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): February 14, 2024
American Water Works Company, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission File Number: 001-34028
| | | | | |
| Delaware | 51-0063696 |
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) | (IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
1 Water Street
Camden, NJ 08102-1658
(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:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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| Title of Each Class | | Trading Symbol | | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
| Common stock, par value $0.01 per share | | AWK | | New York Stock Exchange |
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.
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (the “IURC”) Approval of Order in Indiana-American Water Company, Inc. (“Indiana American Water”) General Rate Case
On February 14, 2024, the IURC issued an order (the “Order”) approving the adjustment of base rates requested in a rate case filed on March 31, 2023 by Indiana American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water Works Company, Inc. (the “Company”). The Order approved a $66.3 million annualized increase in water and wastewater system revenues, excluding previously recovered infrastructure surcharges, based on an authorized return on equity (“ROE”) of 9.65%, authorized rate base of $1,835 million, 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 $24.9 million of the increase to be included in rates in February 2024, $17.1 million in May 2024, and $24.3 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 Indiana American Water’s last rate case and through April 30, 2025, (ii) higher pension and other OPEB costs, and (iii) increases in production costs, including chemicals, fuel and power costs.
A copy of the press release issued by Indiana American Water on February 15, 2024, 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. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this Current Report on Form 8-K (or the exhibits thereto) are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words with prospective meanings such as “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “predict,” “project,” “propose,” “assume,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “future,” “pending,” “goal,” “objective,” “potential,” “continue,” “seek to,” “may,” “can,” “will,” “should” and “could,” or the negative of such terms or other variations or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are predictions based on the Company’s current expectations and assumptions regarding future events. They are not guarantees or assurances of any outcomes, performance or achievements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon them. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of estimates and assumptions, and known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements included in this Current Report on Form 8-K as a result of the factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 14, 2024, and other filings with the SEC, and additional risks and uncertainties, including with respect to (1) the amount and timing of incremental future capital expenditures and investments to be made by Indiana American Water; (2) regulatory, legislative, local or municipal actions affecting the water and wastewater industries, which could adversely affect the Company or Indiana American Water; and (3) other economic, financial, political, business and other factors that may impact or affect the water and wastewater industries generally, the Company or Indiana American Water specifically. These forward-looking statements are qualified by, and should be read together with, the risks and uncertainties set forth above and the risk factors included in the Company’s annual and quarterly reports as filed with the SEC, and readers should refer to such risks, uncertainties and risk factors in evaluating such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company does not have any obligation or intention to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such factors. Furthermore, it may not be possible to assess the impact of any such factor on the Company’s or Indiana American Water’s business, either viewed independently or together, or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits to this Current Report have been provided herewith 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. |
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.
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| | | | AMERICAN WATER WORKS COMPANY, INC. |
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| Dated: | February 15, 2024 | | By: | /s/ JOHN C. GRIFFITH |
| | | | | John C. Griffith |
| | | | | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
