CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

Results of Operations

Operating Revenue

Operating revenue in 2025 was $1,000.1 million, a decrease of $36.7 million, or 3.5%, over 2024. Operating revenue in 2024 was $1,036.8 million, an increase of $242.2 million, or 30.5%, over 2023. The sources of change in operating revenue were:

(1)In 2025, the net change due to rate changes and other items in the above table was primarily due to rate increases of $69.6 million.

(2)Due to the delay in the resolution of the 2021 CA GRC, the CPUC authorized Cal Water to track in an IRMA the variances between actual customer billings and those that would have been billed assuming the 2021 CA GRC had been effective January 1, 2023. Such variances were recorded as regulatory balancing account revenue. The 2021 CA GRC was approved in March of 2024 and final rates for the 2021 CA GRC were implemented on May 31, 2024. As a result Cal Water recorded IRMA revenue of $88.6 million in 2024, of which $67.6 million is attributable to 2023. No IRMA revenue was recorded in 2025.

(3)MWRAM revenue is the variance between actual metered sales billed 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. In March of 2024, Cal Water received approval of the 2021 CA GRC which authorized the use of the MWRAM effective January 1, 2023. For 2025 and 2024, Cal Water recorded MWRAM revenue of $26.3 million and $35.3 million, respectively. Of the $35.3 million of MWRAM revenue recorded for 2024, $17.4 million is attributable to 2023.

(4)Deferred revenue consists of amounts that are expected to be collected from customers beyond 24 months following the end of the accounting period in which the sales transaction occurred. Deferred revenue for 2025 decreased due to a decrease in the balancing account revenue expected to be collected beyond 24 months.

Water Production Costs

Water production costs, which consist of purchased water, purchased power, and pump taxes, comprise the largest segment of total operating expenses. Water production costs accounted for 38.8% and 38.3%, of total operating costs in 2025 and 2024, respectively. The rates charged for wholesale water supplies, electricity, and pump taxes are established by various public agencies and utilities. As such, these rates are beyond our control.

The table below provides the change in water production costs during the past 2 years:

The principal factors affecting water production costs are the quantity, price, and source of the water. Generally, water pumped from wells costs less than water purchased from wholesale suppliers. Cal Water has an approved ICBA for purchased water, purchased power, and pump taxes. The ICBA mechanism is designed to recover changes in supplier prices from authorized amounts and has been recorded as part of the associated water production expense type.

The table below provides the amounts, percentage change, and source mix for the respective years:

For 2025, the $11.7 million increase in purchased water expenses is mostly due to a blended purchased water wholesaler rate increase of 6.9% partially offset by a 1.9% decrease in purchased quantities.

For 2025, the $2.4 million increase in pump taxes is primarily due to increases in pump tax rates.

Purchased power expenses are affected by the quantity of water pumped from wells and moved through the distribution system, rates charged by electric utility companies, and rate structures applied to usage during peak and non-peak times of the day or season. In 2025, purchased power expenses decreased $2.6 million mainly due to a decrease in production.

Changes associated with climate change regulations could increase the cost of power that in turn would result in an increase in the rates our power suppliers charge us. Any change in pricing of our purchased power in California would be recovered from our customers through the ICBA mechanism. Any change in power costs in other states would be requested to be recovered from the customers in those states. The impact of such regulations is dependent upon the enacted date, the factors that affect our suppliers’ cost structure, and their ability to pass the costs to us in their approved tariffs. These items are not known at this time.

Administrative and General Expenses

Administrative and general expenses include payroll related to administrative and general functions, all employee benefits charged to expense accounts, insurance expenses, legal fees, expenses associated with being a public company, and general corporate expenses.

For 2025, administrative and general expenses increased $2.1 million, or 1.5%, compared to 2024. The increase was primarily due to increases of $4.6 million in employee related costs, $2.3 million in legal fees, $1.1 million in other general corporate expenses, and $0.7 million in travel. This was partially offset by a $6.4 million increase in the allocations to construction activities due to additional resources focused on capital delivery.

Other Operations Expenses

The components of other operations expenses include payroll, material and supplies, and contract service costs of operating the regulated water systems, including the costs associated with water transmission and distribution, pumping, water quality, meter reading, billing, operations of district offices, and water conservation programs.

For 2025, other operations expense increased $11.6 million, or 9.8%, compared to 2024. The increase was primarily due to a $2.8 million increase in labor expense, $2.5 million increase in bad debt expense, $1.8 million increase in software expenses, a $1.8 million increase in miscellaneous office expenses, $1.3 million increase in conservation expenses, and a $1.0 million increase in water treatment costs. The increase in bad debt expense was primarily due to lower bad debt expense in 2024 as a result of applying arrearage funds to eligible, previously written-off accounts.

Depreciation and Amortization

For 2025, depreciation and amortization increased $12.5 million, or 9.4%, to $144.4 million compared to 2024 primarily due to utility plant placed in service in 2024.

For 2025, income tax expense decreased $24.7 million, or 68.8%, to $11.2 million compared to an income tax expense of $35.9 million for 2024. The decrease in 2025 was primarily due to a decrease in pre-tax operating income, which resulted from the 2021 CA GRC decision in 2024.

Property and Other Taxes

For 2025, property and other taxes increased $3.7 million, or 9.2%, compared to 2024. The increase was primarily due to utility plant placed in service in 2024.

Other Income and Expenses

For 2025, net other income and expenses increased $1.6 million, or 7.1%, to $24.2 million compared to 2024. The increase was due primarily to a $2.4 million increase in other components of net periodic benefit credit and a $0.8 million increase in allowance for equity funds used during construction, which was partially offset by a $1.3 million increase in income tax expense on other income and expenses.

Net Interest Expense

For 2025, net interest expense increased $9.1 million, or 15.9%, compared to 2024. The increase was primarily due to higher average outstanding borrowings, partially offset by lower interest rates.