Camden, N.J. – September 23, 2026 -- American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States, sent two senior executives to the Financial Research Institute's 35th Annual Public Utility Symposium in Columbia, Missouri, on September 23, 2026, to address surging data center water-energy demand and customer affordability pressures.
Illinois American Water President Warns of AI-Driven Load Growth
Rebecca Losli, President of Illinois American Water, joined the "Intercepting the New Reality" panel, focusing on AI-related load requests, global supply chain constraints, and the water-energy requirements tied to data center expansion. The session placed utility infrastructure planning directly against the accelerating power and water needs of hyperscale computing facilities.
Regulatory Pricing Executive Addresses Affordability Amid Infrastructure Upgrades
Chuck Rea, Vice President of Regulatory Pricing and Affordability at American Water, participated in the "Breaking the Affordability Code" panel. Rea examined how utilities can support customers requiring financial assistance while simultaneously funding infrastructure modernization and regional economic development.
Symposium Marks 35 Years of Utility Sector Dialogue
The 2026 FRI Symposium examined how the water utility industry can reconcile affordability, infrastructure investment, service reliability, and financial health amid shifting customer expectations. American Water, which serves approximately 14 million people across 14 states and 19 military installations with a workforce of roughly 7,000, used the forum to engage regulators and industry stakeholders on issues shaping future water and wastewater service delivery.