Essential Utilities, Inc.

–Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of capitalization of Essential Utilities, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) at March 31, 2025, and the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, cash flows and equity for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim reporting and the rules and regulations for reporting on Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Because they cover interim periods, the statements and related notes to the financial statements do not include all disclosures and notes normally provided in annual financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only recurring accruals, which are necessary to present a fair statement of its condensed consolidated balance sheets, condensed consolidated statements of capitalization, condensed consolidated statements of equity, condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, and condensed consolidated statements of cash flow for the periods presented, have been made.

The preparation of financial statements often requires the selection of specific accounting methods and policies. Significant estimates and judgments may be required in selecting and applying those methods and policies in the recognition of the assets and liabilities in its condensed consolidated balance sheets, the revenues and expenses in its condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, and the information that is contained in its summary of significant accounting policies and notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. Making these estimates and judgments requires the analysis of information concerning events that may not yet be complete and of facts and circumstances that may change over time. Furthermore, we are exposed to the uncertain state of the economy and macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and volatility of interest rates. As these continue to evolve, future events and effects related to these conditions cannot be determined with precision. Accordingly, actual amounts or future results can differ materially from those estimates that the Company includes currently in its condensed consolidated financial statements, summary of significant accounting policies, and notes.

There have been no changes to the summary of significant accounting policies previously identified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Note 2 –Revenue Recognition

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by major source and customer class:

Note 3 –Water and Wastewater Utility Acquisitions

Completed Acquisitions

In April 2025, the Company acquired the Village of Midvale’s water system in Ohio, which serves approximately 1,000 customers for $2,950.

In January 2025, the Company acquired Greenville Sanitary Authority’s wastewater utility assets, which serve approximately 2,300 customers in Greenville, Pennsylvania for $18,000.

In October 2024, the Company acquired wastewater utility assets in Morgan County, Indiana, which serve approximately 100 customers for $500.

In May 2024, the Company acquired the wastewater utility assets of Westfield HOA, which serve approximately 200 customers within Westfield Homeowners Subdivision in Glenview, Illinois for a cash purchase price of $67.

The purchase price allocation for these acquisitions consisted primarily of property, plant and equipment.

Pending Acquisitions

In October 2024, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire Integra Water Texas, LLC’s wastewater system assets in Bastrop County, Texas, which serve approximately 1,100 customers for $4,400.

In June 2024, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire private water and wastewater utility assets in Harris County, Texas, which serve approximately 400 equivalent retail customers for $1,125.

In September 2023, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire Greenville Municipal Water Authority’s water system in Greenville, Pennsylvania which serves approximately 3,000 customers for $18,000.

In October 2021, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the wastewater utility assets of the City of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania which consist of approximately 7,600 equivalent retail customers for$37,750, as amended.

The purchase price for these pending acquisitions are subject to certain adjustments at closing, and are subject to regulatory approval, including the final determination of the fair value of the rate base acquired. We plan to finance the purchase price of these acquisitions by utilizing our commercial paper program and revolving credit facility until permanent debt and common equity are secured. These pending acquisitions are expected to close in 2025. Closings for our utility acquisitions are subject to the timing of the respective regulatory approval processes.

East Whiteland Purchase Agreement

On July 29, 2022, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issued an order (the “PUC Order”) approving the Company’s acquisition of the municipal wastewater assets of East Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, which serves 4,018 customers (the “East Whiteland Wastewater Assets”). On August 12, 2022, the Company acquired the East Whiteland Wastewater Assets for a cash purchase price of $54,374. Subsequently on August 25, 2022, the Office of Consumer Advocate (“OCA”) filed an appeal of the PUC Order to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. On July 31, 2023, a decision was issued by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, in which the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court agreed with the OCA and reversed the PUC order which approved the acquisition. On September 26, 2023, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court denied our motion for reargument. On October 26, 2023, the Company, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and East Whiteland Township filed an appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. East Whiteland Township filed to Supplement its Petition for Allowance of Appeal on January 2, 2024. On January 16, 2024, the Company, the OCA and the PUC filed Answers to East Whiteland Township’s Petition. On June 14, 2024, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted the Petitions for Allowance of Appeal of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Company, and East Whiteland Township. The Company, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, East Whiteland Township, and several Amicus Curiae filed Initial Briefs on September 26, 2024. The OCA submitted its Brief on December 10, 2024 and the Company, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and East Whiteland Township submitted Reply Briefs. Arguments before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are scheduled to occur in May 2025. Management believes the final resolution of this matter will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

DELCORA Purchase Agreement

In 2019, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the wastewater utility system assets of the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority (“DELCORA”), which consist of approximately 16,000 customers, or the equivalent of 198,000 retail customers, in 42 municipalities in Southeast Pennsylvania for $276,500. There are several legal proceedings involving the Company as a result of the purchase agreement that are on-going. The purchase price for this pending acquisition is subject to certain adjustments at closing, and is subject to regulatory approval, including the final determination of the fair value of the rate base acquired. We plan to finance the purchase price of this acquisition with a mix of equity and debt financing, utilizing our commercial paper program and revolving credit facility until permanent debt is secured. Closing of our acquisition of DELCORA is subject to regulatory approval and on-going litigation.

Note 4 –Dispositions

In October 2023, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its interest in three non-utility local microgrid and distributed energy projects for $165,000. The sale was completed in January 2024, and the Company recognized a gain of $91,236 during the first quarter of 2024, which is included in other expense (income) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Note 5 –Goodwill

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s goodwill, by business segment:

One of our subsidiaries in the Regulated Water segment has a mechanism that allows the reclassification of goodwill to utility plant acquisition adjustment. The mechanism provides for the transfer over time, and the recovery through customer rates, of goodwill associated with some acquisitions upon achieving specific objectives. There wasno reclassification made during the first quarter of 2025.

Note 6 –Capitalization

At-the-Market Offering

On August 13, 2024, the Company established a new at-the-market equity sales program (“ATM”), under which it may issueand sell shares of its common stock up to an aggregate offering price of $1,000,000 (“2024 ATM”). During the three months ended March 31, 2025, we issued 1,627,009 shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $63,000 under the 2024 ATM. As of March 31, 2025, the 2024 ATM had approximately $900,000 of equity available for issuance. The Company used the net proceeds from the sales of shares through the 2024 ATM for working capital, capital expenditures, water and wastewater utility acquisitions, and repaying a portion of outstanding indebtedness.

In April 2025, the Company issued 3,664,762 common shares under the 2024 ATM for a total net proceeds of approximately $145,500.

Commercial Paper Program

On March 19, 2025, the Company established a commercial paper program (the “CP Program”) that allows it to issue, through private placement, short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes (the “CP Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,000,000. Maturities of CP Notes may vary, but cannot exceed 364 days from the date of issue. Amounts available under the Program may be borrowed, repaid, and re-borrowed from time to time. The CP Program is reinforced by the Company’s revolving credit facility, as amounts undrawn under the Company’s revolving credit facility are available to repay the CP Notes. Notes issued under the CP Program will rank equally with the Company’s present and future unsecured indebtedness. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the CP Notes for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, water and wastewater utility acquisitions, and repaying outstanding indebtedness, including under the Company’s revolving credit facility or the revolving credit facilities of its subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2025, no CP Notes were issued and were outstanding under the CP Program.

Long-term and Short-Term Debt

The condensed consolidated statements of capitalization provide a summary of the Company’s long-term and short term debt as of March 31, 2025 and December 31 2024. There were no material changes in our debt instruments during the three months ended March 31, 2025.

The Company is obligated to comply with covenants under some of its loan and debt agreements. These covenants contain a number of restrictive financial covenants, which among other things limit, subject to specific exceptions, the Company’s ratio of consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated total capitalization, and require a minimum level of earnings coverage over interest expense. The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants under its loan and debt agreements as of March 31, 2025. Failure to comply with the Company’s debt covenants could result in an event of default, which could result in the Company being required to repay or finance its borrowings before their due date, possibly limiting the Company’s future borrowings, and increasing its borrowing costs.

Note 7 –Financial Instruments

Financial instruments are recorded at carrying value in the financial statements and approximate fair value as of the dates presented. The fair value of these instruments is disclosed below in accordance with current accounting guidance related to financial instruments. There have been no changes in the valuation techniques used to measure fair value, or asset or liability transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

The fair value of loans payable is determined based on its carrying amount and utilizing Level 1 methods and assumptions. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the carrying amount of the Company’s loans payable was $89,289 and $186,542, respectively, which equates to their estimated fair value. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is determined based on Level 1 methods and assumptions. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the carrying amounts of the Company's cash and cash equivalents was $20,784 and $9,156, respectively, which equates to their fair value. The Company’s assets underlying the deferred compensation and non-qualified pension plans are determined by the fair value of mutual funds, which are based on quoted market prices from active markets utilizing Level 1 methods and assumptions. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the carrying amount of these securities was $31,253 and $31,324, respectively, which equates to their fair value, and is reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheet in deferred charges and other assets.

Unrealized gain and loss on equity securities held in conjunction with our non-qualified pension plan is as follows:

The net gain recognized on equity securities is presented on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income on the line item “Other”.

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s long-term debt is as follows:

The fair value of long-term debt has been determined by discounting the future cash flows using current market interest rates for similar financial instruments of the same duration utilizing Level 2 methods and assumptions.

Note 8 –Net Income per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the weighted average minimum number of shares issued upon settlement of the stock purchase contracts issued under the tangible equity units. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and potentially dilutive shares. The dilutive effect of employee stock-based compensation is included in the computation of diluted net income per common share. The dilutive effect of stock-based compensation is calculated using the treasury stock method and expected proceeds upon exercise of the stock-based compensation. The treasury stock method assumes that the proceeds from stock-based compensation is used to purchase the Company’s common stock at the average market price during the period. The following table summarizes the shares, in thousands, used in computing basic and diluted net income per common share:

The number of outstanding employee stock options, in thousands, that were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because the effect would have been anti-dilutive was:441 and 268 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Additionally, the dilutive effect of performance share units and restricted share units granted are included in the Company’s calculation of diluted net income per share.

Note 9 –Stock-based Compensation

Under the Company’s Amended and Restated Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), stock options, stock units, stock awards, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalents, and other stock-based awards may be granted to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants and advisors. At March 31, 2025,715,687 shares were still available for issuance under the Plan.

Performance Share Units – A performance share unit (“PSU”) represents the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock if specified performance goals are met over thethree year performance period specified in the grant, subject to exceptions through the respective vesting period, which is generally three years. Each grantee is granted a target award of PSUs and may earn between 0% and 200% of the target amount depending on the Company’s performance against the performance goals.

The performance goals of the 2025 grants consisted of the following metrics:

The following were the assumptions used in the pricing model for the 2025 grants:

The following table provides compensation expense for PSUs:

The following table summarizes the PSU transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2025:

The per unit weighted-average fair value at the date of grant for PSUs granted during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $34.25 and $38.10, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units –A restricted stock unit (“RSU”) represents the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock. In prior years, RSUs were eligible to be earned at the end of a specified restricted period, which is generally three years, beginning on the date of grant. RSUs granted in 2025 vest 33% each year. The following table provides the compensation expense and income tax benefit for RSUs:

The following table summarizes the RSU transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2025:

The per unit weighted-average fair value at the date of grant for RSUs granted during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $35.54 and $36.60, respectively.

Stock Options– A stock option represents the option to purchase a number of shares of common stock of the Company as specified in the stock option grant agreement at the exercise price per share as determined by the closing market price of our common stock on the grant date. Stock options are exercisable in installments of 33% annually, startingone year from the grant date and expire 10 years from the grant date, subject to satisfaction of designated performance goals. The following table provides the compensation cost and income tax benefit for stock-based compensation related to stock options:

The fair value of options was estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following assumptions were used in the application of this valuation model for the 2025 grant:



The following table summarizes stock option transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2025:

Restricted Stock –Restricted stock awards provide the grantee with the rights of a shareholder, including the right to receive dividends and to vote such shares, but not the right to sell or otherwise transfer the shares during the restriction period. Nonvested shares of restricted stock were 1,268 as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. There wereno restricted stock awards granted and vested during the three months ended March 31, 2025. The following table provides the compensation cost and income tax benefit for stock-based compensation related to restricted stock:

Stock Awards– Stock awards represent the issuance of the Company’s common stock, without restriction. The issuance of stock awards results in compensation expense that is equal to the fair market value of the stock on the grant date and is expensed immediately upon grant. There wereno stock awards granted and vested during the three months ended March 31, 2025.

Note 10 –Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company maintains a qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”), a nonqualified pension plan, and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees.

The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans:

The net periodic benefit cost is based on estimated values and an extensive use of assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, the rate of future compensation increases received by the Company’s employees, mortality, turnover, and medical costs. The Company presents the components of net periodic benefit cost other than service cost in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income on the line item “Other”.

The Company didnot make cash contributions to its Pension Plan during the first quarter of 2025 and intends to make cash contributions of $3,945 later in the year.

Note 11 –Rate Activity

General Rate Cases

On February 7, 2025, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PAPUC”) issued an order approving, with certain minor modifications, the joint petition for non-unanimous partial settlement filed by Aqua Pennsylvania, Office of Consumer Advocate, and other groups, that allowed a base rate increase designed to increase total annual operating revenues by $73,000. New rates went into effect on February 22, 2025. At the time the rate order was received, the rates in effect also included $37,940 in Distribution System Improvement Charges (“DSIC”), which was 6.73% above prior base rates. Consequently, the aggregate annual base rates increased by $110,940 since the last base rate increase and DSIC was reset to zero.

During the first three months of 2025, two of the Company’s water utility operating divisions in Ohio and its water and wastewater utility operating divisions in North Carolina also implemented approved base rate increases designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis by $5,820. Further, during the first three months of 2025, the Company implemented infrastructure rehabilitation surcharges designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis by $10,808 in its water and wastewater utility operating divisions in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and by $466 in its natural gas operating division in Kentucky.

On November 21, 2024, Aqua Illinois received an order from the Illinois Commerce Commission designed to provide an increase in revenues of $11,632 or 11.4% on an annual basis. New rates went into effect on December 5, 2024.

On October 9, 2024, Aqua New Jersey received an order from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities that was designed to provide an increase in water rates of $2,250 on an annual basis. The order also approved the recovery of customer-side lead service line replacement costs of $11,535, that have been deferred from April 2021 through June 2024, through the use of a customer surcharge over athree-year period. New rates went into effect on October 15, 2024.

On September 12, 2024, the PAPUC issued an order approving the settlement agreement to the general rate case filed by the Company’s regulated natural gas operating subsidiary, Peoples Natural Gas, that allowed base rate increases designed to increase total annual operating revenues by $93,000 or 11.1%. At the time the rate order was received, the rates in effect included various surcharges and credits, such as the DSIC and Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) amortization credits totaling approximately $21,000 on an annual basis. The order also provided an annualized change in gathering and other operating revenues of approximately $3,000. Consequently, the aggregate annual base rates increased approximately $111,000 as the DSIC was reset to zero, and the TCJA amortization credit, other surcharges and other operating revenues were adjusted. New rates went into effect on September 27, 2024. The order also approved the implementation of a weather normalization adjustment mechanism (WNA), which is applied to customer bills during the heating season of October through May each year. The weather normalization adjustment mechanism is designed to stabilize our residential and commercial customers’ distribution charges by adjusting billings based on temperature variances from average weather, which effectively decreases rates when the weather is colder than average, and increases rates when the weather is warmer than average. The Company expects the weather normalization adjustment mechanism to result in reduced earnings volatility during the heating season. On October 11, 2024, the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate appealed this rate case to the Commonwealth Court. On February 12, 2025, the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate discontinued its appeal on all but one non-revenue matter which can potentially be resolved through settlement.

On September 12, 2024, the Company’s regulated water and wastewater operating subsidiary in Virginia, Aqua Virginia, received an order from the State Corporation Commission approving an increase in revenues by $5,490 or 23.8% on an annual basis. The Company implemented interim rates in February 2024 and refunded to customers the difference between interim and final approved rates in December 2024.

Pending Base Rate Cases

On April 30, 2025, the Company’s regulated water and wastewater operating subsidiary in North Carolina, Aqua North Carolina, filed an application with the North Carolina Utilities Commission designed to increase rates by $32,847 in the first year of new rates being implemented, then an additional $5,915 and $6,000 in the second and third years, respectively.

On November 25, 2024, the Company’s natural gas operating division in Kentucky filed an application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission for a rate case designed to increase rates by $10,910 or 19.0% on an annual basis. The Company anticipates a final order to be issued by June 2025.

Note 12 –Taxes Other than Income Taxes

The following table provides the components of taxes other than income taxes:

Note 13 –Segment Information

The Company identifies a business as an operating segment if: i) it engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses; ii) its operating results are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), who is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance; and iii) it has available discrete financial information. The CODM reviews financial information, such as budget-to-actual variances and comparisons against prior period, at the operating segment level, and uses that information when making decisions about the allocation of operating and capital resources to each segment. The CODM evaluates the performance of the Company’s reportable segments based on a number of factors, the primary measure being the net income (loss) of each segment.

The Company haseleven operating segments andtwo reportable segments. The Regulated Water segment is comprised ofeight operating segments representing its water and wastewater regulated utility companies, which are organized by the states where the Company provides water and wastewater services. Theeight water and wastewater utility operating segments are aggregated intoone reportable segment, because each of these operating segments has the following similarities: economic characteristics, nature of services, production processes, customers, water distribution or wastewater collection methods, and the nature of the regulatory environment. The Regulated Natural Gas segment is comprised ofone operating segment representing the Company’s natural gas utility companies, which provide natural gas distribution to retail, commercial, and industrial customers.

In addition to the Company’stwo reportable segments, the Company includestwo operating segments within the Other category below. These segments are not quantitatively significant and are comprised of its non-regulated natural gas operations and Aqua Resources. In addition to these segments, Other is comprised of business activities not included in the reportable segments, corporate costs that have not been allocated to the Regulated Water and Regulated Natural Gas segments, and intersegment eliminations. Corporate costs include general and administrative expenses, and interest expense. The Company reports these corporate costs within Other as they relate to corporate-focused responsibilities and decisions and are not included in internal measures of segment operating performance used by the Company to measure the underlying performance of the operating segments.

The following table presents information about the Company’s reportable segments and reconciliations to consolidated amounts. Asset information by segment is not utilized for purposes of assessing performance or allocating resources, and, as a result, such information is not presented.

(a)Refer to Note 4 –Dispositions for additional information.

(b)Other segment items mainly consists of the non-service cost component of pension and other postretirement benefits for our regulated segments.

Note 14 –Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is routinely involved in various disputes, claims, lawsuits and other regulatory and legal matters, including both asserted and unasserted legal claims, in the ordinary course of business. The status of each such matter, referred to herein as a loss contingency, is reviewed and assessed in accordance with applicable accounting rules regarding the nature of the matter, the likelihood that a loss will be incurred, and the amounts involved. As of March 31, 2025, the aggregate amount of $24,060 is accrued for loss contingencies and is reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as other accrued liabilities and other liabilities. These accruals represent management’s best estimate of probable loss (as defined in the accounting guidance) for loss contingencies or the low end of a range of losses if no single probable loss can be estimated. For some loss contingencies, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of the probable loss or range of probable losses. Further, Essential Utilities has insurance coverage for certain of these loss contingencies, and as of March 31, 2025, estimates that approximately $769 of the amount accrued for these matters are probable of recovery through insurance, which amount is also reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as deferred charges and other assets, net.

During a portion of 2019, the Company initiated a do not consume advisory for some of its customers in one division served by the Company’s Illinois subsidiary. The do not consume advisory was lifted in 2019 and, in 2022, the water system was determined to be in compliance with the federal Lead and Copper Rule. The Company hasaccrued for the penalty and other fees that will be paid as a result of a settlement that was reached with the state and local regulators and approved by the Illinois court with jurisdiction over this matter in July 2024. In addition, on September 3, 2019, two individuals, on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated, commenced an action against the Company’s Illinois subsidiary in the State court in Will County, Illinois related to this do not consume advisory. The complaint seeks class action certification, attorney’s fees, and “damages, including, but not limited to, out of pocket damages, and discomfort, aggravation, and annoyance” based upon the water provided by the Company’s subsidiary to a discrete service area in University Park, Illinois. The complaint contains allegations of damages as a result of supplied water. In December, 2024, the State court in Will County, Illinois dismissed the case against the Company, and plaintiffs have filed an appeal of that decision. In addition, plaintiffs commenced similar actions in federal court and in front of two state agencies. The Company has an accrual for the amount of loss asserted in the complaint that we determined to be probable and estimable of being incurred. The Company is vigorously defending against this claim. While the final outcome of this claim cannot be predicted with certainty, and unfavorable outcomes could negatively impact the Company, at this time in the opinion of management, the final resolution of this matter is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Further, the Company submitted a claim for the expenses incurred to its insurance carrier for potential recovery of a portion of these costsand is currently in litigation with one of its carriers seeking to enforce its claims, and recently prevailed in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals which held that the insurance carrier possessed a duty to defend. In February 2025, the Company received $5,602 in related insurance proceeds for a portion of expenses incurred by the Company. The Company continues to assess the potential loss contingency on this matter.

A number of the Company’s subsidiaries are parties to several lawsuits against manufacturers of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or compounds (“PFAS”) for damages, contribution and reimbursement of costs incurred and continuing to be incurred to address the presence of such PFAS in public water supply systems owned and operated by these utility subsidiaries throughout its service area. One such suit to which the Company is a party is a multi-district litigation (the “MDL”) lawsuit which commenced on December 7, 2018, in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. Several defendants in such lawsuit have agreed to settle. In 2024, the MDL court granted approval of the DuPont, 3M, Tyco Fire Products LP, and BASF Corp class action settlements. The Company submitted the phase one public water system claims requirements pursuant to the Dupont and 3M settlement agreements in 2024, and will submit other requirements within the time period provided by the MDL court. The amount of recovery, if any, by the Company is uncertain.

Although the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, other than disclosed above, there are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of its properties is the subject that are material or are expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In addition to the aforementioned loss contingencies, the Company self-insures a portion of its employee medical benefit program, and maintains stop-loss coverage to limit the exposure arising from these claims. The Company’s reserve for these claims totaled $7,232 at March 31, 2025 and represents a reserve for unpaid claim costs, including an estimate for the cost of incurred but not reported claims.

Note 15 –Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was a benefit of 7.8% and 4.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase in the income tax benefit in the first quarter of 2025 is primarily attributed to the release of $22,575 of income tax reserve regulatory liability in the Regulated Water segment based on the rate order received by Aqua Pennsylvania in February 2025, while the remaining portion is refunded to customers through base rates over a two-year period. These increases are offset by the decreases in both the state tax benefit and amortization of tax repairs surcredit in the Regulated Natural Gas segment based on its rate order received in September 2024.

In determining its interim tax provision, the Company reflects its estimated impact from its permanent and flow-through tax differences. The Company uses the flow-through method to account for the repairs tax deduction for qualifying utility infrastructure at its regulated Pennsylvania and New Jersey subsidiaries.

The statutory Federal tax rate is 21.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. For states with a corporate net income tax, the state corporate net income tax rates range from 2.25% to 9.50% for all periods presented. Our effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to flow-through tax, the amortization of deferred benefit from repair method changes, state income taxes and other permanent book-to-tax differences.

Note 16 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Disclosure Rules

Pronouncements to be adopted upon the effective date:

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, “Income Statement Reporting–Comprehensive Income–Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40), Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses”. The standard update improves the disclosures about a public business entity’s expenses by requiring more detailed information about the types of expenses (including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and amortization) included within income statement expense captions. The guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The standard updates are to be applied prospectively with the option for retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adoption of the standard update on its financial statement disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09,“Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”. The ASU enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt the standard in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2025. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a significant impact to its current disclosures.

Pronouncements adopted during the period:

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07,“Segment Reporting - Improving Reportable Segment Disclosures (Topic 280)”. The update is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant expenses. The ASU requires disclosures to include significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (CODM) and a description of other segment items by reportable segment. The ASU also requires certain annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 to be included in interim periods. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted, and requires retrospective application to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company adopted the updated provisions in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in this March 31, 2025 quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS