en.Wedoany.com Reported - American Water spoke on key topics including affordability, infrastructure investment, and system resilience at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Summer Policy Summit held July 19–22, 2026, in Minneapolis. Cheryl Norton, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, stated that the goal of water services is to provide safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater treatment, while advancing solutions to complex challenges facing communities and utility systems. The company is engaging in dialogue with regulators and industry partners on long-term reliability and community support.

During the summit, Richard Svindland, President of Missouri American Water, participated in a panel titled "Data Centers and Affordability: The Role of Regulators," focusing on collaboration, transparency, and long-term planning approaches when large-load customers connect to utility systems. Justin Ladner, President of Pennsylvania American Water, spoke on the panel "Weathering the Storm: Industry Response to Extreme Weather and High-Impact Events," discussing how utilities and regulators can address extreme weather events while maintaining reliability and affordability. Mark McDonough, President of New Jersey American Water, joined the panel "Achieving Affordability Through Innovation and Business Meetings," presenting customer-focused affordability programs. Sarah Leeper, President of California and Hawaii American Water, participated in the Financial Research Institute (FRI) breakfast panel on distressed water systems, discussing consolidation, capital investment, and long-term community benefits. These discussions brought together commissioners, regulators, utilities, and industry leaders.

American Water is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States, with a history dating back to 1886. It operates regulated businesses in 14 states and 18 military installations, serving approximately 14 million people. With about 7,000 professionals, the company leverages its national scale and industry experience to provide safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater treatment services to its customers.