BRYN MAWR, PA — Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) has been named to Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies 2026 list, marking the fifth consecutive year the water, wastewater, and natural gas provider has earned national recognition for its environmental, social, and governance performance.
The ranking, published Tuesday by Newsweek in partnership with data firm Statista, highlights companies demonstrating sustained commitment to ethical operations, sustainability, and community impact. For Essential, the honor arrives as the company continues to invest heavily in infrastructure modernization while tightening its environmental footprint.
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Christopher Franklin said the recognition reflects daily efforts across the organization to operate responsibly while delivering critical services. He said the company’s focus remains on protecting water and energy resources while supporting the communities it serves.
The listing follows the release of Essential’s 2024 Sustainability Report, which outlined progress across emissions reduction, system reliability, and community engagement. Since 2019, the company has reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25 percent, according to the report.
Essential also reported water quality performance well above national averages. Fewer than 1.5 percent of its more than 1,500 water systems experienced health-based violations, compared with nearly 12.5 percent nationwide. The company has replaced hundreds of miles of aging pipelines, part of a broader effort that has upgraded more than 1,400 miles of natural gas lines and 725 miles of water lines since 2020.
Additional initiatives include the installation of 100,000 advanced gas meters, the recycling of more than 720 million gallons of treated wastewater, and the procurement of nearly all renewable electricity for water and wastewater operations in several states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Community investment also featured prominently in the report. Through the Essential Foundation, the company donated $4.6 million to more than 450 nonprofit organizations and recorded nearly 4,500 hours of employee volunteer service.
Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies list evaluates businesses using more than 30 performance indicators spanning environmental impact, social responsibility, and corporate governance. The analysis blends public perception surveys with quantitative data to identify companies viewed as leaders in responsible business practices across the United States.
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