American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) FY 2024 MD&A

ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read together with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s business, operations and financial performance. The cautionary statements made in this Form 10-K should be read as applying to all related forward-looking statements whenever they appear in this Form 10-K. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those that are discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements,” Item 1A—Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The Company has a disclosure committee consisting of members of senior management and other key employees involved in the preparation of the Company’s SEC reports. The disclosure committee is actively involved in the review and discussion of the Company’s SEC filings. For a discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, please refer to Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024.

Overview

American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse, publicly-traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States, as measured by both operating revenues and population served. The Company employs approximately 6,700 professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to over 14 million people in 24 states. The Company’s primary business involves the ownership of utilities that provide water and wastewater services to residential, commercial, industrial, public authority, fire service and sale for resale customers, collectively presented as the “Regulated Businesses.” The Company’s utilities operate in 14 states in the United States, with 3.5 million active customers with services provided by its water and wastewater networks. Services provided by the Company’s utilities are subject to regulation by PUCs. The Company also operates other businesses not subject to economic regulation by state PUCs that provide water and wastewater services to the U.S. government on military installations, as well as municipalities, collectively presented throughout this Form 10-K within “Other.” See Item 1—Business for additional information.

Selected Financial Data

This selected financial data below should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as the remainder of this Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

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Financial Results

For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, diluted earnings per share (GAAP) were $5.39, $4.90 and $4.51, respectively. Increased results were driven primarily by the implementation of new rates in the Regulated Businesses from capital and acquisition investments. Results also reflect increased production and employee-related costs, increased depreciation and higher financing costs used to fund the current capital investment plan. Results for 2024 and 2023 reflect the net favorable impact of warmer, drier weather compared to normal, estimated at $0.12 per share, and $0.13 per share, respectively. Results for 2024 include incremental interest income of $0.09 per share, resulting from the early 2024 amendment to the secured seller note from the sale of the former HOS business.

Growth Through Capital Investment in Infrastructure and Regulated Acquisitions

The Company continues to grow its businesses, with the substantial majority of its growth to be achieved in the Regulated Businesses through (i) continued capital investment in the Company’s infrastructure to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to its customers, (ii) regulated acquisitions to expand the Company’s services to new customers and (iii) organic growth in existing systems. In 2024, the Company invested $3.3 billion, in the Regulated Businesses, as discussed below:

•$2.8 billion capital investment in the Regulated Businesses, for infrastructure improvements and replacements; and

•$417 million to fund acquisitions in the Regulated Businesses, which added approximately 69,500 customers during 2024. This includes the acquisitions by the Company’s Pennsylvania subsidiary of the wastewater collection and treatment system assets from the Butler Area Sewer Authority on October 29, 2024, for a cash purchase price of $230 million, which added approximately 15,000 customer connections, and by the Company’s Illinois subsidiary of a wastewater treatment plant and related assets from Granite City on March 11, 2024, for a cash purchase price of $86 million, which added approximately 26,000 wastewater customers, including 15,500 customers indirectly in surrounding communities.

•Approximately 19,400 new customers were added through organic growth in existing systems.

The Company expects to invest between $17 billion to $18 billion over the next five years, and between $40 billion to $42 billion over the next 10 years, including $3.3 billion in 2025. The Company’s expected future investments include:

•capital investment for infrastructure improvements and replacements in the Regulated Businesses of between $15.5 billion to $16 billion over the next five years, and between $36 billion to $37 billion over the next 10 years; and

•growth from acquisitions in the Regulated Businesses to expand the Company’s water and wastewater customer base of between $1.5 billion to $2 billion over the next five years, and between $4 billion to $5 billion over the next 10 years.

The Company estimates the expected capital investment for infrastructure improvements in its Regulated Businesses over the next ten years will be allocated to the following purposes: infrastructure renewal 68%; resiliency 10%; water quality, including capital expenditures related to PFAS 8%; operational efficiency, technology and innovation 6%; system expansion 5%; other 3%.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had entered into 17 agreements with a total aggregate purchase price of $105 million for pending acquisitions in the Regulated Businesses to add approximately 24,200 additional customers.

In December 2020, the Company’s Pennsylvania subsidiary entered into an agreement (an acquisition intended to comply with Act 12 (discussed below)) to acquire the wastewater collection system assets of Brentwood Borough (“Brentwood”) for a purchase price of approximately $19 million. On February 22, 2024, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (the “PaPUC”) denied the Pennsylvania subsidiary’s application to acquire Brentwood. On April 3, 2024, the Pennsylvania subsidiary filed an appeal of the decision with the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, asserting, among other things, the PaPUC did not apply the correct legal standard in its decision. The Company cannot currently predict the outcome of this appeal, and the matter remains pending.

On July 2, 2024, the PaPUC issued the Final Supplemental Implementation Order (“FSIO”), which makes certain changes to the process by which the PaPUC considers and decides applications to acquire water and wastewater assets under Pennsylvania’s existing utility valuation law, known as Act 12 of 2016 (“Act 12”). The FSIO includes, among other things, a reasonableness review ratio that would be applied to help guide the determination on the overall prudency of the transaction and reasonableness of the purchase price. The provisions of the FSIO are not retroactive and apply to acquisition applications filed after July 2, 2024. The Company cannot currently predict the impact of the FSIO, but the Company intends to continue to support outcomes that allow for consolidation and investment in water and wastewater infrastructure in Pennsylvania and in its other regulated jurisdictions.

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Other Matters

Environmental, Health and Safety, and Water Quality Regulation

On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced a final NPDWR for six PFAS including PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, PFHxS, and PFBS. The NPDWR for PFAS establishes MCLs, for PFAS in drinking water. Utilities will be required to complete their initial monitoring for PFAS by 2027, followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Utilities will be required to comply with the new MCLs by April 2029, implementing solutions to reduce PFAS levels where needed. Beginning in April 2029, utilities that exceed any of the PFAS MCLs will be required to provide notification to the public of the violation.

The Company estimates an investment of approximately $1 billion of capital expenditures to install additional treatment facilities in order to comply with the new regulations by April 2029. Additionally, the Company estimates that it will incur annual operating expenses of up to approximately $50 million related to testing and treatment, with the majority of the operating expenses beginning near the April 2029 compliance deadline. The actual level of capital investment and expenses may differ from these estimates and will be dependent upon market dynamics upon implementation of solutions to comply with the NPDWR for PFAS.

The Company has entered into a nine-year exclusive contract with a third-party vendor to supply granular activated carbon, equipment and reactivation services to more than 50 of the Company’s treatment sites across 10 states through 2033. The equipment and services provided through the contract will aid the Company in treating drinking water to assist in complying with the NPDWR for PFAS.

The Company supports sound policies and compliance with the NPDWR for PFAS by all water utilities, while protecting customers and communities from the costly burden of monitoring and mitigating PFAS contamination in water systems. The Company continues to advocate for policies that hold polluters accountable and is participating in the multi-district litigation and other lawsuits filed against certain PFAS manufacturers seeking damages and reimbursement of costs incurred and continuing to be incurred to address contamination of public water supply systems by PFAS. For more information on the PFAS multi-district litigation, see Item 3—Legal Proceedings—PFAS Multi-District Litigation.

On April 19, 2024, the EPA issued a final rule to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA. The Company, along with a coalition of other water and wastewater organizations, is actively advocating for and supporting bipartisan legislation that would provide PFAS liability protections under CERCLA for water and wastewater systems, as passive receivers of PFAS, and to hold polluters, and not the public or customers, accountable for PFAS-related liability.

On October 30, 2024, the EPA published the LCRI with a “Compliance Date” of November 1, 2027. The LCRI focus includes requirements related to (i) replacing all lead and certain galvanized service lines under a utilities control by October 30, 2037, 10 years from the Compliance Date; (ii) identifying the materials of all service lines of unknown material; (iii) improving tap sampling; (iv) lowering the lead action level; and (v) strengthening protections to reduce exposure. The LCRI also deferred the compliance date of certain requirements of the LCRR to allow for compliance with both new rules. The Company is in the process of developing an estimate of capital expenditures and operating costs needed to meet the specific requirements of the LCRI. Capital expenditures and operating costs associated with compliance with federal water quality regulations have been traditionally recognized by PUCs as appropriate for inclusion in establishing rates.

The Company continues to comply with the EPA’s existing Lead and Copper Rule requirements by replacing lead service lines in accordance with current scientific guidance and utilizing appropriate corrosion control techniques as necessary to comply with current water quality regulatory requirements.

The Company met the LCRR requirements, effective October 16, 2024, identified as enforceable by the EPA. Remaining LCRR requirements are deferred under the LCRI.

Cybersecurity Incident

On October 3, 2024, the Company identified unauthorized activity within its information technology computer networks and systems, which was determined to be the result of a cybersecurity incident. Upon identification of this activity, the Company immediately activated its incident response protocols and third-party cybersecurity experts to assist with containment and mitigation activities and to investigate the nature and scope of the incident. The Company also promptly notified law enforcement and has coordinated fully with them. As part of the incident response, and in order to protect its systems and data, the Company disconnected and deactivated certain of its systems, which have since been reconnected and reactivated upon verification that those systems were secure.

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All necessary containment, mitigation and restoration activities related to this incident have been completed. None of the Company’s water or wastewater facilities were impacted by this incident, and the incident did not have a material effect on the Company or its financial condition or results of operations. In addition, a number of putative class action lawsuits have been filed in connection with this cybersecurity incident, primarily alleging claims related to federal and/or state consumer protection and data privacy laws, and while the Company believes the claims are without merit and is vigorously defending itself against these claims, it cannot currently predict the outcome or impact of these lawsuits. See Item 3—Legal Proceedings—Cybersecurity Incident Class Action Lawsuits for more information.

Regulatory Matters

General Rate Cases

The table below summarizes the annualized incremental revenues, assuming a constant sales volume and customer count, resulting from general rate case authorizations that became effective during 2024. The amounts include reductions for the amortization of the excess accumulated deferred income taxes (“EADIT”) that are generally offset in income tax expense.

(a)In 2024, $6 million was effective November 6 and $11 million was effective May 3.

(b)In 2024, $23 million was effective May 10 and $25 million was effective February 21.

The table below summarizes the annualized incremental revenues, assuming a constant sales volume and customer count, resulting from general rate case authorizations that became effective on or after January 1, 2025. The amounts include reductions for the amortization of EADIT that are generally offset in income tax expense.

On January 21, 2025, the Tennessee Public Utility Commission (the “TPUC”) approved a motion authorizing an adjustment of water base rates requested in a rate case filed on May 1, 2024, by the Company’s Tennessee subsidiary. The TPUC approved an increase of $1 million in annualized revenues, excluding previously recovered infrastructure surcharges of $18 million, based on an authorized return on equity of 9.70%, authorized rate base of approximately $300 million, a common equity ratio of 44.19% and a debt ratio of 55.81%. This adjustment took effect on January 21, 2025, and is driven primarily by approximately $173 million in capital investments made and to be made by the Tennessee subsidiary through December 2025.

On December 5, 2024, the Illinois Commerce Commission issued a final order approving the adjustment of base rates requested in a rate case originally filed on January 25, 2024, by the Company’s Illinois subsidiary. The general rate case order approved an increase of $105 million in annualized water and wastewater system revenues, excluding previously recovered infrastructure surcharges of $5 million, based on an authorized return on equity of 9.84%, authorized rate base of $2.2 billion, and a capital structure with an equity component of 49.00% and a debt component of 51.00%. The general rate case order denied the second step increase of $16 million. The increase was effective January 1, 2025, and is driven primarily by approximately $557 million in capital investments made and to be made by the Illinois subsidiary from January 2024 through December 2025.

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On December 5, 2024, the CPUC approved a final decision adopting the terms of a partial settlement agreement filed on November 17, 2023, in the Company’s California subsidiary’s general rate case originally filed on July 1, 2022. Incorporating the currently effective return on equity of 10.20%, the decision provides incremental annualized water and wastewater revenues of $21 million in the 2024 test year, and an estimated $16 million in the 2025 escalation year and $16 million in the 2026 attrition year. New rates were implemented retroactively to January 1, 2024. In addition, the CPUC denied the California subsidiary’s proposed Water Resources Sustainability Plan decoupling mechanism but approved continuation of its currently effective Annual Consumption Adjustment Mechanism. On December 12, 2024, the California subsidiary filed an application for rehearing of the CPUC’s denial of the proposed Water Resources Sustainability Plan decoupling mechanism.

On May 3, 2024, the Kentucky Public Service Commission (the “KPSC”) issued an order approving the adjustment of base rates requested in a rate case filed on June 30, 2023, by the Company’s Kentucky subsidiary. The general rate case order approved an $11 million annualized increase in water revenues, excluding infrastructure surcharge revenues of $10 million, which continue to be recovered in the Kentucky subsidiary’s approved infrastructure mechanism. The annualized increase is based upon an authorized return on equity of 9.70%, authorized rate base of $489 million, which reflects capital investments through January 31, 2025, and a capital structure with a common equity ratio of 52.22%. Interim rates in this proceeding were effective on February 6, 2024, and the order required that the difference between interim and final approved rates be subject to refund no later than August 26, 2024. On May 16, 2024, the Kentucky subsidiary filed with the KPSC a petition for rehearing of the KPSC’s order, seeking clarification and/or correction of certain computational inconsistencies that the Kentucky subsidiary believes are reflected in the KPSC’s order with respect to the authorized amount of annualized revenues to be received by the Kentucky subsidiary. On November 6, 2024, the KPSC approved a final order (the “Final Order”) providing for a $17 million annualized increase in water revenues, an increase of approximately $6 million from May 3, 2024. New rates provided in the Final Order were effective November 6, 2024.

On September 4, 2024, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“NJBPU”) issued an order approving without modification the stipulation of settlement of a general rate case filed on January 19, 2024, by the Company’s New Jersey subsidiary. The general rate case order approved an $80 million annualized increase in the New Jersey subsidiary’s water and wastewater revenues, effective September 15, 2024, based on (i) an authorized return on equity of 9.60%, (ii) an authorized rate base of $5.1 billion, (iii) a common equity ratio of 55.00%, and (iv) a long-term debt ratio of 45.00%. The annualized revenue increase is driven primarily by $1.3 billion of incremental capital investments since the New Jersey subsidiary’s last general rate case. The New Jersey subsidiary will continue to defer as a regulatory asset or liability, as appropriate, until its next general rate case, the difference between its pension expense and other postretirement benefits expense and those amounts included in base rates.

On July 22, 2024, the PaPUC released an order approving the adjustment of base rates requested in a general rate case filed by the Company’s Pennsylvania subsidiary on November 8, 2023. The PaPUC approved a $99 million annualized increase in the Pennsylvania subsidiary’s water and wastewater system revenues, excluding previously recovered infrastructure surcharges of $20 million, based on (i) an authorized return on equity of 9.45%, (ii) an authorized rate base of $5.8 billion, which reflects, as requested and included in the general rate case, approximately $1.0 billion in capital investments to be made through mid-2025, (iii) a common equity ratio of 55.30%, and (iv) a long-term debt ratio of 44.70%. Certain acquisitions, including the acquisition of the wastewater collection and treatment system of the Butler Area Sewer Authority, were excluded from authorized base rates. The new rates were effective on August 7, 2024, except that new wastewater rates for two recently acquired systems, including the City of York, will take effect during the first half of 2025 in accordance with the terms of the relevant acquisition agreements. As part of its approval of this rate adjustment, the PaPUC initiated an investigation into certain reported water service and water quality issues in the Pennsylvania subsidiary’s Northeastern service territory, which reports had been provided during public input hearings convened in the general rate case. The PaPUC is expected to conclude the investigation in the second quarter of 2025.

On February 23, 2024, the WVPSC issued an order approving the adjustment of base rates requested in a rate case filed on May 1, 2023, by the Company’s West Virginia subsidiary. The general rate case order approved an $18 million annualized increase in water and wastewater system revenues, excluding previously recovered infrastructure surcharges of $7 million, based on an authorized return on equity of 9.80%, authorized rate base of $886 million, which reflects capital investments through February 2024, a common equity ratio of 50.12% and a long-term debt ratio of 49.88%. The increased water and wastewater revenues related to the base rate adjustment are being driven primarily by (i) $220 million of related water and wastewater system capital investments made since the completion of the West Virginia subsidiary’s previous rate case, (ii) higher pension and other postretirement benefit costs, and (iii) increases in production costs, including chemicals, fuel and power costs.

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On February 14, 2024, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (the “IURC”) issued an order approving the adjustment of base rates requested in a rate case filed on March 31, 2023, by the Company’s Indiana subsidiary. The general rate case order approved a $66 million annualized increase in water and wastewater system revenues, excluding previously recovered infrastructure surcharges, based on an authorized return on equity of 9.65%, authorized rate base of $1.8 billion, a common equity ratio of 56.15% and a debt ratio of 43.85%. For purposes of determining rates, the adjustment is based on an equity component of 48.19% due to the regulatory practice in Indiana of including certain zero-cost items or tax credit balances in the capital structure calculation. The annualized revenue increase will include three step increases, with $25 million of the increase to be included in rates in February 2024, $23 million in May 2024, and $18 million in May 2025. The increases are being driven primarily by (i) over $875 million of water and wastewater system capital investments since the completion of the Indiana subsidiary’s last rate case and through April 30, 2025, (ii) higher pension and other postretirement benefit costs, and (iii) increases in production costs, including chemicals, fuel and power costs.

Pending General Rate Case Filings

On August 2, 2024, the Company’s Hawaii subsidiary filed a general rate case requesting approximately $2 million in annualized incremental revenues, which is based on a proposed return on equity of 10.67% and a capital structure with an equity component of 52.11% and debt component of 47.89%. The requested annualized incremental revenue is driven primarily by approximately $41 million in capital investments made and to be made by the Hawaii subsidiary through 2025. The Hawaii subsidiary anticipates that the general rate case proceeding will be completed by mid-2025.

On July 1, 2024, the Company’s Missouri subsidiary filed a general rate case requesting approximately $148 million in annualized incremental revenues. The request is based on a return on equity of 10.75% and a capital structure with an equity component of 50.54% and a long-term debt component of 49.46%. The requested annualized incremental revenue is driven primarily by $1.5 billion of incremental capital investments completed and planned by the Missouri subsidiary from January 2023 through May 2026. On July 31, 2024, the Missouri Public Service Commission issued an order establishing the test year in this case, which modified the Missouri subsidiary’s original proposal for a future test year through May 2026, and instead reverted to a true-up period through December 31, 2024, with an allowance for proposed discrete adjustments subsequent to this date. On September 6, 2024, the Missouri subsidiary filed supplemental testimony to revise the request to approximately $123 million in annualized incremental revenues and define the specific discrete adjustments proposed through the rate effective period, which lowered the incremental capital investments completed and planned to $1.1 billion through May 2025. The Missouri subsidiary anticipates that the general rate case proceeding will be completed by mid-2025.

On May 1, 2024, the Company’s Iowa subsidiary filed a general rate case requesting approximately $21 million in additional annualized revenues, which is based on a proposed return on equity of 10.75% and a capital structure with an equity component of 52.57% and debt component of 47.43%. The requested annualized revenue increase is driven primarily by approximately $157 million in capital investments made and to be made by the Iowa subsidiary through March 2026. Interim rates became effective May 11, 2024, with the difference between interim and final approved rates subject to refund. On August 29, 2024, the Iowa subsidiary submitted supplemental testimony consistent with the procedural schedule, which was subsequently challenged by the parties in the proceeding. On October 4, 2024, the Iowa Utilities Commission issued an order that granted the inclusion of the supplemental filing and extended the procedural schedule in the case beyond the statutory ten-month period. The Iowa subsidiary now expects resolution of this proceeding by May 2025.

On December 15, 2023, the Company’s California subsidiary submitted a request to delay by one year its cost of capital filing and maintain its current authorized cost of capital through 2025. On February 2, 2024, the CPUC granted the request for a one-year extension of the cost of capital filing to May 1, 2025, to set its authorized cost of capital beginning January 1, 2026. On December 18, 2024, the California subsidiary submitted a request to further delay by one year its cost of capital filing and maintain the authorized cost of capital through 2026. On January 14, 2025, the CPUC granted the request for a one-year extension of the cost of capital filing to May 1, 2026, to set its authorized cost of capital beginning January 1, 2027.

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On November 1, 2023, the Company’s Virginia subsidiary filed a general rate case requesting $20 million in additional annualized revenues. The request is based on a proposed return on equity of 10.95% and a capital structure with an equity component of 45.67% and a debt and other component of 54.33%. The requested increase is driven by approximately $110 million in capital investments between May 2023 and April 2025. The request also proposed a revenue decoupling mechanism and seeks deferral of certain production cost adjustments. Interim rates became effective May 1, 2024, with the difference between interim and final approved rates subject to refund. On September 20, 2024, the Virginia subsidiary filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (the “SCC”) a “black box” stipulation of settlement on key financial terms which agreed to a $15 million annualized increase in the Virginia subsidiary’s revenues. The stipulation of settlement also agreed, solely for purposes of the Virginia subsidiary’s future filings requiring a stated cost of capital and/or capital structure (including its annual information and water and wastewater infrastructure surcharge filings), that its return on equity will be 9.70% and its capital structure will consist of an equity component of 45.67% and a debt and other component of 54.33%. The stipulation of settlement remains subject to SCC review and approval.

Infrastructure Surcharges

A number of states have authorized the use of regulatory mechanisms that permit rates to be adjusted outside of a general rate case for certain costs and investments, such as infrastructure surcharge mechanisms that permit recovery of capital investments to replace aging infrastructure. Presented in the table below are annualized incremental revenues, assuming a constant sales volume and customer count, resulting from infrastructure surcharge authorizations that became effective during 2024:

(a)On March 5, 2024, the WVPSC directed the Company’s West Virginia subsidiary to interpret the distribution system improvement charge (“DSIC”) Order as having included within the DSIC the three-year amortization of a prior authorized deferral associated with a large treatment plant project. The inclusion of this deferral increased the net incremental revenue by $0.7 million to a total of $6.6 million effective March 1, 2024.

(b)In 2024, $21 million was effective July 11 and $26 million was effective January 20.

(c)In 2024, $14 million was effective July 1 and $7 million was effective April 1.

Presented in the table below are annualized incremental revenues, assuming a constant sales volume and customer count, resulting from infrastructure surcharge authorizations that became effective on or after January 1, 2025:

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Other Regulatory Matters

In September 2020, the CPUC released a decision under its Low-Income Rate Payer Assistance program rulemaking that required the Company’s California subsidiary to file a proposal to alter its water revenue adjustment mechanism in its next general rate case filing in 2022, which would have become effective upon receiving an order in the rate case. On October 5, 2020, the Company’s California subsidiary filed an application for rehearing of the decision and following the CPUC’s denial of its rehearing application in September 2021, the Company’s California subsidiary filed a petition for writ of review with the California Supreme Court on October 27, 2021. On May 18, 2022, the California Supreme Court issued a writ of review for the California subsidiary’s petition and the petitions filed by other entities challenging the decision. On July 8, 2024, the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion concluding that the CPUC did not regularly seek to exercise its authority when it prohibited water utilities from proposing to continue their water revenue adjustment mechanisms. Accordingly, the California Supreme Court vacated the portion of the CPUC’s 2020 decision relating to this prohibition against continuation of such water revenue adjustment mechanisms.

Independent of the judicial challenge, California passed Senate Bill 1469, which allows the CPUC to consider and authorize the implementation of a mechanism that separates the water corporation’s revenue and its water sales. Legislation was signed by the Governor on September 30, 2022, and became effective on January 1, 2023. In response to the legislation, on January 27, 2023, the Company’s California subsidiary filed an updated application requesting the CPUC to consider a Water Resources Sustainability Plan decoupling mechanism in its 2022 general rate case. On December 5, 2024, the CPUC denied the California subsidiary’s proposed Water Resources Sustainability Plan decoupling mechanism but approved continuation of its currently effective Annual Consumption Adjustment Mechanism. On December 12, 2024, the California subsidiary filed an application for rehearing of the CPUC’s denial of the proposed Water Resources Sustainability Plan decoupling mechanism.

On March 2, 2021, an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) in the Office of Administrative Law of New Jersey filed an initial decision with the NJBPU that recommended denial of a petition filed by the Company’s New Jersey subsidiary, which sought approval of acquisition adjustments in rate base of $29 million associated with the acquisitions of Shorelands Water Company, Inc. in 2017 and the Borough of Haddonfield’s water and wastewater systems in 2015. On July 29, 2021, the NJBPU issued an order adopting the ALJ’s initial decision without modification. The Company’s New Jersey subsidiary filed a Notice of Appeal with the New Jersey Appellate Division on September 10, 2021. On December 30, 2024, the New Jersey Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court affirmed the NJBPU decision rejecting the acquisition adjustments. There is no financial impact to the Company as a result of the NJBPU’s order and resulting appeal decision, since the acquisition adjustments are currently recorded as goodwill on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Consolidated Results of Operations

Presented in the table below are the Company’s consolidated results of operations:

Segment Results of Operations

The Company’s operating segments are comprised of its businesses which generate revenue, incur expense and have separate financial information which is regularly used by the chief operating decision maker to make operating decisions, assess performance and allocate resources. The Company operates its business primarily through one reportable segment, the Regulated Businesses segment. Other primarily includes MSG, which does not meet the criteria of a reportable segment in accordance with GAAP. Other also includes corporate costs that are not allocated to the Company’s Regulated Businesses, interest income related to the secured seller promissory note from the sale of HOS, income from assets not associated with the Regulated Businesses, eliminations of inter-segment transactions and fair value adjustments related to acquisitions that have not been allocated to the Regulated Businesses segment. This presentation is consistent with how management assesses the results of these businesses. For a discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, please refer to Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024.

Regulated Businesses Segment

Presented in the table below is financial information for the Regulated Businesses:

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Operating Revenues

Presented in the tables below is information regarding the main components of the Regulated Businesses’ operating revenues:

(a)Includes other operating revenues consisting primarily of miscellaneous utility charges, fees and rents.

In 2024, as compared to 2023, operating revenues increased $376 million, primarily due to: (i) a $288 million increase from authorized rate increases, including infrastructure surcharges, principally to recover infrastructure investment in various states; (ii) a $41 million increase from water and wastewater acquisitions and organic growth in existing systems; (iii) a $26 million increase from changes in customer demand; and (iv) a $17 million net increase as a result of reduced amortization of EADIT, primarily in the Company’s Missouri subsidiary.

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Operation and Maintenance

Presented in the table below is information regarding the main components of the Regulated Businesses’ operating and maintenance expense:

Employee-Related Costs

In 2024, as compared to 2023, employee-related costs increased $30 million primarily due to an increase in salaries and wages due to merit increases, which was partially offset by higher capitalized labor and overhead rates.

Production Costs

In 2024, as compared to 2023, production costs increased $20 million primarily from higher purchased water cost and usage.

Operating Supplies and Services

In 2024, as compared to 2023, operating supplies and services increased $19 million primarily due to higher contracted services and software licensing costs as well as an increase in various other operating expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization

In 2024, as compared to 2023, depreciation and amortization increased $79 million primarily due to additional utility plant placed in service from capital infrastructure investments and acquisitions.

General Taxes

In 2024, as compared to 2023, general taxes increased $13 million primarily due to incremental property taxes and New Jersey Gross Receipts Tax.

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Other Income (Expense)

In 2024, as compared to 2023, other expenses increased $70 million primarily due to higher interest expense from the issuance of incremental long-term debt and a decrease in AFUDC in 2024.

Provision for Income Taxes

In 2024, as compared to 2023, the Regulated Businesses’ provision for income taxes increased $43 million. The Regulated Businesses’ effective income tax rate was 22.1% and 21.1% for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase was primarily due to the decrease in the amortization of EADIT, pursuant to regulatory orders. The amortization of EADIT is generally offset with reductions in revenue.

Other

Presented in the table below is information for Other:

Operating Revenues

In 2024, as compared to 2023, operating revenues increased $74 million from an increase in capital projects in MSG, primarily at Naval Station Mayport, and an increase in capital projects in CSG.

Operation and Maintenance

Presented in the table below is information regarding the main components of Other’s operating and maintenance expense:

Operating Supplies and Services

In 2024, as compared to 2023, operating supplies and services increased $45 million primarily due to costs associated with the increased capital projects in MSG.

Employee-Related Costs

In 2024, as compared to 2023, employee-related costs increased $16 million primarily due to an increase in salaries and wages.

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Interest Income

In 2024, as compared to 2023, interest income increased $32 million primarily due to the increased interest rate and higher principal balance from the February 2024 amendment of the secured seller promissory note from the sale of HOS. See Note 5—Acquisitions and Divestitures—Sale of Homeowner Services Group, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Tax Matters

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) was signed into law. The IRA contains a 15% CAMT provision on applicable corporations effective January 1, 2023. To determine if a company is considered an applicable corporation subject to CAMT, the company’s average adjusted financial statement income (“AFSI”) for the three consecutive years preceding the tax year must exceed $1.0 billion. An applicable corporation must make several adjustments to net income when determining AFSI. A corporation paying CAMT is eligible for a future tax credit, which can be utilized when regular tax exceeds CAMT. Based on current guidance, the Company is an applicable corporation subject to CAMT beginning in 2024 and expects to owe CAMT in excess of the regular tax liability. On September 12, 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and the U.S. Treasury issued Notice 2024-66, allowing corporate taxpayers to exclude amounts attributable to the CAMT liability, without penalty, from estimated tax payments with respect to a taxable year that begins during 2024. The Company will include the CAMT liability in its 2024 extension payment due April 15, 2025. The Company will continue to assess the impacts of the IRA as the U.S. Treasury and the IRS provide further guidance.

Legislative Updates

During 2024 and 2025, the Company’s regulatory jurisdictions enacted the following legislation that has been approved and is effective as of February 19, 2025:

•New Jersey passed Assembly Bill 4791, establishing the “Resiliency and Environmental System Investment Charge Program,” which creates a regulatory mechanism that enables water and wastewater utilities to recover the costs of investment in certain non-revenue producing utility system components that enhance water and wastewater system resiliency, environmental compliance such as existing and proposed requirements for PFAS, safety, and public health. Legislation was signed by the Governor and became effective on January 12, 2024.

•Indiana passed Senate Bill 5, which provides access to a property by a water utility to replace lead service lines when a landowner does not enroll in the offered lead service line replacement program, does not personally replace the customer owned portion of the lead service line following notice and a 45-day waiting period, or is non-responsive to attempted communication after the 45-day waiting period. Legislation was signed by the Governor and became effective on March 11, 2024.

•Iowa passed House File 207, which modifies property tax assessments to exempt property owned or operated by a public or private utility and is directly and primarily used for furnishing sanitary sewage or storm water drainage disposal by a piped collection system to the public for compensation. Legislation was signed by the Governor and became effective on May 2, 2024.

•West Virginia passed House Bill 5617, which adopts standards and authorizes the WVPSC to promulgate rules, and also allows for rate recovery, on maintenance, flushing, flow testing and marking of fire hydrants owned by water utilities. Legislation was signed by the Governor and became effective on June 4, 2024.

•Iowa passed House File 2101, which increases the threshold amount required for approval by the Iowa Utilities Commission for water and wastewater utility acquisition filings from $0.5 million to $3 million. Legislation was signed by the Governor and became effective on July 1, 2024.

•Indiana passed Senate Bill 247, which establishes a 30-day filing with the IURC by a utility for an acquisition of a utility with an appraised value and purchase price of less than $3 million. Legislation was signed by the Governor became effective on July 1, 2024.

•California passed Senate Bill 219, which amends the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act, to allow the California Air Resources Board until July 1, 2025, to issue implementing regulations, including reporting requirements for Scope 3 emissions. Legislation was signed by the Governor on September 27, 2024, and became effective January 1, 2025.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company uses its capital resources, including cash, primarily to (i) fund operating and capital requirements, (ii) pay interest and meet debt maturities, (iii) pay dividends, (iv) fund acquisitions, (v) fund pension and postretirement benefit obligations, and (vi) to pay federal income taxes. The Company invests a significant amount of cash on regulated capital projects where it expects to earn a long-term return on investment. Additionally, the Company operates in rate regulated environments in which the amount of new investment recovery may be limited, and where such recovery generally takes place over an extended period of time, and certain capital recovery is also subject to regulatory lag. See Item 1—Business—Regulated Businesses—Regulation and Rate Making for additional information. The Company expects to fund future maturities of long-term debt through a combination of external debt and, to the extent available, cash flows from operations. Since the Company expects its capital investments over the next few years to be greater than its cash flows from operating activities, the Company currently plans to fund the excess of its capital investments over its cash flows from operating activities for the next five years through a combination of long-term debt and equity issuances, in addition to the remaining proceeds from the sale of HOS. The remaining proceeds from the sale of HOS include receipt of payments under a secured seller promissory note, plus interest, see Note 5—Acquisitions and Divestitures —Sale of Homeowner Services Group, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. If necessary, the Company may delay certain capital investments or other funding requirements or pursue financing from other sources to preserve liquidity. In this event, the Company believes it can rely upon cash flows from operations to meet its obligations and fund its minimum required capital investments for an extended period of time.

The Company regularly evaluates and monitors its cash requirements for capital investments, acquisitions, operations, commitments, debt maturities, interest and dividends. The Company’s business is capital intensive, with a majority of this capital funded by cash flows from operations. The Company also obtains funds from external sources, primarily in the debt markets and through short-term commercial paper borrowings, and may also access the equity capital markets as needed or desired to support capital funding requirements. In order to meet short-term liquidity needs, AWCC issues commercial paper that is supported by its revolving credit facility. The Company’s access to external financing on reasonable terms may depend on, as appropriate, any or all of the following: current business conditions, including that of the utility and water utility industry in general; conditions in the debt or equity capital markets; the Company’s credit ratings; and conditions in the national and international economic and geopolitical arenas. Disruptions in the credit markets may discourage lenders from extending the terms of such commitments or agreeing to new commitments. Market disruptions may also limit the Company’s ability to issue debt and equity securities in the capital markets.

If these unfavorable business, market, financial and other conditions deteriorate to the extent that the Company is no longer able to access the commercial paper and/or capital markets on reasonable terms, AWCC has access to an unsecured revolving credit facility. The Company’s revolving credit facility provides $2.75 billion in aggregate total commitments from a diversified group of financial institutions. AWCC’s revolving credit facility is used principally to support its commercial paper program, to provide additional liquidity support, and to provide a sub-limit for the issuance of up to $150 million in letters of credit. The maximum aggregate principal amount of short-term borrowings authorized for issuance under AWCC’s commercial paper program is $2.60 billion. On October 28, 2024, the termination date of the credit agreement with respect to AWCC’s revolving credit facility was extended, as permitted by the terms of the credit agreement, from October 2028 to October 2029. Subject to satisfying certain conditions, the credit agreement also permits AWCC to increase the maximum commitment under the facility by up to an aggregate of $500 million. As of December 31, 2024, AWCC had no outstanding borrowings and $82 million of outstanding letters of credit under its revolving credit facility, with $1.8 billion available to fulfill its short-term liquidity needs and to issue letters of credit.

The Company believes that its ability to access the debt and equity capital markets, the revolving credit facility and cash flows from operations will generate sufficient cash to fund the Company’s short-term requirements. The Company believes it has sufficient liquidity and the ability to manage its expenditures, should there be a disruption of the capital and credit markets. However, there can be no assurance that the lenders will be able to meet existing commitments to AWCC under the revolving credit facility, or that AWCC will be able to access the commercial paper or loan markets in the future on acceptable terms or at all.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities primarily result from the sale of water and wastewater services and, due to the seasonality of demand, are generally greater during the warmer months. The Company’s future cash flows from operating activities will be affected by, among other things: customers’ ability to pay for service in a timely manner, economic utility regulation, inflation, compliance with environmental, health and safety standards, production costs, maintenance costs, customer growth, declining customer usage of water, employee-related costs, including pension funding, weather and seasonality, taxes and overall economic conditions. The Company’s current liabilities may exceed current assets mainly from debt maturities due within one year and the use of short-term debt as a funding source, primarily to meet scheduled maturities of long-term debt, fund acquisitions and construction projects, as well as cash needs, which can fluctuate significantly due to the seasonality of the business and other factors. The Company addresses cash timing differences primarily through its short-term liquidity funding mechanisms.

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Presented in the table below is a summary of the major items affecting the Company’s cash flows from operating activities:

(a)Includes provision for losses on accounts receivable, pension and non-pension postretirement benefits and other non-cash, net. Details of each component can be found on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

(b)Changes in assets and liabilities include changes to receivables and unbilled revenues, income tax receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, accrued taxes and other assets and liabilities, net.

In 2024, cash flows provided by operating activities increased $171 million, primarily due to an increase in net income and depreciation, partially offset by changes in deferred income taxes.

The Company expects to make pension contributions to the plan trusts of $44 million in 2025. Actual amounts contributed could change materially from this estimate as a result of changes in assumptions and actual investment returns, among other factors.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Presented in the table below is a summary of the major items affecting the Company’s cash flows from investing activities:

In 2024, cash flows used in investing activities increased $564 million as a result of increased payments for capital expenditures and acquisitions in 2024. The Company continues to invest across all infrastructure categories, mainly replacement and renewal of transmission and distribution and services, meter and fire hydrants infrastructure in the Company’s Regulated Businesses, as discussed below.

The Company’s infrastructure investment plan consists of both infrastructure renewal programs, where the Company replaces mains, services, meters, hydrants and valves, as needed, and major capital investment projects, where the Company constructs new water and wastewater treatment and delivery facilities to meet new customer growth, and meet new or updated environmental and water quality regulations. The Company’s projected capital expenditures and other investments are subject to periodic review and revision to reflect changes in economic conditions and other factors.

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Presented in the table below is a summary of the Company’s capital expenditures by category:

In 2024, the Company’s capital expenditures increased $281 million due to an increase across most infrastructure categories.

The Company also grows its business primarily through acquisitions of water and wastewater systems. These acquisitions are generally located in geographic proximity to the Company’s existing Regulated Businesses and support continued geographical diversification and growth of its operations. Generally, acquisitions are funded initially with short-term debt, and later refinanced with long-term financing. During 2024, the Company paid $417 million to fund acquisitions, including deposits for pending acquisitions. The Company closed on 13 acquisitions of various regulated water and wastewater systems during 2024, which added approximately 69,500 water and wastewater customers.

As previously noted, over the next five years the Company expects to invest between $17 billion to $18 billion, with $15.5 billion to $16 billion for infrastructure improvements in the Regulated Businesses, and the Company expects to invest between $40 billion to $42 billion over the next 10 years. In 2025, the Company expects to invest $3.3 billion, consisting of infrastructure improvements and acquisitions in the Regulated Businesses.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Presented in the table below is a summary of the major items affecting the Company’s cash flows from financing activities:

(a)Includes proceeds from issuances of common stock under various employee stock plans and the Company’s dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan, net of taxes paid, and advances and contributions in aid of construction, net of refunds.

In 2024, cash flows provided by financing activities decreased $78 million, primarily due to the repayment of long-term debt in the current period and the proceeds from the common stock financing in March 2023. These decreases were partially offset by a higher issuance of long-term debt and an increase in short-term commercial paper borrowings in the current year.

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The Company’s financing activities are primarily focused on funding regulated infrastructure expenditures, regulated acquisitions and payment of dividends. These activities included the issuance of long-term and short-term debt, primarily through AWCC and equity issuances from parent company. Based on the needs of the Regulated Businesses and the Company, AWCC may borrow funds or issue its debt in the capital markets and then, through intercompany loans, provide those borrowings to the Regulated Businesses and parent company. The Regulated Businesses and parent company are obligated to pay their portion of the respective principal and interest to AWCC, in the amount necessary to enable AWCC to meet its debt service obligations. Parent company’s borrowings are not a source of capital for the Regulated Businesses, therefore, parent company is not able to recover the interest charges on its debt through regulated water and wastewater rates. As of December 31, 2024, AWCC has made long-term fixed rate loans and short-term loans to the Regulated Businesses amounting to $9.6 billion. Additionally, as of December 31, 2024, AWCC has made long-term fixed rate loans and short-term loans to parent company amounting to $3.3 billion.

On February 23, 2024, AWCC completed a $1.4 billion debt offering, which included the sale of $700 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.150% Senior Notes due 2034 and $700 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.450% Senior Notes due 2054. At the closing of this offering, AWCC received, after deduction of underwriting discounts and before deduction of offering expenses, net proceeds of approximately $1,381 million. AWCC used the net proceeds of the offering (i) to lend funds to American Water and the Regulated Businesses; (ii) to repay at maturity AWCC’s 3.850% Senior Notes due 2024; (iii) to repay AWCC’s commercial paper obligations; and (iv) for general corporate purposes.

On March 3, 2023, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of an aggregate of 12,650,000 shares of parent company common stock. Upon closing of this offering, the Company received, after deduction of the underwriting discount and before deduction of offering expenses, net proceeds of approximately $1,688 million. The Company used the net proceeds of the offering to repay short-term commercial paper obligations of AWCC and for general corporate purposes.

On June 29, 2023, AWCC issued, in a private placement, $1,035 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes. AWCC received net proceeds of approximately $1,022 million, after deduction of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deduction of offering expenses payable by AWCC. A portion of the net proceeds was used to repay AWCC’s commercial paper obligations and the remainder was used for general corporate purposes. See Note 11—Long-Term Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

One of the principal market risks to which the Company is exposed is changes in interest rates. In order to manage the exposure, the Company follows risk management policies and procedures, including the use of derivative contracts such as treasury lock agreements. The Company also reduces exposure to interest rates by managing commercial paper and debt maturities. The Company (through AWCC) does not enter into derivative contracts for speculative purposes and does not use leveraged instruments. The derivative contracts entered into are for periods consistent with the related underlying exposures. The Company is exposed to the risk that counterparties to derivative contracts will fail to meet their contractual obligations. The Company minimizes the counterparty credit risk on these transactions by dealing only with leading, creditworthy financial institutions, having long-term credit ratings of “A” or better.

During the second half of 2024, the Company entered into eight treasury lock agreements, with a term of 10 years or 30 years, with notional amounts totaling $355 million, to reduce interest rate exposure on debt expected to be issued in 2025. These treasury lock agreements terminate in June 2025 and December 2025 and have an average fixed interest rate of 4.03%. In 2025, the Company entered into five additional treasury lock agreements, with a term of 10 years, with notional amounts totaling $275 million, to reduce interest rate exposure on debt expected to be issued in 2025. These treasury lock agreements terminate in March 2025 and have an average fixed interest rate of 4.60%. The Company designated these treasury lock agreements as cash flow hedges, with their fair value recorded in accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss.

The Company had entered into 15 treasury lock agreements through February 2024, with notional amounts totaling $825 million. The Company designated these treasury lock agreements as cash flow hedges, with their fair value recorded in accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss. In February 2024, the Company terminated the treasury lock agreements realizing a pre-tax net gain of $14 million, to be amortized through Interest expense over a 10-year period or 30-year period, in accordance with the tenor of the notes issued on February 23, 2024.

No ineffectiveness was recognized on hedging instruments for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022.

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In February 2024, parent company and AWCC filed with the SEC a universal shelf registration statement that enables the Company to meet its capital needs through the offer and sale to the public from time to time of an unlimited amount of various types of securities, including American Water common stock, preferred stock, and other equity and hybrid securities, and AWCC debt securities, all subject to market conditions and demand, general economic conditions, and as applicable, rating status. The shelf registration statement will expire in February 2027. During 2024 and 2022, $1.4 billion and $800 million, respectively, of debt securities were issued under this and a predecessor registration statement. During 2023, under the predecessor registration statement, parent company issued 12,650,000 shares of its common stock for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $1,688 million.

Presented in the table below are the issuances of long-term debt in 2024:

(a)This indebtedness is considered “debt” for purposes of a support agreement between parent company and AWCC, which serves as a functional equivalent of a full and unconditional guarantee by parent company of AWCC’s payment obligations under such indebtedness. See “—Issuer and Guarantor of Senior Notes” below.

Presented in the table below are the retirements and redemptions of long-term debt in 2024 through sinking fund provisions, optional redemption or payment at maturity:

From time to time and as market conditions warrant, the Company may engage in long-term debt retirements through make-whole redemptions, tender offers, open market repurchases or other viable alternatives.

Issuer and Guarantor of Senior Notes

Outstanding unsecured senior notes issued by AWCC (other than the Notes) have been issued under two indentures, each by and between AWCC and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, providing for the rights and obligations of the parties thereto and the holders of the notes issued thereunder. The Notes were issued under an indenture, by and among AWCC, parent company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, providing for the rights and obligations of the parties thereto and the holders of the Notes. The senior notes and the Notes have been issued with the benefit of a support agreement, as amended, between parent company and AWCC, which serves as the functional equivalent of a full and unconditional guarantee by parent company of AWCC’s payment obligations under such indebtedness. No other subsidiary of parent company provides guarantees for any of such indebtedness. If AWCC is unable to make timely payment of any interest, principal or premium, if any, on such senior notes or the Notes, parent company will provide to AWCC, at its request or the request of any holder thereof, funds to make such payment in full. If AWCC fails or refuses to take timely action to enforce certain rights under the support agreement or if AWCC defaults in the timely payment of any amounts owed to any such holder, when due, the support agreement provides that such holder may proceed directly against parent company to enforce such rights or to obtain payment of the defaulted amounts owed to that holder.

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As a wholly owned finance subsidiary of parent company, AWCC has no significant assets other than obligations of parent company and certain of its subsidiaries in its Regulated Businesses segment to repay certain intercompany loans made to them by AWCC. AWCC’s ability to make payments of amounts owed to holders of the senior notes and the Notes will be dependent upon AWCC’s receipt of sufficient payments of amounts owed pursuant to the terms of such intercompany loans and from its ability to issue indebtedness or otherwise obtain loans in the future, the proceeds of which would be used to fund the repayment of the senior notes and the Notes.

Because parent company is a holding company and substantially all of its operations are conducted through its subsidiaries other than AWCC, parent company’s ability to fulfill its obligations under the support agreement will be dependent upon its receipt of sufficient cash dividends or distributions from its operating subsidiaries. See Note 9—Shareholders’ Equity—Dividends and Distributions, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of the limitations on parent company and its subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions. Furthermore, parent company’s operating subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and, other than AWCC, have no obligation to make any payments on the senior notes or the Notes or to make available or provide any funds for such payment, other than through their repayment obligations under intercompany loans, if any, with AWCC. Based on the foregoing, parent company’s obligations under the support agreement will be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, lease commitments and moneys borrowed or other indebtedness incurred or issued by parent company’s subsidiaries other than AWCC.

Credit Facilities and Short-Term Debt

Interest rates on advances under the AWCC revolving credit facility are based on a credit spread to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) rate (or applicable market replacement rate) or base rate, each determined in accordance with Moody’s Ratings and S&P Global Ratings’ then applicable credit rating on AWCC’s senior unsecured, non-credit enhanced debt. The facility is used principally to support AWCC’s commercial paper program, to provide additional liquidity support and to provide a sub-limit of up to $150 million for letters of credit. Indebtedness under the facility and AWCC’s commercial paper are considered “debt” for purposes of a support agreement between parent company and AWCC, which serves as a functional equivalent of a full and unconditional guarantee by parent company of AWCC’s payment obligations thereunder.

Presented in the tables below are the aggregate credit facility commitments, commercial paper limit and letter of credit availability under the revolving credit facility, as well as the available capacity for each, as of December 31:

(a)Total remaining availability of $1.8 billion as of December 31, 2024, was accessible through revolver draws.

(a)Total remaining availability of $2.5 billion as of December 31, 2023, was accessible through revolver draws.

Presented in the table below is the Company’s total available liquidity as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:

The weighted average interest rate on AWCC’s outstanding short-term borrowings was approximately 4.65% and 5.51%, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

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Capital Structure

Presented in the table below is the percentage of the Company’s capitalization represented by the components of its capital structure as of December 31:

The change in the capital structure mix in 2024 is mainly attributable to the increase in short-term commercial paper borrowings. The use of the proceeds from the common stock issuance on March 3, 2023, and the long-term debt issuance on June 29, 2023, reduced short-term commercial paper borrowings in 2023.

Debt Covenants

The Company’s debt agreements contain financial and non-financial covenants. To the extent that the Company is not in compliance with these covenants, an event of default may occur under one or more debt agreements and the Company, or its subsidiaries, may be restricted in its ability to pay dividends, issue new debt or access the revolving credit facility. The long-term debt indentures contain a number of covenants that, among other things, prohibit or restrict the Company from issuing debt secured by the Company’s assets, subject to certain exceptions. Failure to comply with any of these covenants could accelerate repayment obligations.

Covenants in certain long-term notes and the revolving credit facility require the Company to maintain a ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated capitalization (as defined in the relevant documents) of not more than 0.70 to 1.00. On December 31, 2024, the Company’s ratio was 0.58 to 1.00 and therefore the Company was in compliance with the covenants.

Security Ratings

Presented in the table below are long-term and short-term credit ratings and rating outlooks as of February 19, 2025, as issued by Moody’s Ratings on January 23, 2025, and S&P Global Ratings on March 4, 2024:

A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency, and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. Security ratings are highly dependent upon the ability to generate cash flows in an amount sufficient to service debt and meet investment plans. The Company can provide no assurances that its ability to generate cash flows is sufficient to maintain its existing ratings. The Company does not have any material borrowings that are subject to default or prepayment as a result of the downgrading of these security ratings, although such a downgrading could increase fees and interest charges under its credit facility.

As part of its normal course of business, the Company routinely enters into contracts for the purchase and sale of water, power and other fuel, chemicals and other services. These contracts either contain express provisions or otherwise permit the Company and its counterparties to demand adequate assurance of future performance when there are reasonable grounds for doing so. In accordance with the contracts and applicable contract law, if the Company is downgraded by a credit rating agency, especially if such downgrade is to a level below investment grade, it is possible that a counterparty would attempt to rely on such a downgrade as a basis for making a demand for adequate assurance of future performance, which could include a demand that the Company must provide collateral to secure its obligations. The Company does not expect to post any collateral which will have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

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Access to the capital markets, including the commercial paper market, and respective financing costs in those markets, may be directly affected by the Company’s securities ratings. The Company primarily accesses the debt capital markets, including the commercial paper market, through AWCC. However, the Company has also issued debt through its regulated subsidiaries, primarily in the form of mortgage bonds and tax exempt securities or borrowings under state revolving funds, to lower the overall cost of debt.

Dividends and Regulatory Restrictions

For discussion of the Company’s dividends, dividend restrictions and dividend policy, see Note 9—Shareholders’ Equity in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Insurance Coverage

The Company carries various property, casualty, cyber and financial insurance policies with limits, deductibles and exclusions that it believes are consistent with industry standards. However, insurance coverage may not be adequate or available to cover unanticipated losses or claims. Additionally, annual policy renewals can be impacted by claims experience or adverse insurance market trends which in turn can impact coverage terms and conditions on a going-forward basis. The Company is self-insured to the extent that losses are within the policy deductible or exceed the amount of insurance maintained. Such losses could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s short-term and long-term financial condition and its results of operations and cash flows.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that management apply accounting policies and develop estimates, assumptions and judgments that could affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Actual results could differ from these estimates, assumptions and judgments. Management believes that the areas described below require significant judgment in the application of accounting policy or in making estimates and assumptions in matters that are inherently uncertain and that may change in subsequent periods. Accordingly, changes in the estimates, assumptions and judgments applied to these accounting policies could have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, as reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Management has reviewed the critical accounting polices described below with the Company’s Audit, Finance and Risk Committee, including the estimates, assumptions and judgments used in their application. Additional discussion regarding these critical accounting policies and their application can be found in Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Regulation and Regulatory Accounting

The Company’s regulated utilities are subject to regulation by PUCs and, as such, the Company follows the authoritative accounting principles required for rate regulated utilities, which requires the Company to reflect the effects of rate regulation in its Consolidated Financial Statements. Use of this authoritative guidance is applicable to utility operations that meet the following criteria: (i) third-party regulation of rates; (ii) cost-based rates; and (iii) a reasonable assumption that rates will be set to recover the estimated costs of providing service, plus a return on net investment, or rate base. As of December 31, 2024, the Company concluded that the operations of its utilities met the criteria.

Application of this authoritative guidance has a further effect on the Company’s financial statements as it pertains to allowable costs used in the ratemaking process. The Company makes significant assumptions and estimates to quantify amounts recorded as regulatory assets and liabilities. Such judgments include, but are not limited to, assets and liabilities related to regulated acquisitions, pension and postretirement benefits, depreciation rates and taxes. Due to timing and other differences in the collection of revenues, these authoritative accounting principles allow a cost that would otherwise be charged as an expense by a non-regulated entity, to be deferred as a regulatory asset if it is probable that such cost is recoverable through future rates. Conversely, the principles require the creation of a regulatory liability for amounts collected in rates to recover costs expected to be incurred in the future, or amounts collected in excess of costs incurred and are refundable to customers.

For each regulatory jurisdiction where the Company conducts business, the Company assesses, at the end of each reporting period, whether the regulatory assets continue to meet the criteria for probable future recovery and regulatory liabilities continue to meet the criteria for probable future settlement. This assessment includes consideration of factors such as changes in regulatory environments, recent rate orders (including recent rate orders on recovery of a specific or similar incurred cost to other regulated entities in the same jurisdiction) and the status of any pending or potential legislation. If subsequent events indicate that the regulatory assets or liabilities no longer meet the criteria for probable future recovery or probable future settlement, the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and financial position could be materially affected. In addition, if the Company concludes in a future period that a separable portion of the business no longer meets the criteria, the Company is required to eliminate the financial statement effects of regulation for that part of the business, which would include the elimination of any or all regulatory assets and liabilities that had been recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Failure to meet the criteria of this authoritative guidance could materially impact the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

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As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s regulatory asset balance was $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively, and its regulatory liability balance was $1.4 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively. See Note 3—Regulatory Matters in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the Company’s significant regulatory assets and liabilities.

Accounting for Income Taxes

Significant management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, primarily due to the uncertainty related to tax positions taken, as well as deferred tax assets and liabilities, valuation allowances and the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards.

In accordance with applicable authoritative guidance, the Company accounts for uncertain income tax positions using a benefit recognition model with a two-step approach, including a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold and a measurement approach based on the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. If it is not more-likely-than-not that the benefit of the tax position will be sustained on its technical merits, no benefit is recorded. Uncertain tax positions that relate only to timing of when an item is included on a tax return are considered to have met the recognition threshold. Management evaluates each position based solely on the technical merits and facts and circumstances of the position, assuming the position will be examined by a taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information. Significant judgment is required to determine whether the recognition threshold has been met and, if so, the appropriate amount of unrecognized tax benefit to be recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company evaluates the probability of realizing deferred tax assets quarterly by reviewing a forecast of future taxable income and its intent and ability to implement tax planning strategies, if necessary, to realize deferred tax assets. The Company also assesses its ability to utilize tax attributes, including those in the form of carryforwards, for which the benefits have already been reflected in the financial statements. The Company records valuation allowances for deferred tax assets when it concludes that it is more-likely-than-not such benefit will not be realized in future periods.

Under GAAP, specifically Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC 740”), Income Taxes, the tax effects of changes in tax laws must be recognized in the period in which the law is enacted. ASC 740 also requires deferred tax assets and liabilities to be measured at the enacted tax rate expected to apply when temporary differences are to be realized or settled. For the Company’s regulated entities, the change in deferred taxes are recorded as either an offset to a regulatory asset or a regulatory liability and may be subject to refund to customers. For the Company’s unregulated operations, the change in deferred taxes are recorded as a non-cash re-measurement adjustment to earnings.

Actual income taxes could vary from estimated amounts due to the future impacts of various items, including changes in income tax laws, the Company’s forecasted financial condition and results of operations, failure to successfully implement tax planning strategies and recovery of taxes through the regulatory process for the Regulated Businesses, as well as results of audits and examinations of filed tax returns by taxing authorities. The resulting tax balances as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, are appropriately accounted for in accordance with the applicable authoritative guidance; however, the ultimate outcome of tax matters could result in favorable or unfavorable adjustments to the Consolidated Financial Statements and such adjustments could be material. See Note 14—Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding income taxes.

Accounting for Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The Company maintains noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering eligible employees of its regulated utility and shared services operations. The Company also maintains other postretirement benefit plans providing medical and life insurance to eligible retirees. See Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies and Note 15—Employee Benefits in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the description of and accounting for the defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plans.

The Company’s pension and postretirement benefit costs are developed from actuarial valuations. Inherent in these valuations are key assumptions provided by the Company to its actuaries, including the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. Material changes in the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit costs may occur in the future due to changes in these assumptions as well as fluctuations in plan assets. The assumptions are selected to represent the average expected experience over time and may differ in any one year from actual experience due to changes in capital markets and the overall economy. These differences will impact the amount of pension and other postretirement benefit expense that the Company recognizes. The primary assumptions are:

•Discount Rate—The discount rate is used in calculating the present value of benefits, which are based on projections of benefit payments to be made in the future. The objective in selecting the discount rate is to measure the single amount that, if invested at the measurement date in a portfolio of high-quality debt instruments, would provide the necessary future cash flows to pay the accumulated benefits when due.

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•Expected Return on Plan Assets (“EROA”)—Management projects the future return on plan assets considering prior performance, but primarily based upon the plans’ mix of assets and expectations for the long-term returns on those asset classes. These projected returns reduce the net benefit costs the Company records currently.

•Rate of Compensation Increase—Management projects employees’ pay increases, which are used to project employees’ pension benefits at retirement.

•Health Care Cost Trend Rate—Management projects the expected increases in the cost of health care.

•Mortality— Management adopted the Society of Actuaries Pri-2012 base mortality table, the most recent table developed from private pension plan experience, which provides rates of mortality in 2012 and adopted the MP-2021 mortality improvement scale to gradually adjust future mortality rates downward due to increased longevity in each year after 2012.

The discount rate assumption, which is determined for the pension and postretirement benefit plans independently, is subject to change each year, consistent with changes in applicable high-quality, long-term corporate bond indices. The Company uses an approach that approximates the process of settlement of obligations tailored to the plans’ expected cash flows by matching the plans’ cash flows to the coupons and expected maturity values of individually selected bonds. For each plan, the discount rate was developed as the level equivalent rate that would yield the same present value as using spot rates aligned with the projected benefit payments. The weighted-average discount rate assumption for determining pension benefit obligations was 5.70%, 5.18% and 5.58% at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The weighted-average discount rate assumption for determining other postretirement benefit obligations was 5.69%, 5.22% and 5.60% at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

In selecting an EROA, the Company considered tax implications, past performance and economic forecasts for the types of investments held by the plans. The weighted-average EROA assumption used in calculating pension cost was 6.73% for 2024, 6.79% for 2023 and 6.50% for 2022. The weighted-average EROA assumption used in calculating other postretirement benefit costs was 5.00% for 2024, 5.00% for 2023 and 3.60% for 2022.

Presented in the table below are the allocations of the pension plan assets by asset category:

Presented in the table below are the allocations of the other postretirement benefit plan assets by asset category:

(a)Refer to Note 15—Employee Benefits in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details on the allocations of assets and the trusts which fund the other postretirement benefit plans

The investments of the pension and postretirement welfare plan trusts are invested in a number of separately managed accounts, commingled funds and limited partnerships including equities, fixed income securities, guaranteed annuity contracts with insurance companies, real estate funds and real estate investment trusts. The trustee for the Company’s defined benefit pension and postretirement welfare plans uses an independent valuation firm to calculate the fair value of plan assets.

In selecting a rate of compensation increase, the Company considers past experience in light of movements in inflation rates. The Company’s rate of compensation increase was 3.51% for 2024, 2023 and 2022.

In selecting health care cost trend rates, the Company considers past performance and forecasts of increases in health care costs. As of January 1, 2024, the Company’s health care cost trend rate assumption used to calculate the periodic benefit cost was 6.75% in 2024 gradually declining to 5.00% in 2031 and thereafter. As of December 31, 2024, the Company projects that medical inflation will be 6.50% in 2025 gradually declining to 5.00% in 2031 and thereafter.

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The Company will use a weighted-average discount rate and EROA of 5.70% and 6.63%, respectively, for estimating its 2025 pension costs. Additionally, the Company will use a weighted-average discount rate and EROA of 5.69% and 5.00%, respectively, for estimating its 2025 other postretirement benefit costs. A decrease in the discount rate or the EROA would increase the Company’s pension expense. The Company’s 2024 pension and postretirement total net benefit credit was $3 million and the 2023 pension and postretirement total net benefit credit was $6 million. The Company expects to make pension contributions to the plan trusts of $44 million in 2025; however, the actual amounts contributed could change materially from this estimate. The assumptions are reviewed annually and at any interim re-measurement of the plan obligations. The impact of assumption changes is reflected in the recorded pension and postretirement benefit amounts as they occur, or over a period of time if allowed under applicable accounting standards.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from the Company’s Regulated Businesses is generated primarily from water and wastewater services delivered to customers. These contracts contain a single performance obligation, the delivery of water and/or wastewater services, as the promise to transfer the individual good or service is not separately identifiable from other promises within the contracts and, therefore, is not distinct. Revenues are recognized over time, as services are provided. There are generally no significant financing components or variable consideration. Revenues include amounts billed to customers on a cycle basis, and unbilled amounts calculated based on estimated usage from the date of the meter reading associated with the latest customer bill, to the end of the accounting period. The amounts that the Company has a right to invoice are determined by each customer’s actual usage, an indicator that the invoice amount corresponds directly to the value transferred to the customer.

Increases or decreases in the volumes delivered to customers and rate mix due to changes in usage patterns in customer classes in the period could be significant to the calculation of unbilled revenue. In addition, changes in the timing of meter reading schedules and the number and type of customers scheduled for each meter reading date would also have an effect on the unbilled revenue calculation. Unbilled revenue for the Company’s regulated utilities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $219 million and $193 million, respectively.

The Company also recognizes revenues for certain ratemaking mechanisms that meet the criteria for alternative revenue program accounting. These mechanisms, which include the Company’s revenue stability mechanisms, qualify as alternative revenue programs if they have been authorized for rate recovery, are objectively determinable and probable of recovery, and are expected to be collected within 24 months following the end of the period in which they were recognized.

The Company also has long-term, fixed fee contracts to operate and maintain water and wastewater systems for the U.S. government on military installations and facilities owned by municipal customers. Billing and revenue recognition for the fixed fee revenues occurs ratably over the term of the contract, as customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits provided by the Company. Additionally, these contracts allow the Company to make capital improvements to underlying infrastructure, which are initiated through separate modifications or amendments to the original contract, whereby stand-alone, fixed pricing is separately stated for each improvement. The Company has determined that these capital improvements are separate performance obligations, with revenue recognized over time based on performance completed at the end of each reporting period. Losses on contracts are recognized during the period in which the losses first become probable and estimable. Revenues recognized during the period in excess of billings on construction contracts are recorded as unbilled revenues or other long-term assets, with billings in excess of revenues recorded as other current or long-term liabilities until the recognition criteria are met. Changes in contract performance and related estimated contract profitability may result in revisions to costs and revenues and are recognized in the period in which revisions are determined. Unbilled revenue within Other as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, was $96 million and $109 million, respectively.

Accounting for Contingencies

The Company records loss contingencies when management determines that the outcome of future events is probable of occurring and when the amount of the loss or a range of losses can be reasonably estimated. The determination of a loss contingency is based on management’s judgment and estimates about the likely outcome of the matter, which may include an analysis of different scenarios. Liabilities are recorded or adjusted when events or circumstances cause these judgments or estimates to change. In assessing whether a loss is reasonably possible, management considers many factors, which include, but are not limited to: the nature of the litigation, claim or assessment, review of applicable law, opinions or views of legal counsel and other advisors, and the experience gained from similar cases or situations. The Company provides disclosures for material contingencies when management deems there is a reasonable possibility that a loss or an additional loss may be incurred. The Company provides estimates of reasonably possible losses when such estimates may be reasonably determined, either as a single amount or within a reasonable range.

Actual amounts realized upon settlement or other resolution of loss contingencies may be different than amounts recorded and disclosed and could have a significant impact on the liabilities, revenue and expenses recorded on the Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 16—Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding contingencies.

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Recent Accounting Standards

See Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of recent accounting standards.