California Water Service (CWT) Risk Analysis

Regulatory decisions may affect prospective revenues and earnings and the timing of the recognition of revenues and expenses and may overturn past decisions used in determining our revenues and expenses. While our management evaluates the anticipated recovery of regulatory assets and revenues subject to refund and provides for allowances and/or reserves as deemed necessary, no assurance can be given that any such allowances and/or reserves will be adequate to cover any loss or adjustment due to the absence of our limited recovery of regulatory assets and revenues as a result of regulatory decisions. Current accounting procedures allow us to defer certain costs if we believe it is probable that we will be allowed to recover those costs through future rate increases. If the Commissions determined that a portion of our assets were not recoverable in customer rates, we may suffer an asset impairment, which would require a write down in such asset's valuation that would be recorded through operations. If our assessment as to the probability of recovery through the ratemaking process is later determined to be incorrect, the associated regulatory asset would be adjusted to reflect the change in our assessment of any regulatory disallowances. A change in our evaluation of the probability of recovery of regulatory assets or a regulatory disallowance of all or a portion of our cost could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

If we determine that real property is no longer used or useful for utility operations, we may remove it from our rate base and subsequently sell the property with any gain on sales accruing to the stockholders, subject to certain conditions. If the Commissions disagree with our characterization, there is a risk that the Commissions could determine that realized appreciation in property value should be awarded to customers rather than our stockholders.

Regulatory agencies have in the past and may in the future change their rules and policies for various reasons, including changes in the local political environment. Regulators are appointed by popular vote or are appointed by elected officials, and the election of a new administration or the appointment of new officials due to the results of elections may result in dramatic change to the long-established rules and policies of an agency. For example, in 2020 regulation regarding full decoupling WRAMs temporarily changed in California. Since 2008, the CPUC allowed full decoupling WRAMs. However, in 2020, the CPUC precluded companies from proposing full decoupling WRAMs in their next GRC filings. As a result, we were precluded from requesting a full decoupling WRAM in the 2021 CA GRC. In addition, the current U.S. federal administration has effected and is expected to continue to seek to effect, propose, or threaten changes in the leadership of various U.S. federal regulatory agencies and to U.S. federal government policy, which has led to, in some cases, legal challenges as well as uncertainty around the funding, functioning and policy priorities of U.S. federal regulatory agencies and the status of current and future regulations. U.S. federal government policy changes have included efforts to modify or restrict federal funding, restructure federal agency operations or workforce and instructing federal agencies to adjust, delay, or suspend the implementation or enforcement of certain laws or regulations or to cease operating. We are unable to predict the extent to which the current U.S. federal administration may continue to impose or seek to impose leadership or policy changes at the U.S. federal regulatory agencies responsible for regulating our business, including changes or proposed changes at the EPA or SEC, or changes or proposed changes to rules and policies impacting our operations. Any such changes may impose additional cost or result in other changes to or limitations on our business. We rely on policies and regulations promulgated by the various Commissions in order to recover capital expenditures, maintain favorable treatment on gains from the sale of real property, offset certain production and operating costs, recover the cost of debt, maintain an optimal equity structure without over-leveraging, and have financial and operational flexibility to engage in non-regulated operations. If any of the Commissions with jurisdiction over us implements policies and regulations that do not allow us to accomplish some or all of the items listed above, our future operating results may be adversely affected. In addition, legislatures may repeal, relax or tighten existing laws, or enact new laws that affect the regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over our business or affect our business directly. If changes in existing laws or the implementation of new laws limit our ability to accomplish some of our business objectives, or make accomplishing such objectives more expensive, our future operating results may be adversely affected. Finally, state and local jurisdictions may impose new ordinances, laws, fees, and regulations that could increase costs or limit our operations, which affect future operating results. For example, as a result of the recent wildfires that devastated communities in southern California, the Governor of California signed Assembly Bill 367 into law that went into effect on January 1, 2026. The bill creates additional requirements for water utilities in Ventura County, or our Westlake district, related to fire protection. Cal Water is required to have access to sufficient backup energy to operate wells and water pumps that are critical for supplying water for fire suppression in the high or very high fire hazard severity zone beginning July 1, 2030. Cal Water is also required to prepare an emergency preparedness plan for responding to red flag warnings, extreme weather events, and major power outages. Cities may impose or amend franchise requirements, impose conditions on underground construction or land use, impose various taxes and fees, or restrict our hours for construction, among other things. More cities are imposing excavation moratoria or paving rules, which has resulted in delays and required more costly construction than anticipated.

Our water and wastewater services are governed by various federal, state, and local environmental protection, health and safety laws, and regulations. Although we have a water quality assurance program in place, we cannot guarantee that we will continue to comply with all standards. If we violate any federal or state regulations or laws governing health and safety, we could be subject to substantial fines or otherwise sanctioned, subject to potential civil liability for damages, and our customers' trust in our operations ability could be eroded. Drinking water, wastewater, and environmental health and safety laws are complex and change frequently. They have tended to become more stringent over time. As new or stricter standards are introduced, our operating costs could increase. Although we would likely seek permission to recover these costs through rate increases, we can give no assurance that the Commissions would approve rate increases to enable us to recover these additional compliance costs. We are required to test our water quality and wastewater discharges for certain chemicals and potential contaminants on a regular basis. If the test results indicate that our water exceeds allowable limits, we may be required either to commence treatment to remove the contaminant or to develop an alternate water source. Either of these results may be costly. Although we would likely seek permission to recover these through rate increases, there can be no assurance that the Commissions would approve rate increases to enable us to recover these additional compliance costs. Past events in the utility sector, including those relating to drinking water contamination in Flint, Michigan and those related to safety and wildfire-related compliance failures at Pacific Gas and Electric Company in California, show that failure to meet one or more water quality, environmental, or safety standards can have severe effects on customer trust, reputation, regulatory treatment, or civil and criminal liability.