Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Note 18 – Subsequent Events Captive Insurance Subsidiary On October 1, 2025, the Company established a wholly-owned captive insurance company, Utility Insurance LLC, incorporated in the State of Utah, whose principal activity at this time is to provide insurance and reinsurance coverage for a portion of the Company’s general liability, property, workers compensation, auto liability, cyber and management liability risks. Execution of Agreement and Plan of Merger with American Water On October 26, 2025, American Water Works Company, Inc. (“American Water”), Alpha Merger Sub, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (“Merger Sub”), and the Company, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). The Merger Agreement provides that upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the time at which the Merger becomes effective (the “Effective Time”), each share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.50 per share (“Essential Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than any shares of Essential Common Stock owned by American Water or Merger Sub or by the Company as treasury stock (in each case, other than restricted shares), will be converted into the right to receive 0.305 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of American Water (“American Water Common Stock”) (the aggregate number of such shares of American Water Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, the “Merger Consideration”). Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain customary conditions, including, without limitation: approval by American Water’s shareholders of the issuance of the shares of American Water Common Stock to be issued as Merger Consideration in the Merger; approval of the Merger Agreement by the Company’s shareholders; and receipt of certain governmental approvals, including (a) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and (b) the approval of certain public utility commissions, in each case on such terms and conditions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a “Burdensome Effect” (as defined in the Merger Agreement). There can be no guarantee that all of the closing conditions and approvals will be satisfied, and the failure to complete the proposed merger on a timely basis or at all may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The Company currently estimates that the closing of the proposed merger will occur by the end of the first quarter of 2027. The Merger Agreement provides that American Water will retain its current name, maintain its headquarters and principal corporate office in Camden, New Jersey, and maintain substantial operations in Pennsylvania.

Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2025

Note 18 – Subsequent Events

Captive Insurance Subsidiary

On October 1, 2025, the Company established a wholly-owned captive insurance company, Utility Insurance LLC, incorporated in the State of Utah, whose principal activity at this time is to provide insurance and reinsurance coverage for a portion of the Company’s general liability, property, workers compensation, auto liability, cyber and management liability risks.

Execution of Agreement and Plan of Merger with American Water

On October 26, 2025, American Water Works Company, Inc. (“American Water”), Alpha Merger Sub, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (“Merger Sub”), and the Company, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). The Merger Agreement provides that upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the time at which the Merger becomes effective (the “Effective Time”), each share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.50 per share (“Essential Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than any shares of Essential Common Stock owned by American Water or Merger Sub or by the Company as treasury stock (in each case, other than restricted

shares), will be converted into the right to receive 0.305 shares (the “Exchange Ratio”) of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of American Water (“American Water Common Stock”) (the aggregate number of such shares of American Water Common Stock to be issued in the Merger, the “Merger Consideration”).

Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain customary conditions, including, without limitation: approval by American Water’s shareholders of the issuance of the shares of American Water Common Stock to be issued as Merger Consideration in the Merger; approval of the Merger Agreement by the Company’s shareholders; and receipt of certain governmental approvals, including (a) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and (b) the approval of certain public utility commissions, in each case on such terms and conditions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a “Burdensome Effect” (as defined in the Merger Agreement). There can be no guarantee that all of the closing conditions and approvals will be satisfied, and the failure to complete the proposed merger on a timely basis or at all may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The Company currently estimates that the closing of the proposed merger will occur by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

The Merger Agreement provides that American Water will retain its current name, maintain its headquarters and principal corporate office in Camden, New Jersey, and maintain substantial operations in Pennsylvania.