
|
|
Barclays Capital Inc.
|
|
$
|
|
|
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
ABN AMRO Incorporated
|
|
|
|
|
BNY Capital Markets, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Loop Capital Markets, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
The Williams Capital Group,
L.P.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, to purchase
all of the senior notes if any of the senior notes are purchased.
The underwriters propose to offer the senior notes directly to
the public at the public offering price specified on the cover
page to this prospectus supplement and may also offer the senior
notes to certain dealers at the public offering price less a
concession not to exceed % of the principal amount of
the senior notes. The underwriters may allow, and these dealers
may reallow, a concession not to exceed % of the
principal amount of the senior notes, to certain brokers and
dealers. After the initial offering of the senior notes, the
underwriters may change the offering price and concessions.
The senior notes are a new issue of securities with no
established trading market. We currently have no intention to
list the senior notes on any securities exchange or automated
dealer quotation system. The underwriters may make a market in
the senior notes after completion of the offering, but will not
be obligated to make a market in the senior notes and may
discontinue such market making at any time without notice. No
assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market
for the senior notes or that an active public market for the
senior notes will develop. If an active public trading market
for the senior notes does not develop, the market price and
liquidity of the senior notes may be adversely affected.
We will agree to indemnify the underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments which the
underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
We estimate the expenses for this offering, other than the
underwriting commission, to be approximately
$ million.
We will agree with the underwriters not to, during the period
7 days from the date of the underwriting agreement, sell,
offer to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise
dispose of any debt securities other than the senior notes,
without the prior written consent of each of Barclays Capital
Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc. This agreement will not apply to issuances of commercial
paper or other debt securities with scheduled maturities of less
than one year.
In order to facilitate the offering of the senior notes, the
underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the price of the senior notes. Specifically,
the underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering,
creating short positions in the senior notes for their own
accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize
the price of the senior notes, the underwriters may bid for, and
purchase, senior notes in the open market. The underwriters may
reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or dealer
for distributing senior notes in the offering, if the
underwriters repurchase previously distributed senior notes in
transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization
transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize
or maintain the market price of the senior notes above
independent market
S-11
levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in these
activities, and may end any of these activities at any time
without notice.
In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of
stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the
price of the security to be higher than it might be in the
absence of such purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might
also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent
that it were to discourage resales of the security.
Neither we nor any underwriter makes any representation or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that
the transactions described above may have on the price of the
senior notes. In addition, neither we nor any underwriter makes
any representation that the underwriters will engage in such
transactions or that such transactions once commenced will not
be discontinued without notice.
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged
and may in the future engage in transactions with, and, from
time to time, have performed and may perform investment banking
and/or
commercial banking services for, us and certain of our
affiliates in the ordinary course of business, for which they
have received and will receive customary compensation.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the senior notes will be passed upon for us by
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, San Francisco,
California. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the
underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
LLP, New York, New York. Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP has in the past performed, and
continues to perform, legal services in connection with federal
regulatory and transactional matters for us and our affiliates.
S-12
PROSPECTUS
$2,718,052,000
Pacific
Gas and Electric Company
Senior Notes
Under this prospectus, we may offer and sell from time to time
senior notes with an aggregate initial offering price of up to
$2,718,052,000 in one or more offerings. This prospectus
provides you with a general description of the senior notes that
may be offered.
Each time we sell senior notes, we will provide a prospectus
supplement that contains specific information about the offering
and the terms of the offered senior notes. The prospectus
supplement also may add, delete, update or change information
contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this
prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement for the
specific offering before you invest in any of the senior notes.
This prospectus may not be used to sell senior notes unless
accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The senior notes may be sold to or through underwriters, dealers
or agents or directly to other purchasers. A prospectus
supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers
or agents involved in the sale of the senior notes, the
aggregate principal amount of senior notes to be purchased by
them and the compensation they will receive.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved
or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy
or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
November 10, 2005
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC,
using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf
registration process, we may from time to time sell senior notes
with an aggregate initial offering price of up to
$9.4 billion in one or more offerings, of which senior
notes with an initial offering price of $6,681,948,000 have been
issued.
This prospectus provides you with only a general description of
the senior notes that we may offer. This prospectus does not
contain all of the information set forth in the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part, as permitted by
the rules and regulations of the SEC. For additional information
regarding us and the offered senior notes, please refer to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each
time we sell senior notes, we will provide a prospectus
supplement that contains specific information about the offering
and the terms of the offered senior notes. The prospectus
supplement also may add, delete, update or change information
contained in this prospectus. You should rely only on the
information in the applicable prospectus supplement if this
prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement are
inconsistent. Before purchasing any senior notes, you should
carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement, together with the additional information
described under the section of this prospectus titled
Where You Can Find More Information. In particular,
you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties
described under the section titled Risk Factors or
otherwise included in any applicable prospectus supplement or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you decide
whether to purchase the senior notes. These risks and
uncertainties, together with those not known to us or those that
we may deem immaterial, could impair our business and ultimately
affect our ability to make payments on the senior notes.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any
applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any
other person to provide you with different information. If
anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information,
you should not rely on it. Neither we nor any underwriter,
dealer or agent will make an offer to sell the senior notes in
any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You
should assume that the information in this prospectus and any
applicable prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the
dates on their covers. Our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects may have changed since those
dates.
PACIFIC
GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
We were incorporated in California in 1905. Our principal
executive offices are located at 77 Beale Street,
San Francisco, California 94177, and our telephone number
at that location is
(415) 973-7000.
Unless otherwise indicated, when used in this prospectus, the
terms we, our, ours and
us refer to Pacific Gas and Electric Company and its
subsidiaries, and the term Corp refers to our
parent, PG&E Corporation.
2
RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings
to fixed charges for the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
2003
|
|
2002
|
|
2001
|
|
2000
|
|
|
3.74
|
|
|
|
10.75
|
|
|
|
2.51
|
|
|
|
3.9
|
|
|
|
2.58
|
|
|
|
(7.70
|
)(1)
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges indicates a ratio of less
than
one-to-one,
a deficiency of $5.6 billion. |
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings represents pre-tax income from
continuing operations, adjusted for minority interest in
consolidated subsidiaries and equity in income or loss from
subsidiaries accounted for using the equity method, plus fixed
charges as computed, less the pre-tax earnings required to cover
the preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries. Fixed
Charges include interest, including amortization of debt
issue costs, premiums and discounts, the debt portion of
allowance for funds used during construction, an estimate of the
amount of interest within rents, the preferred dividend
requirements of subsidiaries and the preferred security
requirements of a wholly owned trust.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this
prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement may contain
various forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of words such as
assume, expect, intend,
plan, project, believe,
estimate, predict,
anticipate, may, might,
should, could, goal,
potential and similar expressions. We base these
forward-looking statements on our current expectations and
projections about future events, our assumptions regarding these
events and our knowledge of facts at the time the statements are
made. These forward-looking statements are subject to various
risks and uncertainties that may be outside our control, and our
actual results could differ materially from our projected
results.
For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties and the
additional factors that could affect the validity of our
forward-looking statements, as well as our financial condition
and our results of operations, you should read the sections of
the documents incorporated herein by reference titled Risk
Factors and Special Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements, as well as any additional
discussion of risks, uncertainties and additional factors that
may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus
supplements, the documents that we incorporate by reference into
this prospectus, the documents that we have included as exhibits
to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part
and the documents that we refer to under the section of this
prospectus titled Where You Can Find More
Information completely and with the understanding that our
actual future results could be materially different from what we
expect when making the forward-looking statement. We qualify all
our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
this prospectus, the date of the document incorporated by
reference or the date of any applicable prospectus supplement.
Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, we do not
undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Each prospectus supplement will describe the uses of the
proceeds from the issuance of the senior notes offered by that
prospectus supplement.
3
DESCRIPTION
OF THE SENIOR NOTES
This prospectus describes certain general terms of the senior
notes that we may sell from time to time under this prospectus.
We will describe the specific terms of each series of senior
notes we offer in a prospectus supplement. The senior notes will
be issued under an indenture dated as of April 22, 2005
(which supplemented, amended and restated the original indenture
dated as of March 11, 2004 and thereafter supplemented) and
one or more supplemental indentures that we will enter into with
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., successor to BNY
Western Trust Company, as trustee. We have summarized selected
provisions of the indenture and the senior notes below. The
information we are providing you in this prospectus concerning
the senior notes and the indenture is only a summary of the
information provided in those documents, and the summary is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the
indenture, including the forms of senior notes attached thereto.
You should consult the senior notes themselves and the indenture
for more complete information on the senior notes as they, and
not this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, govern your
rights as a holder. The indenture is included as an exhibit to
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, and the terms
of the senior notes will include those made part of the
indenture by the Trust Indenture Act.
In this section, references to we, our,
ours and us refer only to Pacific Gas
and Electric Company and not to any of its direct or indirect
subsidiaries or affiliates except as expressly provided.
General
The senior notes are our unsecured general obligations and will
rank equally in right of payment to all our other senior and
unsubordinated debt. The senior notes will be entitled to the
benefit of the indenture equally and ratably with all other
senior notes issued under the indenture.
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt we or our
subsidiaries may issue under it or otherwise. We may issue
senior notes from time to time under the indenture in one or
more series by entering into supplemental indentures or by
resolution of our board of directors.
Provisions
of a Particular Series
The prospectus supplement applicable to each series of senior
notes will specify, among other things:
|
|
|
|
|
the title of the senior notes;
|
|
|
|
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the senior notes;
|
|
|
|
the date or dates on which the principal of the senior notes is
payable, including the maturity date, or the method or means by
which those dates will be determined, and our right, if any, to
extend those dates and the duration of any extension;
|
|
|
|
the interest rate or rates of the senior notes, if any, which
may be fixed or variable, or the method or means by which the
interest rate or rates will be determined, and our ability to
extend any interest payment periods and the duration of any
extension;
|
|
|
|
the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, the dates
on which we will pay interest on the senior notes and the
regular record date, if any, for determining who is entitled to
the interest payable on any interest payment date;
|
|
|
|
any periods or periods within which, or date or dates on which,
the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on
which the senior notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at
our option;
|
|
|
|
any obligation of ours to redeem, purchase or repay the senior
notes pursuant to any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption
provisions or at the option of the holder and the terms and
conditions upon which the senior notes will be so redeemed,
purchased or repaid;
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
the denominations in which we will authorize the senior notes to
be issued, if other than $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000;
|
|
|
|
whether we will offer the senior notes in the form of global
securities and, if so, the name of the depositary for any global
securities;
|
|
|
|
if the amount payable in respect of principal of or any premium
or interest on any senior notes may be determined with reference
to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside the
indenture, the manner in which such amount will be determined;
|
|
|
|
covenants for the benefit of the holders of that series;
|
|
|
|
the currency or currencies in which the principal, premium, if
any, and interest on the senior notes will be payable if other
than U.S. dollars and the method for determining the
equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;
|
|
|
|
if the principal of the senior notes is payable from time to
time without presentation or surrender, any method or manner of
calculating the principal amount that is outstanding at any time
for purposes of the indenture; and
|
|
|
|
any other terms of the senior notes.
|
We may sell senior notes at par or at a discount below their
stated principal amount. We will describe in a prospectus
supplement material U.S. federal income tax considerations,
if any, and any other special considerations for any senior
notes we sell that are denominated in a currency other than
U.S. dollars.
Payment
Except as may be provided with respect to a series, interest, if
any, on the senior notes payable on each interest payment date
will be paid to the person in whose name that senior note is
registered as of the close of business on the regular record
date for the interest payment date. However, interest payable at
maturity will be paid to the person to whom the principal is
paid. If there has been a default in the payment of interest on
any senior notes, the defaulted interest may be paid to the
holders of the senior notes as of a date between 10 and
30 days before the date we propose for payment of defaulted
interest or in any other manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which those senior
notes are listed, if the trustee finds it practicable.
Redemption
Any terms for the optional or mandatory redemption of a series
of senior notes will be set forth in a prospectus supplement for
the offered series. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus
supplement, senior notes will be redeemable by us only upon
notice by mail not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
before the date fixed for redemption and, if less than all the
senior notes of a series are to be redeemed, the particular
senior notes to be redeemed will be selected by the method
provided for that particular series, or in the absence of any
such provision, by such method of random selection as the
registrar deems fair and appropriate.
We have reserved the right to provide conditional redemption
notices for redemptions at our option or for redemptions that
are contingent upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event
or condition that cannot be ascertained prior to the time we are
required to notify holders of the redemption. A conditional
notice may state that if we have not deposited redemption funds
with the trustee or a paying agent on or before the redemption
date or we have directed the trustee or paying agent not to
apply money deposited with it for redemption of senior notes, we
will not be required to redeem the senior notes on the
redemption date.
Restrictions
on Liens and Sale and Leaseback Transactions
The indenture does not permit us or any of our significant
subsidiaries (as defined below) to, (i) issue, incur,
assume or permit to exist any debt (as defined below) secured by
a lien (as defined below) on any of
5
our principal property (as defined below) or any of our
significant subsidiaries principal property, whether that
principal property was owned when the original indenture was
executed (March 11, 2004) or thereafter acquired,
unless we provide that the senior notes will be equally and
ratably secured with the secured debt or (ii) incur or
permit to exist any attributable debt (as defined below);
provided, however, that the foregoing restriction will not apply
to the following:
|
|
|
|
|
to the extent we or a significant subsidiary consolidates with,
or merges with or into, another entity, liens on the property of
the entity securing debt in existence on the date of the
consolidation or merger, provided that the debt and liens were
not created or incurred in anticipation of the consolidation or
merger and that the liens do not extend to or cover any of our
or a significant subsidiarys principal property;
|
|
|
|
liens on property acquired after March 11, 2004 and
existing at the time of acquisition, as long as the lien was not
created or incurred in anticipation thereof and does not extend
to or cover any other principal property;
|
|
|
|
liens of any kind, including purchase money liens, conditional
sales agreements or title retention agreements and similar
agreements, upon any property acquired, constructed, developed
or improved by us or a significant subsidiary (whether alone or
in association with others) which do not exceed the cost or
value of the property acquired, constructed, developed or
improved and which are created prior to, at the time of, or
within 12 months after the acquisition (or in the case of
property constructed, developed or improved, within
12 months after the completion of the construction,
development or improvement and commencement of full commercial
operation of the property, whichever is later) to secure or
provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price or
cost thereof; provided that the liens do not extend to any
principal property other than the property so acquired,
constructed, developed or improved;
|
|
|
|
liens in favor of the United States, any state or any foreign
country or any department, agency or instrumentality or any
political subdivision of the foregoing to secure payments
pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any
indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any
part of the purchase price or cost of constructing or improving
the property subject to the lien, including liens related to
governmental obligations the interest on which is tax-exempt
under Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or the Code, or any successor section of the Code;
|
|
|
|
liens in favor of us, one or more of our significant
subsidiaries, one or more of our wholly owned subsidiaries or
any of the foregoing combination; and
|
|
|
|
replacements, extensions or renewals (or successive
replacements, extensions or renewals), in whole or in part, of
any lien or of any agreement referred to in the bullet points
above or replacements, extensions or renewals of the debt
secured thereby (to the extent that the amount of the debt
secured by the lien is not increased from the amount originally
so secured, plus any premium, interest, fee or expenses payable
in connection with any replacements, refundings, refinancings,
remarketings, extensions or renewals); provided that
replacement, extension or renewal is limited to all or a part of
the same property (plus improvements thereon or additions or
accessions thereto) that secured the lien replaced, extended or
renewed.
|
Notwithstanding the restriction described above, we or any
significant subsidiary may, (i) issue, incur or assume debt
secured by a lien not described in the immediately preceding six
bullet points on any principal property owned at March 11,
2004 or thereafter acquired without providing that the
outstanding senior notes be equally and ratably secured with
that debt and (ii) issue or permit to exist attributable
debt in respect of principal property, in either case, so long
as the aggregate amount of that secured debt and attributable
debt, together with the aggregate amount of all other debt
secured by liens on principal property not described in the
immediately preceding six bullet points then outstanding and all
other attributable debt in respect of principal property, does
not exceed 10% of our net tangible assets, as determined by us
as of a month end not more than 90 days prior to the
closing or consummation of the proposed transaction.
6
For these purposes:
|
|
|
|
|
attributable debt in respect of a sale and leaseback
transaction means, at the time of determination, the present
value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments
during the remaining term of the lease included in the sale and
leaseback transaction, including any period for which the lease
has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be
extended. The present value shall be calculated using a discount
rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in the transaction,
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principals, or GAAP.
|
|
|
|
capital lease obligation means, at the time any
determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in
respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required
to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.
|
|
|
|
debt means any debt of ours for money borrowed and
guarantees by us of debt for money borrowed but in each case
excluding liabilities in respect of capital lease obligations or
swap agreements.
|
|
|
|
debt of a significant subsidiary means any debt of
such significant subsidiary for money borrowed and guarantees by
the significant subsidiary of debt for money borrowed but in
each case excluding liabilities in respect of capital lease
obligations or swap agreements.
|
|
|
|
excepted property means any right, title or interest
of us or any of our significant subsidiaries in, to or under any
of the following property, whether owned at March 11, 2004
or thereafter acquired:
|
|
|
|
|
|
all money, investment property and deposit accounts (as those
terms are defined in the California Commercial Code as in effect
on March 11, 2004), and all cash on hand or on deposit in
banks or other financial institutions, shares of stock,
interests in general or limited partnerships or limited
liability companies, bonds, notes, other evidences of
indebtedness and other securities, of whatever kind and nature;
|
|
|
|
all accounts, chattel paper, commercial tort claims, documents,
general intangibles, instruments,
letter-of-credit
rights and letters of credit (as those terms are defined in the
California Commercial Code as in effect on March 11, 2004),
with certain exclusions such as licenses and permits to use the
real property of others, and all contracts, leases (other than
the lease of certain real property at our Diablo Canyon power
plant), operating agreements and other agreements of whatever
kind and nature; and all contract rights, bills and notes;
|
|
|
|
all revenues, income and earnings, all accounts receivable,
rights to payment and unbilled revenues, and all rents, tolls,
issues, product and profits, claims, credits, demands and
judgments, including any rights in or to rates, revenue
components, charges, tariffs, or amounts arising therefrom, or
in any amounts that are accrued and recorded in a regulatory
account for collection by us or any significant subsidiary;
|
|
|
|
all governmental and other licenses, permits, franchises,
consents and allowances including all emission allowances (or
similar rights) created under any similar existing or future law
relating to abatement or control of pollution of the atmosphere,
water or soil, other than all licenses and permits to use the
real property of others, franchises to use public roads, streets
and other public properties, rights of way and other rights, or
interests relating to the occupancy or use of real property;
|
|
|
|
all patents, patent licenses and other patent rights, patent
applications, trade names, trademarks, copyrights and other
intellectual property, including computer software and software
licenses;
|
|
|
|
all claims, credits, choses in action, and other intangible
property;
|
|
|
|
all automobiles, buses, trucks, truck cranes, tractors,
trailers, motor vehicles and similar vehicles and movable
equipment; all rolling stock, rail cars and other railroad
equipment; all vessels, boats, barges and other marine
equipment; all airplanes, helicopters, aircraft engines and
other flight equipment; and all parts, accessories and supplies
used in connection with any of the foregoing;
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
all goods, stock in trade, wares, merchandise and inventory held
for the purpose of sale or lease in the ordinary course of
business; all materials, supplies, inventory and other items of
personal property that are consumable (otherwise than by
ordinary wear and tear) in their use in the operation of the
principal property; all fuel, whether or not that fuel is in a
form consumable in the operation of the principal property,
including separate components of any fuel in the forms in which
those components exist at any time before, during or after the
period of the use thereof as fuel; all hand and other portable
tools and equipment; and all furniture and furnishings;
|
|
|
|
all personal property the perfection of a security interest in
which is not governed by the California Commercial Code;
|
|
|
|
all oil, gas and other minerals (as those terms are defined in
the California Commercial Code as in effect on March 11,
2004) and all coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals
and all timber, and all rights and interests in any of the
foregoing, whether or not the minerals or timber have been mined
or extracted or otherwise separated from the land; and all
electric energy and capacity, gas (natural or artificial),
steam, water and other products generated, produced,
manufactured, purchased or otherwise acquired by us or any
significant subsidiary;
|
|
|
|
all property which is the subject of a lease agreement other
than a lease agreement that results from a sale and leaseback
transaction designating us or any significant subsidiary as
lessee and all our, or a significant subsidiarys right,
title and interest in and to that property and in, to and under
that lease agreement, whether or not that lease agreement is
intended as security (other than certain real property leased at
our Diablo Canyon power plant and the related lease agreement);
|
|
|
|
real, personal and mixed properties of an acquiring or acquired
entity unless otherwise made a part of principal
property; and
|
|
|
|
all proceeds (as that term is defined in the California
Commercial Code as in effect on March 11, 2004) of the
property listed in the preceding bullet points;
|
|
|
|
|
|
lien means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge,
security interest, encumbrance, easement, lease, reservation,
restriction, servitude, charge or similar right and any other
lien of any kind, including, without limitation, any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, any lease of a similar
nature, and any defect, irregularity, exception or limitation in
record title or, when the context so requires, any lien, claim
or interest arising from anything described in this bullet point.
|
|
|
|
net tangible assets means the total amount of
our assets determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP, less (i) the sum of our consolidated current
liabilities determined in accordance with GAAP and (ii) the
amount of our consolidated assets classified as intangible
assets determined in accordance with GAAP, including, but not
limited to, such items as goodwill, trademarks, trade names,
patents, and unamortized debt discount and expense and
regulatory assets carried as an asset on our consolidated
balance sheet.
|
|
|
|
principal property means any property of ours or any
of our significant subsidiaries, as applicable, other than
excepted property.
|
|
|
|
significant subsidiary has the meaning specified in
Rule 1-02(w) of
Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities
Act; provided that, significant subsidiary shall not include any
corporation or other entity substantially all the assets of
which are excepted property.
|
|
|
|
swap agreement means any agreement with respect to
any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or
similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or
more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments
or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or
measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any
similar transaction or any combination of these transactions.
|
8
Consolidation,
Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other
person (as defined below) or convey, otherwise transfer or lease
all or substantially all of our principal property to any person
unless:
|
|
|
|
|
the person formed by that consolidation or into which we are
merged or the person which acquires by conveyance or other
transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all of the
principal property is a corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, association, company, joint stock company or
business trust, organized and existing under the laws of the
United States, or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
|
|
|
|
the person executes and delivers to the trustee a supplemental
indenture that in the case of a consolidation, merger,
conveyance or other transfer, or in the case of a lease if the
term thereof extends beyond the last stated maturity of the
senior notes then outstanding, contains an assumption by the
successor person of the due and punctual payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all
senior notes then outstanding and the performance and observance
of every covenant and condition under the indenture to be
performed or observed by us;
|
|
|
|
in the case of a lease, the lease is made expressly subject to
termination by us or by the trustee at any time during the
continuance of an event of default under the indenture;
|
|
|
|
immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating
any indebtedness that becomes our obligation as a result of the
transaction as having been incurred by us at the time of the
transaction, no default or event of default under the indenture
shall have occurred and be continuing; and
|
|
|
|
we have delivered to the trustee an officers certificate
and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the merger,
consolidation, conveyance, lease or transfer, as the case may
be, fully complies with all provisions of the indenture;
provided, however, that the delivery of the officers
certificate and opinion of counsel shall not be required with
respect to any merger, consolidation, conveyance, lease or
transfer between us and any of our wholly owned subsidiaries.
|
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may merge or consolidate with
or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to an
affiliate that has no significant assets or liabilities and was
formed solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of
organization or our form of organization or for the purpose of
forming a holding company; provided that the amount of our
indebtedness is not increased; and provided, further that the
successor assumes all of our obligations under the indenture.
In the case of the conveyance or other transfer of all or
substantially all of our principal property to any person as
contemplated under the indenture, upon the satisfaction of all
the conditions described above, we (as we would exist without
giving effect to the transaction) would be released and
discharged from all obligations and covenants under the
indenture and under the senior notes then outstanding unless we
elect to waive the release and discharge.
The meaning of the term substantially all has not
been definitely established and is likely to be interpreted by
reference to applicable state law if and at the time the issue
arises and will depend on the facts and circumstances existing
at the time.
For these purposes, person means any individual,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
association, company, joint stock company, limited liability
partnership, joint venture, trust or unincorporated
organization, or any other entity whether or not a legal entity,
or any governmental authority.
Additional
Covenants
We have agreed in the indenture, among other things:
|
|
|
|
|
to maintain a place of payment;
|
|
|
|
to maintain our corporate existence (subject to the provisions
above relating to mergers and consolidations); and
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
to deliver to the trustee an annual officers certificate
with respect to our compliance with our obligations under the
indenture.
|
Modification
of the Indenture; Waiver
We and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the senior
notes of each affected series then outstanding under the
indenture, considered as one class, modify or amend the
indenture, including the provisions relating to the rights of
the holders of senior notes of the affected series. However, no
modification or amendment may, without the consent of each
holder of affected senior notes:
|
|
|
|
|
change the stated maturity (except as provided by the terms of a
series of senior notes) of the principal of, or interest on, the
senior note or reduce the principal amount or any premium
payable on the senior note or reduce the interest rate of the
senior note, or change the method of calculating the interest
rate with respect to the senior note;
|
|
|
|
reduce the amount of principal of any discount senior note that
would be payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the senior
note;
|
|
|
|
change the coin, currency or other property in which the senior
note or interest or premium on the senior note is payable;
|
|
|
|
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on the senior note;
|
|
|
|
reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding senior
notes the consent of whose holders is required for modification
or amendment of the indenture or for waiver of compliance with
certain provisions of the indenture or for waiver of defaults;
|
|
|
|
reduce the quorum or voting requirements applicable to holders
of the senior notes; or
|
|
|
|
modify the provisions of the indenture with respect to
modification and waiver, except as provided in the indenture.
|
We and the trustee may, without the consent of any holder of
senior notes, modify and amend the indenture for certain
purposes, including to:
|
|
|
|
|
add covenants or other provisions applicable to us and for the
benefit of the holders of senior notes or one or more specified
series thereof or to surrender any right or power conferred on
us;
|
|
|
|
cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision of
the indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with other
provisions;
|
|
|
|
make any other additions to, deletions from or changes to the
provisions under the indenture so long as the additions,
deletions or changes do not materially adversely affect the
holders of any series of senior notes in any material respect;
|
|
|
|
change or eliminate any provision of the indenture or add any
new provision so long as the change, elimination or addition
does not adversely affect the interests of holders of senior
notes of any series in any material respect; and
|
|
|
|
change any place or places for payment or surrender of senior
notes and where notices and demands to us may be served.
|
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the senior notes of each affected series then
outstanding under the indenture, voting as a single class, may
waive compliance by us with our covenant in respect of our
corporate existence and the covenants described under
Restrictions on Liens and Sale and Leaseback
Transactions and Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance
or Transfer and with certain covenants and restrictions
that may apply to a series of senior notes as provided in the
indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the senior notes outstanding may, on behalf
of the holders of all of the senior notes, waive any past
default under the indenture and its consequences, except a
10
default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any senior note and defaults in respect of a
covenant or provision in the indenture which cannot be modified,
amended or waived without the consent of each holder of affected
senior notes.
In order to determine whether the holders of the requisite
principal amount of the outstanding senior notes have taken an
action under the indenture as of a specified date:
|
|
|
|
|
the principal amount of a discount senior note that will be
deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal
that would be due and payable as of that date upon acceleration
of the maturity to that date; and
|
|
|
|
senior notes owned by us or any other obligor upon the senior
notes or any of our or their affiliates will be disregarded and
deemed not to be outstanding.
|
Events of
Default
An event of default means any of the following
events which shall occur and be continuing:
|
|
|
|
|
failure to pay interest on a senior note within 30 days
after the interest becomes due and payable;
|
|
|
|
failure to pay the principal of, or sinking fund payment or
premium, if any, on, a senior note when due and payable;
|
|
|
|
failure to perform or breach of any other covenant or warranty
applicable to us in the indenture continuing for 90 days
after the trustee gives us, or the holders of at least 33% in
aggregate principal amount of the senior notes then outstanding
give us and the trustee, written notice specifying the default
or breach and requiring us to remedy the default or breach,
unless the trustee or the trustee and holders of a principal
amount of senior notes not less than the principal amount of
senior notes the holders of which gave that notice agree in
writing to an extension of the period prior to its expiration;
|
|
|
|
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and
|
|
|
|
the occurrence of any event of default as defined in any
mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be
issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any of
our debt, whether the debt existed on March 23, 2004 (the
date senior notes were first issued under the original
indenture), or is thereafter created, if the event of default:
(i) is caused by a failure to pay principal after final
maturity of the debt after the expiration of the grace period
provided in the debt (which we refer to as a payment
default) or (ii) results in the acceleration of the
debt prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, the
principal amount of the debt, together with the principal amount
of any other debt under which there has been a payment default
or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates
$100 million or more.
|
The $100 million amount specified in the bullet point above
shall be increased in any calendar year subsequent to 2004 by
the same percentage increase in the urban CPI for the period
commencing January 1, 2004 and ending on January 1 of the
applicable calendar year. Debt for the purpose of
the bullet point above means any debt of ours for money borrowed
but, in each case, excluding liabilities in respect of capital
lease obligations or swap agreements.
If the trustee deems it to be in the interest of the holders of
the senior notes, it may withhold notice of default, except
defaults in the payment of principal of or interest or premium
on or with respect to, any senior note.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or
the holders of not less than 33% in aggregate principal amount
of the senior notes outstanding, considered as one class, may
declare all principal due and payable immediately by notice in
writing to us (and to the trustee if given by holders);
provided, however, that if an event of default occurs with
respect to the specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, then the senior notes outstanding shall be due
and payable immediately without further action by the trustee or
holders. If, after such a declaration of acceleration, we pay or
deposit with the trustee all overdue interest and principal and
premium on senior notes that would have been due otherwise, plus
any
11
interest and other conditions specified in the indenture have
been satisfied before a judgment or decree for payment has been
obtained by the trustee as provided in the indenture, the event
or events of default giving rise to the acceleration will be
deemed to have been waived and the declaration of acceleration
and its consequences will be deemed to have been rescinded and
annulled.
No holder of senior notes will have any right to enforce any
remedy under the indenture unless the holder has given the
trustee written notice of a continuing event of default, the
holders of at least 33% in aggregate principal amount of the
senior notes outstanding have requested the trustee in writing
to institute proceedings in respect of the event of default in
its own name as trustee under the indenture and the holder or
holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity against
costs, expenses and liabilities with respect to the request, the
trustee has failed to institute any proceeding within
60 days after receiving the notice from holders, and no
direction inconsistent with the written request has been given
to the trustee during the
60-day
period by holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal
amount of senior notes then outstanding.
The trustee is not required to risk its funds or to incur
financial liability if there is a reasonable ground for
believing that repayment to it or adequate indemnity against
risk or liability is not reasonably assured.
If an event of default has occurred and is continuing, holders
of not less than a majority in principal amount of the senior
notes then outstanding generally may direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to
the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
trustee; provided the direction could not involve the trustee in
personal liability where indemnity would not, in the
trustees sole discretion, be adequate.
Satisfaction
and Discharge
Any senior note, or any portion of the principal amount thereof,
will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the indenture
and, our entire indebtedness in respect of the senior notes will
be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if certain
conditions are satisfied, including an irrevocable deposit with
the trustee or any paying agent (other than us) in trust of:
|
|
|
|
|
money in an amount which will be sufficient; or
|
|
|
|
in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of the
senior notes or portions thereof, eligible obligations (as
described below) which do not contain provisions permitting the
redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the
issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when
due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide
monies which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or
held by the trustee or the paying agent, will be
sufficient; or
|
|
|
|
a combination of either of the two items described in the two
preceding bullet points which will be sufficient;
|
to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, due and to become due on the senior notes or
portions thereof.
This discharge of the senior notes through the deposit with the
trustee of cash or eligible obligations generally will be
treated as a taxable disposition for U.S. federal income
tax purposes by the holders of those senior notes. Prospective
investors in the senior notes should consult their own tax
advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax
consequences applicable to them in the event of such discharge.
For this purpose, eligible obligations for
U.S. dollar-denominated senior notes, means securities that
are direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally
guaranteed by, the United States, entitled to the benefit of the
full faith and credit thereof, or depositary receipts issued by
a bank as custodian with respect to these obligations or any
specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof
held by the custodian for the account of the holder of a
depository receipt.
12
Transfer
and Exchange
Senior notes of any series may be exchanged for other senior
notes of the same series of authorized denominations and of like
aggregate principal amount and tenor. Subject to the terms of
the indenture and the limitations applicable to global
securities, senior notes may be presented for exchange or
registration of transfer at the office of the registrar without
service charge (unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus
supplement), upon payment of any taxes and other governmental
charges imposed on registration of transfer or exchange. Such
transfer or exchange will be effected upon the trustee, us or
the registrar, as the case may be, being satisfied with the
instruments of transfer.
If we provide for any redemption of a series of senior notes, we
will not be required to execute, register the transfer of or
exchange any senior note of that series for 15 days before
a notice of redemption is mailed or register the transfer of or
exchange any senior note selected for redemption.
Global
Securities
Senior notes may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or
more global securities, with an aggregate principal amount equal
to that of the senior notes they represent. We will register
each global security in the name of a depositary or its nominee
and deposit the global security with the depositary. Each global
security will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on
transfer.
No global security may be exchanged for senior notes registered,
and no transfer of a global security may be registered, in the
name of any person other than a depositary for the global
security or any nominee of the depositary, unless:
|
|
|
|
|
the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as depositary for the global security or is no longer
eligible to act as depositary and we have not appointed a
successor in 90 days;
|
|
|
|
an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect
to the senior notes represented by the global security;
|
|
|
|
we determine a series will no longer be represented by a global
security.
|
If specified in a prospectus supplement, we will register all
senior notes issued in exchange for a global security or any
portion of a global security in the names specified by the
depositary.
As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered
holder of a global security, the depositary or nominee will be
considered the sole owner and holder of the global security and
the senior notes that it represents. Except in the limited
circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests
in a global security will not:
|
|
|
|
|
be entitled to have the global security or senior notes
registered in their names;
|
|
|
|
receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
certificated senior notes in exchange for a global
security; and
|
|
|
|
be considered to be the owners or holders of the global security
or any senior notes for any purpose under the indenture.
|
We will make all payments of principal, premium, and interest on
a global security to the depositary or its nominee. The laws of
some jurisdictions require that purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws
make it difficult to transfer beneficial interests in a global
security.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be
limited to institutions that have accounts with the depositary
or its nominee, referred to as participants, and to persons that
may hold beneficial interests through participants. In
connection with the issuance of any global security, the
depositary will credit on its book-entry registration and
transfer system the respective principal amounts of senior notes
represented by the global security to the accounts of its
participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global
security will only be shown on records maintained by the
depositary or the participant. Similarly, the transfer of
ownership interests will be effected only through the same
records. Payments, transfers, exchanges, and other matters
13
relating to beneficial interests in a global security may be
subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the
depositary from time to time. Neither we, the trustee nor any of
our agents will have responsibility or liability for any aspect
of the depositarys or any participants records
relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial
interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising
or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial interests.
Resignation
or Removal of Trustee
The trustee may resign at any time upon written notice to us and
the trustee may be removed at any time by written notice
delivered to the trustee and us and signed by the holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding senior
notes. No resignation or removal of a trustee will take effect
until a successor trustee accepts appointment. In addition,
under certain circumstances, we may remove the trustee, or any
holder who has been a bona fide holder of a senior note for at
least six months may seek a court order for the removal of the
trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. We must give
notice of resignation and removal of the trustee or the
appointment of a successor trustee to all holders of senior
notes as provided in the indenture.
Trustees,
Paying Agents and Registrars for the Senior Notes
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. acts as the trustee,
paying agent and registrar under the indenture. We may change
either the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the
holders of the senior notes, and we may act as paying agent. We
and our affiliates maintain ordinary banking and trust
relationships with a number of banks and trust companies,
including The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.
Governing
Law
The indenture and the senior notes are governed by California
law.
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
We may sell any series of senior notes being offered by this
prospectus in one or more of the following ways from time to
time:
|
|
|
|
|
to underwriters or dealers for resale to the public or to
institutional investors;
|
|
|
|
directly to institutional investors; or
|
|
|
|
through agents to the public or to institutional investors.
|
A prospectus supplement applicable to each series of senior
notes will state the terms of the offering of the senior notes,
including:
|
|
|
|
|
the name or names of any underwriters or agents;
|
|
|
|
the purchase price of the senior notes and the proceeds to be
received by us from the sale;
|
|
|
|
any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items
constituting underwriters or agents compensation;
|
|
|
|
any initial public offering price;
|
|
|
|
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
dealers; and
|
|
|
|
any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which
the senior notes may be listed.
|
If we use underwriters in the sale, the senior notes will be
acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts and may be
resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:
|
|
|
|
|
negotiated transactions;
|
|
|
|
at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed;
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
|
|
|
|
at prices based on prevailing market prices; or
|
|
|
|
at negotiated prices.
|
Senior notes may be offered to the public either through
underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing
underwriters or directly by one or more of those firms. The
specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, will be
named in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular
senior notes together with the members of the underwriting
syndicate, if any. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus
supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the
particular senior notes will be subject to certain conditions
precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all
of the senior notes being offered if any are purchased.
We may sell senior notes directly or through agents we designate
from time to time. The prospectus supplement will set forth the
name of any agent involved in the offer or sale of senior notes
in respect of which such prospectus supplement is delivered and
any commissions payable by us to such agent. Unless otherwise
indicated in a prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting
on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the
distribution of senior notes may be deemed to be underwriters as
defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions
received by them on the sale or resale of senior notes may be
deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act. We may agree with the underwriters, dealers and
agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act or to contribute
with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or
agents may be required to make in respect of these liabilities.
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, senior
notes will not be listed on a securities exchange. Any
underwriters to whom senior notes are sold by us for public
offering and sale may make a market in the senior notes, but
such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market making at any time without notice.
To facilitate a senior notes offering, any underwriter may
engage in over-allotment, short covering transactions and
penalty bids or stabilizing transactions in accordance with
Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
|
|
|
|
Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size,
which creates a short position.
|
|
|
|
Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying
senior notes so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a
specified maximum.
|
|
|
|
Short covering positions involve purchases of senior notes in
the open market after the distribution is completed to cover
short positions.
|
|
|
|
Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling
concession from a dealer when senior notes originally sold by
the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover
short positions.
|
These activities may cause the price of the senior notes to be
higher than it otherwise would be. If commenced, these
activities may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, the related consolidated
financial statement schedule and managements report on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Pacific Gas
and Electric Company and subsidiaries Current Report on
Form 8-K
dated October 28, 2005 have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are
incorporated herein by reference (which reports (1) express
an unqualified opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial
Statement Schedule and include explanatory paragraphs referring
to Pacific Gas and Electric Companys adoption of new
accounting standards
15
in 2003 to account for asset retirement obligations and
financial instruments with characteristics of both liability and
equity, and in 2005 the change of the classification of changes
in certain restricted cash balances in the consolidated
statement of cash flows, (2) express an unqualified opinion
on managements assessment regarding effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting, and (3) express
an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting) and have been so incorporated in
reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the senior notes has been passed upon for us by
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. The validity of the
senior notes will be passed upon for any agents, dealers or
underwriters by their counsel named in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, information
statements and other information with the SEC under File
No. 001-2348.
These SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet
at the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also
read and copy any of these SEC filings at the SECs public
reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on its public reference room.
We have incorporated by reference into this
prospectus certain information that we file with the SEC. This
means that we can disclose important business, financial and
other information in this prospectus by referring you to the
documents containing this information.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any
future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (other
than information furnished and not filed, pursuant to
Items 2.02 or 7.01 in any
Form 8-K
filing or any other item that permits us to furnish, rather than
file, information) before the termination of the offering of the
senior notes offered hereby:
|
|
|
|
|
our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004;
|
|
|
|
our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2005, June 30, 2005
and September 30, 2005;
|
|
|
|
our current reports on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on January 6, 2005, February 1,
2005, February 11, 2005, February 18, 2005
(Item 8.01 only), March 7, 2005, March 30, 2005,
April 11, 2005, April 25, 2005, May 11, 2005,
June 21, 2005, September 22, 2005, October 7,
2005, October 21, 2005, October 28, 2005 and
October 31, 2005. (The October 28, 2005
Form 8-K,
as amended by the October 31, 2005
Form 8-K,
supersede financial statements and other information contained
in our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004 and our quarterly
report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.)
|
The incorporation by reference of the filings listed above does
not extend to any such filings made by Corp and not us or to any
information in any filings jointly made by Corp and us regarding
Corp or its other subsidiaries, but not regarding us.
All information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part
of this prospectus except to the extent that the information is
updated or superseded by information filed with the SEC after
the date the incorporated information was filed (including
later-dated reports listed above) or by the information
contained in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus
supplement. Any information that we subsequently file with the
SEC that is incorporated by reference, as described above, will
automatically update and supersede as of the date of such filing
any previous information that had been part of this prospectus
or the applicable prospectus supplement, or that had been
incorporated herein by reference.
16
You may request a copy of these filings and copies of the
indenture and the other documents which establish the terms of
senior notes offered hereby at no cost by writing or contacting
us at the following address:
The Office of the Corporate Secretary
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
P.O. Box 193722
San Francisco, CA
94119-3722
Telephone:
(415) 267-7070
Facsimile:
(415) 267-7268
17
$
% Senior Notes
due ,
20
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
March , 2007
Joint Book-Running Managers
|
|
|
Barclays
Capital |
Citigroup |
Deutsche
Bank Securities |
Co-Managers
|
|
ABN
AMRO Incorporated |
BNY
Capital Markets, Inc. |
|
|
Loop
Capital Markets, LLC |
The
Williams Capital Group, L.P. |