Camden-based American Water is taking a leading role this week at the 2026 NARUC Winter Policy Summit. Running from Feb. 8 through Feb.11, the summit serves as a critical forum for regulators and industry leaders to address the evolving challenges of utility management.
John Griffith, president and CEO of American Water, emphasized that the company’s presence at the summit is rooted in a commitment to “practical solutions” for its 14 million customers. “Our priority is providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable services,” Griffith stated, noting the company’s focus on system resiliency and advanced leak detection.
American Water executives are headlining several high-priority panels throughout the summit, focusing on the intersection of technology and essential service reliability:
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Resilience in Action: Cheryl Norton, executive vice president and COO, joined a panel discussing how essential service providers and public officials must collaborate when infrastructure faces extreme crises.
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The Future of AI in Water: Deb Degillio, VP and chief technology officer, explored the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence. The session detailed how AI is currently being used to optimize water treatment, monitor real-time system performance, and boost environmental sustainability.
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Smart Infrastructure: Justin Ladner, president of Pennsylvania American Water, presented on the company’s Leak Detection Program, highlighting how smart infrastructure is significantly reducing water loss and improving service reliability.
As the utility sector faces increased pressure from aging infrastructure and climate variability, American Water continues to leverage its national scale to drive industry standards.
