Peoples Gas Holiday Market™, Butler Spirit of Christmas Parade and volunteer outreach highlight company contributions to local communities

With winter on its way and the holiday season in high gear, Peoples employees throughout Western Pennsylvania have an added focus beyond providing safe, reliable natural gas to homes and businesses. They’re also deeply involved in warming hearts through active support of beloved traditions and non-profit organizations during this most wonderful time of the year.

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A large crowd walks through the Peoples Gas Holiday Market in downtown Pittsburgh during the 2023 holiday season. (Photo: Business Wire)

Peoples, an Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) company, brings together one-of-a-kind artisans from around the world at the 12^th annual Peoples Gas Holiday Market™. Organized by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, this year’s edition hosts more vendors than ever before, offering holiday gifts, sweet treats, and live entertainment on select dates. As a new Holiday Market exclusive, shoppers can receive a limited-edition souvenir ornament from Peoples when donating to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Peoples is a longtime supporter of the Food Bank, helping them become the primary non-profit partner of the Peoples Gas Holiday Market. In addition to offering the limited-edition ornament as a thank-you to those who give to the Food Bank during their Holiday Market visit, Peoples matched the first $5,000 raised to help fight food insecurity in the Pittsburgh area. The Peoples Gas Holiday Market is open every day until Christmas Eve – find more information at DowntownPittsburghHolidays.com/holiday-market.

“The Holiday Market would not be possible without Peoples’ generous support,” said Jeremy Waldrup, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership President. “The market has become a must-visit tradition, boosting small businesses and our local economy while making Downtown Pittsburgh a festive and fun place to be during the holidays.”

Peoples’ presence is felt in the big city and small towns, too. The company was the presenting sponsor of the annual Butler Spirit of Christmas Parade for the 12^th straight year, with 100+ Peoples active and retired employees and their families marching in the 57^th annual parade. In addition to serving as a major economic driver for Butler County, the parade serves as a team-building opportunity for Peoples employees. Dozens of active and retired employees teamed up throughout the fall to build the “Christmas on the Farm” float, one of roughly 80 unique displays in the parade, one of the largest turnouts in the parade’s history.

“By supporting events like the Butler Parade and Etna Borough’s Light Up Night, we reinforce our commitment to every community we serve,” said Julia Homa, Peoples Community Affairs and Corporate Giving Specialist. “Our company and our team aren’t just providing Western Pennsylvania with safe and reliable natural gas. We live here, work here, and are committed to being a community leader in everything we do.”

The Peoples blue flame logo and employees giving back can be found many other places throughout the holiday season. Dozens of employees gave time and donations during Essential Utilities’ Fall For Food Banks and United Way campaigns, this fall, in addition to supporting the YMCA’s Turkey Trot race on Thanksgiving Day, the Salvation Army’s Project Bundle Up, and more. For more information on how Peoples makes communities better, visit https://www.peoples-gas.com/about/community/.

About Peoples Natural Gas

Peoples, an Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) company, provides safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to approximately 740,000 homes and businesses in Western Pennsylvania and Kentucky (through its sister utility, Delta Natural Gas). Peoples is committed to its customers, its employees, the environment, and to the regions it serves.

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 9 states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

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