Group ranked No. 1 among investor-owned water utilities, 16th in the Energy & Utilities category, and 298th overall among all companies nationwide. The 2024 list spans 14 industries and recognizes the top 600 out of the 2,000 largest public companies by revenue.

America's Most Responsible Companies were selected based on publicly available key performance indicators (KPIs) derived from corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and other reports, and through results from an independent survey. The 30 KPIs focused on company performance in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas, while the independent survey asked respondents about their perception of company activities related to corporate social responsibility.

"Caring for the environment and doing the right thing by our customers, communities, employees, and stockholders is our focus day in and day out at California Water Service Group," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group Chairman & CEO. "We are honored that Newsweek has again recognized us for our commitment, and we remain steadfast in improving and enhancing our efforts year over year.”

The full listing is published at www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-most-responsible-companies-2024.

Acerca de California Water Service Group

California Water Service Group is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service.

What sets Group apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, Group's 1,200+ employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity. Integral to Group's strategy is investing responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company has been named one of "America's Most Responsible Companies" and the "World's Most Trustworthy Companies" by
Newsweek and a Great Place to Work®. More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com.

*California Water Service received the highest score in the West Large segment of the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study of customers' satisfaction nationally among water customers in the US. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

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"As a water provider, day in and day out we work together with fire departments in our service areas to supply the water and pressure they need to extinguish fires and save lives and property," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water President and CEO. "Their heroism is why we are compelled to support our local fire departments further and help make sure that they have the resources and tools necessary to keep our communities safe."

From obtaining infrared cameras that firefighters can use to find people trapped in fires to the latest in firefighting hose technology, the grants are designed to offset costs associated with fire protection efforts, life-saving equipment, and training. The financial support is greatly needed, which has made the program popular since its start in 2019, according to the utility. That's one of the reasons Cal Water has tripled its grant funding from the $60,000 it originally allocated.

Cal Water awarded its 2023 grants to the following departments in its service areas, based on need for resources to protect citizens or firefighters:

• Chico Fire Department, for ballistic personal protective equipment and bleeding control supplies to help firefighters save lives during and following incidents of mass violence.
• Colma Fire Protection District, for a variety of hoses that will help the department quickly and efficiently fight fires, including those on high-rise buildings, to prevent fires from spreading.
• Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, for a Seek Thermal FirePRO X camera to recognize victims, fires, and escape routes in low- to zero-visibility conditions.
• Montebello Fire Department, for a complete simulation system including a monitor, defibrillator, and CPR and mobile media system, which will help train firefighters to handle increased medical emergency service calls.
• Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District, for 70 tactical helmets for firefighters to wear when responding to active shooter, violent, or potentially violent incidents.
• Oroville Fire Department, for 10 handheld thermal imaging cameras that help firefighters quickly recognize movement in smoke-filled rooms.
• Visalia Fire Department, for watertight batteries to power the department's Jaws of Life, which are used to free victims of car accidents as well as for rescues in small spaces.
• Woodside Fire Protection District, to replace an aging and obsolete inventory of firefighting nozzles.

The firefighter grants are funded through Cal Water's philanthropic giving program and do not impact customer rates.

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“Every year, Operation Gobble allows us to make a big impact for those who are struggling, by giving to these organizations that get the most out of every donation to support individuals and families who depend on their services,” Salinas District Manager Brenda Granillo said.

Cal Water strives to be an integral part of the Salinas Valley community year-round. Particularly during the holidays, however, when the season can add more stress for those having difficulty making ends meet, working with local legislators and non-profit organizations to help provide Thanksgiving meals to so many is an important part of the utility's philanthropic commitment.

"It's another great year continuing our partnership with Cal Water in the spirit of giving. We are also grateful to our local nonprofits that work to ensure that our struggling families are able to celebrate Thanksgiving," said Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig.

Supervisor Chris Lopez also finds this work important.

"This is the time of year when we all give thanks for the blessings and bounty in our life," Supervisor Lopez said. "Cal Water's Operation Gobble makes sure that those in need in our community don't go without. I continue to be thankful for their programs and contributions not just during the holidays, but year-round."

Representatives for Assemblymember Robert Rivas and State Senator Anna Caballero also assisted with the distribution. Additionally, donations were presented to The Food Bank of Monterey County, Salvation Army of Salinas, Dorothy's Place, Salinas Valley LULAC, and Loaves & Fishes. A total of 425 Butterball turkey certificates were distributed between 25 local non-profit organizations chosen by the elected officials.

According to Granillo, Operation Gobble donations come from the utility's philanthropic giving program, not from water rates.

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The national award recognizes a partner that goes above and beyond to help consumers understand the value of water use efficiency and aligns with EPA's focus to aid in those efforts. WaterSense® labeled devices installed in customers' homes and businesses in 2022 through Cal Water's conservation programs are estimated to save 579 million gallons of water over the lifetime of the devices.

"At Cal Water, we are committed to being a responsible steward of our planet's limited resources through a multipronged approach to efficiency, conservation, and sustainability," said Marty Kropelnicki, Cal Water Chairman and CEO. "An important part of those efforts is our valued partnership with EPA WaterSense®, which helps validate the importance of conservation and bolsters our efforts to help our customers and communities save water every day."

At the annual American Water Works Association's WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas this month, WaterSense® recognized Cal Water for its work to partner in its promotion of water use efficiency and conservation, including:

• Offering rebates and installations of WaterSense® labeled toilets, weather-based irrigation controllers, and spray sprinkler bodies.
• Incentivizing customers to be more water-efficient during periods of drought by increasing rebate amounts for high-efficiency toilets.
• Providing rebates and direct installations for 240 toilets, more than 1,600 weather-based irrigation controllers, and over 8,000 spray sprinkler bodies.
• Giving customers nearly 7,500 free water conservation kits with WaterSense® labeled showerheads and faucet aerators, along with toilet leak detection dye tablets and hose nozzles.

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According to S&P Global Ratings, "Group's ESG Evaluation score of 74 illustrates our assessment of the company's capable management of water services and sewage treatment…The company excels in infrastructure resilience and prioritizes capital allocation toward water conservation programs, maintenance of water quality in the face of emerging contaminants, and water affordability initiatives." Additionally, S&P Global Ratings noted, "Group's familial work culture embeds its values of water quality and accessibility for customers throughout its operations, which we view as an asset in support of long-term sustainability."

"We continue to live by our long-standing culture of doing the right thing through our various sustainability and citizenship efforts across the business," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group Chairman & CEO. "We are pleased to have performed well in our first ESG Evaluation, and look forward to further progress and improving on our performance."

In recognition of Group's sustainability and citizenship efforts, the Company has been named one of the “World's Most Trustworthy Companies” and one of “America's Most Responsible Companies” by Newsweek, earned a Great Place to Work® certification for the eighth consecutive year, and its California subsidiary—California Water Service—was ranked highest in overall customer satisfaction among large water utilities in the western United States* in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM.

Also, in May of this year, Group published its 2022 ESG Report and committed to setting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by the end of the third quarter of 2024. The Company's emissions reduction targets will build on existing objectives and initiatives to address material ESG risks to the business and its stakeholders, all of which are reported on in more detail in the 2022 ESG Report.

The California Water Service Group ESG Evaluation Report produced by S&P Global Ratings can be found at www.calwatergroup.com/esg-evaluation-2023.

Acerca de California Water Service Group

California Water Service Group is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service.

What sets Group apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers, communities, employees, and stockholders.  Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, Group's 1,200+ employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity.  Integral to Group's strategy is investing responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being.  The company has been named one of “America's Most Responsible Companies” and the “World's Most Trustworthy Companies” by Newsweek and a Great Place to Work®.  More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com.

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LIHWAP, a federally funded program that offers a one-time benefit of up to $15,000 per household for past-due or current water or wastewater bills, is designed to assist low-income residents who need help paying their bills. To make the application process easier and faster for income-eligible customers, Cal Water and CSD will jointly identify customers who previously received support through the State's Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); these customers will automatically be enrolled to receive LIHWAP assistance, unless they opt out upon notification.

"We are not only focused on providing a reliable supply of safe, clean water to our customers, but also on the affordability of that water," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water Chairman and CEO. "Together, we can accomplish more, and this partnership with the Department of Community Services & Development is a groundbreaking effort for us to help our customers who are most in need."

Eligible customers who have not participated in LIHEAP may still submit applications through their local community-based organizations, which can be found on the LIHWAP information page. Since LIHWAP began, Cal Water customers have received more than $1.6 million to pay down their water bills.

For information on Cal Water's other customer assistance programs, visit the Customer Assistance page. LIHWAP also helps pay down wastewater bills; customers should inquire with their wastewater provider to see if it participates in the program.

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Fifty-five companies were honored in the energy and utilities category; Group was one of only five water utilities recognized. The full 2023 list recognizes the top 1,000 of the largest stock-listed companies by revenue and spans 23 industries from 21 countries. The rankings were determined based on market definitionâ€"companies with annual revenue over $500 million USD; an independent survey of more than 70,000 participants submitting 269,000 evaluations; and a social listening analysis of more than 975,000 company mentions. Group was previously named one of "America's Most Trustworthy Companies" for the second time in March 2023.

"California Water Service Group has always been committed to operating ethically and transparently, and doing the right thing for our customers, communities, employees, and stockholders," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group Chairman & CEO. "We are humbled to be considered not only one of America's Most Trustworthy Companies, but now also one of the World's Most Trustworthy Companies, and we will continue to work hard to maintain our customers', investors', and employees' trust every day."

The full listing and more information about the award are published online at www.newsweek.com/rankings/worlds-most-trustworthy-companies-2023.

Acerca de California Water Service Group

California Water Service Group is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service.

What sets Group apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, Group's 1,200+ employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity. Integral to Group's strategy is investing responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company has been named one of "America's Most Responsible Companies" and "World's Most Trustworthy Companies" by
Newsweek and a Great Place to Work®. More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com.

The post Group One of “World's Most Trustworthy Companies” appeared first on California Water Service.

"Infrastructure improvements like this ensure that Cal Water maintains a reliable water supply for both everyday and emergency needs. We're not only preventing water loss from aging pipes, we're creating cost savings by coordinating our work with the upcoming City of Chico road rehabilitation," said Evan Markey, Cal Water Chico District Manager.

Installation will take place in two phases, with construction taking about six to eight weeks in each of the following phases:

• Phase One: Rio Lindo Avenue, between Esplanade and Parmac Road.
• Phase Two: Rio Lindo Avenue, between Parmac Road and Cohasset Road.

The majority of the work will be performed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; however, some work may be performed at night or during the weekends to help alleviate traffic issues.

“We will make every effort to minimize traffic delays during construction, and we will notify customers in advance in those instances when after-hours work is needed,” said Markey, noting that customers can visit www.calwater.com to ensure that their contact information is up to date, along with their preferences on how they would like to be notified.

Temporary asphalt will be applied until permanent paving is completed. The City of Chico will perform the permanent paving as part of its rehabilitation project, which it anticipates beginning next summer.

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The two-part certification includes a Culture Audit^© and a Trust Index^©. All full-time employees were asked about their experiences, and the results were compared to other top U.S. workplaces to determine the company's placement.

Over the past year, while continuing to focus on keeping team members safe and healthy from the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses, Group returned to more in-person collaboration opportunities and employee-related celebrations, events that helped foster camaraderie and boost team morale. The company also expanded its employee communications program to keep team members throughout its five states better informed and engaged.

Additionally, Group enhanced its already robust benefits package by offering a new "at-risk pay" (ARP) plan to its employees; it is a component of the company's total compensation strategy that is paid on top of employees' existing salary. The ARP plan, which supports the company's "One Team, Same Direction" philosophy, is based on achievement of local and company-wide performance metrics and allows participating employees to share in the success of the company.

"Our purpose as a company is to enhance the quality of life for not only our customers and communities, but also our employees, and we are honored to again be named a Great Place to Work," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group Chairman and CEO. "Earning this certification for the eighth consecutive year tells us that our efforts are meaningful to our team members, which is important because when we take care of our employees, they can focus on taking care of our customers and communities."

“The Great Place to Work certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place to Work. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that California Water Service Group stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

California Water Service Group invites job seekers to pursue a career with a purpose-driven company, dedicated to improving the quality of life for the 2 million people it serves, by visiting www.calwatergroup.com/careers.

Acerca de California Water Service Group

California Water Service Group is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service.

What sets Group apart is its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. Guided daily by their promise to provide quality, service, and value, Group's 1,200+ employees lead the way in working to protect the planet, care for people, and operate with the utmost integrity. Integral to Group's strategy is investing responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company has been named one of “America's Most Responsible Companies” and “America's Most Trustworthy Companies” by Newsweek and a Great Place to Work®. More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com.

The post Great Place to Work® Recognition for 8th Year appeared first on California Water Service.

As part of its ongoing commitment to local fire departments and first responders, Cal Water today opened its fifth annual Firefighter Grant Program. Professional and volunteer fire departments that serve any part of Cal Water's service areas are encouraged to apply for funding to offset costs related to fire protection efforts, equipment, training, and education.

Since the program launched in 2019, it has provided more than $668,000 in grants to local fire departments. Cal Water awarded grants ranging from $16,000 to $38,000 last year for equipment such as new hoses, ventilation fans for use in fighting structure fires, portable fire pumps, drone equipment nozzles, and self-contained breathing apparatuses.

"Fire departments in many of the communities we serve lack extra budget dollars to purchase updated firefighting and protective equipment," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water President and CEO. "We're proud to support these heroes and help provide the tools and gear they need to help save lives and keep themselves and our communities safe."

According to past recipients, the grants have helped first responders save lives and property. Thanks to a 2021 grant from Cal Water, the Los Angeles County Fire Department was able to purchase an automatic-filling, high-capacity, helicopter dip tankâ€"which allows aerial firefighters to fill helicopter water tanks faster and drop more water per hour.

“Thank you, Cal Water, for supporting us in being able to aggressively fight wildfires, quickly and efficiently,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jon O'Brien. “When lives and homes are threatened, every second counts, and we are so grateful for the generous grant from Cal Water.”

For more information about the Firefighter Grant Program or to submit an application, applicants can visit www.calwater.com/firefightergrant or email firefightergrant@calwater.com. The application period for this year's cycle will close at 5 p.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 8. Cal Water will notify grant recipients in fall.

The grants are part of California Water Service Group's stockholder-funded philanthropic giving program and do not affect customers' rates.

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