Nicholas Campanella
Analyst at Credit Suisse Group
Thank you, Ralph. And good morning, everyone. As Ralph mentioned, for the first quarter of 2022, PSEG reported a net loss of under $0.01 per share primarily related to the mark-to-market adjustments and non-GAAP operating earnings of $1.33 per share. We provided you with information on Slide 11 regarding the contribution to non-GAAP operating earnings by business for the first quarter of 2022. And Slide 12 contains a waterfall chart that takes you through the net changes quarter-over-quarter in non-GAAP operating earnings by major business. Let's start with PSE&G.
PSEG's first quarter 2022 non-GAAP operating earnings improved by $0.07 per share over the prior year's quarter, reflecting rate base additions from our investment programs in the Gas System Modernization Program and the implementation of the Conservation Incentive Program. Compared to the first quarter of 2021, transmission was $0.03 per share unfavorable, reflecting the implementation effective August of 2021 of the settlement agreement of our transmission formula rate, including a lower return on equity partly offset by growth in rate base.
For distribution, gas margin improved by $0.08 per share over the first quarter of 2021, half of which was driven by the scheduled recovery of investments made under the Gas System Modernization Program, with the balance reflecting growth in the number of gas customers and the true-up from the Conservation Incentive Program.
Electric margin rose by $0.02 per share compared to the first quarter of 2021, also reflecting a higher number of customers and the implementation of the CIP mechanism. CIP was not in effect in last year's first quarter for either gas or electric distribution.
Other margin primarily related to a client service was $0.02 per share favorable compared to the first quarter of 2021. Higher O&M expense was $0.02 per share unfavorable compared with the first quarter 2021, reflecting timing and various costs. Higher depreciation expense reduced results by $0.01 per share, reflecting higher plant service. Lower pension expense added $0.01 per share compared to the first quarter of '21. In addition, the impact of PSEG's $500 million share repurchase had a $0.01 per share benefit in the first quarter of 2022. Flow through taxes and other items had a net unfavorable impact of $0.01 per share compared to the first quarter of '21, but it was more favorable than we will see over the remainder of the year driven by the use of an annual effective tax rate.
Winter weather in the first quarter of 2022 measured, by heating degree days, was slightly colder than normal. As a result of implementing the CIP, variations in weather, positive or negative, now have a limited impact on electric and gas margins, while enabling the widespread adoption of PSE&G's energy efficiency programs. For the trailing 12 months ended March 31, weather-normalized electric sales reflected lower residential sales, lower by 4.8%, 3.2% respectively, and higher C&I sales higher by 3.3%, 2.8% respectively, as more people returned to work outside the home. Growth in the number of electric and gas customers remained positive by approximately 1% during a trailing 12-month period.
PSE&G invested $656 million during the first quarter and is on track to execute its planned 2022 capital investment program of $2.9 billion, which includes infrastructure upgrades, transmission and distribution facilities, as well as the continued rollout of the clean energy future investments, and energy efficiency, Energy Cloud or smart meters, and the electric vehicle charging station infrastructure. PSE&G's forecast of net income for 2022 is unchanged at $1.51 billion to $1.56 billion.
Moving on to Carbon-Free, Infrastructure & Other, or CFIO. We reported a net loss of $11 million or $1.02 per share for the first quarter of 2002 and non-GAAP operating earnings of $163 million or $0.32 per share. This compares to first quarter of 2021 net income of $171 million or $0.34 per share, and non-GAAP operating earnings of $173 million or $0.34 per share, which included the results of the divested fossil assets.
For the first quarter of 2022, Electric gross margin declined by $0.27 per share, primarily due to the completed sale of the 6,750-megawatt fossil portfolio in February 2022 and the sale of Solar Source. This reduction in gross margin also includes recontracting approximately 8 terawatt hours of nuclear generation at a $3 per megawatt hour lower average price. Higher margins from gas operations of $0.04 per share compares favorably with the year-earlier quarter.
Year-over-year cost comparisons were better by $0.21 per share due to the divestitures, driven by lower O&M, depreciation and interest expense that will mainly benefit first half 2022 results. The third and fourth quarters of 2021 reflected the sale of Solar Source in June, the cessation of fossil depreciation due to held-for-sale status from August onwards, and the retirement of PSEG Power's outstanding debt in October.
Taxes and other was favorable to the tune of $0.01 per share versus the first quarter of 2021 and parent activity was $0.01 per share unfavorable, reflecting higher interest expense.
I also want to make one point on the NRC decision to revert the Peach Bottom 2 and 3 licenses 2023 -- 2033 and 2034 respectively that Ralph mentioned earlier. Because the NRC anticipates that it will complete its environmental analysis before 2033, and we believe the licenses will be updated to the previously extended lives of 2053 and 2054, PSEG has not adjusted the useful lives of the units and we'll continue to depreciate the assets through that period.
On the operating side, nuclear generating output increased by over 2% to 8.4 terawatt-hours, reflecting the absence of Echostone to Hope Creek spring 2021 refueling. The full availability of Hope Creek during the first quarter of 2022 to help the nuclear fleet operated at a capacity factor of 100% in the first quarter. PSEG is forecasting generation output of 21 to 23 terawatt-hours for the remaining quarters of 2022 and has hedged approximately 95% to 100% of this production at an average price of $28 per megawatt-hour.
For 2023, PSEG is forecasting nuclear baseload output of 30 to 32 terawatt-hours, and essentially 95% to 100% of this output at an average price of $30 per megawatt-hour. And for 2024, PSEG is forecasting nuclear baseload output of 29 to 31 terawatt hours and has hedged 50% to 55% of this output at an average price of $31 per megawatt-hour.
The forecast of non-GAAP operating earnings for carbon-free infrastructure and other is unchanged at $170 million to $220 million for 2022. And this guidance excludes results related to the Fossil assets sold in February 2022, as all free cash flow generated in 2022 from the Fossil operations prior to closing were translated into an adjustment to the final purchase price.
With respect to financing in March of 2022, PSEG and PSEG Power consolidated the revolving credit agreements into a master credit facility with total borrowing capacity of $2.75 billion with an initial PSEG supplement of $1.5 billion and an initial PSEG Power supplement of $1.25 billion. PSEG supplement includes sustainability-linked pricing mechanism with potential increases or decreases depending upon performance relative to targeted methane emissions reductions.
In addition, PSE&G expanded its existing revolving credit agreement to provide for $1 billion of credit capacity. Both facilities are extended through March of 2027. As of March 31, PSEG's total available credit capacity was $3.2 billion in addition to approximately $1.6 billion of cash and short-term investments on PSEG's balance sheet, inclusive of $910 million at PSE&G.
As of March 31, our liquidity position reflects the repayment of a $500 million PSEG term loan at maturity in March, repayment of a $750 million PSEG term loan due in May of 2022 and $500 million of capital being returned through share repurchases. PSEG Power had net cash collateral postings of $1.5 billion at March 31 related to out-of-the-money hedge positions from higher energy prices during the first quarter of 2022.
Collateral postings have continued to increase subsequent to March 31 as power prices have continued to rise. At the end of April, PSEG Power had net collateral postings of approximately $2.6 billion. The majority of this collateral relates to hedges in place through the end of 2023 and is expected to be returned to PSEG Power as satisfied obligations under those contracts.
In March of 2022, PSEG Power closed on a $1.25 billion variable rate 3-year term loan to re-lever Power after redeeming all long-term debt outstanding prior to the sale of our Fossil fleet. At PSE&G, we issued our first green bond in March of 2022, consisting of $500 million of secured medium term notes due 2032 under PSEG's new sustainable financing framework. And subsequent to March 31, PSEG entered into a $1.5 billion variable rate term loan and PSEG Power closed on LC facilities totaling $200 million.
Lastly, we have successfully implemented our $500 million share repurchase to $250 million of open market purchases completed earlier in 2022 and an accelerated share repurchase program for the remaining amount that will be completed no later than June of 2022. We are reaffirming PSEG's 2022 non-GAAP operating earnings guidance of $3.35 to $3.55 per share with regulated operations contributed approximately 90% of the total.
For the full-year 2022, PSE&Gs net income is forecasted at #1.510 billion to $1.560 billion non-GAAP operating earnings for CFIO is forecasted at $170 million to to $220 million. PSEG's 2022 earnings guidance excludes financial results from the divested Fossil assets and includes the additional interest expense related to the recent financings. That concludes our formal remarks.
And with that, we are ready to take your questions.