Essential Utilities Earns Newsweek’s ‘America’s Most Responsible Companies’ Recognition for Fourth Consecutive Year

January 15, 2025
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Recognition reflects company’s commitment to sustainable and ethical business operations

BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2025-- For the fourth consecutive year, Essential Utilities, one of the largest water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., has earned a place among America’s Most Responsible Companies, as recognized by Newsweek. This distinction underscores Essential’s dedication to integrating meaningful environmental and social business practices.

“At Essential Utilities, we are driven by a deep responsibility to our customers, communities, and the environment. Our commitment to sustainable practices, operational excellence, and community investment defines who we are,” said Essential Chairman and CEO Christopher Franklin. “Our progress reflects our belief that operational excellence and environmental stewardship go hand in hand to best serve our communities. Being recognized by Newsweek for four consecutive years reflects our team’s dedication to delivering reliable utility services while protecting and providing the essential resources that sustain life.”

Through its Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential drives meaningful environmental and social practices by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, modernizing aged natural gas infrastructure, ensuring water quality standards, investing in community development, and promoting sustainability through renewable energy initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, and measurable progress toward long-term environmental and community goals.

Essential’s recent achievements include:

  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction: Achieving a 25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from the 2019 baseline, progressing toward a 60% reduction by 2035 through pipeline upgrades, renewable energy, and methane leak detection and mitigation.
  • Community Investment: Donating $5 million in 2024 to support initiatives that strengthen communities, focusing on environmental sustainability, education, human services and economic development.
  • Water Quality: Consistently outperforming average United States water quality standards, achieving 99.8% of days in drinking water compliance in 2024.
  • Pipeline Replacement Program: Replacing more than 1,000 miles of gas pipeline in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, ensuring safer, more reliable and more efficient systems.
  • Renewable Energy Procurement: Procuring nearly 100% renewable electricity usage in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and Illinois.
  • Biodiversity Initiatives: Strengthening conservation efforts through enhanced policies supporting sustainability and environmental protection.

The 2025 ranking – presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc. – recognizes 600 companies from the largest 2,000 U.S.-based public companies for their positive global impact. The selection process is based on an analysis of publicly available environmental, social and governance (ESG) data from sustainability and corporate social responsibility reports, and an independent survey of 26,000 United States residents. The 2025 recognition marks an advance from Essential’s position ranking last year – improving its overall standing to 165 from 401 in 2024.

Read more about America’s Most Responsible Companies in Newsweek. Learn more about Essential’s ESG progress and corporate social responsibility initiatives at esg.essential.co.

About Essential

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across nine states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

WTRGG

Media Contact:
Dave Kralle
Communications
Media Hotline: 1.877.325.3477
Media@Essential.co

Investor Contact:
Brian Dingerdissen
Vice President, IR and Treasurer
O: 610.645.1191
BJDingerdissen@Essential.co

Source: Essential Utilities