CAMDEN, NJ & BRYN MAWR, PA — American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK) and Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) received approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission for their proposed merger, the first regulatory clearance for the transaction.
The approval follows shareholder votes in February 2026 in which investors from both companies approved the all-stock deal, originally announced October 27, 2025.
If completed, the combined company will serve more than 4.7 million water and wastewater customer connections and more than 740,000 natural gas customer connections. The merged entity will operate under the American Water name and be headquartered in Camden, New Jersey.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to additional regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.
American Water is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States, serving approximately 14 million people across 14 states and 18 military installations.
Essential Utilities provides water, wastewater, and natural gas services to about 5.5 million people across nine states, operating primarily under the Aqua and Peoples brands.
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