California Water Service Group Bolsters Environmental, Social, and Governance Program, Reaffirms Commitment to Safe and Reliable Water Supply for Communities

Group Releases 2023 ESG Report, Highlighting Recent Progress and Achievements

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its dedication to enhancing the transparency of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) program, California Water Service Group (Group or Company) (NYSE: CWT) today released its 2023 ESG Report and ESG Analyst Download. The ESG Report—which is aligned with recognized reporting frameworks and standards, including the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Water Utilities & Services Industry Standards, the Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, and the Global Reporting Initiative Standards—details progress made by Group’s subsidiaries on the Company’s ESG focus areas last year, while the supplemental ESG Analyst Download provides key ESG data and metrics.

This year’s ESG Report highlights both ongoing efforts to support Group’s ESG strategy and objectives along with significant achievements in 2023, such as how the Company is working to:

• Protect the planet, by committing to a science-aligned target to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 63% by 2035 (from a 2021 base year); investing $383.7 million in infrastructure to deliver safe, reliable water to customers; and saving close to 95 million gallons of water annually by California customers implementing the Company’s conservation programs last year.
• Serve customers, by achieving 100% compliance with primary and secondary federal and state water quality standards; applying for (and then receiving in 2024) $83 million in funding from the California Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program to relieve customers of past-due balances incurred during part of the pandemic; and donating more than $1.5 million to local community organizations.
• Engage its workforce, by investing $728,000 in employee training and continuing education for an average of 13.6 hours of training per employee; doubling its veteran hiring rate from 2022 to 8%; and awarding $10,000 in college scholarships to children of employees.
• Govern with integrity, by maintaining an engaged and diverse Board of Directors, with 36% gender diversity and 18% ethnic diversity; discussing ESG-related matters throughout the year at various committee meetings and with the full Board of Directors; and spending 27.2% of net procurement with diverse suppliers.

“Our ability to provide safe, reliable, and affordable water service to our customers and communities every day is tied directly to our commitment to ESG matters,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Chairman and CEO. “Doing the right thing is already part of how we operate day in and day out, and I am pleased with the strides we continue to make in our ESG focus areas year over year.”