{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"168635","rtpr_id":"nBw30gMZa-20261014","ticker":"WTRG","exchange":"NYSE","all_tickers":["WTRG"],"title":"Aqua New Jersey Acquires Lake Tamarack Water System in Sussex County","author":"Business Wire","published_at":"2026-10-14T11:00:00.296Z","article_body":"Aqua New Jersey Acquires Lake Tamarack Water System in Sussex County\n\nAcquisition reflects company’s commitment to providing highest quality\ndrinking water service\n\nEssential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) announced today its Aqua New Jersey\nsubsidiary has finalized its $113,000 purchase of the water system assets of\nthe Lake Tamarack Water Corporation in Sussex County. The system serves\napproximately 255 customers in the Lake Tamarack portion of Hardyston\nTownship. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) approved the\nacquisition on September 9, 2026.\n\n“We are well positioned to make much needed improvements to this system in\norder to ensure the highest-quality drinking water service,” said Essential\nUtilities Chairman & CEO Christopher Franklin. “We are happy to welcome\nthe Lake Tamarack community to the Essential family.”\n\nAqua New Jersey has identified the need to invest approximately $1.4 million\nin the system over the next several years. Necessary upgrades will be made to\nstrengthen water infrastructure. Aqua will also invest in improving system\noperations and meeting regulatory, environmental, and cybersecurity demands.\nCustomers will also benefit from improved customer service and access to\nAqua’s ePortal and mobile app to pay bills, track usage and more.\n\n“Residents of Lake Tamarack will now be able to benefit from a level of\nservice, resources, and responsiveness that was not available to them\nbefore,” said Aqua New Jersey President Natalie Chesko. “Our team of\ndedicated employees is committed to providing safe, reliable drinking water,\nand we look forward to serving this community for years to come.”\n\n“We’re excited about this sale and confident in Aqua New Jersey’s\nability to deliver high-quality water service,” said Lake Tamarack Water\nCorporation President Anne-Marie Wilhelm. “Aqua’s level of service has\nbeen outstanding throughout this process. They have treated our community with\nrespect, provided outstanding support, and demonstrated the expertise and\nresources needed to modernize our system and ensure a smooth transition.”\n\nAs part of the transition, residents can expect to receive communication from\nAqua New Jersey outlining service schedules and procedures.\n\nAbout Aqua New Jersey\n\nAqua New Jersey serves approximately 195,000 people in 11 counties throughout\nthe Garden State. Visit AquaWater.com for more information or follow\n@MyAquaWater on Facebook\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMyAquaWater%2F&esheet=54620950&newsitemid=20261014281737&lan=en-US&anchor=Facebook&index=1&md5=f6b3cef01dbac0c16b3a4a78cca77262)\nand X\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fmyaquawater&esheet=54620950&newsitemid=20261014281737&lan=en-US&anchor=X&index=2&md5=e6b4919e74cee810d94597cb0604baa9)\n.\n\nAbout Essential\n\nEssential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services\nthat improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire\ncommunities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is\ncommitted to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer\nexperience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities\nwe serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting thousands of\nacres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Operating as the\nAqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people\nacross nine states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded\nwater, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at\nwww.essential.co\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.essential.co%2F&esheet=54620950&newsitemid=20261014281737&lan=en-US&anchor=www.essential.co&index=3&md5=dd515f188af3f50ade047bf5d4afa945)\n.\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the\nPrivate Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which generally include\nwords such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,”\n“estimates,” “will” and similar expressions. The company can give no\nassurance that any actual or future results or events discussed in these\nstatements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements represent its\nviews only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views\nas of any subsequent date. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking\nstatements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could\ncause the company’s actual results to differ materially from the statements\ncontained in this release. Such forward-looking statements include, but are\nnot limited to, statements relating to the capital, including the timing of\ncapital, to be invested by the company, efficiencies and benefits created, and\nimprovements to reliability. There are important factors that could cause\nactual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such\nforward-looking statements including the factors discussed in our Annual\nReport on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which is filed\nwith the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information regarding\nrisks and uncertainties associated with the company’s business, please refer\nto the company’s annual, quarterly and other SEC filings. The company is not\nunder any obligation – and expressly disclaims any such obligation – to\nupdate or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new\ninformation, future events or otherwise.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014281737/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014281737/en/)\n\nMedia Contact:\n\nAmanda Burge\n\nRegional Communications Specialist\n\nM: 610.329.2015\n\nO: 610.520.6440\n\nAEBurge@aquawater.com (mailto:AEBurge@aquawater.com)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nBw30gMZa-20261014","title":"Aqua New Jersey Acquires Lake Tamarack Water System in Sussex County","author":"Business Wire","ticker":"WTRG","created":"2026-10-14T11:00:00.296Z","tickers":["WTRG"],"exchange":"NYSE","article_body":"Aqua New Jersey Acquires Lake Tamarack Water System in Sussex County\n\nAcquisition reflects company’s commitment to providing highest quality\ndrinking water service\n\nEssential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) announced today its Aqua New Jersey\nsubsidiary has finalized its $113,000 purchase of the water system assets of\nthe Lake Tamarack Water Corporation in Sussex County. The system serves\napproximately 255 customers in the Lake Tamarack portion of Hardyston\nTownship. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) approved the\nacquisition on September 9, 2026.\n\n“We are well positioned to make much needed improvements to this system in\norder to ensure the highest-quality drinking water service,” said Essential\nUtilities Chairman & CEO Christopher Franklin. “We are happy to welcome\nthe Lake Tamarack community to the Essential family.”\n\nAqua New Jersey has identified the need to invest approximately $1.4 million\nin the system over the next several years. Necessary upgrades will be made to\nstrengthen water infrastructure. Aqua will also invest in improving system\noperations and meeting regulatory, environmental, and cybersecurity demands.\nCustomers will also benefit from improved customer service and access to\nAqua’s ePortal and mobile app to pay bills, track usage and more.\n\n“Residents of Lake Tamarack will now be able to benefit from a level of\nservice, resources, and responsiveness that was not available to them\nbefore,” said Aqua New Jersey President Natalie Chesko. “Our team of\ndedicated employees is committed to providing safe, reliable drinking water,\nand we look forward to serving this community for years to come.”\n\n“We’re excited about this sale and confident in Aqua New Jersey’s\nability to deliver high-quality water service,” said Lake Tamarack Water\nCorporation President Anne-Marie Wilhelm. “Aqua’s level of service has\nbeen outstanding throughout this process. They have treated our community with\nrespect, provided outstanding support, and demonstrated the expertise and\nresources needed to modernize our system and ensure a smooth transition.”\n\nAs part of the transition, residents can expect to receive communication from\nAqua New Jersey outlining service schedules and procedures.\n\nAbout Aqua New Jersey\n\nAqua New Jersey serves approximately 195,000 people in 11 counties throughout\nthe Garden State. Visit AquaWater.com for more information or follow\n@MyAquaWater on Facebook\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMyAquaWater%2F&esheet=54620950&newsitemid=20261014281737&lan=en-US&anchor=Facebook&index=1&md5=f6b3cef01dbac0c16b3a4a78cca77262)\nand X\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fmyaquawater&esheet=54620950&newsitemid=20261014281737&lan=en-US&anchor=X&index=2&md5=e6b4919e74cee810d94597cb0604baa9)\n.\n\nAbout Essential\n\nEssential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services\nthat improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire\ncommunities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is\ncommitted to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer\nexperience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities\nwe serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting thousands of\nacres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Operating as the\nAqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people\nacross nine states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded\nwater, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at\nwww.essential.co\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.essential.co%2F&esheet=54620950&newsitemid=20261014281737&lan=en-US&anchor=www.essential.co&index=3&md5=dd515f188af3f50ade047bf5d4afa945)\n.\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the\nPrivate Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which generally include\nwords such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,”\n“estimates,” “will” and similar expressions. The company can give no\nassurance that any actual or future results or events discussed in these\nstatements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements represent its\nviews only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views\nas of any subsequent date. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking\nstatements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could\ncause the company’s actual results to differ materially from the statements\ncontained in this release. Such forward-looking statements include, but are\nnot limited to, statements relating to the capital, including the timing of\ncapital, to be invested by the company, efficiencies and benefits created, and\nimprovements to reliability. There are important factors that could cause\nactual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such\nforward-looking statements including the factors discussed in our Annual\nReport on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which is filed\nwith the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information regarding\nrisks and uncertainties associated with the company’s business, please refer\nto the company’s annual, quarterly and other SEC filings. The company is not\nunder any obligation – and expressly disclaims any such obligation – to\nupdate or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new\ninformation, future events or otherwise.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014281737/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014281737/en/)\n\nMedia Contact:\n\nAmanda Burge\n\nRegional Communications Specialist\n\nM: 610.329.2015\n\nO: 610.520.6440\n\nAEBurge@aquawater.com (mailto:AEBurge@aquawater.com)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-14T11:00:00.410264749Z","server_sent_at_ms":1791975600410},"received_at":"2026-10-14T11:00:00.461Z","source_url":"https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014281737/en/"},"analysis":{"id":"156900","press_release_id":"168635","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Water Utilities","sector":"Utilities"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"m_and_a","narrative":"Essential Utilities' Aqua New Jersey subsidiary completed its $113,000 acquisition of the Lake Tamarack Water Corporation's water system assets in Sussex County, serving about 255 customers in Hardyston Township.\n\nThe New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved the deal on September 9, 2026, and Aqua plans roughly $1.4 million of infrastructure investment in the system over the next several years.\n\nThe transaction is a routine regulatory-asset tuck-in consistent with the company's fragmented-utility consolidation strategy; it is not financially material at the WTRG level.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Routine tuck-in acquisition adding 255 customers to Aqua New Jersey's regulated base."},"keyFigures":{"dealValueUsd":113000,"customDimensions":{"customers_acquired":255,"planned_investment":"$1.4 million over the next several years"}},"quotedText":"We are well positioned to make much needed improvements to this system in order to ensure the highest-quality drinking water service","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Christopher Franklin","role":"Chairman & CEO, Essential Utilities"},{"name":"Natalie Chesko","role":"President, Aqua New Jersey"},{"name":"Anne-Marie Wilhelm","role":"President, Lake Tamarack Water Corporation"}],"products":["Aqua ePortal","Aqua mobile app"],"companies":[{"name":"Essential Utilities, Inc.","ticker":"WTRG","relationship":"parent/acquirer"},{"name":"Aqua New Jersey","relationship":"subsidiary/acquirer"},{"name":"Lake Tamarack Water Corporation","relationship":"target"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$113,000","context":"purchase price for Lake Tamarack water system assets"},{"amount":"$1.4 million","context":"planned investment in the acquired system"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Tuck-in acquisition of a tiny water system ($113,000, ~255 customers) that is part of Essential Utilities' standard regulated growth-by-acquisition strategy. Financially immaterial to WTRG."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"WTRG"},"globalImportance":10,"audienceRelevance":10,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"eventClass":"routine consolidation strategy","tickerTier":"large-cap utility","eventGravity":"small tuck-in acquisition ($113K)"}},"event_type":"m_and_a","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Essential Utilities' Aqua New Jersey subsidiary completed its $113,000 acquisition of the Lake Tamarack Water Corporation's water system assets in Sussex County, serving about 255 customers in Hardyston Township.\n\nThe New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved the deal on September 9, 2026, and Aqua plans roughly $1.4 million of infrastructure investment in the system over the next several years.\n\nThe transaction is a routine regulatory-asset tuck-in consistent with the company's fragmented-utility consolidation strategy; it is not financially material at the WTRG level.","key_figures":{"dealValueUsd":113000,"customDimensions":{"customers_acquired":255,"planned_investment":"$1.4 million over the next several years"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Christopher Franklin","role":"Chairman & CEO, Essential Utilities"},{"name":"Natalie Chesko","role":"President, Aqua New Jersey"},{"name":"Anne-Marie Wilhelm","role":"President, Lake Tamarack Water Corporation"}],"products":["Aqua ePortal","Aqua mobile app"],"companies":[{"name":"Essential Utilities, Inc.","ticker":"WTRG","relationship":"parent/acquirer"},{"name":"Aqua New Jersey","relationship":"subsidiary/acquirer"},{"name":"Lake Tamarack Water Corporation","relationship":"target"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$113,000","context":"purchase price for Lake Tamarack water system assets"},{"amount":"$1.4 million","context":"planned investment in the acquired system"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-14T11:00:05.786Z","global_importance":10,"audience_relevance":10,"importance_components":{"eventClass":"routine consolidation strategy","tickerTier":"large-cap utility","eventGravity":"small tuck-in acquisition ($113K)"}},"durationMs":5292,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}