Essential Utilities, Inc. filings document the reporting obligations of a regulated utility holding company with water, wastewater and natural gas distribution operations. The company’s Form 8-K disclosures cover operating and financial results, material events, capital-structure matters and material agreements, including debt financing activity tied to senior notes and related indenture terms.
Proxy and annual meeting filings describe shareholder voting matters, director elections, advisory votes and governance practices. Other regulatory disclosures address segment-level utility results, stock-based compensation, dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan activity, risk and covenant information, and the public-company controls associated with Essential Utilities’ Aqua and Peoples operating brands.
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) and American Water Works Company, Inc. said the Illinois Commerce Commission issued an order approving their proposed all-stock merger, the fourth favorable regulatory action toward completion. Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky regulators had previously approved the merger. The Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period expired August 14, 2026, and shareholders of both companies approved the transaction earlier this year.
Settlement agreements have been reached in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas and New Jersey, each subject to review and approval by the relevant commission. The combination would serve more than 4.7 million water and wastewater customer connections and more than 740,000 natural gas customer connections. The companies expect closing by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to customary conditions, including remaining regulatory approvals.
Essential Utilities (WTRG) said its integration teams have finalized the organization to be implemented after its merger with American Water closes. Barry Suits, president of Indiana American Water, will retire effective April 1, 2027. Upon merger close, Natalie Chesko, currently president of Aqua New Jersey, will shadow Suits before becoming president of American Water’s Indiana operations upon his retirement. Sadzi Oliva, currently president of Aqua Indiana, will transition to a role leading communications and external affairs for Illinois, and Ben Keith, currently Director of Business Development and Government Affairs for Iowa American Water, will become President of Iowa after close.
Essential Utilities said only a limited number of roles will change. Some existing Essential Utilities titles may not immediately align with American Water’s job architecture; the company will work to harmonize titles over the first few months post-close.
Essential Utilities (WTRG) and American Water Works Company, Inc., together with certain affiliates, filed a Stipulation of Settlement on November 2, 2026, in the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities proceeding seeking approval of their proposed merger. The stipulation was entered into with all parties, including NJBPU staff and the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, and posted on the NJBPU website on November 5, 2026. It is subject to NJBPU review and approval. Under the proposed merger agreement entered into on October 26, 2025, Alpha Merger Sub, Inc., American Water’s wholly owned subsidiary, would merge into Essential Utilities, which would survive as an American Water wholly owned subsidiary.
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG), American Water Works Company, Inc. and certain affiliates filed a Stipulation of Settlement on November 2, 2026, in the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities proceeding concerning approval of their proposed merger. The Stipulation was entered into with all parties, including NJBPU staff and the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel.
The NJBPU posted the Stipulation on its website as of November 5, 2026, and it is subject to the agency’s review and approval. Under the October 26, 2025 merger agreement, Alpha Merger Sub, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of American Water, would merge into Essential Utilities, which would survive as American Water’s wholly owned subsidiary.
Essential Utilities, Inc. and American Water Works Company, Inc. filed a stipulation of settlement on November 2, 2026, in the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities proceeding concerning their proposed merger; the agency posted it on November 5.
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) voluntarily furnished American Water Works Company, Inc.’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, incorporating them by reference into Essential Utilities’ Form S-3. Essential Utilities said American Water prepared the statements independently and that Essential Utilities did not independently validate them; the disclosure does not update Essential Utilities’ own financial statements.
American Water reported third-quarter operating revenue of $1.510 billion, versus $1.451 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and net income attributable to common shareholders of $387 million, versus $379 million. Nine-month operating revenue was $4.072 billion, compared with $3.869 billion, and net cash provided by operating activities was $1.635 billion, compared with $1.396 billion. American Water also completed a $319 million acquisition that added approximately 47,000 customer connections. Under the proposed stock-for-stock merger, Essential Utilities shareholders would receive 0.305 American Water shares per eligible share. American Water estimated closing by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to customary conditions including required regulatory approvals.
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG), a party to the proposed merger with American Water Works Company, is named in a communication outlining planned post-merger leadership assignments. American Water CEO John Griffith said Barry Suits, President of Indiana American Water, announced his retirement effective April 1, 2027. After merger close, Natalie Chesko, currently President of Aqua New Jersey, will begin transitioning to President of American Water’s Indiana operations, and Ben Keith, currently Director of Business Development and Government Affairs in Iowa, will become President of American Water’s Iowa operations.
Sadzi Oliva, currently President of Aqua Indiana, will transition to a role leading communications and external affairs for Illinois. American Water says it will work to harmonize employee titles over the first few months after closing.
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) reported third-quarter 2026 operating revenue of $508.3 million, compared with $477.0 million in 2025, and net income of $103.8 million, versus $92.1 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2026, revenue was $1.901 billion, while net income was $434.0 million, compared with $483.7 million in 2025.
Essential Utilities and American Water Works Company, Inc. are parties to a proposed stock-for-stock merger under which Essential Utilities would survive as a wholly owned subsidiary. Each eligible Essential common share would be converted into the right to receive 0.305 shares of American Water common stock. Shareholders approved merger-related proposals on February 10, 2026, and the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act expired on August 14, 2026. Remaining customary closing conditions include governmental and public utility commission approvals.
Merger-related costs included in operations and maintenance expense were $4.9 million for the quarter and $22.5 million for the nine months.
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $508.3 million, up 6.6% from $477.0 million a year earlier, and GAAP net income of $103.8 million, compared with $92.1 million. Diluted GAAP earnings per share were $0.36, versus $0.33; adjusted diluted EPS, excluding merger-related expenses, was $0.38. Nine-month revenue rose 7.1% to $1,900.9 million, while net income was $434.0 million versus $483.7 million. Nine-month results included $22.5 million of merger-related expenses.
The company said its proposed merger with American Water is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. Essential has received regulatory approvals in Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia; settlement agreements in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Texas remain subject to review and approval by the applicable public utility commissions. Essential invested approximately $1.1 billion in infrastructure during the first nine months and is on track to invest $1.7 billion in 2026. Its board declared a $0.3606 quarterly dividend, payable December 1, 2026, to shareholders of record November 10.
Essential Utilities, Inc. was covered in American Water Works Company, Inc.'s employee guidance on integration planning for their proposed merger. The guidance says future roles for Day 1 have been determined, while most employees will have little to no Day 1 changes unless they join a new department or take a new role. Job titles may not align immediately as the companies integrate.
It says base salary or wage rate will be no less than before the merger closes; base salary or wage rate, target annual cash incentive opportunity and target long-term performance opportunity will be no less favorable in the aggregate. Each company will keep its respective insurance partners through 2027. Open American Water roles will continue to be posted on its careers page.