On May 20, 2022, the Company issued $500,000 of long-term debt (the “Senior Notes”), less expenses of $5,815, due in 2052 with an interest rate of 5.30%. The Company used the net proceeds from the issuance of Senior Notes to (1) to repay $49,700 of borrowings under Aqua Pennsylvania’s 364-day revolving credit facility and $410,000 of borrowings under the Company’s existing five year unsecured revolving credit facility, and (2) for general corporate purposes.

Goodwill (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023



	Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2022	$	58,504	$	2,277,447	$	4,841	$	2,340,792
Reclassification to utility plant acquisition adjustment		(37)		-		-		(37)
Balance at June 30, 2023	$	58,467	$	2,277,447	$	4,841	$	2,340,755

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of goodwill by reportable segment and in total which includes a rollforward schedule.

+ References

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+ Details

Assets Held for Sale

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Assets Held for Sale [Abstract]

Assets Held for Sale

Note 4 – Assets Held for Sale

In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company decided to market for sale the assets of its regulated natural gas system in West Virginia that serves approximately 13,000 customers and is part of the Company’s Regulated Natural Gas segment. On December 31, 2022, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with Hope Gas, Inc. for the sale of its membership interests in its West Virginia assets for cash at closing of $37,000. The purchase price is subject to certain adjustments at closing and is subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Closing on the sale is expected later in 2023, and completion of this transaction will conclude the Company’s operations in West Virginia. Based on an assessment of the sale price and the carrying value of the planned disposition, there is no anticipated impairment expected to be recognized because of this sale agreement. These assets and liabilities do not qualify as discontinued operations, are reported as held for sale in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, and consist of the following:


	June 30, 2023		December 31, 2022

Inventory - gas stored	$	592	$	2,807
Other current assets		1,778		3,284
Regulatory assets		5,008		5,076
Current assets held for sale	$	7,378	$	11,167

Property, plant and equipment, net		33,804		30,267
Regulatory assets and other		615		1,857
Non-current assets held for sale	$	34,419	$	32,124

Current liabilities related to assets held for sale	$	3,081	$	3,263

Regulatory liabilities		529		649
Other long-term liabilities		274		325
Non-current liabilities related to assets held for sale	$	803	$	974

Consolidated Statements Of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 128,050	$ 3,705,814	$ 1,434,201	$ (83,615)	$ 5,184,450
Net income			199,376		199,376
Dividends declared and paid			(67,821)		(67,821)
Dividends declared			(67,863)		(67,863)
Issuance of common stock under dividend reinvestment plan	47	4,070			4,117
Repurchase of stock				(1,012)	(1,012)
Equity compensation plan	29	(29)
Exercise of stock options	14	998			1,012
Stock-based compensation		2,716	(136)		2,580
Other		(9)		270	261
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	128,140	3,713,560	1,497,757	(84,357)	5,255,100
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	128,050	3,705,814	1,434,201	(83,615)	5,184,450
Net income					281,667
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	132,707	3,715,975	1,577,442	(84,092)	5,342,032
Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	128,140	3,713,560	1,497,757	(84,357)	5,255,100
Net income			82,291		82,291
Dividends declared and paid			(2,424)		(2,424)
Issuance of common stock from stock purchase contracts	4,515	(4,515)
Issuance of common stock under dividend reinvestment plan	47	4,007			4,054
Repurchase of stock				(15)	(15)
Equity compensation plan	2	(2)
Exercise of stock options	3	224			227
Stock-based compensation		2,725	(182)		2,543
Other		(24)		280	256
Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	132,707	3,715,975	1,577,442	(84,092)	5,342,032
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	133,486	3,793,262	1,534,331	(83,693)	5,377,386
Net income			191,434		191,434
Dividends declared and paid			(1)		(1)
Dividends declared			(75,876)		(75,876)
Issuance of common stock under dividend reinvestment plan	49	4,068			4,117
Issuance of common stock from at-the-market sale agreements	200	19,094			19,294
Repurchase of stock				(3,911)	(3,911)
Equity compensation plan	111	(111)
Exercise of stock options	2	101			103
Stock-based compensation		3,410	(267)		3,143
Other		(20)		273	253
Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	133,848	3,819,804	1,649,621	(87,331)	5,515,942
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	133,486	3,793,262	1,534,331	(83,693)	5,377,386
Net income					282,702
Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	133,909	3,827,199	1,740,682	(87,092)	5,614,698
Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	133,848	3,819,804	1,649,621	(87,331)	5,515,942
Net income			91,268		91,268
Dividends declared and paid			(1)		(1)
Issuance of common stock under dividend reinvestment plan	51	3,901			3,952
Repurchase of stock				(42)	(42)
Equity compensation plan	9	(9)
Exercise of stock options	1	105			106
Stock-based compensation		3,515	(206)		3,309
Other		(117)		281	164
Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	$ 133,909	$ 3,827,199	$ 1,740,682	$ (87,092)	$ 5,614,698

Stock-Based Compensation (Summary Of Restricted Stock Transactions) (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Equity compensation plan, shares	(17,054)	(222,782)	(4,736)	(57,052)
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested share units at beginning of period, Number of Share Units		1,170			1,170
Equity compensation plan, shares					0	0
Vested, number of shares
Nonvested share units at end of period, Number of Share Units	1,170				1,170
Nonvested share units at beginning of period, Weighted Average Fair Value		$ 42.75			$ 42.75
Granted, Weighted Average Fair Value					0
Actual vested, Weighted Average Fair Value
Nonvested share units at end of period, Weighted Average Fair Value	$ 42.75				$ 42.75

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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+ Details

Goodwill (Schedule Of Goodwill) (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Goodwill (Schedule Of Goodwill) (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance	$ 2,340,792
Reclassification to utility plant acquisition adjustment	(37)
Balance	2,340,755
Water [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance	58,504
Reclassification to utility plant acquisition adjustment	(37)
Balance	58,467
Natural Gas [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance	2,277,447
Balance	2,277,447
Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance	4,841
Balance	$ 4,841

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References + Details

- Definition

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+ Details

Insider Trading Arrangements	3 Months Ended
Insider Trading Arrangements	Jun. 30, 2023
Insider Trading Arrangements [Line Items]
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false

Rate Activity (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands									1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2023	Jun. 05, 2023	Mar. 28, 2023	Dec. 30, 2022	Sep. 21, 2022	Jun. 07, 2022	May 16, 2022	Jan. 03, 2022	Jan. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Feb. 28, 2023
North Carolina [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
No refunds of revenue previously billed and collected											$ 0
Illinois [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Base rate increase (decrease)										$ 1,919
Texas [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Infrastructure rehabilitation surcharges designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis			$ 7,685
Indiana [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Base rate increase (decrease)									$ 134
Pennsylvania [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Authorized increase in revenue							$ 69,251
Base rate increase (decrease)							$ 104,721			$ 20,887
Base rate increase designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis							7.20%			0.00%
Distribution system improvement charges reset level upon new base rates							$ 35,470
Ohio [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Base rate increase (decrease)				$ 9,816	$ 5,483				$ 1,569
Kentucky [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Base rate increase (decrease)						$ 260		$ 5,238		$ 1,483
Subsequent Event [Member] \| West Virginia [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Base rate increase (decrease)	$ 6,911
Year 1 [Member] \| North Carolina [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Base rate increase (decrease)		$ 14,001
Year 2 [Member] \| North Carolina [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Base rate increase (decrease)		3,743
Year 3 [Member] \| North Carolina [Member]
Water And Wastewater Rates [Line Items]
Base rate increase (decrease)		$ 4,130

Financial Instruments (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Summary Of Unrealized Gain And Losses



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Net gain (loss) recognized during the period on equity securities	$	211	$	(459)	$	342	$	(737)
Less: net gain / loss recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period		-		-		-		-
Unrealized gain (loss) recognized during the reporting period on equity securities still held at the reporting date	$	211	$	(459)	$	342	$	(737)

Schedule Of Carrying Amounts And Estimated Fair Values Of Long-Term Debt

Segment Information (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Segment Information [Abstract]

Company's Segment Information, Continuing Operations



	Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2023								June 30, 2022
	Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated		Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	293,672	$	138,983	$	4,045	$	436,700	$	269,355	$	167,729	$	11,672	$	448,756
Operations and maintenance expense		93,227		41,114		(833)		133,508		92,815		44,907		(2,741)		134,981
Purchased gas		-		39,665		2,268		41,933		-		63,392		11,751		75,143
Depreciation and amortization		53,231		32,188		242		85,661		50,260		29,131		(215)		79,176
Interest expense, net (a)		30,523		20,982		16,707		68,212		27,604		19,171		7,622		54,397
Allowance for funds used during construction		(2,940)		(484)		-		(3,424)		(5,347)		(804)		-		(6,151)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)		15,859		(13,314)		(2,808)		(263)		13,847		(5,170)		(577)		8,100
Net income (loss)		90,027		13,630		(12,389)		91,268		76,342		11,478		(5,529)		82,291

	Six Months Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2023								June 30, 2022
	Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated		Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	560,972		580,278	$	21,900	$	1,163,150	$	508,553		612,912	$	26,566	$	1,148,031
Operations and maintenance expense		176,029		98,264		(2,791)		271,502		178,903		104,359		(5,700)		277,562
Purchased gas		-		281,521		16,727		298,248		-		280,698		22,157		302,855
Depreciation and amortization		106,698		62,316		441		169,455		98,976		58,835		(289)		157,522
Interest expense, net (a)		60,236		48,489		31,336		140,061		55,159		39,823		12,442		107,424
Allowance for funds used during construction		(7,886)		(1,226)		-		(9,112)		(10,496)		(1,493)		(1)		(11,990)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)		29,373		(56,798)		(4,475)		(31,900)		21,346		(31,645)		1,166		(9,133)
Net income (loss)		167,429		137,176		(21,903)		282,702		136,885		150,964		(6,182)		281,667
Capital expenditures		329,862		215,212		2,526		547,600		216,612		207,394		639		424,645

^(a)The regulated water and regulated natural gas segments report interest expense that includes long-term debt that was pushed-down to the regulated operating subsidiaries from Essential Utilities, Inc.

Company's Segment Information, Assets


	June 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022
Total assets:
Regulated water	$	9,144,894	$	8,792,633
Regulated natural gas		6,548,153		6,528,654
Other		408,888		397,820
Consolidated	$	16,101,935	$	15,719,107

Capitalization

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Capitalization [Abstract]

Capitalization

Note 6 – Capitalization

At-the-Market Offering

On October 14, 2022, the Company entered into at-the market sales agreements (“ATM”) with third-party sales agents, under which the Company may offer and sell shares of its common stock, from time to time, at its option, having an aggregate gross offering price of up to $500,000 pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-255235). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sales of shares through the ATM for working capital, capital expenditures, water and wastewater utility acquisitions and repaying outstanding indebtedness. As of December 31, 2022, the Company issued 1,321,994 shares of common stock under the ATM for proceeds of $63,040, net of expenses. In January 2023, the Company issued 399,128 shares of common stock under the ATM for proceeds of $19,294, net of expenses. No shares were issued under the ATM in the second quarter of 2023.

Tangible Equity Units

On April 23, 2019, the Company issued $690,000, less expenses of $16,358, of its tangible equity units (the “Units”), with a stated amount of $50.00 per unit. This issuance was part of the permanent financing to close the Peoples Gas Acquisition. Each Unit consisted of a prepaid stock purchase contract and an amortizing note, each issued by the Company. The amortizing notes had an initial principal amount of $8.62909, or $119,081 in aggregate, and yielded interest at a rate of 3.00% per year, and paid equal quarterly per unit cash installments of $0.75 per amortizing note (except for the July 30, 2019 installment payment, which was $0.80833 per amortizing note), that constituted a payment of interest and a partial repayment of principal. This cash payment in the aggregate was equivalent to 6.00% per year with respect to each $50.00 stated amount of the Units. The amortizing notes represented unsecured senior obligations of the Company.

Certain holders of the tangible equity units had early settled their prepaid stock purchase contracts prior to the due date, and, in exchange, the Company issued shares of its common stock. During April 2022, 981,919 stock purchase contracts were early settled by the holders of the contracts, resulting in the issuance of 1,166,107 shares of the Company’s common stock. On May 2, 2022, the remaining 6,621,315 stock purchase contracts were each mandatorily settled for 1.18758 shares of the Company’s common stock, and in the aggregate the Company issued 7,863,354 shares of its common stock. Additionally, the final quarterly installment payment was made, which resulted in the complete pay-off of the amortizing notes.

Long-term Debt and Loans Payable

On June 29, 2023, Aqua Pennsylvania and Peoples Natural Gas Companies amended the terms of their respective $100,000 and $300,000, 364-day revolving credit agreements, as follows: (1) extended the maturity dates to June 27, 2024; and (2) updated the adjustment on the Bloomberg Short-Term Bank Yield Index (BSBY) Rate.

In January 2023 and October 2022, the Company’s subsidiary, Aqua Pennsylvania, issued $75,000 and $125,000 of first mortgage bonds, due in 2043 and 2052, and with interest rates of 5.60% and 4.50%, respectively. The proceeds from these bonds were used to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.

December 31,

Carrying amount

Estimated fair value

On December 14, 2022, the Company entered into a five year $1,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility, which replaced the Company’s prior five year $1,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility. The Company’s new unsecured revolving credit facility was used to repay all indebtedness and fees under our prior unsecured revolving credit facility, and for other general corporate purposes. The facility includes a $100,000 sublimit for daily demand loan. Funds borrowed under this facility are classified as long-term debt and are used to provide working capital as well as support for letters of credit for insurance policies and other financing arrangements. As of June 30, 2023, the Company has the following sublimits and available capacity under the credit facility: $100,000 letter of credit sublimit, $82,362 of letters of credit available capacity, $0 borrowed under the swing-line commitment, $100,000 was available for borrowing under the swing-line commitment, $305,362 available for borrowing and $677,000 of funds borrowed under the agreement.

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]
Cash contributions made by the Company	$ 0

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes [Abstract]

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes

Note 12 – Taxes Other than Income Taxes

The following table provides the components of taxes other than income taxes:



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Property	$	8,431	$	8,239	$	16,535	$	16,253
Gross receipts, excise and franchise		4,175		4,017		8,205		8,117
Payroll		4,935		4,778		11,567		11,439
Regulatory assessments		1,715		1,812		3,398		3,577
Pumping fees		181		1,947		1,647		3,323
Other		911		927		1,874		2,018
Total taxes other than income	$	20,348	$	21,720	$	43,226	$	44,727

Basis Of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets and statements of capitalization of Essential Utilities, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) at June 30, 2023, the unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, and the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows and of equity for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim reporting and the rules and regulations for reporting on Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Because they cover interim periods, the statements and related notes to the financial statements do not include all disclosures and notes normally provided in annual financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only recurring accruals, which are necessary to present a fair statement of its consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of equity, consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, and consolidated cash flow for the periods presented, have been made.

The preparation of financial statements often requires the selection of specific accounting methods and policies. Significant estimates and judgments may be required in selecting and applying those methods and policies in the recognition of the assets and liabilities in its consolidated balance sheets, the revenues and expenses in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, and the information that is contained in its summary of significant accounting policies and notes to consolidated financial statements. Making these estimates and judgments requires the analysis of information concerning events that may not yet be complete and of facts and circumstances that may change over time. Furthermore, we are exposed to the uncertain state of the economy and macroeconomic conditions, including inflation and rising interest rates. As these continue to evolve, future events and effects related to these conditions cannot be determined with precision. Accordingly, actual amounts or future results can differ materially from those estimates that the Company includes currently in its consolidated financial statements, summary of significant accounting policies, and notes.

There have been no changes to the summary of significant accounting policies previously identified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance period specified in grant, in years					3 years
Granted	17,054	222,782	4,736	57,052
2004 Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares available for issuance	0				0
Amended and Restated Equity Compensation Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized for issuance	6,250,000				6,250,000
Maximum number of shares may be issued pursuant to stock awards, stock units and other stock-based awards					3,125,000
Maximum number of shares subject to grants to any one individual in any one year					500,000
Shares available for issuance	1,506,793				1,506,793
Performance Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period, in years					3 years
Granted					161,981
Weighted average fair value of stock awards granted					$ 45.06	$ 42.31
Amortization period of fair value of shares, in months					36 months
Performance Share Units [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of target award amount the grantee may earn					0.00%
Performance Share Units [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of target award amount the grantee may earn					200.00%
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted period					3 years
Granted					73,696
Weighted average fair value of stock awards granted					$ 45.61	$ 45.10
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, Shares					74,632
Vesting period, start, in years					1 year
Vesting period, in years					10 years
Stock Options [Member] \| Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche One [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percentage					33.00%
Stock Options [Member] \| Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche Two [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percentage					33.00%
Stock Options [Member] \| Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche Three [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting percentage					33.00%
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted					0	0
Weighted average fair value of stock awards granted					$ 0
Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted					18,676
Weighted average fair value of stock awards granted					$ 41.78	$ 46.66

Segment Information (Company's Segment Information, Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 16,101,935	$ 15,719,107
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	408,888	397,820
Regulated [Member] \| Water [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	9,144,894	8,792,633
Regulated [Member] \| Natural Gas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 6,548,153	$ 6,528,654

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

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+ Details

Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Carrying Amounts And Estimated Fair Values Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 6,859,763	$ 6,617,395
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 5,638,394	$ 5,528,131

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flow (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flow [Abstract]
Debt component of allowance for funds used during construction	$ 2,587	$ 3,013

Stock-Based Compensation (Summary Of RSU Transactions) (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, Number of Share Units	17,054	222,782	4,736	57,052
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested share units at beginning of period, Number of Share Units		180,306			180,306
Granted, Number of Share Units					73,696
Actual vested, Number of share Units					(52,611)
Forfeited, Number of Share Units					(3,794)
Nonvested share units at end of period, Number of Share Units	197,597				197,597
Nonvested share units at beginning of period, Weighted Average Fair Value		$ 45.94			$ 45.94
Granted, Weighted Average Fair Value					45.61	$ 45.10
Actual vested, Weighted Average Fair Value					49.26
Forfeited, Weighted Average Fair Value					44.99
Nonvested share units at end of period, Weighted Average Fair Value	$ 44.94				$ 44.94

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Revenue Recognition [Abstract]

Schedule Of Disaggregation Of Revenue


	Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2023								June 30, 2022
	Water Revenues		Wastewater Revenues		Natural Gas Revenues		Other Revenues		Water Revenues		Wastewater Revenues		Natural Gas Revenues		Other Revenues
Revenues from contracts with customers:
Residential	$	167,121	$	34,046	$	76,476	$	-	$	149,542	$	30,653	$	95,942	$	-
Commercial		46,774		8,656		16,297		-		41,025		6,973		18,853		-
Fire protection		10,185		-		-		-		9,547		-		-		-
Industrial		8,289		509		471		-		7,604		432		957		-
Gas transportation & storage		-		-		34,862		-		-		-		40,573		-
Other water		11,917		-		-		-		15,899		-		-		-
Other wastewater		-		2,730		-		-		-		3,507		-		-
Other utility		-		-		10,845		2,649		-		-		11,840		3,325
Revenues from contracts with customers		244,286		45,941		138,951		2,649		223,617		41,565		168,165		3,325
Alternative revenue program		767		29		32		-		1,109		(161)		176		-
Other and eliminations		-		-		-		4,045		(545)		-		-		11,505
Consolidated	$	245,053	$	45,970	$	138,983	$	6,694	$	224,181	$	41,404	$	168,341	$	14,830

	Six Months Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2023								June 30, 2022
	Water Revenues		Wastewater Revenues		Natural Gas Revenues		Other Revenues		Water Revenues		Wastewater Revenues		Natural Gas Revenues		Other Revenues
Revenues from contracts with customers:
Residential	$	314,373	$	67,536	$	368,706	$	-	$	280,830	$	57,148	$	381,048	$	-
Commercial		87,728		17,247		81,454		-		76,145		13,038		75,893		-
Fire protection		20,444		-		-		-		18,740		-		-		-
Industrial		16,146		1,087		2,260		-		14,785		776		2,799		-
Gas transportation & storage		-		-		102,515		-		-		-		119,747		-
Other water		20,761		-		-		-		33,250		-		-		-
Other wastewater		-		5,464		-		-		-		6,005		-		-
Other utility		-		-		23,922		8,808		-		-		35,066		6,240
Revenues from contracts with customers		459,452		91,334		578,857		8,808		423,750		76,967		614,553		6,240
Alternative revenue program		1,169		209		1,421		-		1,724		(188)		-		-
Other and eliminations		-		-		-		21,900		(545)		-		-		25,530
Consolidated	$	460,621	$	91,543	$	580,278	$	30,708	$	424,929	$	76,779	$	614,553	$	31,770

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes (Components Of Taxes Other Than Income Taxes) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Taxes Other Than Income [Line Items]
Total taxes other than income	$ 20,348	$ 21,720	$ 43,226	$ 44,727
Property [Member]
Taxes Other Than Income [Line Items]
Total taxes other than income	8,431	8,239	16,535	16,253
Gross Receipts, Excise And Franchise [Member]
Taxes Other Than Income [Line Items]
Total taxes other than income	4,175	4,017	8,205	8,117
Payroll [Member]
Taxes Other Than Income [Line Items]
Total taxes other than income	4,935	4,778	11,567	11,439
Regulatory Assessments [Member]
Taxes Other Than Income [Line Items]
Total taxes other than income	1,715	1,812	3,398	3,577
Pumping Fees [Member]
Taxes Other Than Income [Line Items]
Total taxes other than income	181	1,947	1,647	3,323
Other [Member]
Taxes Other Than Income [Line Items]
Total taxes other than income	$ 911	$ 927	$ 1,874	$ 2,018

Consolidated Statements Of Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022
Consolidated Statements Of Equity (Parenthetical) [Abstract]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.287	$ 0.287	$ 0.2682	$ 0.2682
Dividend declared per common share		$ 0.287		$ 0.2682
Issuance of common stock from stock purchase contracts , shares			9,029,461
Issuance of common stock under dividend reinvestment plan, shares	102,676	97,315	92,889	93,833
Issuance of common stock from at-the-market sale agreements, shares		399,128
Repurchase of stock, shares	971	88,051	305	21,290
Equity compensation plan, shares	17,054	222,782	4,736	57,052
Exercise of stock options, shares	3,026	2,917	6,462	28,516

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References + Details

Consolidated Statements Of Capitalization (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Common stock, par value	$ 0.50	$ 0.50
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]
Maturity date	2025	2025
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]
Maturity date	2026	2026
Revolving Credit Agreement, Due 2027 [Member]
Maturity date	2027	2027
Notes at 2.40% due 2031 [Member]
Interest rate	2.40%	2.40%
Maturity date	2031	2031
Notes at 2.704% due 2030 [Member]
Interest rate	2.704%	2.704%
Maturity date	2030	2030
Notes at 4.28%, due 2049 [Member]
Interest rate	4.28%	4.28%
Maturity date	2049	2049
Notes at 5.30%, due 2052 [Member]
Interest rate	5.30%	5.30%
Maturity date	2052	2052
Notes at 5.95%, due 2023 through 2034 [Member]
Interest rate	5.95%	5.95%
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 0.00% To 0.99% [Member]
Interest rate	0.00%	0.00%
Maturity date	2023	2023
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 1.00% To 1.99% [Member]
Interest rate	1.00%	1.00%
Maturity date	2023	2023
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 2.00% To 2.99% [Member]
Interest rate	2.00%	2.00%
Maturity date	2024	2024
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 3.00% To 3.99% [Member]
Interest rate	3.00%	3.00%
Maturity date	2023	2023
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 4.00% To 4.99% [Member]
Interest rate	4.00%	4.00%
Maturity date	2023	2023
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 5.00% To 5.99% [Member]
Interest rate	5.00%	5.00%
Maturity date	2023	2023
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 6.00% To 6.99% [Member]
Interest rate	6.00%	6.00%
Maturity date	2026	2026
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 7.00% To 7.99% [Member]
Interest rate	7.00%	7.00%
Maturity date	2025	2025
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]
Interest rate	8.00%	8.00%
Minimum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]
Interest rate	9.00%	9.00%
Minimum [Member] \| Notes ranging from 3.01% to 3.59% due 2029 through 2050 [Member]
Interest rate	3.01%	3.01%
Maturity date	2029	2029
Minimum [Member] \| Notes at 5.95%, due 2023 through 2034 [Member]
Maturity date	2023	2023
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 0.00% To 0.99% [Member]
Interest rate	0.99%	0.99%
Maturity date	2033	2033
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 1.00% To 1.99% [Member]
Interest rate	1.99%	1.99%
Maturity date	2039	2039
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 2.00% To 2.99% [Member]
Interest rate	2.99%	2.99%
Maturity date	2058	2058
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 3.00% To 3.99% [Member]
Interest rate	3.99%	3.99%
Maturity date	2056	2056
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 4.00% To 4.99% [Member]
Interest rate	4.99%	4.99%
Maturity date	2059	2059
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 5.00% To 5.99% [Member]
Interest rate	5.99%	5.99%
Maturity date	2052	2052
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 6.00% To 6.99% [Member]
Interest rate	6.99%	6.99%
Maturity date	2036	2036
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 7.00% To 7.99% [Member]
Interest rate	7.99%	7.99%
Maturity date	2027	2027
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]
Interest rate	8.99%	8.99%
Maximum [Member] \| Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]
Interest rate	9.99%	9.99%
Maximum [Member] \| Notes ranging from 3.01% to 3.59% due 2029 through 2050 [Member]
Interest rate	3.59%	3.59%
Maturity date	2050	2050
Maximum [Member] \| Notes at 5.95%, due 2023 through 2034 [Member]
Maturity date	2034	2034

Stock-Based Compensation (Summary Of PSU Transactions) (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, Number of Share Units	17,054	222,782	4,736	57,052
Performance Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested share units at beginning of period, Number of Share Units		556,462			556,462
Granted, Number of Share Units					161,981
Performance criteria adjustment, Number of Share Units					9,521
Actual vested, Number of share Units					(168,549)
Forfeited, Number of Share Units					(9,837)
Nonvested share units at end of period, Number of Share Units	549,578				549,578
Nonvested share units at beginning of period, Weighted Average Fair Value		$ 42.77			$ 42.77
Granted, Weighted Average Fair Value					45.06	$ 42.31
Performance criteria adjustment, Weighted Average Fair Value					42.60
Actual vested, Weighted Average Fair Value					53.77
Forfeited, Weighted Average Fair Value					43.94
Nonvested share units at end of period, Weighted Average Fair Value	$ 40.05				$ 40.05

Net Income Per Common Share

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Net Income Per Common Share [Abstract]

Net Income Per Common Share

Note 8 – Net Income per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the weighted average minimum number of shares issued upon settlement of the stock purchase contracts issued under the tangible equity units. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and potentially dilutive shares. The dilutive effect of employee stock-based compensation is included in the computation of diluted net income per common share. The dilutive effect of stock-based compensation is calculated using the treasury stock method and expected proceeds upon exercise of the stock-based compensation. The treasury stock method assumes that the proceeds from stock-based compensation is used to purchase the Company’s common stock at the average market price during the period. The following table summarizes the shares, in thousands, used in computing basic and diluted net income per common share:



	Three Months Ended		Six Months Ended
	June 30,		June 30,
	2023	2022	2023	2022
Average common shares outstanding during the period for basic computation	264,418	262,099	264,306	262,026
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee stock-based compensation	400	459	534	519
Average common shares outstanding during the period for diluted computation	264,818	262,558	264,840	262,545

Based on the minimum number of shares to be issued upon settlement of the stock purchase contracts issued in April 2019 under the tangible equity units, the average common shares outstanding during the period for basic computation includes the weighted-average impact of the following shares: 2,830,021 shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023; and, 5,912,617 shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. On May 2, 2022, all of the remaining stock purchase contracts under the tangible equity units were mandatorily settled.

The number of outstanding employee stock options that were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because the effect would have been anti-dilutive was: 150,062 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023; and, 83,080 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. Additionally, the dilutive effect of performance share units and restricted share units granted are included in the Company’s calculation of diluted net income per share.

Stock-Based Compensation (Summary Of Stock Option Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercised, Shares	(3,026)	(2,917)	(6,462)	(28,516)
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding at beginning of period, Shares		820,061			820,061
Granted, Shares					74,632
Forfeited, Shares					(2,076)
Expired, Shares					(664)
Exercised, Shares					(5,943)
Outstanding at end of period, Shares	886,010				886,010
Exercisable at end of period, Shares	763,196				763,196
Outstanding at beginning of period, Weighted Average Exercise Price		$ 36.29			$ 36.29
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price					45.39
Forfeited, Weighted Average Exercise Price					45.31
Expired, Weighted Average Exercise Price					35.20
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price					35.21
Outstanding at end of period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 37.04				37.04
Exercisable at end of period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 35.71				$ 35.71
Outstanding at end of period, Weighted Average Remaining Life (years)					6 years
Exercisable at end of period, Weighted Average Remaining Life (years)					5 years 6 months
Outstanding at end of period, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 3,347				$ 3,347
Exercisable at end of period, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 3,347				$ 3,347

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits (Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 400	$ 707	$ 801	$ 1,414
Interest cost	4,309	3,202	8,617	6,403
Expected return on plan assets	(5,673)	(5,894)	(11,345)	(11,789)
Amortization of prior service cost	171	134	342	268
Amortization of actuarial loss	809	436	1,618	871
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	16	(1,415)	33	(2,833)
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	337	477	674	955
Interest cost	1,119	843	2,238	1,685
Expected return on plan assets	(1,093)	(1,126)	(2,186)	(2,251)
Amortization of actuarial loss	(330)	(334)	(659)	(668)
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$ 33	$ (140)	$ 67	$ (279)

Assets Held for Sale (Narrative) (Details) - West Virginia [Member] $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) customer
Discontinued Operations And Other Dispositions [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer	13,000
Cash [Member]
Discontinued Operations And Other Dispositions [Line Items]
Total purchase price \| $	$ 37,000

Segment Information

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Segment Information [Abstract]

Segment Information

Note 13 – Segment Information

The Company has eleven operating segments and two reportable segments. The Regulated Water segment is comprised of eight operating segments representing its water and wastewater regulated utility companies, which are organized by the states where the Company provides water and wastewater services. The eight water and wastewater utility operating segments are aggregated into one reportable segment, because each of these operating segments has the following similarities: economic characteristics, nature of services, production processes, customers, water distribution or wastewater collection methods, and the nature of the regulatory environment. The Regulated Natural Gas segment is comprised of one operating segment representing natural gas utility companies, acquired in the Peoples Gas Acquisition, for which the Company provides natural gas distribution services.

In addition to the Company’s two reportable segments, we include two of our operating segments within the Other category below. These segments are not quantitatively significant and are comprised of our non-regulated natural gas operations and Aqua Resources. Our non-regulated natural gas operations consist of utility service line protection solutions and repair services to households and the operation of gas marketing and production entities. Aqua Resources offers, through a third party, water and sewer service line protection solutions and repair services to households. In addition to these segments, Other is comprised of business activities not included in the reportable segments, corporate costs that have not been allocated to the Regulated Water and Regulated Natural Gas segments, and intersegment eliminations. Corporate costs include general and administrative expenses, and interest expense. The Company reports these corporate costs within Other as they relate to corporate-focused responsibilities and decisions and are not included in internal measures of segment operating performance used by the Company to measure the underlying performance of the operating segments.

The following table presents information about the Company’s reportable segments:



	Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2023								June 30, 2022
	Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated		Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	293,672	$	138,983	$	4,045	$	436,700	$	269,355	$	167,729	$	11,672	$	448,756
Operations and maintenance expense		93,227		41,114		(833)		133,508		92,815		44,907		(2,741)		134,981
Purchased gas		-		39,665		2,268		41,933		-		63,392		11,751		75,143
Depreciation and amortization		53,231		32,188		242		85,661		50,260		29,131		(215)		79,176
Interest expense, net (a)		30,523		20,982		16,707		68,212		27,604		19,171		7,622		54,397
Allowance for funds used during construction		(2,940)		(484)		-		(3,424)		(5,347)		(804)		-		(6,151)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)		15,859		(13,314)		(2,808)		(263)		13,847		(5,170)		(577)		8,100
Net income (loss)		90,027		13,630		(12,389)		91,268		76,342		11,478		(5,529)		82,291

	Six Months Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2023								June 30, 2022
	Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated		Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated
Operating revenues	$	560,972		580,278	$	21,900	$	1,163,150	$	508,553		612,912	$	26,566	$	1,148,031
Operations and maintenance expense		176,029		98,264		(2,791)		271,502		178,903		104,359		(5,700)		277,562
Purchased gas		-		281,521		16,727		298,248		-		280,698		22,157		302,855
Depreciation and amortization		106,698		62,316		441		169,455		98,976		58,835		(289)		157,522
Interest expense, net (a)		60,236		48,489		31,336		140,061		55,159		39,823		12,442		107,424
Allowance for funds used during construction		(7,886)		(1,226)		-		(9,112)		(10,496)		(1,493)		(1)		(11,990)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)		29,373		(56,798)		(4,475)		(31,900)		21,346		(31,645)		1,166		(9,133)
Net income (loss)		167,429		137,176		(21,903)		282,702		136,885		150,964		(6,182)		281,667
Capital expenditures		329,862		215,212		2,526		547,600		216,612		207,394		639		424,645


	June 30,		December 31,
	2023		2022
Total assets:
Regulated water	$	9,144,894	$	8,792,633
Regulated natural gas		6,548,153		6,528,654
Other		408,888		397,820
Consolidated	$	16,101,935	$	15,719,107

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-22

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-15

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 31
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-31

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 42
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-42

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 40
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-40

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//280/tableOfContent

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 26
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-26

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 34
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-34

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 41
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-41

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-21

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-21

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

+ Details

Revenue Recognition

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Revenue Recognition [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

Note 2 – Revenue Recognition

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by major source and customer class:


	Three Months Ended								Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2023								June 30, 2022
	Water Revenues		Wastewater Revenues		Natural Gas Revenues		Other Revenues		Water Revenues		Wastewater Revenues		Natural Gas Revenues		Other Revenues
Revenues from contracts with customers:
Residential	$	167,121	$	34,046	$	76,476	$	-	$	149,542	$	30,653	$	95,942	$	-
Commercial		46,774		8,656		16,297		-		41,025		6,973		18,853		-
Fire protection		10,185		-		-		-		9,547		-		-		-
Industrial		8,289		509		471		-		7,604		432		957		-
Gas transportation & storage		-		-		34,862		-		-		-		40,573		-
Other water		11,917		-		-		-		15,899		-		-		-
Other wastewater		-		2,730		-		-		-		3,507		-		-
Other utility		-		-		10,845		2,649		-		-		11,840		3,325
Revenues from contracts with customers		244,286		45,941		138,951		2,649		223,617		41,565		168,165		3,325
Alternative revenue program		767		29		32		-		1,109		(161)		176		-
Other and eliminations		-		-		-		4,045		(545)		-		-		11,505
Consolidated	$	245,053	$	45,970	$	138,983	$	6,694	$	224,181	$	41,404	$	168,341	$	14,830

	Six Months Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2023								June 30, 2022
	Water Revenues		Wastewater Revenues		Natural Gas Revenues		Other Revenues		Water Revenues		Wastewater Revenues		Natural Gas Revenues		Other Revenues
Revenues from contracts with customers:
Residential	$	314,373	$	67,536	$	368,706	$	-	$	280,830	$	57,148	$	381,048	$	-
Commercial		87,728		17,247		81,454		-		76,145		13,038		75,893		-
Fire protection		20,444		-		-		-		18,740		-		-		-
Industrial		16,146		1,087		2,260		-		14,785		776		2,799		-
Gas transportation & storage		-		-		102,515		-		-		-		119,747		-
Other water		20,761		-		-		-		33,250		-		-		-
Other wastewater		-		5,464		-		-		-		6,005		-		-
Other utility		-		-		23,922		8,808		-		-		35,066		6,240
Revenues from contracts with customers		459,452		91,334		578,857		8,808		423,750		76,967		614,553		6,240
Alternative revenue program		1,169		209		1,421		-		1,724		(188)		-		-
Other and eliminations		-		-		-		21,900		(545)		-		-		25,530
Consolidated	$	460,621	$	91,543	$	580,278	$	30,708	$	424,929	$	76,779	$	614,553	$	31,770

- Definition

The entire disclosure of revenue from contract with customer to transfer good or service and to transfer nonfinancial asset. Includes, but is not limited to, disaggregation of revenue, credit loss recognized from contract with customer, judgment and change in judgment related to contract with customer, and asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. Excludes insurance and lease contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-10

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-15

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-12

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479806/606-10-50-13

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//606/tableOfContent

+ Details

Consolidated Statements Of Operations And Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 436,700	$ 448,756	$ 1,163,150	$ 1,148,031
Operating expenses:
Operations and maintenance	133,508	134,981	271,502	277,562
Purchased gas	41,933	75,143	298,248	302,855
Depreciation	84,937	77,425	167,860	155,303
Amortization	724	1,751	1,595	2,219
Taxes other than income taxes	20,348	21,720	43,226	44,727
Total operating expenses	281,450	311,020	782,431	782,666
Operating income	155,250	137,736	380,719	365,365
Other expense (income):
Interest expense	69,182	55,221	141,850	108,857
Interest income	(970)	(824)	(1,789)	(1,433)
Allowance for funds used during construction	(3,424)	(6,151)	(9,112)	(11,990)
Gain on sale of other assets	(220)	(478)	(469)	(478)
Other	(323)	(423)	(563)	(2,125)
Income before income taxes	91,005	90,391	250,802	272,534
Provision for income taxes (benefit)	(263)	8,100	(31,900)	(9,133)
Net income	91,268	82,291	282,702	281,667
Comprehensive income	$ 91,268	$ 82,291	$ 282,702	$ 281,667
Net income per common share:
Basic	$ 0.35	$ 0.31	$ 1.07	$ 1.08
Diluted	$ 0.34	$ 0.31	$ 1.07	$ 1.07
Average common shares outstanding during the period:
Basic	264,418,000	262,099,000	264,306,000	262,026,000
Diluted	264,818,000	262,558,000	264,840,000	262,545,000

Assets Held for Sale (Schedule Of Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Assets Held for Sale [Abstract]
Inventory - gas stored	$ 592	$ 2,807
Other current assets	1,778	3,284
Regulatory assets	5,008	5,076
Current assets held for sale	7,378	11,167
Property, plant and equipment, net	33,804	30,267
Regulatory assets and other	615	1,857
Non-current assets held for sale	34,419	32,124
Current liabilities related to assets held for sale	3,081	3,263
Regulatory liabilities	529	649
Other long-term liabilities	274	325
Non-current liabilities related to assets held for sale	$ 803	$ 974

Commitments And Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments And Contingencies

Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is routinely involved in various disputes, claims, lawsuits and other regulatory and legal matters, including both asserted and unasserted legal claims, in the ordinary course of business. The status of each such matter, referred to herein as a loss contingency, is reviewed and assessed in accordance with applicable accounting rules regarding the nature of the matter, the likelihood that a loss will be incurred, and the amounts involved. As of June 30, 2023, the aggregate amount of $19,427 is accrued for loss contingencies and is reported in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as other accrued liabilities and other liabilities. These accruals represent management’s best estimate of probable loss (as defined in the accounting guidance) for loss contingencies or the low end of a range of losses if no single probable loss can be estimated. For some loss contingencies, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of the probable loss or range of probable losses. Further, Essential Utilities has

insurance coverage for certain of these loss contingencies, and as of June 30, 2023, estimates that approximately $1,428 of the amount accrued for these matters are probable of recovery through insurance, which amount is also reported in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as deferred charges and other assets, net.

During a portion of 2019, the Company initiated a do not consume advisory for some of its customers in one division served by the Company’s Illinois subsidiary. The do not consume advisory was lifted in 2019 and, in 2022, the water system was determined to be in compliance with the federal Lead and Copper Rule. During the second quarter of 2021, an amount was accrued for the portion of the fine or penalty that we determined to be probable and estimable of being incurred. In addition, on September 3, 2019, two individuals, on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated, commenced an action against the Company’s Illinois subsidiary in the State court in Will County, Illinois related to this do not consume advisory. The complaint seeks class action certification, attorney's fees, and "damages, including, but not limited to, out of pocket damages, and discomfort, aggravation, and annoyance” based upon the water provided by the Company’s subsidiary to a discrete service area in University Park, Illinois. The complaint contains allegations of damages as a result of supplied water that exceeded the standards established by the federal Lead and Copper Rule. The complaint is in the discovery phase and class certification has not been granted. During the third quarter of 2022, the Company established an accrual for the amount of loss asserted in the complaint that we determined to be probable and estimable of being incurred. The Company is vigorously defending against this claim. The Company submitted a claim for the expenses incurred to its insurance carrier for potential recovery of a portion of these costs and is currently in litigation with one of its carriers seeking to enforce its claims. The Company continues to assess the potential loss contingency on this matter. While the final outcome of this claim cannot be predicted with certainty, and unfavorable outcomes could negatively impact the Company, at this time in the opinion of management, the final resolution of this matter is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Although the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, other than disclosed above, there are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of its properties is the subject that are material or are expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In addition to the aforementioned loss contingencies, the Company self-insures a portion of its employee medical benefit program, and maintains stop-loss coverage to limit the exposure arising from these claims. The Company’s reserve for these claims totaled $2,327 at June 30, 2023 and represents a reserve for unpaid claim costs, including an estimate for the cost of incurred but not reported claims.

Net Income Per Common Share (Narrative) (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Net Income Per Common Share [Abstract]
Weighted average impact	2,830,021	5,912,617	2,830,021	5,912,617
Employee stock options excluded from calculations of diluted net income per share	150,062	83,080	150,062	83,080

Revenue Recognition (Schedule Of Disaggregation Of Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 436,700	$ 448,756	$ 1,163,150	$ 1,148,031
Water [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	244,286	223,617	459,452	423,750
Revenue	245,053	224,181	460,621	424,929
Water [Member] \| Residential [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	167,121	149,542	314,373	280,830
Water [Member] \| Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	46,774	41,025	87,728	76,145
Water [Member] \| Fire Protection [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	10,185	9,547	20,444	18,740
Water [Member] \| Industrial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	8,289	7,604	16,146	14,785
Water [Member] \| Other Water [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	11,917	15,899	20,761	33,250
Water [Member] \| Alternative Revenue Program [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	767	1,109	1,169	1,724
Water [Member] \| Other And Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue		(545)		(545)
Wastewater [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	45,941	41,565	91,334	76,967
Revenue	45,970	41,404	91,543	76,779
Wastewater [Member] \| Residential [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	34,046	30,653	67,536	57,148
Wastewater [Member] \| Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	8,656	6,973	17,247	13,038
Wastewater [Member] \| Industrial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	509	432	1,087	776
Wastewater [Member] \| Other Wastewater [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	2,730	3,507	5,464	6,005
Wastewater [Member] \| Alternative Revenue Program [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	29	(161)	209	(188)
Natural Gas [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	138,951	168,165	578,857	614,553
Revenue	138,983	168,341	580,278	614,553
Natural Gas [Member] \| Residential [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	76,476	95,942	368,706	381,048
Natural Gas [Member] \| Commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	16,297	18,853	81,454	75,893
Natural Gas [Member] \| Industrial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	471	957	2,260	2,799
Natural Gas [Member] \| Gas Transportation [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	34,862	40,573	102,515	119,747
Natural Gas [Member] \| Other Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	10,845	11,840	23,922	35,066
Natural Gas [Member] \| Alternative Revenue Program [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	32	176	1,421
Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	2,649	3,325	8,808	6,240
Revenue	6,694	14,830	30,708	31,770
Other [Member] \| Other Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues from contracts with customers	2,649	3,325	8,808	6,240
Other [Member] \| Other And Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 4,045	$ 11,505	$ 21,900	$ 25,530

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended
Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Jul. 31, 2023 USD ($) customer	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($) customer	Apr. 30, 2023 USD ($) customer	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($) customer	Nov. 30, 2022 USD ($) customer	Aug. 31, 2022 USD ($) customer	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($) customer	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($) customer	Jan. 31, 2021 USD ($) customer	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) customer item	Jan. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Union Rome [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer		4,679
Total purchase price \| $		$ 25,547
North Heidelberg Sewer Company [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer				273
Total purchase price \| $				$ 136
Water And Wastewater Utility Systems [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer			2,300
Total purchase price \| $			$ 18,000
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Debt instrument, issued \| $											$ 75,000	$ 125,000
Oak Brook Illinois [Member] \| Water And Wastewater Utility Systems [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer					2,037
Total purchase price \| $					$ 12,500
Delaware [Member] \| Water Utility System [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer										16,000
Total purchase price \| $										$ 276,500
Retail customers \| customer										198,000
Number of municipalities \| item										42
East Whiteland Township [Member] \| Water And Wastewater Utility Systems [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer						4,018
Total purchase price \| $						$ 54,374
Lower Makefield Township [Member] \| Water And Wastewater Utility Systems [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer							11,323
Total purchase price \| $							$ 53,000
Beaver Falls Pennsylvania [Member] \| Water Utility System [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer								7,600
Total purchase price \| $								$ 41,250
Pennsylvania [Member] \| Water And Wastewater Utility Systems [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer									2,300
Total purchase price \| $									$ 17,500
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Shenandoah Borough [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer	2,887
Total purchase price \| $	$ 12,291
Subsequent Event [Member] \| La Rue [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer	300
Total purchase price \| $	$ 2,253
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Southern Oaks Water System [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer	765
Total purchase price \| $	$ 3,321
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Village of Frankfort [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer	1,400
Total purchase price \| $	$ 1,424
Water And Wastewater Utility Systems [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of customers \| customer		225
Total purchase price \| $		$ 50

Assets Held for Sale (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Assets Held for Sale [Abstract]

Schedule Of Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations


	June 30, 2023		December 31, 2022

Inventory - gas stored	$	592	$	2,807
Other current assets		1,778		3,284
Regulatory assets		5,008		5,076
Current assets held for sale	$	7,378	$	11,167

Property, plant and equipment, net		33,804		30,267
Regulatory assets and other		615		1,857
Non-current assets held for sale	$	34,419	$	32,124

Current liabilities related to assets held for sale	$	3,081	$	3,263

Regulatory liabilities		529		649
Other long-term liabilities		274		325
Non-current liabilities related to assets held for sale	$	803	$	974

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of information related to a disposal group. Includes, but is not limited to, a discontinued operation, disposal classified as held-for-sale or disposed of by means other than sale or disposal of an individually significant component.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-SubTopic 10
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Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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+ Details

Segment Information (Company's Segment Information, Continuing Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 436,700		$ 448,756		$ 1,163,150	$ 1,148,031
Operations and maintenance expense	133,508		134,981		271,502	277,562
Purchased gas	41,933		75,143		298,248	302,855
Depreciation and amortization	85,661		79,176		169,455	157,522
Interest expense, net	68,212		54,397		140,061	107,424
Allowance for funds used during construction	(3,424)		(6,151)		(9,112)	(11,990)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)	(263)		8,100		(31,900)	(9,133)
Net income (loss)	91,268	$ 191,434	82,291	$ 199,376	282,702	281,667
Capital expenditures					547,600	424,645
Water [Member] \| Regulated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	293,672		269,355		560,972	508,553
Operations and maintenance expense	93,227		92,815		176,029	178,903
Depreciation and amortization	53,231		50,260		106,698	98,976
Interest expense, net	30,523		27,604		60,236	55,159
Allowance for funds used during construction	(2,940)		(5,347)		(7,886)	(10,496)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)	15,859		13,847		29,373	21,346
Net income (loss)	90,027		76,342		167,429	136,885
Capital expenditures					329,862	216,612
Natural Gas [Member] \| Regulated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	138,983		167,729		580,278	612,912
Operations and maintenance expense	41,114		44,907		98,264	104,359
Purchased gas	39,665		63,392		281,521	280,698
Depreciation and amortization	32,188		29,131		62,316	58,835
Interest expense, net	20,982		19,171		48,489	39,823
Allowance for funds used during construction	(484)		(804)		(1,226)	(1,493)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)	(13,314)		(5,170)		(56,798)	(31,645)
Net income (loss)	13,630		11,478		137,176	150,964
Capital expenditures					215,212	207,394
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	4,045		11,672		21,900	26,566
Operations and maintenance expense	(833)		(2,741)		(2,791)	(5,700)
Purchased gas	2,268		11,751		16,727	22,157
Depreciation and amortization	242		(215)		441	(289)
Interest expense, net	16,707		7,622		31,336	12,442
Allowance for funds used during construction						(1)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)	(2,808)		(577)		(4,475)	1,166
Net income (loss)	$ (12,389)		$ (5,529)		(21,903)	(6,182)
Capital expenditures					$ 2,526	$ 639

Basis Of Presentation (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Summary Of PSU Transactions



	Number	Weighted
	of	Average
	Share Units	Fair Value
Nonvested share units at beginning of period	556,462	$	42.77
Granted	161,981		45.06
Performance criteria adjustment	9,521		42.60
Actual vested	(168,549)		53.77
Forfeited	(9,837)		43.94
Nonvested share units at end of period	549,578		40.05

Summary Of RSU Transactions



	Number	Weighted
	of	Average
	Stock Units	Fair Value
Nonvested stock units at beginning of period	180,306	$	45.94
Granted	73,696		45.61
Stock units vested and issued	(52,611)		49.26
Forfeited	(3,794)		44.99
Nonvested stock units at end of period	197,597		44.94

Summary Of Stock Option Transactions



		Weighted		Weighted
		Average		Average	Aggregate
		Exercise		Remaining	Intrinsic
	Shares	Price		Life (years)	Value
Outstanding at beginning of period	820,061	$	36.29
Granted	74,632		45.39
Forfeited	(2,076)		45.31
Expired	(664)		35.20
Exercised	(5,943)		35.21
Outstanding at end of period	886,010	$	37.04	6.0	$	3,347

Exercisable at end of period	763,196	$	35.71	5.5	$	3,347

Performance Share Units [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Summary Of Compensation Costs



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	1,962	$	1,692	$	4,405	$	3,342
Income tax benefit		492		485		1,104		952

Restricted Stock Units [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Summary Of Compensation Costs



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	759	$	727	$	1,440	$	1,504
Income tax benefit		190		209		361		428

Stock Options [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Summary Of Compensation Costs



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,					June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	222	$	141	$	299	$	241
Income tax benefit		56		41		75		69

Assumptions Used In The Pricing Model


	2023		2022
Expected term (years)		5.5		5.5
Risk-free interest rate		4.03%		1.92%
Expected volatility		27.80%		26.50%
Dividend yield		2.53%		2.37%
Grant date fair value per option	$	11.37	$	9.34

Restricted Stock [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Summary Of Compensation Costs


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	13	$	13	$	25	$	25
Income tax benefit		4		3		7		7

Summary Of Restricted Stock Transactions


	Number	Weighted
	of	Average
	Shares	Fair Value
Nonvested restricted stock at beginning of period	1,170	$	42.75
Granted	-		-
Vested	-		-
Nonvested restricted stock at end of period	1,170	$	42.75

Stock Awards [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Summary Of Compensation Costs



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	570	$	165	$	780	$	357
Income tax benefit		160		47		219		103

Summary Of Nonvested Share Activity



	Number	Weighted
	of	Average
	Stock Awards	Fair Value
Nonvested stock awards at beginning of period	-	$	-
Granted	18,676		41.78
Vested	(18,676)		(41.78)
Nonvested stock awards at end of period	-		-

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Assets
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 14,344,435	$ 13,737,387
Less: accumulated depreciation	2,753,586	2,606,441
Net property, plant and equipment	11,590,849	11,130,946
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	11,642	11,398
Accounts receivable, net	149,942	206,324
Unbilled revenues	75,737	170,504
Inventory - materials and supplies	45,300	46,592
Inventory - gas stored	63,216	153,143
Current assets held for sale	7,378	11,167
Prepayments and other current assets	36,557	39,759
Regulatory assets	16,938	19,272
Total current assets	406,710	658,159
Regulatory assets	1,518,079	1,342,753
Deferred charges and other assets, net	166,391	166,653
Funds restricted for construction activity	1,360	1,342
Goodwill	2,340,755	2,340,792
Non-current assets held for sale	34,419	32,124
Operating lease right-of-use assets	39,151	41,734
Intangible assets	4,221	4,604
Total assets	16,101,935	15,719,107
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock at $0.50 par value, authorized 600,000,000 shares, issued 267,818,219 and 266,973,321 as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022	133,909	133,486
Capital in excess of par value	3,827,199	3,793,262
Retained earnings	1,740,682	1,534,331
Treasury stock, at cost, 3,312,850 and 3,236,237 shares as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022	(87,092)	(83,693)
Total stockholders' equity	5,614,698	5,377,386
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	6,661,014	6,418,039
Less: debt issuance costs	45,498	46,982
Long-term debt, excluding current portion, net of debt issuance costs	6,615,516	6,371,057
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 14)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	198,749	199,356
Loans payable	48,043	228,500
Accounts payable	178,902	238,843
Book overdraft	32,490	28,694
Accrued interest	50,625	47,063
Accrued taxes	26,232	34,393
Liabilities related to assets held for sale	3,081	3,263
Regulatory liabilities	96,669	35,276
Dividends payable		75,808
Other accrued liabilities	130,344	130,673
Total current liabilities	765,135	1,021,869
Deferred credits and other liabilities:
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits	1,459,002	1,345,766
Customers' advances for construction	125,362	114,732
Regulatory liabilities	807,240	778,754
Asset retirement obligations	842	843
Operating lease liabilities	36,387	37,666
Non-current liabilities related to assets held for sale	803	974
Pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities	31,196	31,244
Other	24,648	28,562
Total deferred credits and other liabilities	2,485,480	2,338,541
Contributions in aid of construction	621,106	610,254
Total liabilities and equity	$ 16,101,935	$ 15,719,107

Acquisitions

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Acquisitions

Note 3 – Acquisitions

Water and Wastewater Utility Acquisitions - Completed

In July 2023, the Company completed the following water utility asset acquisitions: Shenandoah Borough, Pennsylvania, which serves 2,887 customers for $12,291; La Rue, an Ohio municipality, which serves approximately 300 customers for $2,253; and, Southern Oaks Water System, which serves 765 customers in Texas for $3,321. Additionally, in July 2023, the Company completed their acquisition of a portion of the water and wastewater utility assets of the Village of Frankfort, an Illinois municipality, which serves approximately 1,400 customers for $1,424.

In June 2023, the Company acquired the wastewater utility assets of Union Rome, Ohio, which serves 4,679 customers for a cash purchase price of $25,547.

In March 2023, the Company acquired the North Heidelberg Sewer Company in Berks County, Pennsylvania, which serves 273 customer connections for a cash purchase price of $136.

In November 2022, the Company acquired certain water utility assets of Oak Brook, Illinois, which serve 2,037 customers for a cash purchase price of $12,500.

On July 29, 2022, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issued an order (the “PUC Order”) approving the Company’s acquisition of the municipal wastewater assets of East Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, which serves 4,018 customers (the “East Whiteland Wastewater Assets”). On August 12, 2022, the Company acquired the East Whiteland Wastewater Assets for a cash purchase price of $54,374. Subsequently on August 25, 2022, the Office of Consumer Advocate (“OCA”) filed an appeal of the PUC Order to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. On July 31, 2023, a decision was issued by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, in which the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court agreed with the OCA and reversed the PUC order which approved the acquisition. We are currently evaluating this decision by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and while the final outcome of the decision cannot be predicted with certainty, the final resolution of this matter is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In March 2022, the Company acquired the wastewater system of Lower Makefield Township, which serves 11,323 customer connections in Lower Makefield, Falls and Middletown townships, and Yardley Borough, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for a cash purchase price of $53,000.

The purchase price allocation for these acquisitions consisted primarily of acquired property, plant and equipment.

The pro forma effect of the utility systems acquired is not material either individually or collectively to the Company’s results of operations.

Water and Wastewater Utility Acquisitions – Pending Completion

In June 2023, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire Westfield HOA wastewater assets, which serves approximately 225 customers within Westfield Homeowners Subdivision in Glenview, Illinois for $50.

In April 2023, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire Greenville Sanitation Authority’s wastewater utility assets, which serves approximately 2,300 customers in Greenville, Pennsylvania for $18,000.

In October 2021, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the wastewater utility assets of the City of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania which consists of approximately 7,600 customers for $41,250.

The purchase price for these pending acquisitions are subject to certain adjustments at closing, and are subject to regulatory approval, including the final determination of the fair value of the rate base acquired. We plan to finance the purchase price of these acquisitions by utilizing our revolving credit facility until permanent debt and common equity are secured. These pending acquisitions are expected to close in 2023 and in 2024. Closing for our utility acquisitions are subject to the timing of the respective regulatory approval processes.

In January 2021, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the wastewater utility system assets of Willistown Township, Pennsylvania, which consist of approximately 2,300 customers, for $17,500. On April 14, 2023, the Willistown Township supervisors exercised their right to terminate the agreement.

DELCORA Purchase Agreement

In September 2019, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the wastewater utility system assets of the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority (“DELCORA”), which consists of approximately 16,000 customers, or the equivalent of 198,000 retail customers, in 42 municipalities in Southeast Pennsylvania for $276,500. In May 2020, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit alleging that DELCORA does not have the legal authority to establish and fund a customer trust with the net proceeds of the transaction. In December 2020, the judge in the Delaware County Court lawsuit issued an order that (1) the County cannot interfere with the purchase agreement between DELCORA and the Company; (2) the County cannot terminate DELCORA prior to the closing of the transaction; and (3) the establishment of the customer trust was valid. Delaware County appealed this decision to Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. On March 3, 2022, the Commonwealth Court issued a decision finding that Delaware County can dissolve DELCORA if it so chooses, but the purchase agreement must be upheld regardless of who is operating the system. The case was remanded back to the trial court for the entry of an order consistent with the Commonwealth Court’s opinion. This order was issued on September 8, 2022 (“Remand Order”). Since then, the County has challenged the Remand Order through two separate actions described in the below bullet points. The effect of those proceedings has resulted in the Remand Order being on appeal to the Commonwealth Court. In the appeal of the Remand Order, Delaware County filed its brief on June 8, 2023, and the Company filed its briefs on July 21, 2023. DELCORA will submit its brief on August 21, 2023. However, Delaware County filed its Reply brief to the Company’s brief of August 4, 2023.

First, Delaware County filed an Application for Determination of Finality (“Application”) on October 13, 2022, with the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. The Company filed its opposition to the Application on October 27, 2022, and on November 2, 2022, the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas denied Delaware County’s Application indicating that its previous order already constituted a final order that addressed the claims of all parties. On December 2, 2022, following the denial of its Application, Delaware County filed a Petition for Permission to Appeal (“Petition”) the Remand Order in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. On December 16, 2022, the Company filed an Answer in opposition to the Petition. The Commonwealth Court issued an Order denying the County’s Petition on February 2, 2023. The County filed an Application for Reconsideration of the Commonwealth Court’s February 2023 Order, which the Commonwealth Court granted on April 4, 2023. In that April 4,

2023 Order, the Commonwealth Court construed the Petition as a Notice of Appeal and has initiated a briefing schedule for this appeal.

Second, on November 2, 2022, Delaware County filed a Notice of Appeal (“Notice of Appeal”) from the Remand Order with the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. On December 2, 2022, the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas issued an Opinion concluding that the County Court did not err in issuing the Remand Order. On January 13, 2023, Delaware County filed an Application in Commonwealth Court seeking confirmation of briefing deadlines with respect to the Notice of Appeal. In response, by Order dated January 24, 2023, the Commonwealth Court stated that “the record received from the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County is currently under review for finality. A briefing schedule will be issued upon completion of this review.” The Company filed an Application to quash the County’s Appeal on February 7, 2023. On April 4, 2023, the Commonwealth Court granted the Company’s Application and quashed the appeal.

On January 25, 2023, DELCORA filed in the Delaware Court of Common Pleas a complaint for Declaratory Judgment against the Company and Delaware County seeking resolution of whether the County Ordinance dissolving DELCORA is a final action prohibiting DELCORA from carrying out the material transaction of the Asset Purchase Agreement and, in the event that DELCORA retains the ability to close the transaction, whether DELCORA is permitted to exist as a trust. The Company filed preliminary objections to DELCORA’s complaint, which are scheduled for a hearing on October 12, 2023.

Meanwhile, the administrative law judges (“ALJ”) in the regulatory approval process recommended that the Company’s application to acquire DELCORA be denied, and subsequently, the Company provided exceptions to the recommended decision. On March 30, 2021, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) ruled that the case be remanded back to the Office of Administrative Law Judge and vacated the original administrative law judges’ recommended decision (“2021 Order”). This 2021 Order was also appealed to the Commonwealth Court by Delaware County on April 29, 2021. A decision was issued by the Commonwealth Court on September 12, 2022, which dismissed the appeal of the County.

After the PUC issued the 2021 Order, on April 16, 2021, the ALJ issued an order staying the proceeding until the Delaware County Court lawsuit is final and unappealable. On March 25, 2022, the Company sent a letter notifying the PUC of the March 3, 2022, Commonwealth Court decision (that originated in Delaware County Court of Common Pleas) and requested that the PUC move forward with processing the application. On July 14, 2022, the Commission moved to lift the stay imposed by the ALJ, and required the ALJ to establish a schedule on remand for the proceeding. The ALJ established a procedural schedule for the remand proceeding.

On August 17, 2022, Receiver for the City of Chester filed suit in Delaware County Common Pleas Court against DELCORA premised upon the claimed reversionary interest of the City in some of DELCORA’s assets. The Company intervened in that matter on October 19, 2022 and on March 27, 2023 filed preliminary objections. A hearing on the objections is scheduled for August 28, 2023.

On January 26, 2023, several parties involved in the PUC case filed a joint motion for stay based on DELCORA’s filing of the January 25, 2023 Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and referenced the City of Chester’s bankruptcy filing in which the City of Chester has asserted reversionary contract interests regarding some of DELCORA’s wastewater assets. On February 6, 2023, the ALJ stayed the PUC DELCORA application proceedings again.

On May 23, 2023, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order in the City of Chester’s bankruptcy filing staying the PUC proceedings until relief from the stay is granted by the Bankruptcy Court. The Company appealed the Bankruptcy Court stay order to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on June 6, 2023.

On June 16, 2023, the Company filed a Complaint against DELCORA in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas requesting a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief regarding breach of the Asset Purchase Agreement in acting outside the ordinary course of business by attempting to enter into a new agreement with Philadelphia Water Department for the treatment of wastewater without the Company’s consent.

The purchase price for this pending acquisition is subject to certain adjustments at closing, and is subject to regulatory approval, including the final determination of the fair value of the rate base acquired. We plan to finance the purchase price of this acquisition with a mix of equity and debt financing, utilizing our revolving credit facility until permanent debt is secured. Closing of our acquisition of DELCORA is subject to the timing of the above-described regulatory approval process and on-going litigation.

Stock-Based Compensation (Summary Of Compensation Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Performance Share Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$ 1,962	$ 1,692	$ 4,405	$ 3,342
Income tax benefit	492	485	1,104	952
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	759	727	1,440	1,504
Income tax benefit	190	209	361	428
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	222	141	299	241
Income tax benefit	56	41	75	69
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	13	13	25	25
Income tax benefit	4	3	7	7
Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	570	165	780	357
Income tax benefit	$ 160	$ 47	$ 219	$ 103

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

+ Details

Stock-Based Compensation (Summary Of Nonvested Share Activity) (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, Number of Share Units	(17,054)	(222,782)	(4,736)	(57,052)
Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested share units at beginning of period, Number of Share Units
Granted, Number of Share Units					(18,676)
Actual vested, Number of share Units					(18,676)
Nonvested share units at end of period, Number of Share Units
Nonvested share units at beginning of period, Weighted Average Fair Value
Granted, Weighted Average Fair Value					41.78	$ 46.66
Actual vested, Weighted Average Fair Value					(41.78)
Nonvested share units at end of period, Weighted Average Fair Value

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

+ Details

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective income tax rate	(0.30%)		9.00%	(12.70%)	(3.40%)
Corporate federal income tax rate				21.00%	21.00%
Decrease in deferred income tax liability				$ 244,537
Minimum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at State Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent		0.50%
Minimum [Member] \| State [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at State Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent				2.50%	2.50%
Maximum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at State Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent		4.99%
Maximum [Member] \| State [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at State Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent				9.99%	9.99%
Pennsylvania [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at State Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent				8.99%
Pennsylvania [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at State Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent				9.99%	9.99%

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits

Note 10 – Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The Company maintains a qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”), a nonqualified pension plan, and other postretirement benefit plans for certain of its employees.

The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) for the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans:


	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Service cost	$	400	$	707	$	801	$	1,414
Interest cost		4,309		3,202		8,617		6,403
Expected return on plan assets		(5,673)		(5,894)		(11,345)		(11,789)
Amortization of prior service cost		171		134		342		268
Amortization of actuarial loss		809		436		1,618		871
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	16	$	(1,415)	$	33	$	(2,833)

	Other
	Postretirement Benefits
		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Service cost	$	337	$	477	$	674	$	955
Interest cost		1,119		843		2,238		1,685
Expected return on plan assets		(1,093)		(1,126)		(2,186)		(2,251)
Amortization of actuarial loss		(330)		(334)		(659)		(668)
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	33	$	(140)	$	67	$	(279)

The net periodic benefit cost (credit) is based on estimated values and an extensive use of assumptions about the discount rate, expected return on plan assets, the rate of future compensation increases received by the Company’s employees, mortality, turnover, and medical costs. The Company presents the components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) other than service cost in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income on the line item “Other”.

There were no cash contributions made to the Pension Plan during the first six months of 2023.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for retirement benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480794/715-70-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-17

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(03)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (q)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
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-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iii)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
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-Subparagraph (o)
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Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
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Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
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Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
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-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480266/715-60-50-3

+ Details

Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)	6 Months Ended
Segment Information (Narrative) (Details)	Jun. 30, 2023 segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Segments	11
Reportable Segments	2
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Segments	2
Water And Wastewater Utility Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Segments	8
Reportable Segments	1
Natural Gas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Segments	1

Financial Instruments (Summary Of Unrealized Gain And Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Net gain (loss) recognized during the period on equity securities	$ 211	$ (459)	$ 342	$ (737)
Less: net gain / loss recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period
Unrealized gain (loss) recognized during the reporting period on equity securities still held at the reporting date	$ 211	$ (459)	$ 342	$ (737)

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policy)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Pronouncement adopted during the year:

In October 2021, the FASB issued accounting guidance on accounting for acquired revenue contracts with customers in a business combination. The guidance specifies for all acquired revenue contracts, regardless of their timing of payment, the circumstances in which the acquirer should recognize contract assets and contract liabilities that are acquired in a business combination, as well as how to measure those contract assets and contract liabilities. The updated accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2023, and will apply it prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after that date.

Capitalization (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)							1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Capitalization (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 29, 2023	Dec. 14, 2022	Oct. 14, 2022	May 20, 2022	May 02, 2022	Apr. 23, 2019	Jan. 31, 2023	Oct. 31, 2022	Apr. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock from forward equity sale agreement			$ 500,000,000
Stock purchase contracts early settled by holders of the contracts									981,919
Shares settled					6,621,315				1,166,107
Issuance of common stock from stock purchase contracts , shares					7,863,354							9,029,461
Conversion to shares					$ 1.18758
At Market Sales Agreements [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sale of stock, shares							399,128			0	1,321,994
Common stock issued							$ 19,294,000				$ 63,040,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term				5 years
Repayment of line of credit				$ 410,000,000
Notes at 5.30%, due 2052 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate				5.30%						5.30%	5.30%		5.30%	5.30%
Maturity date													2052	2052
Debt issuance expense				$ 5,815,000
Maturity Year				2052
Unsecured notes payable				$ 500,000,000						$ 500,000,000	$ 500,000,000		$ 500,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Amended Unsecured Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term	364 days
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount borrowed		$ 1,000,000													$ 1,000,000
Debt term		5 years													5 years
Sublimit for daily demand loans		$ 100,000											82,362
Available barrowing capacity credit sublimit										100,000			100,000
Available capacity borrowed										677,000			677,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Swing Line Commitment [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Available barrowing capacity credit sublimit										100,000			100,000
Swing-line commitment													0
Available capacity borrowed										$ 305,362			$ 305,362
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate							5.60%	4.50%
Face Amount							$ 75,000,000	$ 125,000,000
Maturity Year							2043	2052
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of line of credit				$ 49,700,000
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc [Member] \| Amended Unsecured Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount borrowed	$ 100,000,000
LDC Funding LLC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Private placement, per share						$ 50.00
Proceeds from tangible equity units						$ 690,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate						3.00%
Initial principal amount						$ 119,081,000
Initial principal amount per share						$ 8.62909
Cash installment						$ 0.75
Cash installment rate						6.00%
Debt issuance expense						$ 16,358,000
LDC Funding LLC [Member] \| July 30, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash installment						$ 0.80833
Peoples Gas Acquisition [Member] \| Amended Unsecured Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount borrowed	$ 300,000,000

Goodwill

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Goodwill [Abstract]

Goodwill

Note 5 – Goodwill

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s goodwill, by business segment:



	Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2022	$	58,504	$	2,277,447	$	4,841	$	2,340,792
Reclassification to utility plant acquisition adjustment		(37)		-		-		(37)
Balance at June 30, 2023	$	58,467	$	2,277,447	$	4,841	$	2,340,755

The reclassification of goodwill to utility plant acquisition adjustment results from a mechanism approved by the applicable utility commission. The mechanism provides for the transfer over time, and the recovery through customer rates, of goodwill associated with some acquisitions upon achieving specific objectives.

Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 11,642	$ 11,398
Customers' advances for construction	125,362	114,732
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans payable	48,043	228,500
Mutual funds	25,319	24,962
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 11,642	$ 11,398

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes [Abstract]

Components Of Taxes Other Than Income Taxes



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Property	$	8,431	$	8,239	$	16,535	$	16,253
Gross receipts, excise and franchise		4,175		4,017		8,205		8,117
Payroll		4,935		4,778		11,567		11,439
Regulatory assessments		1,715		1,812		3,398		3,577
Pumping fees		181		1,947		1,647		3,323
Other		911		927		1,874		2,018
Total taxes other than income	$	20,348	$	21,720	$	43,226	$	44,727

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flow - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 282,702	$ 281,667
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	169,455	157,522
Deferred income taxes	(34,711)	(13,810)
Provision for doubtful accounts	11,594	12,793
Stock-based compensation	6,950	5,471
Gain on sale of utility systems and other assets	(469)	(478)
Net change in receivables, deferred purchased gas costs, inventory and prepayments	300,648	6,742
Net change in payables, accrued interest, accrued taxes and other accrued liabilities	(90,739)	(4,222)
Pension and other postretirement benefits contributions		(14,564)
Other	(24,008)	(14,819)
Net cash flows from operating activities	621,422	416,302
Cash flows from investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions, including the debt component of allowance for funds used during construction of $2,587 and $3,013	(547,600)	(424,645)
Acquisitions of utility systems, net	(25,793)	(50,010)
Net proceeds from the sale of utility systems and other assets	613	485
Other	386	157
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(572,394)	(474,013)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Customers' advances and contributions in aid of construction	9,375	5,796
Repayments of customers' advances	(1,958)	(901)
Net proceeds (repayments) of short-term debt	(180,457)	(60,297)
Proceeds from long-term debt	384,715	770,376
Repayments of long-term debt	(136,604)	(464,585)
Change in cash overdraft position	3,795	(61,061)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under dividend reinvestment plan	8,069	8,171
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from at-the-market sale agreement	19,294
Proceeds from exercised stock options	209	1,239
Repurchase of common stock	(3,953)	(1,027)
Dividends paid on common stock	(151,686)	(138,108)
Other	417	517
Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities	(48,784)	60,120
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	244	2,409
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	11,398	10,567
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	11,642	12,976
Non-cash investing activities:
Property, plant and equipment additions purchased at the period end, but not yet paid for	124,503	94,473
Non-cash utility property contributions	$ 25,980	$ 8,789

Rate Activity

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Rate Activity [Abstract]

Rate Activity

Note 11 – Rate Activity

On July 27, 2023, the Company’s regulated water and wastewater operating subsidiary in Virginia, Aqua Virginia, filed an application with the State Corporation Commission designed to increase revenues by $6,911 annually.

On June 5, 2023, the Company’s regulated water and wastewater operating subsidiary in North Carolina, Aqua North Carolina, received an order from the North Carolina Utilities Commission designed to increase rates by $14,001 in the first year of new rates being implemented, then an additional $3,743 and $4,130 in the second and third years, respectively. In February 2023, the Company had implemented interim rates, based on an estimate of the final outcome of the order, and no refunds or additional billings are required for the difference between interim and final approved rates.

On March 28, 2023, the Company received authorization, in advance of the final order being approved, to implement infrastructure rehabilitation surcharges designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis by $7,685 in its water and wastewater utility operating divisions in Texas effective on April 1, 2023. The additional revenue billed and collected prior to the final order is subject to refund based on the outcome of the ruling.

In January 2023, the Company’s two water utility operating divisions in Ohio that are regulated by local regulatory authorities implemented base rate increases designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis by $1,569. Further, one of the Company’s wastewater divisions in Indiana implemented a base rate increase designed to increase operating revenues on an annual basis by $134. Lastly, during the first six months of 2023, the Company implemented infrastructure rehabilitation surcharges designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis by $1,919 in its water and wastewater utility operating divisions in Illinois and by $1,483 and $20,887 in its natural gas operating divisions in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, respectively.

On December 30, 2022, our water and wastewater utility operating divisions in Ohio filed an application with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio designed to increase rates by $9,816 annually.

On September 21, 2022, our regulated water and wastewater utility operating divisions in Ohio received an order from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio designed to increase operating revenues by $5,483 annually. New rates for water and sewer service went into effect on September 21, 2022.

On May 16, 2022, the Company’s regulated water and wastewater operating subsidiary in Pennsylvania, Aqua Pennsylvania, received an order from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that allowed base rate increases that would increase total annual operating revenues by $69,251. New rates went into effect on May 19, 2022. At the time the rate order was received, the rates in effect also included $35,470 in Distribution System Improvement Charges (“DSIC”), which was 7.2% above prior base rates. Consequently, the aggregate base rates increased by $104,721 since the last base rate increase and DSIC was reset to zero.

On January 3, 2022, the Company’s natural gas operating division in Kentucky received an order from the Kentucky Public Service Commission resulting in an increase of $5,238 in annual revenues, and new rates went into effect on January 4, 2022. On June 7, 2022, an additional $260 was approved and made effective by the Commission, resulting from a rehearing requested by the operating division.

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Pension Plans And Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Costs


	Pension Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Service cost	$	400	$	707	$	801	$	1,414
Interest cost		4,309		3,202		8,617		6,403
Expected return on plan assets		(5,673)		(5,894)		(11,345)		(11,789)
Amortization of prior service cost		171		134		342		268
Amortization of actuarial loss		809		436		1,618		871
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	16	$	(1,415)	$	33	$	(2,833)

	Other
	Postretirement Benefits
		Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
		June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Service cost	$	337	$	477	$	674	$	955
Interest cost		1,119		843		2,238		1,685
Expected return on plan assets		(1,093)		(1,126)		(2,186)		(2,251)
Amortization of actuarial loss		(330)		(334)		(659)		(668)
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$	33	$	(140)	$	67	$	(279)

Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]
Aggregate amount accrued for loss contingencies	$ 19,427
Amount probable of recovery through insurance	1,428
Insurance reserve for employee medical benefit program	$ 2,327

Stock-Based Compensation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

Note 9 – Stock-based Compensation

Under the Company’s Amended and Restated Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) approved by the Company’s shareholders on May 2, 2019, to replace the 2004 Equity Compensation Plan, stock options, stock units, stock awards, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalents, and other stock-based awards may be granted to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants and advisors. The Plan authorizes 6,250,000 shares for issuance under the Plan. A maximum of 3,125,000 shares under the Plan may be issued pursuant to stock awards, stock units and other stock-based awards, subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan. During any calendar year, no individual may be granted (i) stock options and stock appreciation rights under the Plan for more than 500,000 shares of Company stock in the aggregate or (ii) stock awards, stock units or other stock-based awards under the Plan for more than 500,000 shares of Company stock in the aggregate, subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan. Awards to employees and consultants under the Plan are made by a committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, except that with respect to awards to the Chief Executive Officer, the committee recommends those awards for approval by the non-employee directors of the Board of Directors. In the case of awards to non-employee directors, the Board of Directors makes such awards. At June 30, 2023, 1,506,793 shares were still available for issuance under the Plan. No further grants may be made under the Company’s 2004 Equity Compensation Plan.

Performance Share Units – A performance share unit (“PSU”) represents the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock if specified performance goals are met over the three year performance period specified in the grant, subject to exceptions through the respective vesting period, which is generally three years. Each grantee is granted a target award of PSUs and may earn between 0% and 200% of the target amount depending on the Company’s performance against the performance goals. The following table provides compensation expense for PSUs:



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	1,962	$	1,692	$	4,405	$	3,342
Income tax benefit		492		485		1,104		952

The following table summarizes the PSU transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2023:



	Number	Weighted
	of	Average
	Share Units	Fair Value
Nonvested share units at beginning of period	556,462	$	42.77
Granted	161,981		45.06
Performance criteria adjustment	9,521		42.60
Actual vested	(168,549)		53.77
Forfeited	(9,837)		43.94
Nonvested share units at end of period	549,578		40.05

A portion of the fair value of PSUs was estimated at the grant date based on the probability of satisfying the market-based conditions using the Monte Carlo valuation method, which assesses probabilities of various outcomes of market conditions. The other portion of the fair value of the PSUs is based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock at the grant date, regardless of whether the market-based condition is satisfied. The per unit weighted-average fair value at the date of grant for PSUs granted during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $45.06 and $42.31, respectively. The fair value of each PSU grant is amortized monthly into compensation expense on a straight-line basis over their respective vesting periods, generally 36 months. The accrual of compensation costs is based on the Company’s estimate of the final expected value of the award and is adjusted as required for the portion based on the performance-based condition. The Company assumes that forfeitures will be minimal, and recognizes forfeitures as they occur, which results in a reduction in compensation expense. As the payout of the PSUs includes dividend equivalents, no separate dividend yield assumption is required in calculating the fair value of the PSUs. The recording of compensation expense for PSUs has no impact on net cash flows.

Restricted Stock Units – A restricted stock unit (“RSU”) represents the right to receive a share of the Company’s common stock. RSUs are eligible to be earned at the end of a specified restricted period, which is generally three years, beginning on the date of grant. The Company assumes that forfeitures will be minimal and recognizes forfeitures as they occur, which results in a reduction in compensation expense. As the payout of the RSUs includes dividend equivalents, no separate dividend yield assumption is required in calculating the fair value of the RSUs. The following table provides the compensation expense and income tax benefit for RSUs:



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	759	$	727	$	1,440	$	1,504
Income tax benefit		190		209		361		428

The following table summarizes the RSU transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2023:



	Number	Weighted
	of	Average
	Stock Units	Fair Value
Nonvested stock units at beginning of period	180,306	$	45.94
Granted	73,696		45.61
Stock units vested and issued	(52,611)		49.26
Forfeited	(3,794)		44.99
Nonvested stock units at end of period	197,597		44.94

The per unit weighted-average fair value at the date of grant for RSUs granted during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $45.61 and $45.10, respectively.

Stock Options – A stock option represents the option to purchase a number of shares of common stock of the Company as specified in the stock option grant agreement at the exercise price per share as determined by the closing market price of our common stock on the grant date. Stock options are exercisable in installments of 33% annually, starting one year from the grant date and expire 10 years from the grant date, subject to satisfaction of designated performance goals. The fair value of each stock option is amortized into compensation expense using the graded-vesting method, which results in the recognition of compensation costs over the requisite service period for each separately vesting tranche of the stock options as though the stock options were, in substance, multiple stock option grants. The following table provides the compensation cost and income tax benefit for stock-based compensation related to stock options:



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,					June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	222	$	141	$	299	$	241
Income tax benefit		56		41		75		69

The fair value of options was estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following assumptions were used in the application of this valuation model:


	2023		2022
Expected term (years)		5.5		5.5
Risk-free interest rate		4.03%		1.92%
Expected volatility		27.80%		26.50%
Dividend yield		2.53%		2.37%
Grant date fair value per option	$	11.37	$	9.34

Historical information was the principal basis for the selection of the expected term and dividend yield. The expected volatility is based on a weighted-average combination of historical and implied volatilities over a time period that approximates the expected term of the option. The risk-free interest rate was selected based upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option.

The following table summarizes stock option transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2023:



		Weighted		Weighted
		Average		Average	Aggregate
		Exercise		Remaining	Intrinsic
	Shares	Price		Life (years)	Value
Outstanding at beginning of period	820,061	$	36.29
Granted	74,632		45.39
Forfeited	(2,076)		45.31
Expired	(664)		35.20
Exercised	(5,943)		35.21
Outstanding at end of period	886,010	$	37.04	6.0	$	3,347

Exercisable at end of period	763,196	$	35.71	5.5	$	3,347

Restricted Stock – Restricted stock awards provide the grantee with the rights of a shareholder, including the right to receive dividends and to vote such shares, but not the right to sell or otherwise transfer the shares during the restriction period. Restricted stock awards result in compensation expense that is equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of the grant and is amortized ratably over the restriction period. The Company expects forfeitures of restricted stock to be de minimis. The following table provides the compensation cost and income tax benefit for stock-based compensation related to restricted stock:


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	13	$	13	$	25	$	25
Income tax benefit		4		3		7		7

The following table summarizes restricted stock transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2023:


	Number	Weighted
	of	Average
	Shares	Fair Value
Nonvested restricted stock at beginning of period	1,170	$	42.75
Granted	-		-
Vested	-		-
Nonvested restricted stock at end of period	1,170	$	42.75

There were no restricted stock awards granted during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

Stock Awards – Stock awards represent the issuance of the Company’s common stock, without restriction. The issuance of stock awards results in compensation expense that is equal to the fair market value of the stock on the grant date and is expensed immediately upon grant. The following table provides the compensation cost and income tax benefit for stock-based compensation related to stock awards:



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock-based compensation within operations and maintenance expenses	$	570	$	165	$	780	$	357
Income tax benefit		160		47		219		103

The following table summarizes stock award transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2023:



	Number	Weighted
	of	Average
	Stock Awards	Fair Value
Nonvested stock awards at beginning of period	-	$	-
Granted	18,676		41.78
Vested	(18,676)		(41.78)
Nonvested stock awards at end of period	-		-

The weighted-average fair value at the date of grant for stock awards granted during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $41.78 and $46.66, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Note 16 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Pronouncement adopted during the year:

Consolidated Statements Of Capitalization - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.50 par value	$ 133,909	$ 133,486
Capital in excess of par value	3,827,199	3,793,262
Retained earnings	1,740,682	1,534,331
Treasury stock, at cost	(87,092)	(83,693)
Total stockholders' equity	5,614,698	5,377,386
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	3,127,763	3,062,395
Total long-term debt	6,859,763	6,617,395
Current portion of long-term debt	198,749	199,356
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	6,661,014	6,418,039
Less: debt issuance costs	45,498	46,982
Long-term debt, excluding current portion, net of debt issuance costs	6,615,516	6,371,057
Total capitalization	12,230,214	11,748,443
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 0.00% To 0.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	1,566	1,875
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 1.00% To 1.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	7,925	8,369
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 2.00% To 2.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	208,931	209,755
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 3.00% To 3.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	1,347,413	1,351,432
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 4.00% To 4.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	1,400,281	1,403,313
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 5.00% To 5.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	88,912	14,357
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 6.00% To 6.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	31,000	31,000
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 7.00% To 7.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	28,251	28,378
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	1,684	2,116
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt of subsidiaries	11,800	11,800
Revolving Credit Agreement, Due 2027 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Notes payable to bank under revolving credit agreement, variable rate, due Dec 2023	677,000	490,000
Notes at 2.40% due 2031 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	400,000	400,000
Notes at 2.704% due 2030 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	500,000	500,000
Notes ranging from 3.01% to 3.59% due 2029 through 2050 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	1,125,000	1,125,000
Notes at 4.28%, due 2049 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	500,000	500,000
Notes at 5.30%, due 2052 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	500,000	500,000
Notes ranging at 5.95%, due 2023 through 2034 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	$ 30,000	$ 40,000

Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Note 15 – Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate was (0.3)% and (12.7)% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate was 9.0% and (3.4)% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. The decreases in the effective tax rate for the second quarter and first half of the year are primarily attributed to the increase in income tax benefits associated with the tax deduction for qualifying infrastructure. In determining its interim tax provision, the Company reflects its estimated permanent and flow-through tax differences for the taxable year. The Company uses the flow-through method to account for the tax deduction for qualifying utility infrastructure at its regulated Pennsylvania and New Jersey subsidiaries.

The statutory Federal tax rate is 21.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. For states with a corporate net income tax, the state corporate net income tax rates range from 2.5% to 9.99% for all periods presented. On July 8, 2022, Pennsylvania enacted House Bill 1342 into law, which among other things, reduces Pennsylvania’s corporate income tax rate from 9.99% to 8.99% beginning January 1, 2023, and an additional 0.5% annually through 2031, when it reaches to 4.99%. The Company evaluated the impacts of the tax rate change and recorded, in the year ended December 31, 2022, a reduction to our deferred tax liabilities of $244,537 with a corresponding reduction primarily to our regulatory assets.

In April 2023, the Internal Revenue Service issued Revenue Procedure 2023-15 which provides a safe harbor method of accounting that taxpayers may use to determine whether expenses to repair, maintain, replace, or improve natural gas transmission and distribution property must be capitalized for tax purposes. The Company is evaluating the safe harbor and intends to adopt the methodology on its 2023 tax return. Based on the tax legislative guidance that was issued, the Company reevaluated the uncertain tax positions and ultimately released a portion of its historical income tax reserves. Concurrently, the Company deferred this tax benefit from the reserve release as a regulatory liability, as the accounting treatment is expected to be determined in the next rate case.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480990/946-20-50-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(h)(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480678/235-10-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//740/tableOfContent

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 14
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-14

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-21

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 270
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482526/740-270-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-17

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.5.Q1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479360/740-10-S99-1

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.C)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479360/740-10-S99-2

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482603/740-30-50-2

+ Details

Document And Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - shares	Jun. 30, 2023	Jul. 24, 2023
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2023
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-6659
Entity Registrant Name	ESSENTIAL UTILITIES, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	PA
Entity Tax Identification Number	23-1702594
Entity Address, Address Line One	762 W. Lancaster Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Bryn Mawr
Entity Address, State or Province	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	19010 -3489
City Area Code	610
Local Phone Number	527-8000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.50 par value
Trading Symbol	WTRG
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		264,505,777
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Central Index Key	0000078128

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.50	$ 0.50
Common stock, shares authorized	600,000,000	600,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	267,818,219	266,973,321
Treasury stock, shares	3,312,850	3,236,237

Net Income Per Common Share (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Net Income Per Common Share [Abstract]

Schedule Of Earnings Per Share



	Three Months Ended		Six Months Ended
	June 30,		June 30,
	2023	2022	2023	2022
Average common shares outstanding during the period for basic computation	264,418	262,099	264,306	262,026
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee stock-based compensation	400	459	534	519
Average common shares outstanding during the period for diluted computation	264,818	262,558	264,840	262,545

Net Income Per Common Share (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share) (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Net Income Per Common Share [Abstract]
Average common shares outstanding during the period for basic computation	264,418,000	262,099,000	264,306,000	262,026,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee stock-based compensation	400,000	459,000	534,000	519,000
Average common shares outstanding during the period for diluted computation	264,818,000	262,558,000	264,840,000	262,545,000

Stock-Based Compensation (Assumptions Used In The Pricing Model) (Details) - Stock Options [Member] - $ / shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (years)	5 years 6 months	5 years 6 months
Risk-free interest rate	4.03%	1.92%
Expected volatility	27.80%	26.50%
Dividend yield	2.53%	2.37%
Grant date fair value per option	$ 11.37	$ 9.34

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

+ Details

Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Financial Instruments

Note 7 – Financial Instruments

Financial instruments are recorded at carrying value in the financial statements and approximate fair value as of the dates presented. The fair value of these instruments is disclosed below in accordance with current accounting guidance related to financial instruments. There have been no changes in the valuation techniques used to measure fair value, or asset or liability transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.

The fair value of loans payable is determined based on its carrying amount and utilizing Level 1 methods and assumptions. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the carrying amount of the Company’s loans payable was $48,043 and $228,500, respectively, which equates to their estimated fair value. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, is determined based on Level 1 methods and assumptions. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the carrying amounts of the Company's cash and cash equivalents was $11,642 and $11,398, respectively, which equates to their fair value. The Company’s assets underlying the deferred compensation and non-qualified pension plans are determined by the fair value of mutual funds, which are based on quoted market prices from active markets utilizing Level 1 methods and assumptions. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the carrying amount of these securities was $25,319 and $24,962, respectively, which equates to their fair value, and is reported in the consolidated balance sheet in deferred charges and other assets.

Unrealized gain and losses on equity securities held in conjunction with our non-qualified pension plan is as follows:



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Net gain (loss) recognized during the period on equity securities	$	211	$	(459)	$	342	$	(737)
Less: net gain / loss recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period		-		-		-		-
Unrealized gain (loss) recognized during the reporting period on equity securities still held at the reporting date	$	211	$	(459)	$	342	$	(737)

The net gain (loss) recognized on equity securities is presented on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income on the line item “Other.”

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s long-term debt is as follows:

The fair value of long-term debt has been determined by discounting the future cash flows using current market interest rates for similar financial instruments of the same duration utilizing Level 2 methods and assumptions.

The Company’s customers’ advances for construction have a carrying value of $125,362 as of June 30, 2023, and $114,732 as of December 31, 2022. Their relative fair values cannot be accurately estimated because future refund payments depend on several variables, including new customer connections, customer consumption levels, and future rates. Portions of these non-interest-bearing instruments are payable annually through 2032, and amounts not paid by the respective contract expiration dates become non-refundable. The fair value of these amounts would, however, be less than their carrying value due to the non-interest-bearing feature.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details