8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 9, 2024

CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) 1-13883
(Commission file number) 77-0448994
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

1720 North First Street
San Jose, California
(Address of principal executive offices) 95112
(Zip Code)

(408) 367-8200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares, par value $0.01	CWT	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined by Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 8.01. Other Events

On April 9, 2024, California Water Service Group issued a press release (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference) announcing the securing of $83 million in additional state funding to relieve customers of past-due balances accumulated during the pandemic.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

We hereby file the following exhibit with this report:

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release issued April 9, 2024
104	Cover Page Interactive Date File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
Date: April 9, 2024	By:	/s/ James P. Lynch
	Name:	James P. Lynch
	Title:	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

1720 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95112

April 9, 2024

Contact: Yvonne Kingman, 310-257-1434

For Immediate Release

Cal Water Secures $83 Million in Additional State Funding to Relieve Customers

of Past-Due Balances Accumulated During Pandemic

SAN JOSE, Calif.—With financial impacts of COVID-19 felt by California Water Service (Cal Water) customers well past the height of the pandemic, Cal Water applied for and has received more than $83.0 million through the California Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (Extended Program) to relieve residential and commercial customers of past-due balances incurred during the pandemic.

The Extended Program, administered by the State Water Resources Control Board, enables water suppliers to apply for financial support on behalf of customers. Cal Water first secured more than $20.8 million about two years ago through the original Water & Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (Original Program) for past-due balances incurred by residential and commercial customers between March 4, 2020, and June 15, 2021. Through the Extended Program, past-due debt incurred between June 16, 2021, and December 31, 2022, became eligible.

Cal Water will apply credits to affected customers’ accounts in the second quarter of 2024. Customers across all of Cal Water’s service areas will be notified directly if a credit will be applied to their accounts.

 

Customers with remaining balances that pre-date the pandemic or were accrued after the Extended Program benefit period ended in 2022 may still take advantage of Cal Water’s various interest- and penalty-free payment plans or extensions, subject to certain terms and conditions, to help prevent them from being subject to potential disruptions in water service in the future. Income-eligible customers may also enroll in Cal Water’s Customer Assistance Program, which provides qualifying lower-income customers a discount on their monthly service charge.

“We wanted to apply for these funds to help customers impacted by the pandemic,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water Chairman & CEO. “We appreciate the funding provided by the State of California to help ease our customers’ burden, and we also encourage any customers who are still struggling financially to take advantage of our numerous assistance programs. We are here to help.”

In total, Cal Water has secured $103,875,186 through the Original and Extended Programs on behalf of its customers from the State Water Resources Control Board using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

About California Water Service

California Water Service provides high-quality, reliable water utility services to more than 2 million people statewide through 496,400 service connections. Cal Water’s purpose is to enhance the quality of life for customers and communities. To do so, it invests responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company’s 1,100+ employees live by a set of strong core values and share a commitment to protecting the planet, caring for people, and operating with the utmost integrity. The utility 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^®, and is ranked No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction Among Large Water Utilities in the West Region* by J.D. Power. More information is available at www.calwater.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.

###

XML

Cover	Apr. 09, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 09, 2024
Entity File Number	1-13883
Entity Registrant Name	CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP
Entity Central Index Key	0001035201
Entity Tax Identification Number	77-0448994
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	1720 North First Street
Entity Address, City or Town	San Jose
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	95112
City Area Code	408
Local Phone Number	367-8200
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Shares, par value $0.01
Trading Symbol	CWT
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false