Press Release

Company commemorates five years as one integrated utility, building on a legacy of more than 135 years in water and natural gas service

BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 24, 2025-- This month Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) commemorates its fifth anniversary as a unified company, reinforcing its position as one of the nation’s largest regulated utilities. Since the integration of Aqua and Peoples in 2020, Essential has demonstrated the power of bringing together operational expertise, financial strength, and regulatory credibility to enhance infrastructure, improve environmental sustainability, and provide long-term value to customers and investors.

Both Aqua and Peoples bring a rich history of nearly 140 years of delivering essential water and natural gas service and look forward to delivering life-sustaining water and natural gas to millions of customers for decades to come.

Five Years of Impact and Investment

Essential’s strategic investments over the past five years have resulted in significant achievements:

• Invested more than $5.4 billion in infrastructure improvements across water, wastewater and natural gas systems, reinforcing long-term reliability
  
  
• Modernized approximately 2,100 miles of aging water mains and natural gas pipelines
  
  
• Enhanced system reliability, reducing gas customer outages by 45%
  
  
• Consistently outperformed average United States water quality standards, achieving nearly 100% of days in drinking water compliance in 2024
  
  
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability through methane emission reductions and expanded renewable electricity procurement
  
  
• Expanded renewable electricity procurement, achieving nearly 100% renewable electricity usage in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Illinois, while pursuing innovative emissions reductions actions involving hydrogen, fuel cells and renewable natural gas
  
  
• Strengthened communities, donating more than $20 million through the Essential Foundation and contributing 15,000+ volunteer-hours within its service territory

A Forward-Focused Vision

Essential Utilities continues to execute a disciplined approach to growth, leveraging its expertise to pursue strategic water and wastewater acquisitions while maintaining a strong commitment to safety, regulatory compliance and customer service. With its well-established presence in both water and natural gas, the company is well positioned to address critical industry challenges, including lead service line replacements and PFAS treatment, while ensuring sustainable financial performance.

“Our success over the past five years underscores the strength of our integrated utility model,” said Essential Chairman and CEO Chris Franklin. “By combining the operational excellence and deep industry knowledge of Aqua and Peoples, we have created a stronger, more resilient company. Looking ahead, we remain focused on our mission to enrich the communities we serve for future generations, while delivering long-term value for all stakeholders through sustainable investments and responsible growth.”

As Essential enters its next phase of growth, the company remains dedicated to innovation, environmental leadership and ongoing infrastructure modernization. By continuously improving service reliability and investing in sustainable solutions, Essential is well positioned for continued success for years to come.

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which generally include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “will” and similar expressions. The company can give no assurance that any actual or future results or events discussed in these statements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements represent its views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from the statements contained in this release. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the capital to be invested by the company over the next ten years, efficiencies created, and expansion of capacity in the system. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including the factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the company’s business, please refer to the company’s annual, quarterly and other SEC filings. The company is not under any obligation – and expressly disclaims any such obligation – to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Media Contact:
David Kralle
Vice President, Public Affairs
Media Hotline: 1.877.325.3477
Media@Essential.co

Source: Essential Utilities, Inc.