Cyber-attacks, including cyber-terrorism or other information technology security breaches, or information technology failures may disrupt business operations, increase costs, lead to the disclosure of confidential information and damage Puget Sound Energy’s reputation.
Security breaches of Puget Sound Energy’s information technology infrastructure, including cyber-attacks and cyber-terrorism, or other failures of Puget Sound Energy’s information technology infrastructure could lead to disruptions of Puget Sound Energy’s production and distribution operations, and otherwise adversely impact Puget Sound Energy’s ability to safely and effectively operate electric and natural gas systems and serve customers. In addition, an attack on or failure of information technology systems could result in the unauthorized release of customer, employee or Company data that is crucial to Puget Sound Energy’s operational security or could adversely affect Puget Sound Energy’s ability to deliver and collect on customer bills. Such security breaches of Puget Sound Energy’s information technology infrastructure could adversely affect our business reputation, diminish customer confidence, subject Puget Sound Energy’s to financial liability or increased regulation, increase costs and expose Puget Sound Energy to material legal claims and liability and adversely affect our operations and financial results. Puget Sound Energy has implemented preventive, detective and remediation measures to manage these risks, and maintains cyber risk insurance to mitigate the effects of these events. Nevertheless, these may not effectively protect all of Puget Sound Energy’s systems all of the time. To the extent that the occurrence of any of these cyber-events is not fully covered by insurance, it could adversely affect the Puget Sound Energy’s financial condition and results of operations.
Natural disasters and catastrophic events, including terrorist acts, may adversely affect Puget Sound Energy’s business.
Events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, terrorist acts, and other similar occurrences, could damage Puget Sound Energy’s operational assets, including utility facilities, information technology infrastructure, distributed generation assets and pipeline assets. Such events could likewise damage the operational assets of Puget Sound Energy’s suppliers or customers. These events could disrupt Puget Sound Energy’s ability to meet customer requirements, significantly increase Puget Sound Energy’s response costs, and significantly decrease Puget Sound Energy’s revenues. Unanticipated events or a combination of events, failure in resources needed to respond to events, or a slow or inadequate response to events may have an adverse impact on Puget Sound Energy’s operations, financial condition, and results of operations. The availability of insurance covering catastrophic events, sabotage and terrorism may be limited or may result in higher deductibles, higher premiums, and more restrictive policy terms.
Puget Sound Energy is subject to the commodity price, delivery and credit risks associated with the energy markets.
In connection with matching Puget Sound Energy’s energy needs and available resources, Puget Sound Energy engages in wholesale sales and purchases of electric capacity and energy and, accordingly, is subject to commodity price risk, delivery risk, credit risk and other risks associated with these activities. Credit risk includes the risk that counterparties owing Puget Sound Energy money or energy will breach their obligations for delivery of energy supply or contractually required payments related to Puget Sound Energy’s energy supply portfolio. Should the counterparties to these arrangements fail to perform, Puget Sound Energy may be forced to enter into alternative arrangements. In that event, Puget Sound Energy’s financial results could be adversely affected. Although Puget Sound Energy takes into account the expected probability of default by counterparties, the actual exposure to a default by a particular counterparty could be greater than predicted.
Costs of compliance with environmental, climate change and endangered species laws are significant and the costs of compliance with new and emerging laws and regulations and the incurrence of associated liabilities could adversely affect Puget Sound Energy’s results of operations.
Puget Sound Energy’s operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental issues, including air emissions and climate change, endangered species protection, remediation of
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