AWK 8-K
American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK)
8-K
2026-09-09
For: 2026-09-09
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Added on
September 09, 2026
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 9, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission File Number: 001-34028
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(856 ) 955-4001
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 8.01. Other Events.
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“NJBPU”) Approval of Settlement in New Jersey-American Water Company, Inc. (“New Jersey American Water”) General Rate Case
On September 9, 2026, the NJBPU issued an order (the “Order”) approving without modification the stipulation of settlement (the “Stipulation”) of a general rate case filed on January 16, 2026 by New Jersey American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water Works Company, Inc. (the “Company”), seeking approximately $146 million of increased annualized water and wastewater revenues, which request was subsequently updated on July 27, 2026, to approximately $145 million. The Stipulation was entered into on August 27, 2026 with the staff of the NJBPU and the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel. The Order approves a $68 million annualized increase in New Jersey American Water’s water and wastewater revenues, effective as of September 15, 2026, based on (i) an authorized return on equity (“ROE”) of 9.5%, (ii) an authorized rate base of $6.06 billion, (iii) a common equity ratio of 54.0%, and (iv) a long-term debt ratio of 46.0%. The annualized revenue increase is driven primarily by $1.4 billion of incremental capital investments since that last general rate case.
A copy of the press release issued by New Jersey American Water on September 9, 2026 to announce the issuance of the Order has been filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. References and links to websites and other information contained in this press release are not provided as active hyperlinks, and the information contained in or accessed through these hyperlinks shall not be incorporated into, or form a part of, this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits to this Current Report have been filed herewith (except as noted below):
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 99.1* | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are included and formatted as Inline XBRL). | |||||||
| *Filed herewith. | ||||||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| AMERICAN WATER WORKS COMPANY, INC. | ||||||||||||||
| Dated: | September 9, 2026 | By: | /s/ DAVID M. BOWLER | |||||||||||
| David M. Bowler | ||||||||||||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||||||||
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Exhibit 99.1
New Jersey American Water Announces New Rates and Customer Bill Credit
Rate request approval supports more than $1.4 billion in ongoing system upgrades to strengthen water and wastewater infrastructure; PFAS settlement credit helps offset eligible water customers’ bill impacts for 12 months
CAMDEN, N.J. — Sept. 9, 2026 — New Jersey American Water customers will begin seeing new water and wastewater rates following the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ (BPU) approval of the company’s rate request. As part of the BPU’s approval of the company’s PFAS Litigation Universal Surcredit (PLUS), eligible water customers will also receive a separate $9.88 monthly PFAS settlement credit for 12 months, helping offset bill impacts as the new rates take effect. The approved rates support continued investment in safe, clean and reliable water and wastewater service across New Jersey.
“This decision supports critical investments to replace aging infrastructure, advance water quality projects and improve reliability while keeping affordability at the forefront,” said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. “It provides a clear path to strengthen the water and wastewater systems our communities rely on.”
The $68 million annual revenue increase supports more than $1.4 billion in continued upgrades across the company’s treatment, transmission and distribution systems. In addition, the BPU also approved the company’s infrastructure mechanism foundational filings, which also helps deliver water, wastewater improvements and resilience infrastructure investments.
Continued Investment in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
The approved rates support the replacement or rehabilitation of nearly 120 miles of aging main, continued lead service line replacement and treatment upgrades related to PFAS and other emerging contaminants. These projects will strengthen service for homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, and communities across New Jersey.
Understanding the New Rates
Under the BPU-approved rates, which will become effective on September 15, 2026:
•The average residential water customer using approximately 5,700 gallons per month will see a monthly bill increase of approximately $4 per month. For eligible customers, the $9.88 monthly PLUS credit will more than offset that increase, resulting in an average net bill reduction of nearly $6 per month for 12 months.
•Residential wastewater customers will see an average increase of approximately $4 per month.
•Customers who receive both water and wastewater service will see an average increase of nearly $8 per month, offset by the $9.88 monthly PLUS credit, resulting in an average net bill reduction of nearly $2 per month for 12 months.
Actual bill impacts will vary based on customer usage, service type and service area. The approved rates maintain a focus on affordability while supporting continued water and wastewater system improvements.
Customers will receive information about the new rates in upcoming bill communications. More information about approved rates, the PLUS credit, bill impacts and customer resources will be available at www.newjerseyamwater.com/rates.
Separate PFAS Settlement Credit
In a separate filing, the BPU approved the PLUS mechanism to return PFAS settlement proceeds directly to eligible water customers. New Jersey American Water will return more than $79 million in PFAS litigation proceeds and interest through a monthly PLUS credit of $9.88 for 12 months beginning in September 2026. The credit will appear as “PLUS” on eligible water customers’ bills.
Future PFAS settlement proceeds will be returned through the PLUS mechanism as one-time credits on customers’ bills after calculations are verified by the BPU.
“The PLUS mechanism provides a transparent way to return PFAS settlement proceeds and interest directly to eligible water customers,” McDonough said. “Customers will see the credit identified separately on their bills, making it clear how those funds are being returned.”
Customer Assistance and Bill Support
New Jersey American Water continues to offer bill payment assistance programs for income-eligible customers, along with budget billing and flexible payment plans. Program information is available at www.newjerseyamwater.com/h2oprogram.
As part of the rate request approval, New Jersey American Water will continue working with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to evaluate the enrollment process for its Universal Affordability Tariff program, including potential automatic enrollment for eligible customers who already receive certain energy assistance benefits.
“Water service is essential, and customers experiencing financial hardship should know assistance is available,” McDonough said. “We encourage customers who need help to review the available programs and contact us before falling behind on their bills.”
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, American Water keeps life flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 19 military installations. American Water’s 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
About New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, with more than 875 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 3 million people.
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AWK-IR
Media Contact:
Chelsea Kulp
Director of Communications & External Affairs
New Jersey American Water