EX-5.1 4 d260142dex51.htm EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

|  | HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP

November 12, 2021

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

PG&E Recovery Funding LLC

77 Beale Street

P.O. Box 770000

San Francisco, California 94177

Re: | Pacific Gas and Electric Company

PG&E Recovery Funding LLC

Registration Statement on Form SF-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a California corporation (“PG&E”), and PG&E Recovery Funding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Issuer of $860,399,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s Senior Secured Recovery Bonds, Series 2021-A (the “Bonds), covered by the Registration Statement on Form SF-1 (Registration Nos. 333-256944 and 333-256944-01) filed on June 9, 2021 and as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed on July 23, 2021, as further amended by Amendment No. 2 thereto filed on August 27, 2021 and as further amended by Amendment No. 3 thereto filed on October 19, 2021 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

The Bonds were issued under an Indenture (the “Base Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a Series Supplement establishing the forms, terms and other provisions of the Bonds (the “Series Supplement” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee. The Bonds were sold pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, dated November 4, 2021 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, PG&E and the underwriters named therein.

This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

We are familiar with the proceedings taken by the Company and PG&E in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Bonds. In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have examined and relied upon copies of the Registration Statement and the exhibits filed therewith, and the Indenture. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents, certificates and statements of government officials and other instruments, and have examined such questions of law and have satisfied ourselves as to such matters of fact, as we have considered relevant and necessary as a

ATLANTA AUSTIN BANGKOK BEIJING BOSTON BRUSSELS CHARLOTTE DALLAS DUBAI HOUSTON LONDON

LOS ANGELES MIAMI NEW YORK NORFOLK RICHMOND SAN FRANCISCO THE WOODLANDS TOKYO TYSONS WASHINGTON, DC

www.HuntonAK.com

November 12, 2021

Page 2

basis for this opinion. We have assumed (i) the genuineness of all signatures, (ii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and (iii) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We have also assumed that the Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee. In delivering the opinions expressed below, we have relied without independent verification, as to factual matters, on certifications and other written or oral statements of governmental and other public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company, PG&E, the underwriters of the Bonds and the Trustee.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that the Bonds, when duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company (subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including concepts of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief):

We express no opinion herein as to the law of any jurisdiction other than the law of the State of California, the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware and the federal law of the United States.

We hereby consent to (i) the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to us included in or made a part of the Registration Statement and (ii) the posting of a copy of this opinion letter to an internet website required under Rule 17g-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and maintained by PG&E and the Issuer for the purpose of complying with such rule. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. This opinion letter is limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter, and no opinion may be implied or inferred beyond the matters expressly stated in this letter. This opinion letter is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that come to our attention or changes in the law, including judicial or administrative interpretations thereof, that occur which could affect the opinions contained herein.

Very truly yours,
/s/ HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP