American Water Works : Illinois American Water Customers Oppose City Buyout and Related Studies

Sept. 26, 2016 Karen Cotton

309.566.4126

karen.cotton@amwater.com

Peoria, Ill. (Sept. 26, 2016) - Seventy-two percent of voters in Peoria believe Illinois American Water should run and operate the local water system, according to results from a survey of public opinion commissioned by the water company. The research, which surveyed 400 registered voters on Aug. 18 - 21, 2016, shows Peoria residents oppose a buyout by a 69 percent - 23 percent margin with 48 percent strongly opposed.

Research results also show Peoria residents continue to be satisfied with the performance of Illinois American Water. In fact, 85 percent are satisfied with the level and quality of service of the water company. The survey has a margin of error of +(-) 4.9 percent.

Nine of ten Peoria residents say the City has more important priorities than buying the water system and believe the City of Peoria and Illinois American Water should work together instead of spending resources to debate ownership.

"Our focus is to provide quality water service; we take great pride in ensuring this critical service is available to our neighbors. We remain incredibly grateful for the support our customers continue to show for Illinois American Water. We will continue our positive partnership with the City and urge council members not to pursue a buyout that their constituents clearly do not support and our company does not want," said Roger Goodson, sr. operations manager for the Peoria District.

An 1889 franchise agreement gives the City the legal right to buy the water system every five years whether the company wants to sell the system or not. Over the last decade, the City Council has not pursued a government takeover of the local water system. In 2013, the City Council voted 8 - 3 against buying the water company.

The next vote on the water buyout will not occur until 2018.

Goodson said, "In light of community resources like that of the CEO Council focused on studying a City takeover of our system, we felt it was most important to ask our customers and Peoria residents what they thought."

Survey results revealed that when provided the CEO Council's four projects of focus, voters said studying if the City should buyout the water system is the lowest priority (5 percent). Developing job skills in high school and college students is the highest priority (46 percent), followed by improving quality of life in Peoria (34 percent). Identifying ways to recruit skilled professionals to Peoria is also ranked higher than a buyout study (12 percent).

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Other key findings from the research are:

• By a 90 percent-9 percent margin, voters agreed that the "City of Peoria has more important priorities than buying the water company", with 75 percent strongly agreeing.

• By a 91 percent -7 percent margin, voters said the "City of Peoria and Illinois American Water should work together instead of spending money debating ownership of the water company.

• By a 72 percent-20 percent margin, voters said Illinois American Water should own and run the water system rather than the City of Peoria.

"I think the people of Peoria realize the City has more important priorities to address and they believe the community would be better served by the City and our company continuing to work together rather than debating ownership of the water company," said Goodson.

Goodson pointed to research results that demonstrate that the water company is doing a good job of serving its customers. The research of customers shows that:

85 percent are satisfied with the level and quality of service of the water company.

73 percent believed Illinois American Water is a good employer and corporate citizen. 70 percent are satisfied with the rates they pay for water.

70 percent are satisfied with the quality and taste of their water.

"Personally, I am proud of the local team and their ability to remain focused regardless of continued efforts related to a buyout. The confidence of our customers helps to fuel our employees and I know I speak for the entire team when I say thank you, we look forward to continuing to serve you as Illinois American Water and our predecessors have for over a century," said Goodson.

Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.2 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.

Illinois American Water ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Water Utilities in the Midwest" according to J.D. Power's 2016 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM.

American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. Marking its 130th anniversary this year, the company employs 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

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