Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Note 3 – Acquisitions Peoples Gas Acquisition On March 16, 2020 (the “Closing Date”), the Company completed the acquisition of Peoples Natural Gas (the “Peoples Gas Acquisition”), which expanded the Company’s regulated utility business to include natural gas distribution, serving approximately 750,000 natural gas utility customers in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. The Company paid cash consideration of $3,465,344, which was subject to adjustment based upon the terms of the purchase agreement. Purchase price adjustments included the completion of a closing balance sheet, which was provided to the seller, and an adjustment for utility capital expenditures made by the seller during the period between November 1, 2018 and the Closing Date. In November 2021, the dispute between the parties regarding the adjustment for utility capital expenditures was resolved in accordance with the provisions of the purchase agreement and an inconsequential payment will be made between the parties. The purchase price paid by the Company was determined as follows: Base purchase price$ 4,275,000 Adjustments: Estimated change in working capital 43,935 Certain estimated capital expenditures 247,500 Assumption of indebtedness (1,101,091)Cash consideration$ 3,465,344 The assumption of $1,101,091 of indebtedness as of the Closing Date, consisted of $920,091 of senior notes and $181,000 of short-term debt. The acquisition was financed through a series of financing transactions which included the issuance of common stock from a public offering and a private placement, a tangible equity unit offering, and short and long-term debt. The Company accounted for the Peoples Gas Acquisition as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. The purchase price was allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets based upon their estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price allocation was preliminary and was subject to revision through the end of the measurement period on March 15, 2021. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded an adjustment to increase goodwill by $16,400 primarily reflecting an adjustment to deferred income taxes and the valuation of accounts receivable. Goodwill recorded for the Peoples Gas Acquisition is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation as of the acquisition date and measurement period adjustments as of March 15, 2021: Amounts Amounts Previously Measurement Recognized as of Recognized as of Period Acquisition Date Acquisition Date (a) Adjustments (as Adjusted)Property, plant and equipment, net$ 2,476,551 $ - $ 2,476,551 Current assets 242,531 (9,197) 233,334 Regulatory assets 286,751 (22,293) 264,458 Goodwill 2,261,047 16,400 2,277,447 Other long-term assets 75,071 - 75,071 Total assets acquired 5,341,951 (15,090) 5,326,861 Current portion of long-term debt 5,136 - 5,136 Loans payable 181,000 - 181,000 Other current liabilities 186,120 (200) 185,920 Long-term debt 999,460 - 999,460 Deferred income taxes 213,647 (20,522) 193,125 Regulatory liabilities 123,029 6,389 129,418 Other long-term liabilities 168,215 (757) 167,458 Total liabilities assumed 1,876,607 (15,090) 1,861,517 Net assets acquired$ 3,465,344 $ - $ 3,465,344 (a)As reported, the Essential Utilities, Inc. Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2020. The Company incurred transaction-related expenses for the Peoples Gas Acquisition, which consisted of costs recorded as operations and maintenance expenses in the first quarter of 2020 of $25,397 primarily representing expenses associated with investment banking fees, including bridge financing, employee related costs, obtaining regulatory approvals, legal expenses, and integration planning. There were no further transaction-related expenses for the Peoples Gas Acquisition after the first quarter of 2020. The results of Peoples have been included in our consolidated financial statements as of the Closing Date. Peoples contributed revenues of $280,300 and earnings of $6,131 for the period from the Closing Date to September 30, 2020. The following pro forma summary presents consolidated unaudited information as if the Peoples Gas Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 September 30,2020Operating revenues$ 348,647 $ 1,269,768Net income 55,732 264,785 The supplemental pro forma information is not necessarily representative of the actual results that may have occurred for the period or of the results that may occur in the future. This supplemental pro forma information is based upon the historical operating results of Peoples for the period prior to the Closing Date and is adjusted to reflect the effect of non-recurring acquisition-related costs, incurred in 2020 as if they occurred on January 1, 2019. The adjustments include $20,628 ($25,197 pre-tax) of expenses incurred in 2020, primarily associated with investment banking fees, obtaining regulatory approvals, legal expenses and other direct costs of the Peoples Gas Acquisition, adjustments to reflect net acquisition financing as of January 1, 2019 of $10,700 ($14,342 pre-tax), the elimination of interest on debt that was not assumed in the acquisition of $2,448 ($3,442 pre-tax), and the elimination of a management fee charged quarterly to Peoples by its former parent company of $885 ($1,245 pre-tax). Associated with the approval of the Peoples Gas Acquisition from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Company committed to addressing the replacement of gathering pipe over a seven year timeframe for an estimated cost of $120,000, which will be recoverable through customer rates. Additionally, the Company committed to provide $23,004 of one-time customer rate credits to its Pennsylvania natural gas utility customers and water and wastewater customers served by Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (“Aqua Pennsylvania”). The Company granted $4,080 of customer rate credits to its water and wastewater customers during the third quarter of 2020, and $18,924 to its natural gas utility customers in the fourth quarter of 2020 to satisfy the $23,004 commitment. Water and Wastewater Utility Acquisitions - Completed In August 2021, the Company acquired the water utility system assets of The Commons Water Supply, Inc., which serves 992 customers in Harris County, Texas, and the wastewater utility system assets of the Village of Bourbonnais, which serves approximately 6,500 customers in Kankakee County, Illinois. The total cash purchase prices for these utility systems were $4,000 and $32,100, respectively. In December 2020, the Company acquired the wastewater utility system assets of New Garden Township, Pennsylvania, which serves 1,965 customers. The total cash purchase price for the utility system was $29,944. In October 2020, the Company acquired the water and wastewater utility system of Rockwell Utilities, which serves 514 customers in the Village of Lakemoor in Lake County, Illinois. The total cash purchase price for the utility system was $4,859. In June 2020, the Company acquired the wastewater utility system assets of East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania, which serves 4,947 customers. The total cash purchase price for the utility system was $21,000. In January 2020, the Company acquired the water utility system assets of the City of Campbell, Ohio, which serves 3,126 customers. The total cash purchase price for the utility system was $7,472. 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 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.In July 2021, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the water utility assets of Shenandoah Borough, Pennsylvania which consists of approximately 2,930 customers for $12,000. In April 2021, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire certain water or wastewater utility assets of Oak Brook, Illinois which consists of approximately 2,121 customers for $12,500. In January 2021, the Company entered into purchase agreements to acquire, in separate transactions, the wastewater utility system assets of East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania and Willistown Township, Pennsylvania which consist of approximately 10,500 customers for $72,400. In September 2020, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the wastewater utility system assets of Lower Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, which consists of approximately 11,000 customers for $53,000. 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. The closing for the wastewater assets of Lower Makefield Township is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2022, and the closings of our acquisitions of East Whiteland Township and Willistown Township are expected to occur in the second quarter of 2022. The closings of our Shenandoah and Beaver Falls acquisitions are expected to occur in the second half of 2022. The closing of our Oak Brook acquisition is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2022. Closing for our utility acquisitions are subject to the timing of the respective regulatory approval processes. 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) that the establishment of the customer trust was valid. Delaware County appealed this decision to Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, where this case is continuing. A three-judge panel heard oral arguments on October 18, 2021; a decision is expected in the next several months. The administrative law judges in the regulatory approval process recommended that the Company’s application be denied, and subsequently, the Company provided exceptions to the recommended decision. On March 25, 2021, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ruled that the case be remanded back to the Office of Administrative Law Judge and vacated the original administrative law judges’ decision. On April 16, 2021, the administrative law judge issued an order staying the proceeding until the Delaware County Court lawsuit is final and unappealable. 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 by the issuance of common stock and by utilizing our revolving credit facility until permanent debt is secured. Closing of our acquisition of DELCORA is expected to occur in 2022, subject to the timing of the regulatory approval process and DELCORA’s above-referenced litigation with Delaware County.

Acquisitions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Note 3 – Acquisitions Peoples Gas Acquisition On March 16, 2020 (the “Closing Date”), the Company completed the acquisition of Peoples Natural Gas (the “Peoples Gas Acquisition”), which expanded the Company’s regulated utility business to include natural gas distribution, serving approximately 750,000 natural gas utility customers in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. The Company paid cash consideration of $3,465,344, which was subject to adjustment based upon the terms of the purchase agreement. Purchase price adjustments included the completion of a closing balance sheet, which was provided to the seller, and an adjustment for utility capital expenditures made by the seller during the period between November 1, 2018 and the Closing Date. In November 2021, the dispute between the parties regarding the adjustment for utility capital expenditures was resolved in accordance with the provisions of the purchase agreement and an inconsequential payment will be made between the parties. The purchase price paid by the Company was determined as follows: Base purchase price$ 4,275,000 Adjustments: Estimated change in working capital 43,935 Certain estimated capital expenditures 247,500 Assumption of indebtedness (1,101,091)Cash consideration$ 3,465,344 The assumption of $1,101,091 of indebtedness as of the Closing Date, consisted of $920,091 of senior notes and $181,000 of short-term debt. The acquisition was financed through a series of financing transactions which included the issuance of common stock from a public offering and a private placement, a tangible equity unit offering, and short and long-term debt. The Company accounted for the Peoples Gas Acquisition as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. The purchase price was allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets based upon their estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. The purchase price allocation was preliminary and was subject to revision through the end of the measurement period on March 15, 2021. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded an adjustment to increase goodwill by $16,400 primarily reflecting an adjustment to deferred income taxes and the valuation of accounts receivable. Goodwill recorded for the Peoples Gas Acquisition is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation as of the acquisition date and measurement period adjustments as of March 15, 2021: Amounts Amounts Previously Measurement Recognized as of Recognized as of Period Acquisition Date Acquisition Date (a) Adjustments (as Adjusted)Property, plant and equipment, net$ 2,476,551 $ - $ 2,476,551 Current assets 242,531 (9,197) 233,334 Regulatory assets 286,751 (22,293) 264,458 Goodwill 2,261,047 16,400 2,277,447 Other long-term assets 75,071 - 75,071 Total assets acquired 5,341,951 (15,090) 5,326,861 Current portion of long-term debt 5,136 - 5,136 Loans payable 181,000 - 181,000 Other current liabilities 186,120 (200) 185,920 Long-term debt 999,460 - 999,460 Deferred income taxes 213,647 (20,522) 193,125 Regulatory liabilities 123,029 6,389 129,418 Other long-term liabilities 168,215 (757) 167,458 Total liabilities assumed 1,876,607 (15,090) 1,861,517 Net assets acquired$ 3,465,344 $ - $ 3,465,344 (a)As reported, the Essential Utilities, Inc. Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2020. The Company incurred transaction-related expenses for the Peoples Gas Acquisition, which consisted of costs recorded as operations and maintenance expenses in the first quarter of 2020 of $25,397 primarily representing expenses associated with investment banking fees, including bridge financing, employee related costs, obtaining regulatory approvals, legal expenses, and integration planning. There were no further transaction-related expenses for the Peoples Gas Acquisition after the first quarter of 2020. The results of Peoples have been included in our consolidated financial statements as of the Closing Date. Peoples contributed revenues of $280,300 and earnings of $6,131 for the period from the Closing Date to September 30, 2020. The following pro forma summary presents consolidated unaudited information as if the Peoples Gas Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 September 30,2020Operating revenues$ 348,647 $ 1,269,768Net income 55,732 264,785 The supplemental pro forma information is not necessarily representative of the actual results that may have occurred for the period or of the results that may occur in the future. This supplemental pro forma information is based upon the historical operating results of Peoples for the period prior to the Closing Date and is adjusted to reflect the effect of non-recurring acquisition-related costs, incurred in 2020 as if they occurred on January 1, 2019. The adjustments include $20,628 ($25,197 pre-tax) of expenses incurred in 2020, primarily associated with investment banking fees, obtaining regulatory approvals, legal expenses and other direct costs of the Peoples Gas Acquisition, adjustments to reflect net acquisition financing as of January 1, 2019 of $10,700 ($14,342 pre-tax), the elimination of interest on debt that was not assumed in the acquisition of $2,448 ($3,442 pre-tax), and the elimination of a management fee charged quarterly to Peoples by its former parent company of $885 ($1,245 pre-tax). Associated with the approval of the Peoples Gas Acquisition from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Company committed to addressing the replacement of gathering pipe over a seven year timeframe for an estimated cost of $120,000, which will be recoverable through customer rates. Additionally, the Company committed to provide $23,004 of one-time customer rate credits to its Pennsylvania natural gas utility customers and water and wastewater customers served by Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (“Aqua Pennsylvania”). The Company granted $4,080 of customer rate credits to its water and wastewater customers during the third quarter of 2020, and $18,924 to its natural gas utility customers in the fourth quarter of 2020 to satisfy the $23,004 commitment. Water and Wastewater Utility Acquisitions - Completed In August 2021, the Company acquired the water utility system assets of The Commons Water Supply, Inc., which serves 992 customers in Harris County, Texas, and the wastewater utility system assets of the Village of Bourbonnais, which serves approximately 6,500 customers in Kankakee County, Illinois. The total cash purchase prices for these utility systems were $4,000 and $32,100, respectively. In December 2020, the Company acquired the wastewater utility system assets of New Garden Township, Pennsylvania, which serves 1,965 customers. The total cash purchase price for the utility system was $29,944. In October 2020, the Company acquired the water and wastewater utility system of Rockwell Utilities, which serves 514 customers in the Village of Lakemoor in Lake County, Illinois. The total cash purchase price for the utility system was $4,859. In June 2020, the Company acquired the wastewater utility system assets of East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania, which serves 4,947 customers. The total cash purchase price for the utility system was $21,000. In January 2020, the Company acquired the water utility system assets of the City of Campbell, Ohio, which serves 3,126 customers. The total cash purchase price for the utility system was $7,472. 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 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.In July 2021, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the water utility assets of Shenandoah Borough, Pennsylvania which consists of approximately 2,930 customers for $12,000. In April 2021, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire certain water or wastewater utility assets of Oak Brook, Illinois which consists of approximately 2,121 customers for $12,500. In January 2021, the Company entered into purchase agreements to acquire, in separate transactions, the wastewater utility system assets of East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania and Willistown Township, Pennsylvania which consist of approximately 10,500 customers for $72,400. In September 2020, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the wastewater utility system assets of Lower Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, which consists of approximately 11,000 customers for $53,000. 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. The closing for the wastewater assets of Lower Makefield Township is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2022, and the closings of our acquisitions of East Whiteland Township and Willistown Township are expected to occur in the second quarter of 2022. The closings of our Shenandoah and Beaver Falls acquisitions are expected to occur in the second half of 2022. The closing of our Oak Brook acquisition is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2022. Closing for our utility acquisitions are subject to the timing of the respective regulatory approval processes. 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) that the establishment of the customer trust was valid. Delaware County appealed this decision to Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, where this case is continuing. A three-judge panel heard oral arguments on October 18, 2021; a decision is expected in the next several months. The administrative law judges in the regulatory approval process recommended that the Company’s application be denied, and subsequently, the Company provided exceptions to the recommended decision. On March 25, 2021, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ruled that the case be remanded back to the Office of Administrative Law Judge and vacated the original administrative law judges’ decision. On April 16, 2021, the administrative law judge issued an order staying the proceeding until the Delaware County Court lawsuit is final and unappealable. 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 by the issuance of common stock and by utilizing our revolving credit facility until permanent debt is secured. Closing of our acquisition of DELCORA is expected to occur in 2022, subject to the timing of the regulatory approval process and DELCORA’s above-referenced litigation with Delaware County.