Illinois Approves American Water and Essential Utilities Merger

American Water Works Company, Inc. and Essential Utilities, Inc. announced on November 6, 2026, that the Illinois Commerce Commission approved their proposed all-stock merger. This marks the fourth regulatory clearance for the deal, following previous approvals from commissions in Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia.

First announced on October 27, 2025, the transaction will create a combined entity operating under the American Water name with headquarters in Camden, New Jersey. The resulting company will serve more than 4.7 million water and wastewater customer connections and over 740,000 natural gas customer connections.

While the Illinois approval advances the timeline, the companies still await final commission decisions on settlement agreements reached in New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The merger is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2027, pending these remaining regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.