CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

September 30, 2024

Dollar amounts in thousands, unless otherwise stated

Note 1. Organization and Operations and Basis of Presentation

California Water Service Group (Company) is a holding company that provides water utility and other related services in California, Washington, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Texas through its wholly owned and non-wholly owned subsidiaries. California Water Service Company (Cal Water), Washington Water Service Company (Washington Water), New Mexico Water Service Company (New Mexico Water), and Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc. (Hawaii Water) provide regulated utility services under the rules and regulations of their respective state’s regulatory commissions (jointly referred to as the Commissions). CWS Utility Services and HWS Utility Services LLC provide non-regulated water utility and utility-related services. TWSC, Inc. (Texas Water) holds regulated and contracted wastewater utilities. Regulated wastewater utilities held by Texas Water’s investment in a joint venture with BVRT Utility Holding Company (BVRT) provide services under the rules and regulation of the Texas Public Utilities Commission.

The Company operates inone reportable segment, providing water and water-related utility services.

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and therefore do not contain all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP and the SEC for annual financial statements. Interim financial information includes the Company’s accounts and those of its wholly and non-wholly owned subsidiaries. The non-wholly owned subsidiary was consolidated using the voting interest model as the Company owns a majority of the non-wholly owned subsidiary’s voting interests. The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024.

The preparation of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for the periods presented. These include, but are not limited to, estimates and assumptions used in determining the Company’s regulatory asset and liability balances based upon probability assessments of regulatory recovery, utility plant useful lives, revenues earned but not yet billed, asset retirement obligations, allowance for credit losses, pension and other employee benefit plan liabilities, and income tax-related assets and liabilities. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring transactions that are necessary to provide a fair presentation of the results for the periods covered.

Due to the seasonal nature of the water business, the results for interim periods are not indicative of the results for a 12-month period. Revenue and income are generally higher in the warm, dry summer months when water usage and sales are greater. Revenue and income are generally lower in the winter months when cooler temperatures and rainfall curtail water usage and sales.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements represents the 5.9% interest not owned by Texas Water in a consolidated subsidiary. Texas Water obtained control over the subsidiary on May 1, 2021. Since the Company controls this subsidiary, its financial statements are consolidated with those of the Company, and the noncontrolling owner’s 5.9% share of the subsidiary’s net assets and results of operations is deducted and reported as noncontrolling interest on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, as net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, and as comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The Company reports noncontrolling interest in consolidated entities as a component of equity separate from the Company’s equity. The Company’s net income attributable to California Water Service Group excludes the net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest. The Company’s comprehensive income attributable to California Water Service Group excludes the comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Operating Revenue

The following table disaggregates the Company’s operating revenue by source for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

Revenue from contracts with customers

The Company principally generates operating revenue from contracts with customers by providing regulated water and wastewater services at tariff-rates authorized by the Commissions in the states in which they operate and non-regulated water and wastewater services at rates authorized by contracts with government agencies. Revenue from contracts with customers reflects amounts billed for the volume of consumption at authorized per unit rates, for a service charge, and for other authorized charges.

The Company satisfies its performance obligation to provide water and wastewater services over time as services are rendered. The Company applies the invoice practical expedient and recognizes revenue from contracts with customers in the amount for which the Company has a right to invoice. The Company has a right to invoice for the volume of consumption, for the service charge, and for other authorized charges.

The measurement of sales to customers is generally based on the reading of their meters, which occurs on a systematic basis throughout the month. At the end of each month, the Company estimates consumption since the date of the last meter reading and the corresponding accrued and unbilled revenue is recognized. The estimate is based upon the number of unbilled days that month and the average daily customer billing rate from the previous month (which fluctuates based upon customer usage).

Contract terms are generally short-term and at will by customers and, as a result, no separate financing component is recognized for the Company’s collections from customers, which generally require payment within 30 days of billing. The Company applies judgment, based principally on historical payment experience, in estimating its customers’ ability to pay.

Certain customers are not billed for volumetric consumption, but are instead billed a flat rate at the beginning of each monthly service period. The amount is advance billed and is initially deferred. Subsequently, it is recognized over the monthly service period, as the performance obligation is satisfied. The deferred revenue balance or contract liability, which is included in “accrued expenses and other liabilities” on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, is inconsequential.

In the following table, revenue from contracts with customers is disaggregated by class of customers for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

(a) Other includes changes to accrued and unbilled revenue

Regulatory balancing account revenue

Regulatory balancing account revenue is revenue related to revenue mechanisms authorized in California by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). For certain revenue mechanisms, the Company recognizes revenue when it is objectively determinable, probable of recovery and expected to be collected within 24 months following the end of the accounting period. To the extent that revenue is estimated to be collectible beyond 24 months, recognition is deferred. These mechanisms include the Monterey-Style Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (MWRAM), which was approved in Cal Water’s 2021 General Rate Case (GRC) filing (2021 GRC) in March of 2024. The MWRAM tracks the difference between the revenue received for actual metered sales through the tiered volumetric rate and the revenue that would have been received with the same actual metered sales if a uniform rate had been in effect. The MWRAM is effective retroactive to January 1, 2023. During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded a reduction of $9.4 million to MWRAM revenue. The MWRAM fluctuates with the seasonality of the water business. During the warm, dry summer months when water use is highest, the MWRAM will reflect an overcollection of revenue compared to the cool, wet winter months when less water is used, the MWRAM will reflect an undercollection of revenue. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded $29.8 million of MWRAM revenue.

These mechanisms also include the Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (WRAM), which decoupled revenue from the volume of sales and allowed the Company to recognize the adopted level of volumetric revenues. The variance between adopted volumetric revenues and actual billed volumetric revenues for metered accounts was recorded as regulatory balancing account revenue. The WRAM concluded on December 31, 2022; however, the Company has a net WRAM receivable balance for which the Company continues to defer revenue recognition for amounts estimated to be collected beyond 24 months following the end of the accounting period. The Company applied a portion of the proceeds from the California Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearages Payment Program (Extended Program) to eligible customer WRAM balances as discussed below under Allowance for Credit Losses.

Regulatory balancing accounts also include revenue that is recognized for balancing and memorandum accounts when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process. As a result of the delay in the approval of the 2021 GRC, the CPUC authorized Cal Water to track the effect of the delay on customer billings in an Interim Rates Memorandum Account (IRMA) effective January 1, 2023. Variances between actual customer billings and those that would have been billed assuming the 2021 GRC had been implemented on January 1, 2023 were recorded as regulatory balancing account revenue. The 2021 GRC was approved in March of 2024 and final authorized rates were implemented effective May 31, 2024; as a result, Cal Water calculated and recorded this difference for all of 2023 and the first five months of 2024. Cal Water determined that the IRMA met regulatory asset recognition criteria under accounting standards for regulated utilities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded $88.6 million of revenue for the IRMA. No IRMA revenue was recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2024 or the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Non-Regulated Revenue

The following table disaggregates the Company’s non-regulated revenue by source for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

Operating and maintenance services are provided for non-regulated water and wastewater systems owned by private companies and municipalities. The Company negotiates formal agreements with the customers under which the Company provides operating, maintenance and customer billing services related to the customers’ water system. The formal agreements outline the fee schedule for the services provided. The agreements typically call for a fee-per-service or a flat-rate amount per month. The Company satisfies its performance obligation of providing operating and maintenance services over time as services are rendered; as a result, the Company employs the invoice practical expedient and recognizes revenue in the amount that it has the right to invoice. Contract terms are generally short-term and, as a result, no separate financing component is recognized for its collections from customers, which generally require payment within 30 days of billing.

Other non-regulated revenue primarily relates to services for the design and installation of water mains and other water infrastructure for customers outside the regulated service areas and insurance program administration.

Lease revenue is not considered revenue from contracts with customers and is recognized following operating lease standards. The Company is the lessor in operating lease agreements with telecommunications companies under which cellular phone antennas are placed on the Company’s property.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company measures expected credit losses for Customer Receivables, Other Receivables, and Accrued and Unbilled Revenue on an aggregated level. These receivables are generally trade receivables due in one year or less or expected to be billed and collected in one year or less. The expected credit losses for Other Receivables and Accrued and Unbilled Revenue are inconsequential. Customer receivables include receivables for water and wastewater services provided to residential customers, business, industrial, public authorities, and other customers. The expected credit losses for business, industrial, public authorities, and other customers are inconsequential. The overall risks related to the Company’s receivables are low as water and wastewater services are seen as essential services. The estimate for the allowance for credit losses is based on a historical loss ratio, in conjunction with a qualitative assessment of elements that impact the collectability of receivables to determine if the allowance for credit losses should be further adjusted in accordance with the accounting guidance for credit losses. Management contemplates available current information such as changes in economic factors, regulatory matters, industry trends, payment options and programs available to customers, and the methods that the Company is able to use to ensure payment.

The Company reviews its allowance for credit losses utilizing a quantitative assessment, which includes a trend analysis of customer billings and collections, agings by customer class, and unemployment rates. The Company also utilizes a qualitative assessment, which considers the future collectability of customer outstanding balances, management’s estimate of the cash recovery, and a general assessment of the economic conditions in the locations the Company serves. Based on these assessments, the Company adjusts its allowance for credit losses. The Company has also taken into account $82.0 million of funds that the Company received in April of 2024 from the Extended Program for eligible customers in California of which $57.5 million was applied to eligible past due customer balances during the second quarter of 2024. The remaining balance was returned to the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) in the third quarter of 2024. The Extended Program was created by the California Legislature and is administered by the Water Board and provides relief to community water and wastewater systems for unpaid bills – arrearages – related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the above assessments, the Company determines its allowance for credit losses.

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and twelve months ended December 31, 2023:

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (see Note 9 for further details on restricted cash):

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share of common stock is computed by dividing the net income attributable to California Water Service Group by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts were exercised or converted into common stock. Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs) are included in the common shares outstanding because the shares all have the same voting and dividend rights as issued and unrestricted common stock.

New Accounting Standards

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 is effective for the Company’s annual periods beginning January 1, 2024, and for interim periods beginning January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The guidance requires retrospective presentation of all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the potential effect that the updated standard will have on its financial statement disclosures and does not expect to adopt early.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures to expand the disclosure requirements for income taxes, specifically related to the rate reconciliation and paid income taxes. ASU 2023-09 is effective for the Company's annual periods beginning January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The guidance is applied prospectively with the option of retrospective application for each period presented. The Company is currently evaluating the potential effect that the updated standard will have on its financial statement disclosures and does not expect to adopt early.

Note 3. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (2024 Plan) was adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by stockholders on May 29, 2024. The Company reserved 1,600,000 shares of common stock for awards the Company is authorized to issue pursuant to the 2024 Plan.

In June of 2024, the Company granted Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs) to Officers and members of the Board of Directors (Directors). Generally, an RSA represents the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock and is valued based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. The 2024 RSAs granted to Officers vest over 33 months with the first 9 months cliff vesting. RSA granted to the Directors in 2024 vest at the end of 9 months. The 2024

RSAs are recognized as expense evenly over 33 months for the shares granted to Officers and 9 months for the shares granted to the Directors. As of September 30, 2024, there was approximately $3.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to RSAs. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.

A summary of the status of the outstanding RSAs as of September 30, 2024 is presented below:

In June of 2024, the Company granted performance-based Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) to Officers. Generally, an RSU represents the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock. Each award reflects a target number of shares of common stock that may be issued to the award recipient. The 2024 RSU awards may be earned upon the completion of a 33-month performance period. Whether RSUs are earned at the end of the performance period will be determined based on the achievement of certain performance objectives set by the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in connection with the issuance of the RSUs. The performance objectives are based on the Company’s business plan covering the performance period. The performance objectives include achieving the budgeted return on equity, growth in stockholders’ equity, and application submission targets of grant funding. Depending on the results achieved during the 33-month performance period, the actual number of shares that a grant recipient receives at the end of the performance period may range from 0% to 200% of the target RSUs granted, provided that the grantee is continuously employed by the Company through the vesting date. If prior to the vesting date employment is terminated by reason of death, disability or normal retirement, then a pro rata portion of this award will vest. The RSUs are recognized as expense ratably over the 33-month performance period using a fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant and an estimated number of RSUs earned during the performance period. As of September 30, 2024, there was approximately $4.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to RSUs. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

A summary of the status of outstanding RSUs as of September 30, 2024 is presented below:

The Company has recorded compensation costs for the RSAs and RSUs that are included in administrative and general operating expenses in the amount of $1.0 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company has recorded compensation costs for the RSAs and RSUs in the amount of $2.1 million and $2.7 million, respectively.

Note 4. Equity

On April 29, 2022, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement to sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $350.0 million from time to time depending on market conditions through an at-the-market equity program over the following three years. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from these sales, after deducting commissions and offering expenses, for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, construction and acquisition expenditures, investments and repurchases, and redemptions of securities. The Company sold 1,638,977 shares of common stock through its at-the-market equity program and raised proceeds of $86.5 million, net of $0.9 million in commissions paid under the equity distribution agreement, during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company sold 2,025,891 shares of common stock through its at-the-market equity program and raised proceeds of $112.7 million, net of $1.1 million in sales commissions.

The Company’s changes in total equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

In Cal Water’s 2021 GRC decision that was issued in March of 2024, supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) expenses were not approved to be recovered from customers for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. Without regulatory recovery, Cal Water no longer meets the regulatory asset recognition criteria to record the unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gain and loss amounts related to the SERP as a regulatory asset. The Company has applied compensation recognition guidance and recorded the unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses to other comprehensive loss. In the third quarter of 2024, the Company recorded the associated tax effects of $3.8 million related to the $13.7 million of other comprehensive loss, which is Cal Water’s cumulative portion of the regulatory asset recorded to other comprehensive loss in the first quarter of 2024. See Note 11 for further details on changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Note 5. Pension Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company provides a qualified, defined-benefit, non-contributory pension plan for substantially all its employees. The Company makes annual contributions to fund amounts accrued for the qualified pension plan. The Company also maintains an unfunded, non-qualified SERP. The costs of the plans are charged to expense or are capitalized in utility plant as appropriate.

The Company offers medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits for retirees and their spouses and dependents (other postretirement benefit plans). Participants are required to pay a premium, which offsets a portion of the cost.

Cash contributions made by the Company to the pension plans were $0.4 million and $2.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. No cash contributions were made by the Company to the other postretirement benefit plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The Company made cash contributions of $0.2 million to the other postretirement benefit plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The Company estimates in 2024 that the annual contribution to the pension plans will be $0.7 million and the annual contribution to the other postretirement plans will be $0.2 million.

The following table lists components of net periodic benefit costs for the pension plans and other postretirement benefits. The data listed under “pension plan” includes the qualified pension plan and the non-qualified SERP. The data listed under “other benefits” is for all other postretirement benefit plans.

The service cost portion of the pension plan and other postretirement benefit plans is recognized in administrative and general expenses within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Other components of net periodic benefit costs include interest costs, expected return on plan assets, amortization of prior service costs, and recognized net actuarial loss and are reported together as other components of net periodic benefit cost in other income and expenses within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Note 6. Short-term and Long-term Borrowings

On March 31, 2023, the Company and Cal Water entered into syndicated credit agreements, which provide for unsecured revolving credit facilities of up to an initial aggregate amount of $600.0 million for a term offive years. The Company and subsidiaries that it designates may borrow up to $200.0 million under the Company’s revolving credit facility (the Company facility). Cal Water may borrow up to $400.0 million under its revolving credit facility (the Cal Water facility). Additionally, the credit facilities may be increased by up to an incremental $150.0 million under the Cal Water facility and $50.0 million under the Company facility, subject in each case to certain conditions. At the Company’s or Cal Water’s option, as applicable, borrowings under the Company and Cal Water facilities, as applicable, will bear interest annually at a rate equal to (i) the base rate, plus an applicable margin of 0.00% to 0.250%, depending on the Company and its subsidiaries’ consolidated total capitalization ratio, or (ii) Term SOFR, plus an applicable margin of 0.800% to 1.250%, depending on the Company and its subsidiaries’ consolidated total capitalization ratio.

The Company and Cal Water facilities contain affirmative and negative covenants and events of default customary for credit facilities of this type including, among other things, limitations and prohibitions relating to additional indebtedness, liens, mergers, and asset sales. Also, the Company and Cal Water facilities contain financial covenants governing the Company and its subsidiaries’ consolidated total capitalization ratio and interest coverage ratio. As of September 30, 2024, the Company and Cal Water are in compliance with all of the covenant requirements and are eligible to use the full amount of the undrawn portion of the Company and Cal Water facilities, as applicable.

Outstanding borrowings on the Company lines of credit as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were $35.0 million and $50.0 million, respectively. Outstanding borrowings on the Cal Water lines of credit as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were $225.0 million and $130.0 million, respectively. The average borrowing rate for borrowings on the Company and Cal Water lines of credit during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was 6.36% compared to 5.96% for the same period last year.

Note 7. Income Taxes

The Company adjusts its effective tax rate each quarter to be consistent with the estimated annual effective tax rate. The Company also records the tax effect of unusual or infrequently occurring discrete items.

The provision for income taxes is shown in the tables below:

Income tax expense increased $12.4 million to $17.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to $5.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to an increase in pre-tax operating income which resulted from the 2021 GRC decision.

Income tax expense increased $41.3 million to $44.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to $2.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to an increase in pre-tax operating income, which resulted from the 2021 GRC decision.

The Company’s effective tax rate was 20.6% and 11.4% before discrete items as of September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the recognition of income related to the 2021 GRC decision.

On June 27, 2024, California Senate Bill 167 (SB 167) was enacted into law. SB 167 provides for a three-year suspension of net operating losses under the California Corporation tax. Among other things, this new law temporarily disallows the use of net operating losses for years beginning in 2024 through 2026. As a result of the passage of SB 167, the Company accrued approximately $15.3 million of California income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $17.3 million and $14.8 million as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, is $5.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively, of tax benefits that, if recognized, would result in an adjustment to the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly within the next 12 months.

Note 8. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

Regulatory assets and liabilities were comprised of the following as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

The IRMA regulatory asset increase was for the additional amount the Company would have billed customers in 2023 and the first five months of 2024 had the 2021 GRC been approved on time.

The MWRAM regulatory asset represents the difference between the revenue received for actual metered sales through the tiered volumetric rate and the revenue that would have been received with the same actual metered sales if a uniform rate had been in effect.

The general district balancing account represents the residual balances from memorandum and balancing accounts that have been aggregated into one balancing account for future recovery.

The ICBA tracks differences between the authorized prices of water production costs and actual prices of water production costs by ratemaking area.

Short-term regulatory assets and liabilities are excluded from the above table. The short-term regulatory assets were $59.1 million as of September 30, 2024 and $64.2 million as of December 31, 2023. The short-term regulatory assets as of September 30, 2024 primarily consisted of IRMA and MWRAM receivables. As of December 31, 2023, the short-term regulatory assets primarily consisted of net WRAM and MCBA, and PCBA receivables. The short-term regulatory assets are included in current assets as part of regulatory balancing accounts on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The short-term portion of regulatory liabilities was $24.1 million as of September 30, 2024 and $21.5 million as of December 31, 2023. The short-term regulatory liabilities as of September 30, 2024 primarily consisted of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act regulatory liabilities, ICBA regulatory liabilities, and IRMA regulatory liabilities. As of December 31, 2023, the short-term regulatory liabilities primarily consisted of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act regulatory liabilities and HCBA liabilities. The short-term regulatory liabilities are included in current liabilities as part of regulatory balancing accounts on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

The Company has long-term commitments to purchase water from water wholesalers. The Company also has operating and finance leases for water systems, offices, land easements, licenses, equipment, and other facilities. These commitments and leases are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

On August 16, 2022, BVRT, a majority owned subsidiary of Texas Water, through BVRT’s wholly owned subsidiary, Camino Real Utility (Camino Real), entered into a long-term water supply agreement with the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA). The Company has provided a limited guarantee to GBRA for agreed upon obligations. GBRA is a water conservation and reclamation district established by the Texas Legislature that oversees water resources for 10 counties. Under the terms of the agreement with GBRA, Camino Real is contracted to receive up to 2,419 acre-feet of potable water annually. The GBRA agreement involves four off-takers, including Camino Real. GBRA plans to extend a potable water pipeline from the City of Lockhart to the City of Mustang Ridge and surrounding areas. Camino Real is contracted to be the utility service provider in this area of the Austin metropolitan region and to provide potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to portions of the City of Mustang Ridge and surrounding areas. In 2022, Camino Real committed $21.5 million for its share of the cost of the pipeline project. In 2023, Camino Real committed an additional $22.3 million for its share of the cost of the pipeline project. As of September 30, 2024, this committed cash has not been transferred to GBRA and is classified as part of restricted cash on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company currently expects the committed cash to be transferred to GBRA during the first half of 2025.

Contingencies

Groundwater Contamination

The Company has undertaken litigation against third parties to recover past and future costs related to groundwater contamination in our service areas. The cost of litigation is generally expensed as incurred and any settlement is first offset against such costs. The CPUC’s general policy requires all proceeds from contamination litigation to be used first to pay transactional expenses, then to make customers whole for water treatment costs to comply with the CPUC’s water quality standards. The CPUC allows for a risk-based consideration of contamination proceeds which exceed the costs of the remediation described above and may result in some sharing of proceeds with shareholders, determined on a case-by-case basis. The CPUC has authorized various memorandum accounts that allow the Company to track significant litigation costs and to request recovery of these costs in future filings and uses of proceeds to comply with CPUC’s general policy.

Other Legal Matters

From time to time, the Company is involved in various disputes and litigation matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. The status of each significant matter is reviewed and assessed for potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount of the range of loss can be estimated, a liability is accrued for the estimated loss in accordance with the accounting standards for contingencies. Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Because of such uncertainties, accruals are based on the best information available at the time. While the outcome of these disputes and litigation matters cannot be predicted with any certainty, management does not believe when taking into account existing reserves the ultimate resolution of these matters will materially affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. As of both September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company recognized a liability of $6.0 million primarily due to potable water main leaks and other work related legal matters.

The cost of litigation is expensed as incurred and any settlement is first offset against such costs. Any settlement in excess of the cost to litigate is accounted for on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the nature of the settlement.

Note 10. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities

The accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures provides a single definition of fair value and requires certain disclosures about assets and liabilities measured at fair value. A hierarchical framework for disclosing the observability of the inputs utilized in measuring assets and liabilities at fair value is established by this guidance. The three levels in the hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.

Level 2—Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

•Quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

•Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

•Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and

•Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The Company’s specific valuation methods include the following:

Cash, accounts receivable, short-term borrowings, and accounts payable carrying amounts approximated the fair value due to the short-term maturity of the instruments.

Pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets are measured at either net asset value or level 1 depending on the investment.

Long-term debt fair values are estimated using the published quoted market price, if available, or using a discounted cash flow analysis, based on the current rates available using a risk-free rate (a U.S. Treasury securities yield curve) plus a risk premium of 0.60%.

Note 11. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The table below presents changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (AOCL), net of tax, by component:

The $3.8 million other comprehensive income before reclassifications recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2024 represents the associated tax effects of the Q1 2024 SERP regulatory asset reclassification to other comprehensive loss.

The table below presents amounts reclassified out of AOCL by component and the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations location of those amounts reclassified during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.

(1) Amortization of these items is included in other components of net periodic benefit cost in other income and expenses on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2) The tax benefit is included within income tax expense on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Note 12. Subsequent Event

On October 22, 2024, Cal Water completed the sale and issuance of $125.0 million in First Mortgage Bonds (the Bonds) in a private placement. The Bonds, relating to Series 2, bear an interest rate of 5.22% per annum payable quarterly, and mature on October 22, 2054. The Bonds will rank equally with all of Cal Water’s other First Mortgage Bonds and are secured by liens on Cal Water’s properties, subject to certain exceptions and permitted liens. Cal Water used the net proceeds from the sale of the Bonds to refinance existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. The Bonds were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.