Essential Utilities, Inc. (Aqua, Peoples)

Essential Utilities, Inc. is a publicly traded utility holding company headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The company's core business revolves around providing safe, clean, and reliable water, wastewater, and natural gas services. Its mission is to deliver essential natural resources that improve the quality of life for individuals and communities, while also focusing on infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship, and economic development.

Operating primarily under its Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential Utilities serves approximately 5.5 million people across nine states in the United States. The company's key services include water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and natural gas distribution. It caters to a diverse customer base, including residential, commercial, industrial, and fire protection sectors.

In recent news, Essential Utilities announced a proposed all-stock merger with American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK), which received approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission on April 22, 2026, and is expected to close in early 2027. Christopher Franklin serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, leading the company in its strategic investments, which included over $5.4 billion in infrastructure improvements across its water, wastewater, and natural gas systems over the past five years. The company also reported its Full Year 2025 financial results on February 25, 2026, and was recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Most Charitable Companies in March 2026.