Essential Utilities, Inc., headquartered in the United States, is a prominent player in the water and natural gas utility industry. Founded in 2017, the company has rapidly expanded its operations across key regions, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina. Essential Utilities is dedicated to providing safe and reliable water and natural gas services, focusing on sustainability and innovation. The company’s core offerings include water distribution, wastewater treatment, and natural gas services, distinguished by their commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. Essential Utilities has achieved significant milestones, including strategic acquisitions that have bolstered its market position. With a strong emphasis on customer service and operational efficiency, Essential Utilities continues to be a leader in the utility sector, recognised for its efforts in enhancing infrastructure and promoting sustainable practices.
How does Essential Utilities's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Research Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Essential Utilities's score of 49 is higher than 71% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, Essential Utilities, headquartered in the US, reported total carbon emissions of approximately 4,434,830,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1, 39,198,000 kg CO2e for Scope 2, and a significant 8,045,213,000 kg CO2e for Scope 3 emissions. This reflects a slight decrease in Scope 1 emissions from 2023, where they were about 4,630,650,000 kg CO2e, and a decrease in Scope 2 emissions from 41,392,000 kg CO2e. However, Scope 3 emissions increased from 8,194,886,000 kg CO2e in 2023. Essential Utilities has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60% from a 2019 baseline by the year 2035. This target is part of a long-term strategy to enhance sustainability within the utilities sector. The company has consistently reported its emissions data and reduction targets through various sustainability reports, demonstrating transparency and accountability in its climate initiatives. The emissions data is sourced directly from Essential Utilities, Inc., with no cascading from a parent or related organization. The company remains committed to its reduction goals, which are crucial for mitigating climate change impacts and aligning with industry standards.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 503,637,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 117,393,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | 106,719,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
Essential Utilities's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 9% last year and increased significantly since 2019, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. The vast majority of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing the vast majority of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Use of Sold Products" being the largest emissions source at 98% of Scope 3 emissions.
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Essential Utilities has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.

Common questions about Essential Utilities's sustainability data and climate commitments