UTL US Equity☆

Item 1A. Risk Factors

When considering an investment in our securities, investors should consider the following risk factors, as well as the information contained under the caption “Cautionary Statement” immediately following the Table of Contents in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additional risks not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently believes are immaterial may also impair business operations and financial results. If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of the Company’s common stock could decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment. The risk factors below are categorized by operational, regulatory, financial and general.

OPERATIONAL RISKS

A substantial disruption or lack of growth in interstate natural gas pipeline transmission and storage capacity and electric transmission capacity may impair the Company’s ability to meet customers’ existing and future requirements.

To meet existing and future customer demands for electricity and natural gas, the Company must acquire sufficient supplies of electricity and natural gas. In addition, the Company must contract for reliable and adequate upstream transmission and transportation capacity for its distribution systems while considering the dynamics of the natural gas interstate pipelines and storage, the electric transmission markets and its own on-system resources. The Company’s financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected if the future availability of electric and natural gas supply were insufficient to meet future customer demands for electricity and natural gas.

The Company’s electric and natural gas distribution activities (including storing natural gas and supplemental gas supplies) involve numerous hazards and operating risks that may result in accidents and other operating risks and costs. Any such accident or costs could adversely affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Inherent in the Company’s electric and natural gas distribution activities are a variety of hazards and operating risks, including leaks, explosions, electrocutions, mechanical problems and aging infrastructure. These hazards and risks could result in loss of human life, significant damage to property, environmental pollution, damage to natural resources and impairment of the Company’s operations, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

The Company maintains insurance against some, but not all, of these risks and losses in accordance with customary industry practice. The location of pipelines, storage facilities and electric distribution equipment near populated areas (including residential areas, commercial business centers and industrial sites) could increase the level of damages associated with these

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hazards and operating risks. The occurrence of any of these events could adversely affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

The Company’s operational and information systems on which it relies to conduct its business and serve customers could fail to function properly due to technological problems, a cyber-attack, acts of terrorism, severe weather, a solar event, an electromagnetic event, a natural disaster, the age and condition of information technology assets, human error, or other reasons, that could disrupt the Company’s operations and cause the Company to incur unanticipated losses and expense.

The operation of the Company’s extensive electric and natural gas systems rely on evolving information and operating technology systems and network infrastructure that are likely to become more complex as new technologies and systems are developed. The Company’s business is highly dependent on its ability to process and monitor, on a daily basis, a very large number of transactions, many of which are highly complex. The failure of these systems and networks could significantly disrupt operations; result in outages and/or damages to the Company’s assets or operations or those of third parties on which it relies; and subject the Company to claims by customers or third parties, any of which could have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

The Company’s information systems, including its financial information, operational systems, metering, and billing systems, require constant maintenance, modification, and updating, which can be costly and increases the risk of errors and malfunction. Any disruptions or deficiencies in existing information systems, or disruptions, delays or deficiencies in the modification or implementation of new information systems, could result in increased costs, the inability to track or collect revenues, the diversion of management’s and employees’ attention and resources, and could negatively affect the effectiveness of the Company’s control environment, and/or the Company’s ability to timely file required regulatory reports. Despite implementation of security and mitigation measures, all of the Company’s technology systems are vulnerable to impairment or failure due to cyber-attacks, computer viruses, human errors, acts of war or terrorism and other reasons. If the Company’s information technology systems were to fail or be materially impaired, the Company might be unable to fulfill critical business functions and serve its customers, which could have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company collects and retains sensitive electronic data including personal identification information about customers and employees, customer energy usage, and other confidential information. The theft, damage, or improper disclosure of sensitive electronic data through security breaches or other means could subject the Company to penalties for violation of applicable privacy laws or claims from third parties and could harm the Company’s reputation and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, the Company’s electric and natural gas distribution and transmission delivery systems are part of an interconnected regional grid and pipeline system. If these neighboring interconnected systems were to be disrupted due to cyber-attacks, computer viruses, human errors, acts of war or terrorism or other reasons, the Company’s operations and its ability to serve its customers would be adversely affected, which could have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

We outsource certain business functions to third-party suppliers and service providers, and substandard performance by those third parties could harm our business, reputation and results of operations.

We outsource certain services to third parties in areas including information technology, telecommunications, networks, transaction processing, human resources, payroll and payroll processing and other areas. Outsourcing of services to third parties could expose us to substandard quality of service delivery or substandard deliverables, which may result in missed deadlines or other timeliness issues, non-compliance (including with applicable legal requirements and industry standards) or reputational harm, which could negatively affect our results of operations. We also continue to pursue enhancements to modernize our systems and processes. If any difficulties in the operation of these systems were to occur, they could adversely affect our results of operations, or adversely affect our ability to work with regulators, unions, customers or employees.

The inability to attract and retain a qualified workforce including, but not limited to, executive officers, key employees and employees with specialized skills, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations.

The success of our business depends on the leadership of our executive officers and other key employees to implement our business strategies. The inability to maintain a qualified workforce including, but not limited to, executive officers, key

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employees and employees with specialized skills, may negatively affect our ability to service our existing or new customers, or successfully manage our business or achieve our business objectives. There may not be sufficiently skilled employees available internally to replace employees when they retire or otherwise leave active employment. Shortages of certain highly skilled employees may also mean that qualified employees are not available externally to replace these employees when they are needed. In addition, shortages in highly skilled employees coupled with competitive pressures may require the Company to incur additional employee recruiting and compensation expenses.

The Company may be adversely affected by work stoppages, labor disputes, and/or pandemic illness to which it may not be able to promptly respond.

Approximately one-third of the Company’s employees are represented by labor unions and are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Disputes with the unions over terms and conditions of the agreements could result in instability in the Company’s labor relationships and work stoppages that could affect the timely delivery of electricity and natural gas, which could strain relationships with customers and state regulators and cause a loss of revenues. The Company’s collective bargaining agreements also may increase the cost of employing its union workforce, affect its ability to continue offering market-based salaries and employee benefits, limit its flexibility in dealing with its workforce, and limit its ability to change work rules and practices and implement other efficiency-related improvements to successfully compete in today’s challenging marketplace, which may negatively affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, pandemic illness could result in part, or all, of the Company’s workforce being unable to operate or maintain the Company’s infrastructure or perform other tasks necessary to conduct the Company’s business. A slow or inadequate response to this type of event may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

REGULATORY RISKS

The Company is subject to comprehensive regulation, which could adversely affect the rates it is able to charge, its authorized rate of return and its ability to recover costs. In addition, certain regulatory authorities have the statutory authority to impose financial penalties and other sanctions on the Company, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

The Company is subject to comprehensive regulation by federal regulatory authorities (including the FERC) and state regulatory authorities (including the NHPUC, MDPU and MPUC). These authorities regulate many aspects of the Company’s operations, including the rates that the Company can charge customers, the Company’s authorized rates of return, the Company’s ability to recover costs from its customers, construction and maintenance of the Company’s facilities, the Company’s safety protocols and procedures, including environmental compliance, the Company’s ability to issue securities, the Company’s accounting matters, and transactions between the Company and its affiliates. The Company is unable to predict the effect on its financial condition and results of operations from the regulatory activities of any of these regulatory authorities. Changes in regulations, the imposition of additional regulations, regulatory proceedings regarding fossil fuel use and system electrification, or regulatory decisions particular to the Company could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Company’s ability to obtain rate adjustments to maintain its current authorized rates of return depends upon action by regulatory authorities under applicable statutes, rules and regulations. These regulatory authorities are authorized to leave the Company’s rates unchanged, to grant increases in such rates, or to order decreases in such rates. The Company may be unable to obtain favorable rate adjustments or to maintain its current authorized rates of return, which could adversely affect its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Regulatory authorities also have authority with respect to the Company’s ability to recover its electricity and natural gas supply costs, as incurred by Unitil Energy, Fitchburg, Unitil Power, and Northern Utilities. If the Company is unable to recover a significant amount of these costs, or if the Company’s recovery of these costs is significantly delayed, the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows could be adversely affected.

In addition, certain regulatory authorities have the statutory authority to impose financial penalties and other sanctions on the Company if the Company is found to have violated statutes, rules or regulations governing its utility operations. Any such penalties or sanctions could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

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The Company’s business is subject to environmental regulation in all jurisdictions in which it operates and its costs of compliance are significant. New, or changes to existing, environmental regulation, including those related to climate change or greenhouse gas emissions, and the incurrence of environmental liabilities could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

The Company’s utility operations are generally subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations relating to air quality, water quality, waste management, natural resources, and the health and safety of the Company’s employees. The Company’s utility operations also may be subject to new and emerging federal, state and local legislative and regulatory initiatives related to climate change or greenhouse gas emissions including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mandatory greenhouse gas reporting rule. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties and other sanctions; imposition of remedial requirements; and issuance of injunctions to ensure future compliance. Liability under certain environmental laws and regulations is strict, joint and several in nature. Although the Company believes it is in material compliance with all applicable environmental and safety laws and regulations, there is no assurance that the Company will not incur significant costs and liabilities in the future. Moreover, it is possible that other developments, such as increasingly stringent federal, state or local environmental laws and regulations, including those related to climate change or greenhouse gas emissions, could result in increased environmental compliance costs. The Company has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 levels by at least 50% by 2030 and to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Unforeseen or changing circumstances could adversely affect the Company's ability to achieve these greenhouse gas emissions goals and changes in the regulatory environment could result in the costs associated with efforts to achieve these goals not qualifying for recovery.

FINANCIAL RISKS

The Company may not be able to obtain financing, or may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Company requires capital to fund utility plant additions, working capital and other utility expenditures. While the Company derives the capital necessary to meet these requirements primarily from internally generated funds, the Company supplements internally generated funds by incurring short-term and long-term debt, as needed. Additionally, from time to time the Company has accessed the public capital markets through public offerings of equity securities. A downgrade of our credit rating or events beyond our control, such as a disruption in global capital and credit markets, could increase our cost of borrowing and cost of capital or restrict our ability to access the capital markets and negatively affect our ability to maintain and to expand our businesses.

The Company’s short-term debt revolving credit facility typically has variable interest rates. Therefore, an increase or decrease in interest rates will increase or decrease the Company’s interest expense associated with its revolving credit facility. An increase in the Company’s interest expense could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $162.0 million in short-term debt outstanding under its revolving credit facility. If the lending counterparties under the Company’s current credit facility are unwilling or unable to meet their funding obligations, the Company may be unable to, or limited in its ability, to borrow under its credit facility. This situation could hinder or prevent the Company from meeting its current and future capital needs, which could correspondingly adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results or operations, and cash flows.

Also, from time to time the Company repays portions of its short-term debt with the proceeds it receives from long-term debt financings or equity financings. General economic conditions, conditions in the capital and credit markets and the Company’s operating and financial performance could negatively affect the Company’s ability to obtain such financings or the terms of such financings, which could correspondingly adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. The Company’s long-term debt typically has fixed interest rates. Therefore, changes in interest rates will not affect the Company’s interest expense associated with its presently outstanding fixed rate long-term debt. However, an increase or decrease in interest rates may increase or decrease the Company’s interest expense associated with any new fixed rate long-term debt issued by the Company, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

The Company may need to use a significant portion of its cash flow to repay its short-term debt and long-term debt, which would limit the amount of cash it has available for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes and could adversely affect its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

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Changes in taxation and the ability to quantify such changes could adversely affect the Company’s financial results.

The Company is subject to taxation by the various taxing authorities at the federal, state and local levels where it does business. Legislation or regulation which could affect the Company’s tax burden could be enacted by any of these governmental authorities. The Company cannot predict the timing or extent of such tax-related developments which could have a negative effect on the financial results. The Company uses its best judgment in attempting to quantify and reserve for these tax obligations. However, a challenge by a taxing authority, the Company’s ability to utilize tax benefits such as carryforwards or tax credits, or a deviation from other tax-related assumptions may cause actual financial results to deviate from previous estimates.

Declines in capital market valuations could require the Company to make substantial cash contributions to cover its pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations. If the Company is unable to recover a significant amount of pension and other post-retirement benefit obligation costs in its rates, or if the Company’s recovery of these costs in its rates is significantly delayed, its financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

The amount of cash contributions the Company is required to make in respect of its pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations is dependent upon capital market valuations. Adverse changes in capital market valuations could result in the Company being required to make substantial cash contributions in respect to these obligations. These cash contributions could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows if the Company is unable to recover such costs in rates or if such recovery is significantly delayed. See section titled Critical Accounting Policies—Retirement Benefit Obligations in Part II, Item 7 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) and Note 9 (Retirement Benefit Plans) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion of the Company’s pension obligations.

The terms of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ indebtedness restrict the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business operations (including their ability to incur material amounts of additional indebtedness), which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The terms of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ indebtedness impose various restrictions on the Company’s business operations, including the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness. These restrictions could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. See sections titled Liquidity, Commitments and Capital Requirements in Part II, Item 7 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) and Note 4 (Debt and Financing Arrangements) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion of these restrictions.

Unitil is a public utility holding company and has no operating income of its own. The Company’s ability to pay dividends on its common stock is dependent on dividends and other payments received from its subsidiaries and on factors directly affecting Unitil, the parent corporation. The Company cannot assure that its current annual dividend will be paid in the future.

The ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to Unitil depends on, among other things:

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the actual and projected earnings and cash flow, capital requirements and general financial condition of the Company’s subsidiaries;

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the prior rights of holders of existing and future preferred stock, mortgage bonds, long-term notes and other debt issued by the Company’s subsidiaries;

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the restrictions on the payment of dividends contained in the existing loan agreements of the Company’s subsidiaries and that may be contained in future debt agreements of the Company’s subsidiaries, if any; and

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limitations that may be imposed by New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine state regulatory authorities.

In addition, before the Company can pay dividends on its common stock, it must satisfy its debt obligations and comply with any statutory or contractual limitations.

As of February 13, 2024, the Company’s current effective annualized dividend is $1.70 per share of common stock, payable quarterly. The Company’s Board of Directors reviews Unitil’s dividend policy periodically in light of a number of

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business and financial factors, including those referred to in this report, and the Company cannot assure the amount of dividends, if any, that may be paid in the future.

GENERAL RISKS

The Company’s electric and natural gas sales and revenues are highly correlated with the economy, and national, regional and local economic conditions may adversely affect the Company’s customers and correspondingly the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

The Company’s business is influenced by the economic activity within its service territory. The level of economic activity in the Company’s electric and natural gas distribution service territories directly affects the Company’s business. As a result, adverse changes in the economy may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results or operations, and cash flows. Economic downturns or periods of high electric and gas supply costs typically can lead to the development of legislative and regulatory policy designed to promote reductions in energy consumption and increased energy efficiency and self-generation by customers. This focus on conservation, energy efficiency and self-generation may result in a decline in electricity and gas sales in our service territories. If any such declines were to occur without corresponding adjustments in rates, our revenues would be reduced and our future growth prospects would be limited. In addition, a period of prolonged economic weakness could affect our customers’ ability to pay bills in a timely manner and increase customer bankruptcies, which may lead to increased bad debt expenses or other adverse effects on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

A significant amount of the Company’s sales are temperature sensitive. Because of this, mild winter and summer temperatures could decrease the Company’s sales, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Also, the Company’s sales may vary from year to year depending on weather conditions, and the Company’s results of operations generally reflect seasonality.

A significant amount of the Company’s natural gas sales are temperature sensitive. Therefore, mild winter temperatures could decrease the amount of natural gas sold by the Company, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. The Company’s electric sales also are temperature sensitive, but less so than its natural gas sales. The highest usage of electricity typically occurs in the summer months (due to air conditioning demand) and the winter months (due to heating-related and lighting requirements). Therefore, mild summer temperatures and mild winter temperatures could decrease the amount of electricity sold by the Company, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Also, because of this temperature sensitivity, sales by the Company’s distribution utilities vary from year to year, depending on weather conditions.

The Company’s results of operations are expected to reflect the seasonal nature of the natural gas business. Annual gas revenues are substantially realized during the colder weather seasons of the year as a result of higher sales of natural gas used for heating-related purposes. Accordingly, the results of operations are historically most favorable in the first and fourth quarters. Fluctuations in seasonal weather conditions may have a significant effect on the result of operations. Sales of electricity are generally less sensitive to weather than natural gas sales, but may also be affected by the weather conditions and the temperature in both the winter and summer seasons.

Catastrophic events could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The electric and natural gas utility industries are from time to time affected by catastrophic events, such as unusually severe weather and significant and widespread failures of plant and equipment. Other catastrophic occurrences, such as terrorist attacks on utility facilities, may occur in the future. Such events could inhibit the Company’s ability to deliver electricity or natural gas to its customers for an extended period, which could affect customer satisfaction and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. If customers, legislators, or regulators develop a negative opinion of the Company, this situation could result in increased regulatory oversight and could affect the equity returns that the Company is allowed to earn. Also, if the Company is unable to recover in its rates a significant amount of costs associated with catastrophic events, or if the Company’s recovery of such costs in its rates is significantly delayed, the Company’s financial condition, results or operations, or cash flows may be adversely affected.

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The Company’s business could be adversely affected if it is unable to retain its existing customers or attract new customers, or if customers’ demand for its current products and services significantly decreases.

The success of the Company’s business depends, in part, on its ability to maintain and increase its customer base and the demand that those customers have for the Company’s products and services. The Company’s failure to maintain or increase its customer base and/or customer demand for its products and services could adversely affect its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

The electricity and natural gas supply requirements of the Company’s customers are fulfilled by the Company or, in some instances and as allowed by state regulatory authorities, by third-party suppliers who contract directly with customers. In either scenario, significant increases in electricity and natural gas commodity prices may negatively affect the Company’s ability to attract new customers and grow its customer base.

Developments in distributed generation, energy conservation, power generation and energy storage could affect the Company’s revenues and the timing of the recovery of the Company’s costs. Advancements in power generation technology are improving the cost-effectiveness of customer self-supply of electricity. Improvements in energy storage technology, including batteries and fuel cells, could also better position customers to meet their around-the-clock electricity requirements. Such developments could reduce customer purchases of electricity, but may not necessarily reduce the Company’s investment and operating requirements due to the Company’s obligation to serve customers, including those self-supply customers whose equipment has failed for any reason, to provide the power they need. In addition, because a portion of the Company’s costs are recovered through charges based upon the volume of power delivered, reductions in electricity deliveries will affect the timing of the Company’s recovery of those costs and may require changes to the Company’s rate structures.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

For purposes of the following disclosure, the terms “cybersecurity incident” and “cybersecurity threat” have the meanings given to such terms in Item 106 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Risk management and strategy

The Company has a Cybersecurity Plan for assessing, identifying, and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats. The intent of the Cybersecurity Plan is to provide a proactive and systemic approach to meet the evolving requirements for cybersecurity and related compliance in the utility industry. The Cybersecurity Plan’s objectives include:

·adopting and using established cybersecurity standards and industry best practices;

·protecting personally identifiable information;

·protecting infrastructure operations, including Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems at electric substations and natural gas plants;

·securing customers’, employees’, and the Company’s data;

·complying with North American Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standards and standards for the protection of Bulk Electric System Cyber Systems; and

·continually assessing and, as necessary, enhancing the Company’s cybersecurity through a managed process integrated with the Company’s risk management principles.

The Cybersecurity Plan includes annual assessments using (i) the Department of Energy’s Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model, (ii) the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework, and (iii) the Center for Internet Security Controls. The Company uses the results of these assessments to benchmark the Company’s cybersecurity posture, to identify risks from cybersecurity threats, to prioritize any such risks that may have potential material effects on the Company, and to establish effective controls to manage, mitigate and remediate such risks.

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The Cybersecurity Plan is part of the Company’s corporate Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program. The Company’s ERM program includes an annual review of new or emerging risks (including risks from cybersecurity threats), the assessment of such risks and their potential effects on the Company, the velocity of potential cybersecurity incidents resulting from such risks, and risk mitigation strategies.

The Company maintains a Cybersecurity Employee Awareness Program, which provides targeted education and mandatory quarterly training to employees. The Cybersecurity Employee Awareness Program also conducts monthly phishing test exercises with employees, which includes an escalation procedure for repeated failures. Additionally, the Company performs an annual cyber knowledge assessment of all employees to address any identified knowledge gaps.

The Company engages or otherwise collaborates with cybersecurity consultants, cybersecurity experts, energy sector leaders, and other third parties in connection with the Cybersecurity Plan. Unitil Corporation also is a member of the cyber committees of both the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute.

Third party entities that provide hardware, software or related support services to the Company or hold the Company’s customer data represent material cybersecurity risks to the Company. To help mitigate those risks, the Company has robust procurement processes and requirements for such third-parties (which include a formal assessment of the third-party’s cyber posture, cyber liability insurance, and breach reporting protocols) that help the Company to oversee and identify cybersecurity risks associated with its use of such third party entities.

During the fiscal year ended, and as of, December 31, 2023, there were no risks from cybersecurity threats (including as a result of previous cybersecurity incidents) that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company (including its business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition).

Governance

Unitil Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is responsible for oversight of the Company’s ERM program, including risks from cybersecurity threats. The Board has not assigned that responsibility to any committee or subcommittee of the Board. The Company’s management generally provides the Board with updates on and assessments of ongoing and emerging risks from cybersecurity threats at regularly scheduled Board meetings.

The Company’s cybersecurity management team is responsible for assessing and managing the Company’s material risks from cybersecurity threats, including implementing the Cybersecurity Plan. The team includes the Company’s Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Information Technology (the “CTO”), the Director of Information Security, and two Cybersecurity Analysts, all of whom have an educational background relevant to, professional experience in, or other expertise in cybersecurity. This team is supported by the Company’s Information Technology department. The CTO holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with over 30 years of professional experience in the utility industry with extensive management experience in engineering, operations and information technology. The CTO also assumes responsibilities as the Company’s Chief Information Security Officer and its Chief Cyber Security Officer. The CTO has overall management responsibility for the Company’s cybersecurity. The CTO reports to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Director of Information Security holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Masters Certificate in Cyber Security with a concentration in Power Systems and has over 30 years of experience in the information technology field. The Director of Information Security has primary responsibility for the cyber security program including threat and vulnerability management, vendor security posture assessment, Industrial Control System (ICS) and SCADA infrastructure protection at electric substations and natural gas plants, as well as leading the Cyber Incident Response Team. One of the Cybersecurity Analysts has a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and the other has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice / Computer Crime and Digital Forensics, and the Cybersecurity Analysts have a combined 25 years of experience in various information technology and cyber roles.

The Company’s cybersecurity management team assesses and manages the Company’s material risks from cybersecurity threats through or by:

·active monitoring of cyber threat alerts, warnings, advisories, notices, vulnerability assessments, incident bulletins, security briefings, reports and white papers from industry and national organizations, including: downstream

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Natural Gas Information Sharing and Analysis Center; Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center; Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and Federal Bureau of Investigation;

·threat and vulnerability management;

·vendor security posture assessment;

·Industrial Control System and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition infrastructure protection at electric substations and natural gas plants; and

·leading the Company’s Cyber Incident Response Team.

In addition, the Company uses (i) a Security Operations Center vendor with 24x7 monitoring and response capabilities to identify any suspicious activity on the Company’s networks and (ii) a security consulting firm for assessments, penetration testing and incident response. In the event of a cybersecurity threat, the CTO and these parties would collaborate to assess and manage the risk with ultimate responsibility residing with the Board.

Also, in the event of a cybersecurity threat or cybersecurity incident, the Company’s cybersecurity management team will conduct an investigation and impact analysis and, as necessary, the CTO will activate the Company’s Cyber Incident Response Team. The Cyber Incident Response Team is a subset of the Company’s Crisis Response Team, which has responsibility for operational and business resilience, as well as tactical and strategic response. A foundational aspect of the Crisis Response Team is prompt and comprehensive communications to all concerned parties, both internal and external, including direction for management to inform the Board about risks from cybersecurity threats.

In the event that a cybersecurity incident occurs which results in damage to the Company’s data or infrastructure, the Cyber Incident Response Team would follow the Company’s Cyber Incident Response Plan. The Cyber Incident Response Plan was developed using the guidelines described in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-61 Revision 2 Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, has been reviewed and assessed by outside experts, is updated annually, and is used to train for cybersecurity incidents. The Cyber Incident Response Plan details the identification, containment, eradication and recovery processes specific to the Company’s environment with prioritization of critical assets. The Cyber Incident Response Plan also details emergency actions required to isolate and protect industrial control system environments, should the incident pose a risk to electric or gas operations. The Company participates in annual industry drill exercises to test the Cyber Incident Response Plan.

The Company’s determination of the materiality of a cybersecurity incident would generally include an evaluation of the incident’s effect on the Company (including (i) its business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition, (ii) the integrity, confidentiality, resiliency, and security of the Company’s networks and systems, and (iii) the Company’s operations).

Item 2. Properties

As of December 31, 2023, Unitil owned through its natural gas and electric distribution utilities, five utility operating centers located in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. The Company’s real estate subsidiary, Unitil Realty, owns the Company’s corporate headquarters building and the land on which it is located in Hampton, New Hampshire. Unitil Realty also owns land for future use in Kingston, New Hampshire.

The following tables detail certain of the Company’s electric and natural gas operations properties.

Electric Operations

Description Unitil Energy Fitchburg Total

Primary Transmission and Distribution Pole Miles—Overhead 1,288 452 1,740

Conduit Distribution Bank Miles—Underground 242 69 311

Transmission and Distribution Substations* 26 11 37

* Includes locations that are normally in-service sources of distribution circuits through the use of transformer(s).

** Does not include load served directly from sub-transmission.

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Natural Gas Operations

Northern Utilities

Description NH ME Fitchburg GraniteState Total

Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline—Miles — — — 85 85

Unitil Energy’s electric substations are located on land owned by Unitil Energy or land occupied by Unitil Energy pursuant to perpetual easements in the southeastern seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire. Unitil Energy’s electric distribution lines are located in, on or under public highways or private lands pursuant to lease, easement, permit, municipal consent, tariff conditions, agreement or license, expressed or implied through use by Unitil Energy without objection by the owners. In the case of certain distribution lines, Unitil Energy owns only a part interest in the poles upon which its wires are installed, the remaining interest being owned by telecommunication companies.

The physical utility properties of Unitil Energy, with certain exceptions, and its franchises are subject to its indenture of mortgage and deed of trust under which the respective series of first mortgage bonds of Unitil Energy are outstanding.

Fitchburg’s electric substations, with minor exceptions, are located in north central Massachusetts on land owned by Fitchburg or occupied by Fitchburg pursuant to perpetual easements. Fitchburg’s electric distribution lines and gas mains are located in, on, or under public highways or private lands pursuant to lease, easement, permit, municipal consent, tariff conditions, agreement or license, express or implied through use by Fitchburg without objection by the owners. Fitchburg owns full interest in the poles upon which its wires are installed.

The Company’s natural gas operations property includes two liquefied propane gas plants and two liquid natural gas plants. Northern Utilities also owns a propane air gas plant and an LNG storage and vaporization facility. Fitchburg owns a propane air gas plant and an LNG storage and vaporization facility, both of which are located on land owned by Fitchburg in north central Massachusetts.

Northern Utilities’ gas mains are primarily made up of polyethylene plastic (83.8%), coated and wrapped cathodically protected steel (15.2%), cast/wrought iron (0.9%), and unprotected bare and coated steel (0.1%). FG&E’s gas mains are primarily made up of polyethylene plastic (45.0%), coated steel (43.3%), cast iron (10.4%), bare steel (1.1%), and wrought and ductile iron (0.2%).

Granite State’s underground natural gas transmission pipeline, regulated by the FERC, is located primarily in Maine and New Hampshire.

The Company believes that its facilities are currently adequate for their intended uses.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types, including those which arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes, based upon information furnished by counsel and others, that the ultimate resolution of these claims will not have a material effect on its financial position, operating results or cash flows.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “UTL.” As of December 31, 2023, there were 1,143 shareholders of record of our common stock.

Common Stock Data

See “Dividends” in Part II, Item 7 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations).

Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, as of December 31, 2023, is set forth in the following table.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

(a) (b) (c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1) — — 91,893

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders — — —

NOTES: (also see Note 5 (Equity) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements)

(1)

Consists of the Second Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Plan (the Plan). On April 19, 2012, shareholders approved the Plan, and a total of 677,500 shares of our common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and common stock under the Plan. A total of 541,285 shares of restricted stock have been awarded and 58,272 restricted stock units have been settled and issued as shares of common stock by Plan participants through December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, a total of 13,950 shares of restricted stock were forfeited and once again became available for issuance under the Plan.

Stock Performance Graph

The following graph compares Unitil Corporation’s cumulative stockholder return since December 31, 2018 with the Peer Group index, comprised of the S&P 500 Utilities Index, and the S&P 500 index. The graph assumes that the value of the

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investment in the Company’s common stock and each index (including reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on December 31, 2018.

NOTE:

(1)

The graph above assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2018, in each category and the reinvestment of all dividends during the five-year period. The Peer Group is comprised of the S&P 500 Utilities Index.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Uses of Proceeds

There were no sales of unregistered equity securities by the Company for the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Pursuant to the written trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), adopted and announced by the Company on June 1, 2023, the Company will periodically repurchase shares of its Common Stock on the open market related to the stock portion of the Directors’ annual retainer for those Directors who elected to receive common stock. There is no pool or maximum number of shares related to these purchases; however, the trading plan will terminate when $614,000 in value of shares have been purchased or, if sooner, on May 31, 2024.

The Company may suspend or terminate this trading plan at any time, so long as the suspension or termination is made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act, or other applicable securities laws.

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The following table provides information regarding repurchases by the Company of shares of its common stock pursuant to the trading plan for each month in the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Item 6. Reserved

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) (Note references are to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.)

OVERVIEW

Unitil is a public utility holding company headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire. Unitil is subject to regulation as a holding company system by the FERC under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Unitil’s principal business is the local distribution of electricity and natural gas to approximately 196,900 customers throughout its service territory in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. Unitil is the parent company of three wholly-owned distribution utilities:

i)

Unitil Energy, which provides electric service in the southeastern seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire;

ii)

Fitchburg, which provides both electric and natural gas service in the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts; and

iii)

Northern Utilities, which provides natural gas service in southeastern New Hampshire and portions of southern and central Maine, including the city of Portland and the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Unitil Energy, Fitchburg and Northern Utilities are collectively referred to as the “distribution utilities.” Together, the distribution utilities serve approximately 108,500 electric customers and 88,400 natural gas customers in their service territories. The distribution utilities are local “wires and pipes” operating companies.

In addition, Unitil is the parent company of Granite State, a natural gas transmission pipeline, regulated by the FERC, operating 85 miles of underground gas transmission pipeline primarily located in Maine and New Hampshire. Granite State provides Northern Utilities with interconnection to three major natural gas pipelines and access to North American pipeline supplies.

Unitil had an investment in Net Utility Plant of $1,420.9 million at December 31, 2023. Unitil’s total revenue was $557.1 million in 2023, which includes revenue to recover the approved cost of purchased electricity and natural gas in rates on a fully reconciling basis. As a result of this reconciling rate structure, the Company’s earnings are not affected by changes in the cost of purchased electricity and natural gas. Earnings from Unitil’s utility operations are derived from the return on investment in the three distribution utilities and Granite State.

The Company’s other subsidiaries include Unitil Service, which provides, at cost, a variety of administrative and professional services to Unitil’s affiliated companies, Unitil Resources, the Company’s non-regulated subsidiary, which currently does not have any activity, and Unitil Realty, which owns and manages Unitil’s corporate office building and property located in Hampton, New Hampshire. Unitil’s consolidated net income includes the earnings of the holding company and these subsidiaries.

Regulation

Unitil is subject to comprehensive regulation by federal and state regulatory authorities. Unitil and its subsidiaries are subject to regulation as a holding company system by the FERC under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 with regard to certain bookkeeping, accounting and reporting requirements. Unitil’s utility operations related to wholesale and interstate energy business activities are also regulated by the FERC. Unitil’s distribution utilities are subject to regulation by the applicable state public utility commissions, with regard to their rates, issuance of securities and other accounting and operational matters: Unitil Energy is subject to regulation by the NHPUC; Fitchburg is subject to regulation by the MDPU; and Northern Utilities is regulated by the NHPUC and MPUC. Granite State, Unitil’s interstate natural gas transmission pipeline, is subject to regulation by the FERC with regard to its rates and operations. Because Unitil’s primary operations are subject to rate regulation, the regulatory treatment of various matters could significantly affect the Company’s operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Unitil’s distribution utilities deliver electricity and/or natural gas to all customers in their service territories, at rates established under traditional cost of service regulation. Under this regulatory structure, Unitil’s distribution utilities are provided the opportunity to recover the cost of providing distribution service to their customers based on a historical test year, and earn a return on their capital investment in utility assets. In addition, the Company’s distribution utilities and its natural gas

21

transmission pipeline company also may recover certain base rate costs, including capital project spending and enhanced reliability and vegetation management programs, through annual step adjustments and cost tracker rate mechanisms.

Most of Unitil’s customers have the opportunity to purchase their electricity or natural gas supplies from third-party energy suppliers. Many of Unitil’s distribution utilities’ largest C&I customers purchase their electricity or gas supply from third-party suppliers, while most small C&I customers, as well as residential customers, purchase their electricity or gas supply from the distribution utilities under regulated rates and tariffs. Unitil’s distribution utilities purchase electricity or natural gas from unaffiliated wholesale energy suppliers and recover the actual approved costs of these supplies on a pass-through basis, through reconciling rate mechanisms that are periodically adjusted.

Revenue decoupling is the term given to the elimination of the dependency of a utility’s distribution revenue on the volume of electricity or gas sales. The difference between distribution revenue amounts billed to customers and the targeted revenue decoupling amounts is recognized as an increase or a decrease in Accrued Revenue, which forms the basis for resetting rates for future cash recoveries from, or credits to, customers. These revenue decoupling targets may be adjusted as a result of rate cases and other authorized adjustments that the Company files with the MDPU and NHPUC. Fitchburg has been subject to revenue decoupling since 2011. Unitil Energy has been subject to revenue decoupling since June 1, 2022. As a result of Unitil Energy now being subject to revenue decoupling, as of June 1, 2022, revenue decoupling now applies to substantially all of Unitil’s total annual electric sales volumes. Substantially all of Northern Utilities’ gas sales volumes in New Hampshire have been subject to decoupling since August 1, 2022. The Company's electric and gas sales in New Hampshire and Massachusetts are now largely decoupled. The following table shows the estimated percentages of electric and gas sales, as of December 31, 2023, that are subject to revenue decoupling for the periods presented.

Revenue Decoupling

Estimated Percentage of Decoupled Sales

For Periods Presented

Electric

After June 1, 2022 Substantially All

Gas

Also see Regulatory Matters in this section and Note 7 (Commitments and Contingencies) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on rates and regulation.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this report.

The Company’s results of operations are expected to reflect the seasonal nature of the natural gas business. Annual gas revenues are substantially realized during the colder weather seasons of the year as a result of higher sales of natural gas used for heating-related purposes. Accordingly, the results of operations are historically most favorable in the first and fourth quarters. Fluctuations in seasonal weather conditions may have a significant effect on the result of operations. Sales of electricity are generally less sensitive to weather than natural gas sales, but may also be affected by weather conditions and the temperature in the winter and summer seasons.

On August 6, 2021, the Company issued and sold 800,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $50.80 per share in a registered public offering (Offering). The Company’s net increase to Common Equity and Cash proceeds from the Offering was approximately $38.6 million. The proceeds were used to make equity capital contributions to the Company’s regulated utility subsidiaries, to repay debt and for other general corporate purposes.

As part of the Offering, the Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares. The underwriters exercised the option and purchased an additional 120,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on September 8, 2021. The Company’s net increase to Common Equity and Cash proceeds from the exercise of the option was approximately

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$5.9 million. The proceeds were used to make equity capital contributions to the Company’s regulated utility subsidiaries, to repay debt and for other general corporate purposes. Overall, the results of operations and earnings for the years ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 reflect the higher number of average shares outstanding.

The Company analyzes operating results using Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margins, which are non-GAAP financial measures. Electric Adjusted Gross Margin is calculated as Total Electric Operating Revenue less Cost of Electric Sales. Gas Adjusted Gross Margin is calculated as Total Gas Operating Revenues less Cost of Gas Sales. The Company’s management believes Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margins provide useful information to investors regarding profitability. Also, the Company’s management believes Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margins are important financial measures to analyze revenue from the Company’s ongoing operations because the approved cost of electric and gas sales are tracked, reconciled and passed through directly to customers in electric and gas tariff rates, resulting in an equal and offsetting amount reflected in Total Electric and Gas Operating Revenue.

In the following tables the Company has reconciled Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margin to GAAP Gross Margin, which we believe to be the most comparable GAAP financial measure. GAAP Gross Margin is calculated as Revenue less Cost of Sales, and Depreciation and Amortization. The Company calculates Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margin as Revenue less Cost of Sales. The Company believes excluding Depreciation and Amortization, which are period costs and not related to volumetric sales, is a meaningful financial measure to inform investors of the Company’s profitability from electric and gas sales in the period.

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 ($ millions)

Electric Gas Other Total

Less: Depreciation and Amortization (26.0 ) (40.4 ) (1.0 ) (67.4 )

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2022 ($ millions)

Electric Gas Other Total

Less: Depreciation and Amortization (25.4 ) (36.3 ) (0.9 ) (62.6 )

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021 ($ millions)

Electric Gas Other Total

Less: Depreciation and Amortization (25.9 ) (32.6 ) (1.0 ) (59.5 )

Electric GAAP Gross Margin was $78.1 million in 2023, an increase of $4.7 million compared to 2022. The increase was driven by higher rates and customer growth of $5.3 million, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization expense of $0.6 million.

Electric GAAP Gross Margin was $73.4 million in 2022, an increase of $1.9 million compared to 2021. The increase was driven by higher rates and customer growth of $1.7 million and lower depreciation and amortization expense of $0.5 million, partially offset by the unfavorable effect on sales from cooler spring weather of $0.3 million when rates were not yet decoupled.

Gas GAAP Gross Margin was $114.1 million in 2023, an increase of $6.5 million compared to 2022. The increase was driven by higher rates and customer growth of $14.1 million, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of warmer winter

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weather in 2023 of $1.1 million, higher depreciation and amortization of $4.1 million, and the recognition, in the second quarter of 2022, of $2.4 million in higher rates resulting from the Company’s base rate case in New Hampshire.

Gas GAAP Gross Margin was $107.6 million in 2022, an increase of $7.1 million compared to 2021. The increase was driven by higher rates of $9.0 million and $1.8 million from customer growth and the favorable effect of colder winter weather in 2022, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization of $3.7 million.

Net Income and EPS Overview

2023 Compared to 2022—The Company’s Net Income was $45.2 million, or $2.82 in Earnings Per Share (EPS), for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $3.8 million in Net Income, or $0.23 in EPS, compared to 2022. The Company’s earnings in 2023 reflect higher Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margins (a non-GAAP financial measure), partially offset by higher operating expenses.

Electric Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP financial measure) was $104.1 million in 2023, an increase of $5.3 million compared with 2022. The increase was driven by higher rates from base rate cases and capital tracker mechanisms.

Gas Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP financial measure) was $154.5 million in 2023, an increase of $10.6 million compared to 2022. The increase was driven by higher rates and customer growth of $14.1 million, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of warmer winter weather in 2023 of $1.1 million and the recognition, in the second quarter of 2022, of $2.4 million in higher rates resulting from the Company’s base rate case in New Hampshire.

Operation and Maintenance (O&M) expenses increased $1.9 million, or 2.6%, in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting higher utility operating costs of $1.2 million, higher professional fees of $0.4 million and higher labor costs of $0.3 million.

Depreciation and Amortization expense increased $4.8 million in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting additional depreciation associated with higher levels of utility plant in service and higher amortization of rate case and other deferred costs.

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes increased $2.6 million in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting higher local property taxes on higher utility plant in service and higher payroll, excise and other taxes.

Interest Expense, Net increased $3.2 million in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily reflecting higher interest on short-term borrowings, partially offset by higher interest income on regulatory assets and other.

Other Expense (Income), Net decreased $2.4 million in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting lower retirement benefit costs.

Federal and State Income Taxes increased $2.0 million in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting higher pre-tax earnings in 2023 and higher flow back, in 2022, of excess Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes per regulatory orders in New Hampshire.

In 2023, Unitil’s annual common dividend was $1.62 per share, representing an unbroken record of quarterly dividend payments since trading began in Unitil’s common stock. At its January 2024 meeting, the Unitil Corporation Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the Company’s common stock of $0.425 per share, an increase of $0.02 per share on a quarterly basis, resulting in an increase in the effective annualized dividend rate to $1.70 per share from $1.62 per share.

2022 Compared to 2021—The Company’s Net Income was $41.4 million, or $2.59 in Earnings Per Share (EPS), for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $5.3 million in Net Income, or $0.24 in EPS, compared to 2021. The Company’s earnings in 2022 reflect higher Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margins (a non-GAAP financial measure), partially offset by higher operating expenses.

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Electric Revenues, Adjusted Gross Margin and Sales

Electric Operating Revenues and Electric Adjusted Gross Margin—The following table details Total Electric Operating Revenue and Electric Adjusted Gross Margin for the last three years by major customer class:

Change

Electric Operating Revenue:

Electric Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP financial measure) was $104.1 million in 2023, an increase of $5.3 million compared with 2022. The increase was driven by higher rates and customer growth.

The increase in Total Electric Operating Revenue of $8.6 million, or 2.9%, in 2023 compared to 2022 reflects higher costs of electric sales, which are tracked and reconciled costs as a pass-through to customers, and higher electric distribution rates.

Electric Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP financial measure) was $98.8 million in 2022, an increase of $1.4 million compared with 2021. The increase was driven by higher rates and customer growth of $1.7 million, partially offset by the unfavorable effect on sales from cooler spring weather of $0.3 million when rates were not yet decoupled.

The increase in Total Electric Operating Revenue of $49.4 million, or 19.9%, in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily reflects higher cost of electric sales, which are tracked and reconciled costs as a pass-through to customers.

Kilowatt-hour Sales—Unitil’s total electric kWh sales decreased 3.2% in 2023 compared to 2022. Sales to Residential customers decreased 4.6% and sales to C&I customers decreased 2.1% in 2023 compared to 2022. The decreases in electric kWh sales reflect lower average usage, partially offset by customer growth. As of December 31, 2023, the number of electric customers served increased by approximately 350 over the previous year. Sales margins derived from decoupled unit sales are not sensitive to changes in electric kWh sales, although those sales margins are sensitive to changes in the number of customers served. As of June 1, 2022, substantially all of the Company's electric kWh sales volumes are decoupled.

Unitil’s total electric kWh sales decreased 1.0% in 2022 compared to 2021. Sales to Residential customers decreased 2.0% and sales to C&I customers decreased 0.3% in 2022 compared to 2021. The decreases in electric kWh sales reflect lower average usage, partially offset by customer growth. As of December 31, 2022, the number of electric customers served increased by approximately 400 over the previous year. Sales margins derived from decoupled unit sales are not sensitive to changes in electric kWh sales, although those sales margins are sensitive to changes in the number of customers served.

The following table details total kWh sales for the last three years by major customer class:

Change

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Gas Revenues, Adjusted Gross Margin and Sales

Gas Operating Revenues and Adjusted Gross Margin—The following table details total Gas Operating Revenue and Gas Adjusted Gross Margin for the last three years by major customer class:

Change

Gas Operating Revenue:

Gas Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP financial measure) was $154.5 million in 2023, an increase of $10.6 million compared to 2022. The increase reflects higher rates and customer growth of $14.1 million, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of warmer winter weather in 2023 of $1.1 million and the recognition, in the second quarter of 2022, of $2.4 million in higher rates resulting from the Company’s base rate case in New Hampshire.

The decrease in Total Gas Operating Revenues of $14.7 million, or 5.50%, in 2023 compared to 2022 reflects lower costs of gas sales, which are tracked and reconciled as a pass-through to customers, partially offset by higher gas distribution rates.

Gas Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP financial measure) was $143.9 million in 2022, an increase of $10.8 million compared to 2021. The increase was driven by higher rates of $9.0 million, and $1.8 million from customer growth and the favorable effect of colder winter weather in 2022.

The increase in Total Gas Operating Revenues of $40.5 million, or 18.0%, in 2022 compared to 2021 reflects higher cost of gas sales, which are tracked and reconciled costs as a pass-through to customers, and higher gas sales volumes.

Therm Sales—Unitil’s total gas therm sales decreased 1.5% in 2023 compared to 2022. Sales to Residential customers decreased 3.8% and sales to C&I customers decreased 0.9% in 2023 compared to 2022. The decreases in gas therm sales reflect warmer winter weather in 2023 compared to 2022, partially offset by customer growth. Based on weather data collected in the Company’s gas service areas, on average there were 6.5% fewer EDD in 2023 compared to 2022. The Company estimates that weather-normalized gas therm sales for Northern Utilities’ Maine division, the Company’s only non-decoupled gas service area, increased 3.0% in 2023 compared to 2022. As of December 31, 2023, the number of gas customers served increased by approximately 950 over the previous year. Sales margins derived from decoupled unit sales (currently representing approximately 42% of total annual therm sales volume) are not sensitive to changes in gas therm sales, although those sales margins are sensitive to changes in the number of customers served.

Unitil’s total gas therm sales increased 1.3% in 2022 compared to 2021. Sales to Residential customers increased 0.5% and sales to C&I customers increased 1.5% in 2022 compared to 2021. The overall increase in gas therm sales reflects customer growth and colder winter weather in 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the number of gas customers served increased by approximately 850 over the previous year. Based on weather data collected in the Company’s gas service areas, on average there were 2.6% more EDD in 2022 compared to 2021, although 5.1% fewer EDD compared to normal. The Company estimates that weather-normalized gas therm sales, excluding decoupled sales, were essentially unchanged in 2022 compared to 2021. Sales margins derived from decoupled unit sales (currently representing approximately 42% of total annual therm sales volume) are not sensitive to changes in gas therm sales, although those sales margins are sensitive to changes in the number of customers served.

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The following table details total therm sales for the last three years, by major customer class:

Change

Operating Expenses

Cost of Electric Sales—Cost of Electric Sales includes the cost of electric supply as well as other energy supply related restructuring costs, including power supply buyout costs, and spending on energy efficiency programs. Cost of Electric Sales increased $3.3 million, or 1.7%, in 2023 compared to 2022. This increase reflects higher wholesale electricity prices, partially offset by lower electric sales and an increase in the amount of electricity purchased by customers directly from third-party suppliers. The Company reconciles and recovers the approved Cost of Electric Sales in its rates at cost on a pass through basis and therefore changes in approved expenses do not affect earnings.

In 2022, Cost of Electric Sales increased $48.0 million, or 31.8%, compared to 2021. This increase reflects higher wholesale electricity prices, partially offset by lower electric sales and an increase in the amount of electricity purchased by customers directly from third-party suppliers.

Cost of Gas Sales—Cost of Gas Sales includes the cost of natural gas purchased to supply the Company’s total gas supply requirements and spending on energy efficiency programs. Cost of Gas Sales decreased $25.3 million, or 20.8%, in 2023 compared to 2022. This decrease reflects lower gas sales, lower wholesale gas commodity prices, partially offset by a decrease in the amount of gas purchased by customers directly from third-party suppliers. The Company reconciles and recovers the approved Cost of Gas Sales in its rates at cost on a pass through basis and therefore changes in approved expenses do not affect earnings.

In 2022, Cost of Gas increased $29.7 million, or 32.4%, compared to 2021. This increase reflects higher gas sales and higher wholesale gas commodity prices, partially offset by an increase in the amount of gas purchased by customers directly from third-party suppliers.

Operation and Maintenance—O&M expense includes electric and gas utility operating costs, and the operating costs of the Company’s other subsidiaries. Total O&M expenses increased $1.9 million, or 2.6%, in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting higher utility operating costs of $1.2 million, higher professional fees of $0.4 million and higher labor costs of $0.3 million.

In 2022, total O&M expenses increased $5.0 million, or 7.3%, compared to 2021, reflecting higher labor costs of $1.9 million, higher utility operating costs of $1.6 million, and higher professional fees of $1.5 million.

Depreciation and Amortization—Depreciation and Amortization expense increased $4.8 million, or 7.7%, in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting additional depreciation associated with higher levels of utility plant in service and higher amortization of rate case and other deferred costs.

In 2022, Depreciation and Amortization expense increased $3.1 million, or 5.2%, compared to 2021, reflecting additional depreciation associated with higher levels of utility plant in service and higher amortization of rate case costs.

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes—Taxes Other Than Income Taxes increased $2.6 million, or 10.0%, in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting higher local property taxes on higher utility plant in service and higher payroll, excise and other taxes.

In 2022, Taxes Other Than Income Taxes increased $1.4 million, or 5.7%, compared to 2021, reflecting higher payroll taxes and higher local property taxes on higher utility plant in service.

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Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense is presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements net of interest income. Interest expense is mainly comprised of interest on long-term debt and short-term borrowings (See Note 4 (Debt and Financing Arrangements) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements). Certain reconciling rate mechanisms used by the Company’s distribution utilities give rise to regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities on which interest is calculated.

Interest Expense, Net increased $3.2 million, or 12.6%, in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily reflecting higher interest on short-term borrowings, partially offset by higher interest income on regulatory assets and other.

Interest Expense, Net decreased $0.1 million, or 0.4%, in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily reflecting lower interest on long-term debt and higher interest income, on regulatory assets, partially offset by higher interest on short-term borrowings.

Other (Income) Expense, Net

Other Expense (Income), Net decreased $2.4 million in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting lower retirement benefit costs.

Other Expense (Income), Net decreased $2.2 million, or 47.8% in 2022 compared to 2021, reflecting lower retirement benefit costs.

Provision for Income Taxes

Federal and State Income Taxes increased $2.0 million in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting higher pre-tax earnings in 2023 and higher flow back, in 2022, of excess Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes per regulatory orders in New Hampshire.

Federal and State Income Taxes decreased $0.3 million in 2022 compared to 2021, reflecting lower taxes associated with the flowback of excess Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes.

LIQUIDITY, COMMITMENTS AND CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS

Sources of Capital

Unitil requires capital to fund utility plant additions, working capital and other utility expenditures recovered in subsequent periods through regulated rates. The capital necessary to meet these requirements is derived primarily from internally generated funds, which consist of cash flows from operating activities. The Company initially supplements internally generated funds through short-term bank borrowings, as needed, under its unsecured revolving Credit Facility. Periodically, the Company replaces portions of its short-term debt with long-term financings more closely matched to the long-term nature of its utility assets. Additionally, from time to time the Company has accessed the public capital markets through public offerings of equity securities. The Company’s utility operations are seasonal in nature and are therefore subject to seasonal fluctuations in cash flows. The amount, type and timing of any future financing will vary from year to year based on capital needs and maturity or redemptions of securities.

On August 6, 2021, the Company issued and sold 800,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $50.80 per share in a registered public offering (Offering). The Company’s net increase to Common Equity and Cash proceeds from the Offering was approximately $38.6 million and was used to make equity capital contributions to the Company’s regulated utility subsidiaries, to repay debt and for other general corporate purposes.

As part of the Offering, the Company granted the underwriters a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase additional shares. The underwriters exercised the over-allotment option and purchased an additional 120,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on September 8, 2021. The Company’s net increase to Common Equity and Cash proceeds from the over-allotment sales was approximately $5.9 million and was used to make equity capital contributions to the Company’s regulated utility subsidiaries, to repay debt and for other general corporate purposes.

The Company and its subsidiaries are individually and collectively members of the Unitil Cash Pool (Cash Pool). The Cash Pool is the financing vehicle for day-to-day cash borrowing and investing. The Cash Pool allows for an efficient exchange

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of cash among the Company and its subsidiaries. The interest rates charged to the subsidiaries for borrowing from the Cash Pool are based on actual interest costs from lenders under the Company’s revolving Credit Facility. At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company and all of its subsidiaries were in compliance with the regulatory requirements governing participation in the Cash Pool.

On September 29, 2022, the Company entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with a syndicate of lenders (collectively, the "Credit Facility”), which amended and restated in its entirety the prior credit facility. Unitil may borrow under the Credit Facility until September 29, 2027, subject to two one-year extensions under certain circumstances. The Credit Facility terminates and all amounts outstanding thereunder are due and payable on September 29, 2027, subject to the potential extension discussed in the prior sentence.

The Credit Facility has a borrowing limit of $200 million, which includes a $25 million sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit. Unitil may increase the borrowing limit under the Credit Facility by up to $75 million under certain circumstances. The Credit Facility generally provides Unitil with the ability to elect that borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest under several options, including a daily fluctuating rate equal to (a) the forward-looking secured overnight financing rate (as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York) term rate with a term equivalent to one month beginning on that date, plus (b) 0.1000%, plus (c) a margin of 1.125% to 1.375% (based on Unitil’s credit rating).

The Company utilizes the Credit Facility for cash management purposes related to its short-term operating activities. Total gross borrowings were $327.2 million and $295.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Total gross repayments were $281.2 million and $244.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The following table details the borrowing limits, amounts outstanding and amounts available under the revolving Credit Facility as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

December 31,

Revolving Credit Facility (millions) 2023 2022

Short-Term Borrowings Outstanding $ 162.0 $ 116.0

The Credit Facility contains customary terms and conditions for credit facilities of this type, including affirmative and negative covenants. There are restrictions on, among other things, Unitil’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to permit liens or incur indebtedness, and restrictions on Unitil’s ability to merge or consolidate with another entity or change its line of business. The affirmative and negative covenants under the Credit Facility shall apply to Unitil until the Credit Facility terminates and all amounts borrowed under the Credit Facility are paid in full (or with respect to letters of credit, they are cash collateralized).

The only financial covenant in the Credit Facility provides that Unitil’s Funded Debt to Capitalization (as each term is defined in the Credit Facility) cannot exceed 65%, tested on a quarterly basis. At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with the covenants contained in the Credit Facility in effect on that date. (See also “Credit Arrangements” in Note 4 Debt and Financing Arrangements.)

Issuance of Long-Term Debt- On July 6, 2023, Fitchburg issued $12.0 million of Notes due July 2, 2033 at 5.70% and $13.0 million of Notes due July 2, 2053 at 5.96%. Fitchburg used the net proceeds from these offerings to refinance existing debt and for general corporate purposes. Approximately $0.2 million of costs associated with this issuance were recorded as a reduction of Long-Term Debt for presentation purposes on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in the third quarter of 2023.

Unitil Corporation and its utility subsidiaries, Fitchburg, Unitil Energy, Northern Utilities, and Granite State are currently rated “BBB+” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. Unitil Corporation and Granite State are currently rated “Baa2”, and Fitchburg, Unitil Energy and Northern Utilities are currently rated “Baa1” by Moody’s Investors Services.

The continued availability of various methods of financing, as well as the choice of a specific form of security for such financing, will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to: security market conditions; general economic climate; regulatory approvals; the ability to meet covenant issuance restrictions; the level of earnings, cash flows and financial position; and the competitive pricing offered by financing sources. The Company believes it has sufficient sources of working capital to fund its operations.

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Contractual Obligations

The Company and its subsidiaries have material obligations for payment of principal and interest on its long-term debt as well as for operating and capital leases that are discussed in Note 4 (Debt and Financing Arrangements).

The Company and its subsidiaries have material energy supply commitments that are discussed in Note 6 (Energy Supply) and Note 7 (Commitments and Contingencies) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. Cash outlays for the purchase of electricity and natural gas to serve customers are subject to reconciling recovery through periodic changes in rates, with carrying charges on deferred balances. From year to year, there are likely to be timing differences associated with the cash recovery of such costs, creating under- or over-recovery situations at any point in time. Rate recovery mechanisms are typically designed to collect the under-recovered cash or refund the over-collected cash over subsequent periods of less than one year.

The Company provides limited guarantees on certain energy and natural gas storage management contracts entered into by the distribution utilities. The Company’s policy is to limit the duration of these guarantees. As of December 31, 2023 there were no guarantees outstanding.

Northern Utilities enters into asset management agreements under which Northern Utilities releases certain natural gas pipeline and storage assets, resells the natural gas storage inventory to an asset manager and subsequently repurchases the inventory over the course of the natural gas heating season at the same price at which it sold the natural gas inventory to the asset manager. There was $10.9 million of natural gas storage inventory and corresponding obligations at December 31, 2023 related to these asset management agreements. The amount of natural gas inventory released in December 2023, which was payable in January 2024, was $2.2 million and was recorded in Accounts Payable at December 31, 2023.

Benefit Plan Funding

The Company, along with its subsidiaries, made cash contributions to its Pension Plan in the amounts of $3.9 million and $3.8 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, contributed $2.8 million and $12.2 million to Voluntary Employee Benefit Trusts (VEBTs) in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, expects to continue to make contributions to its Pension Plan and the VEBTs in 2024 and future years at least at minimum required amounts. See Note 9 (Retirement Benefit Plans) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company and its subsidiaries do not currently use, and are not dependent on the use of, off-balance sheet financing arrangements such as securitization of receivables or obtaining access to assets or cash through special purpose entities or variable interest entities. As of December 31, 2023 there were no guarantees outstanding. See Note 4 (Debt and Financing Arrangements) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

Cash Flows

Unitil’s utility operations, taken as a whole, are seasonal in nature and subject to seasonal fluctuations in cash flows. The tables below summarize the major sources and uses of cash (in millions) for 2023 and 2022.

Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 107.0 $ 97.7

Cash Provided by Operating Activities - Cash Provided by Operating Activities was $107.0 million in 2023, an increase of $9.3 million compared to 2022.

Cash flow from Net Income, adjusted for the total of non-cash charges was $120.0 million in 2023 compared to $115.0 million in 2022, an increase of $5.0 million. The change to Net Income is primarily attributable to increases in electric and gas sales margin. The increase in depreciation and amortization of $4.8 million in 2023 compared to 2022 reflects higher

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depreciation on higher utility plant in service. The decrease in the deferred tax provision of $3.6 million in 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily driven by the use of net operating loss carryforwards in 2023.

Changes in working capital items resulted in a ($4.6) million use of cash in 2023 compared to a ($6.0) million use of cash in 2022, representing an increase in sources of cash of $1.4 million. The change in working capital in 2023 compared to 2022 is primarily related to the net change in accrued revenue, accounts payable and exchange gas receivable and is reflective of the effect of the current macroeconomic environment including lower commodity costs on business and operating conditions.

Deferred Regulatory and Other Charges decreased by $2.0 million in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily driven by changes in Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, and the change in Other, net in 2023 compared to 2022 was $4.9 million.

Cash Used in Investing Activities $ (141.0 ) $ (122.1 )

Cash Used in Investing Activities - Cash Used in Investing Activities was ($141.0) million in 2023 compared to ($122.1) million in 2022, an increase of $18.9 million. The higher spending in 2023 is primarily related to normal utility capital expenditures for electric and gas utility system additions. The Company’s projected capital spending range for 2024 is $165 million to $170 million.

Cash Provided by Financing Activities $ 31.5 $ 26.9

Cash Provided by Financing Activities - Cash Provided by Financing Activities was $31.5 million in 2023 compared to cash provided of $26.9 million in 2022. The higher cash provided from financing activities in 2023 compared to 2022 of $4.6 million is primarily attributable to, proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt of $25.0 million, lower repayment of long-term debt of $3.5 million, a decrease in exchange gas financing of $17.2 million, and lower proceeds from short-term borrowings of 5.9 million. Other changes in financing activities in 2023 total a use of 0.8 million.

FINANCIAL COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS

The agreements under which the Company and its subsidiaries issue long-term debt contain various covenants and restrictions. These agreements do not contain any covenants or restrictions pertaining to the maintenance of financial ratios or the issuance of short-term debt. These agreements do contain covenants relating to, among other things, the issuance of additional long-term debt, cross-default provisions, business combinations and covenants restricting the ability to (i) pay dividends, (ii) incur indebtedness and liens, (iii) merge or consolidate with another entity or (iv) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all assets. See Note 4 (Debt and Financing Arrangements) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

Unitil’s Credit Facility contains customary terms and conditions for credit facilities of this type, including affirmative and negative covenants. There are restrictions on, among other things, Unitil’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to permit liens or incur indebtedness, and restrictions on Unitil’s ability to merge or consolidate with another entity or change its line of business. The affirmative and negative covenants under the Credit Facility apply to Unitil until the Credit Facility terminates and all amounts borrowed under the Credit Facility are paid in full (or with respect to letters of credit, they are cash collateralized). The only financial covenant in the Credit Facility provides that Unitil’s Funded Debt to Capitalization (as each term is defined in the Credit Facility) cannot exceed 65%, tested on a quarterly basis. At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with the covenants contained in the Credit Facility in effect on that date.

The Company and its subsidiaries are currently in compliance with all such covenants in these debt instruments.

DIVIDENDS

Unitil’s annual common dividend was $1.62 per common share in 2023, $1.56 per common share in 2022, and $1.52 per share in 2021. Unitil’s dividend policy is reviewed periodically by the Board of Directors. Unitil has maintained an unbroken record of quarterly dividend payments since trading began in Unitil’s common stock. At its January 2024 meeting, the Unitil Corporation Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the Company’s common stock of $0.425 per share, an

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increase of $0.02 per share on a quarterly basis, resulting in an increase in the effective annualized dividend rate to $1.70 from $1.62. The amount and timing of all dividend payments are subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon business conditions, results of operations, financial conditions and other factors. In addition, the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to Unitil, and, therefore, Unitil’s ability to pay dividends, depends on, among other things:

•

the actual and projected earnings and cash flow, capital requirements and general financial condition of the Company’s subsidiaries;

•

the prior rights of holders of existing and future preferred stock, mortgage bonds, long-term notes and other debt issued by the Company’s subsidiaries;

•

the restrictions on the payment of dividends contained in the existing loan agreements of the Company’s subsidiaries and that may be contained in future debt agreements of the Company’s subsidiaries, if any; and

•

limitations that may be imposed by New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine state regulatory agencies.

In addition, before the Company can pay dividends on its common stock, it must satisfy its debt obligations and comply with any statutory or contractual limitations. See Financial Covenants and Restrictions in this report, as well as Note 4 (Debt and Financing Arrangements) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types, including those which arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes, based upon information furnished by counsel and others, that the ultimate resolution of these claims will not have a material effect on its financial position, operating results or cash flows. Refer to “Legal Proceedings” in Note 7 (Commitments and Contingencies) of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of legal proceedings.

REGULATORY MATTERS

See Note 7 (Commitments and Contingencies) to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. In making those estimates and assumptions, the Company is sometimes required to make subjective and/or complex judgments about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and for which different estimates that could reasonably have been used could have resulted in material differences in its financial statements. If actual results were to differ significantly from those estimates, assumptions and judgment, the financial position of the Company could be materially affected and the results of operations of the Company could be materially different than reported. The following is a summary of the Company’s most critical accounting policies, which are defined as those policies where judgments or uncertainties could materially affect the application of those policies. For a complete discussion of the Company’s significant accounting policies, refer to the financial statements and Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies).

Regulatory Accounting—The Company’s principal business is the distribution of electricity and natural gas by the three distribution utilities: Unitil Energy, Fitchburg and Northern Utilities. Unitil Energy and Fitchburg are subject to regulation by the FERC. Fitchburg is also regulated by the MDPU, Unitil Energy is regulated by the NHPUC, and Northern Utilities is regulated by the MPUC and NHPUC. Granite State, the Company’s natural gas transmission pipeline, is regulated by the FERC. Accordingly, the Company uses the Regulated Operations guidance as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (FASB Codification). In accordance with the FASB Codification, the Company has recorded Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities which will be recovered from customers, or applied for customer benefit, in accordance with rate provisions approved by the applicable public utility regulatory commission.

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The FASB Codification specifies the economic effects that result from the cause and effect relationship of costs and revenues in the rate-regulated environment and the related accounting for a regulated enterprise. Revenues intended to cover certain costs may be recorded either before or after the costs are incurred. If regulation provides assurance that incurred costs will be recovered in the future, these costs would be recorded as deferred charges or “regulatory assets.” If revenues are recorded for costs that are expected to be incurred in the future, these revenues would be recorded as deferred credits or “regulatory liabilities.”

The Company’s principal regulatory assets and liabilities are included on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet and a summary of the Company’s Regulatory Assets is provided in Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) to the consolidated financial statements. Generally, the Company receives a return on investment on its regulated assets for which a cash outflow has been made. Regulatory commissions can reach different conclusions about the recovery of costs, which can have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company believes it is probable that its regulated distribution and transmission utilities will recover their investments in long-lived assets, including regulatory assets. If the Company, or a portion of its assets or operations, were to cease meeting the criteria for application of these accounting rules, accounting standards for businesses in general would become applicable and immediate recognition of any previously deferred costs, or a portion of deferred costs, would be required in the year in which the criteria are no longer met, if such deferred costs were not recoverable in the portion of the business that continues to meet the criteria for application of the FASB Codification topic on Regulated Operations. If unable to continue to apply the FASB Codification provisions for Regulated Operations, the Company would be required to apply the provisions for the Discontinuation of Rate-Regulated Accounting included in the FASB Codification. In the Company’s opinion, its regulated operations will be subject to the FASB Codification provisions for Regulated Operations for the foreseeable future.

Retirement Benefit Obligations—The Company sponsors the Unitil Corporation Retirement Plan (Pension Plan), which is a defined benefit pension plan. Effective January 1, 2010, the Pension Plan was closed to new non-union employees. For union employees, the Pension Plan was closed on various dates between December 31, 2010 and June 1, 2013, depending on the various Collective Bargaining Agreements of each union. The Company also sponsors two non-qualified retirement plans, the Unitil Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP), and the Unitil Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, covering certain executives of the Company, and an employee 401(k) savings plan. Additionally, the Company sponsors the Unitil Employee Health and Welfare Benefits Plan (PBOP Plan), primarily to provide health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees.

The FASB Codification requires companies to record on their balance sheets as an asset or liability the overfunded or underfunded status of their retirement benefit obligations (RBO) based on the projected benefit obligation. The Company has recognized a corresponding Regulatory Asset, to recognize the future collection of these obligations in electric and gas rates. The Company’s RBO and reported costs of providing retirement benefits are dependent upon numerous factors resulting from actual plan experience and assumptions of future experience. The Company has made critical estimates related to actuarial assumptions, including assumptions of expected returns on plan assets, future compensation, health care cost trends, and appropriate discount rates. The Company’s RBO is affected by actual employee demographics, the level of contributions made to the plans, earnings on plan assets, and health care cost trends. Changes made to the provisions of these plans may also affect current and future costs. If these assumptions were changed, the resulting change in benefit obligations, fair values of plan assets, funded status and net periodic benefit costs could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. The discount rate assumptions used in determining retirement plan costs and retirement plan obligations are based on an assessment of current market conditions using high quality corporate bond interest rate indices and pension yield curves. For the year ended December 31, 2023, a change in the discount rate of 0.25% would have resulted in an increase or decrease of approximately $113,000 in the Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the Pension Plan. Similarly, a change of 0.50% in the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets would have resulted in an increase or decrease of approximately $713,000 in the Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the Pension Plan. (See Note 9 (Retirement Benefit Plans) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.)

Refer to “Recently Issued Pronouncements” in Note 1 of the Notes of Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding recently issued accounting standards.

For additional information regarding the foregoing matters, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies), Note 6 (Energy Supply), and Note 9 (Retirement Benefit Plans) to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Please also refer to Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”.

INTEREST RATE RISK

Unitil meets its external financing needs, in part, by issuing short-term and long-term debt. The majority of debt outstanding represents long-term notes bearing fixed rates of interest. Changes in market interest rates do not affect interest expense resulting from these outstanding long-term debt securities. However, the Company periodically repays its short-term debt borrowings through the issuance of new long-term debt securities. Changes in market interest rates may affect the interest rate and corresponding interest expense on any new issuances of long-term debt securities. In addition, short-term debt borrowings bear a variable rate of interest. As a result, changes in short-term interest rates will increase or decrease interest expense in future periods. For example, if the average amount of short-term debt outstanding was $25 million for the period of one year, a change in interest rates of 1% would result in a change in annual interest expense of approximately $250,000. The average interest rate on short-term borrowings and intercompany money pool transactions was 6.4%, 3.3%, and 1.2% during 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

Although Unitil’s three distribution utilities are subject to commodity price risk as part of their traditional operations, the current regulatory framework within which these companies operate allows for full collection of electric power and natural gas supply costs in rates on a pass-through basis. Consequently, there is limited commodity price risk after consideration of the related rate-making. Additionally, as discussed in the section entitled Rates and Regulation in Part I, Item 1 (Business) and in Note 7 (Commitments and Contingencies) to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has divested its long-term power supply contracts and therefore, further reduced its exposure to commodity risk.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Unitil Corporation:

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Unitil Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of earnings, changes in common stock equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit

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preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Impact of Rate-Regulation on Various Account Balances and Disclosures — Refer to Notes 1 and 7 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company’s principal business is the distribution of electricity and natural gas and is subject to regulation by the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine Public Service Commissions as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (collectively, the “Commissions”). Accordingly, the Company accounts for their regulated operations in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 980, Regulated Operations, and has recorded Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities which will be recovered from customers, or applied for customer benefit, in accordance with rate provisions approved by the applicable Commission. The Company believes it is probable that its regulated distribution and transmission utilities will recover their investments in long-lived assets, including regulatory assets. If the Company, or a portion of its assets or operations, were to cease meeting the criteria for application of these accounting rules, immediate recognition of any previously deferred costs, or a portion of deferred costs, would be required in the year in which the criteria are no longer met. In the Company’s opinion, its regulated operations will be subject to the FASB Codification provisions for Regulated Operations for the foreseeable future.

Accounting for the economics of rate regulation affects multiple financial statement line items, including property, plant, and equipment; regulatory assets and liabilities; operating revenues; and depreciation expense, and affects multiple disclosures in the Company’s financial statements. While the Company has indicated that it expects to recover costs and a return on its investments, there is a risk that the Commissions’ will not approve full recovery of the costs of providing utility service or recovery of all amounts invested in the utility business and a reasonable return on that investment. As a result, we identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the high degree of subjectivity involved in assessing the impact of current and future regulatory orders on events that have occurred as of December 31, 2023, and the judgments made by management to support its assertions about impacted account balances and disclosures. Management judgments included assessing the likelihood of (1) recovery in future rates of incurred costs or (2) refunds to customers or future reduction in rates. Given that management’s accounting judgments are based on assumptions about the outcome of future decisions by the commissions, auditing these judgments require specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation and the rate setting process due to its inherent complexities.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the uncertainty of future decisions by the Commissions focused on the base rate proceedings for Northern Maine and Fitchburg Gas and Electric and included the following, among others:

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•

We tested the effectiveness of controls over the relevant regulatory account balances and disclosures, including management’s controls over the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates.

•

We evaluated the Company’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate regulation, including the balances recorded and regulatory developments.

•

We made inquiries of management and read relevant regulatory orders and settlements issued by the Commissions in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, regulatory statutes, interpretations, procedural memorandums, filings made by interveners or the Company, and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future rates or of a future reduction in rates based on precedents of the Commissions’ treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances. We evaluated this external information and compared to management’s recorded regulatory asset and liability balances and searched for any evidence that might contradict management’s assertions.

•

We obtained an analysis from management describing the orders and filings that support management’s assertions regarding the probability of recovery for regulatory assets or refund or future reduction in rates for regulatory liabilities to assess management’s assertion that amounts are probable of recovery or a future reduction in rates.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, MA

February 13, 2024

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2014.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Millions, except per share data)

Operating Revenues:

Operating Expenses:

Other Expense (Income), Net — 2.4 4.6

Net Income Applicable to Common Shares $ 45.2 $ 41.4 $ 36.1

Earnings per Common Share—Basic and Diluted $ 2.82 $ 2.59 $ 2.35

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - (Basic) 16.0 16.0 15.4

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding - (Diluted) 16.1 16.0 15.4

(The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.)

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Millions)

ASSETS

Current Assets:

Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 6.5 $ 9.0

Accounts Receivable, Net 75.0 73.8

Exchange Gas Receivable 9.4 18.0

Gas Inventory 1.0 1.8

Materials and Supplies 13.5 11.4

Prepayments and Other 8.3 8.0

Utility Plant:

Construction Work in Progress 65.3 52.6

Less: Accumulated Depreciation 486.9 459.6

Other Noncurrent Assets:

Operating Lease Right of Use Assets 5.6 4.3

Total Other Noncurrent Assets 72.4 63.9

(The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.)

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (cont.) (Millions, except number of shares)

LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION

Current Liabilities:

Long-Term Debt, Current Portion 4.9 6.7

Regulatory Liabilities 13.5 15.0

Energy Supply Obligations 15.0 24.1

Environmental Obligations 0.6 0.6

Operating Lease Obligations 1.9 1.5

Taxes Payable 1.9 0.4

Other Current Liabilities 29.8 27.2

Noncurrent Liabilities:

Retirement Benefit Obligations 45.6 46.8

Regulatory Liabilities 34.4 36.9

Environmental Obligations 4.0 3.8

Operating Lease Obligations 3.7 2.8

Other Noncurrent Liabilities 4.6 3.8

Capitalization:

Long-Term Debt, Less Current Portion 509.1 489.1

Stockholders’ Equity:

Preferred Stock 0.2 0.2

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITALIZATION $ 1,670.4 $ 1,590.4

(The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.)

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Millions)

Operating Activities:

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

Changes in Working Capital Items:

Accounts Receivable (1.2 ) (6.9 ) (4.9 )

Regulatory Liabilities (1.5 ) 5.5 4.0

Exchange Gas Receivable 8.6 (10.6 ) (2.5 )

Other Changes in Working Capital Items 1.0 1.4 0.7

Deferred Regulatory and Other Charges (8.5 ) (6.5 ) (2.7 )

Investing Activities:

Property, Plant and Equipment Additions (141.0 ) (122.1 ) (115.0 )

Financing Activities:

Proceeds from Short-Term Debt, net 46.0 51.9 9.4

Issuance of Long-Term Debt 25.0 — —

Repayment of Long-Term Debt (6.9 ) (10.4 ) (25.8 )

Long-Term Debt Issuance Costs (0.2 ) — —

Increase (Decrease) in Capital Lease Obligations 0.3 (0.1 ) (0.1 )

Net (Decrease) Increase in Exchange Gas Financing (7.6 ) 9.6 2.3

Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock 1.1 1.0 45.5

Cash Provided by Financing Activities 31.5 26.9 7.7

Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents (2.5 ) 2.5 0.5

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year 9.0 6.5 6.0

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year $ 6.5 $ 9.0 $ 6.5

Supplemental Information:

Income Taxes Paid $ — $ 1.2 $ 1.4

Payments on Capital Leases $ 0.2 $ 0.2 $ 0.2

Capital Expenditures Included in Accounts Payable $ 7.5 $ 7.3 $ 4.9

Right-of-Use Assets Obtained in Exchange for Lease Obligations $ 2.7 $ 1.1 $ 0.7

(The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.)

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK EQUITY (Millions, except shares data)

CommonEquity RetainedEarnings Total

Dividends ($1.52 per Common Share) (23.6 ) (23.6 )

Shares Issued Under Stock Plans 1.3 1.3

Dividends ($1.56 per Common Share) (25.1 ) (25.1 )

Shares Issued Under Stock Plans 1.8 1.8

Issuance of 18,853 Common Shares (See Note 5) 1.0 1.0

Dividends ($1.62 per Common Share) (26.2 ) (26.2 )

Shares Issued Under Stock Plans 1.6 1.6

Issuance of 21,321 Common Shares (See Note 5) 1.1 1.1

(The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.)

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Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations - Unitil Corporation (Unitil or the Company) is a public utility holding company. Unitil and its subsidiaries are subject to regulation as a holding company system by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The following companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Unitil: Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. (Unitil Energy), Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company (Fitchburg), Northern Utilities, Inc. (Northern Utilities), Granite State Gas Transmission, Inc. (Granite State), Unitil Power Corp. (Unitil Power), Unitil Realty Corp. (Unitil Realty), Unitil Service Corp. (Unitil Service) and Unitil Resources, Inc. (Unitil Resources).

The Company’s earnings are seasonal and are typically higher in the first and fourth quarters when customers use natural gas for heating purposes.

Unitil’s principal business is the local distribution of electricity in the southeastern seacoast and capital city areas of New Hampshire and the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts and the local distribution of natural gas in southeastern New Hampshire, portions of southern Maine to the Lewiston-Auburn area and in the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts. Unitil has three distribution utility subsidiaries, Unitil Energy, which operates in New Hampshire; Fitchburg, which operates in Massachusetts; and Northern Utilities, which operates in New Hampshire and Maine (collectively, the distribution utilities).

Granite State is an interstate natural gas transmission pipeline company, operating 85 miles of underground gas transmission pipeline primarily located in Maine and New Hampshire. Granite State provides Northern Utilities with interconnection to three major natural gas pipelines and access to domestic natural gas supplies in the south and Canadian natural gas supplies in the north. Granite State derives its revenues principally from the transportation services provided to Northern Utilities and, to a lesser extent, third-party marketers.

A fifth utility subsidiary, Unitil Power, formerly functioned as the full requirements wholesale power supply provider for Unitil Energy, but ceased being the wholesale supplier of Unitil Energy with the implementation of industry restructuring and divested its long-term power supply contracts.

Unitil also has three other wholly-owned subsidiaries: Unitil Service, Unitil Resources and Unitil Realty. Unitil Service provides, at cost, a variety of administrative and professional services, including regulatory, financial, accounting, human resources, engineering, operations, technology, energy management and management services on a centralized basis to its affiliated Unitil companies. Unitil Resources is the Company’s wholly-owned non-regulated subsidiary, which currently does not have any activity. Unitil Realty owns and manages the Company’s corporate office in Hampton, New Hampshire and leases this facility to Unitil Service under a long-term lease arrangement. Unitil Realty also owns land for future use in Kingston, New Hampshire.

Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation - The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Unitil and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and all intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and requires disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fair Value - The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Codification defines fair value, and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the FASB Codification include:

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To the extent valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Fair value is a market-based measure considered from the perspective of a market participant rather than an entity-specific measure. Therefore, even when market assumptions are not readily available, the Company’s own assumptions are set to reflect those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. The Company uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market dislocation. In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments. This condition could cause an instrument to be reclassified from Level 1 to Level 2 or from Level 2 to Level 3.

There have been no changes in the valuation techniques used during the current period.

Utility Revenue Recognition - Electric Operating Revenues and Gas Operating Revenues consist of billed and unbilled revenue and revenue from rate adjustment mechanisms. Billed and unbilled revenue includes delivery revenue and pass-through revenue, recognized according to tariffs approved by federal and state regulatory commissions which determine the amount of revenue the Company will record for these items. Revenue from rate adjustment mechanisms is accrued revenue, recognized in connection with rate adjustment mechanisms, and authorized by regulators for recognition in the current period for future cash recoveries from, or credits to, customers.

Billed and unbilled revenue is recorded when service is rendered or energy is delivered to customers. However, the determination of energy sales to individual customers is based on the reading of their meters, which occurs on a systematic basis throughout the month. At the end of each calendar month, amounts of energy delivered to customers since the date of the last meter reading are estimated and the corresponding unbilled revenues are calculated. These unbilled revenues are estimated each month based on estimated customer usage by class and applicable customer rates, taking into account current and historical weather data, assumptions pertaining to metering patterns, billing cycle statistics, and other estimates and assumptions, and are then reversed in the following month when billed to customers.

A majority of the Company’s revenue from contracts with customers continues to be recognized on a monthly basis based on applicable tariffs and customer monthly consumption. Such revenue is recognized using the invoice practical expedient which allows an entity to recognize revenue in the amount that directly corresponds to the value transferred to the customer.

The Company’s billed and unbilled revenue meets the definition of “revenues from contracts with customers” as defined in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606. Revenue recognized in connection with rate adjustment mechanisms is consistent with the definition of alternative revenue programs in ASC 980, as the Company has the ability to adjust rates in the future as a result of past activities or completed events. The rate adjustment mechanisms meet the criteria within ASC 980. In cases where allowable costs are greater than operating revenues billed in the current period for the individual rate adjustment mechanism additional operating revenue is recognized. In cases where allowable costs are less than operating revenues billed in the current period for the individual rate adjustment mechanism, operating revenue is reduced. ASC 606 requires the Company to disclose separately the amount of revenues from contracts with customers and alternative revenue program revenues.

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In the following tables, revenue is classified by the types of goods/services rendered and market/customer type.

Twelve Months Ended

Electric and Gas Operating Revenues (millions): Electric Gas Total

Billed and Unbilled Revenue:

Rate Adjustment Mechanism Revenue (5.2 ) (3.2 ) (8.4 )

Total Electric and Gas Operating Revenues $ 306.5 $ 250.6 $ 557.1

Twelve Months Ended

Electric and Gas Operating Revenues (millions): Electric Gas Total

Billed and Unbilled Revenue:

Rate Adjustment Mechanism Revenue 7.7 2.0 9.7

Total Electric and Gas Operating Revenues $ 297.9 $ 265.3 $ 563.2

Twelve Months Ended

Electric and Gas Operating Revenues (millions): Electric Gas Total

Billed and Unbilled Revenue:

Rate Adjustment Mechanism Revenue — 7.2 7.2

Total Electric and Gas Operating Revenues $ 248.5 $ 224.8 $ 473.3

Revenue decoupling is the term given to the elimination of the dependency of a utility’s distribution revenue on the volume of electricity or gas sales. The difference between distribution revenue amounts billed to customers and the targeted revenue decoupling amounts is recognized as an increase or a decrease in Accrued Revenue, which forms the basis for resetting rates for future cash recoveries from, or credits to, customers. These revenue decoupling targets may be adjusted as a result of rate cases and other authorized adjustments that the Company files with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (MDPU) and New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC). Fitchburg has been subject to revenue decoupling since 2011. Unitil Energy has been subject to revenue decoupling since June 1, 2022. As a result of Unitil Energy now being subject to revenue decoupling, as of June 1, 2022, revenue decoupling now applies to substantially all of Unitil’s total annual electric sales volumes. Substantially all of Northern Utilities’ gas sales volumes in New Hampshire have been subject to decoupling since August 1, 2022. The Company's electric and gas sales in New Hampshire and Massachusetts are now largely decoupled. The following table shows the estimated percentages of electric and gas sales, as of December 31, 2023, that are subject to revenue decoupling for the periods presented.

Revenue Decoupling

Estimated Percentage of Decoupled Sales

For Periods Presented

Electric

After June 1, 2022 Substantially All

Gas

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The Company bills its customers for sales tax in Massachusetts and Maine. These taxes are remitted to the appropriate departments of revenue in each state and are excluded from revenues on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Depreciation and Amortization - Depreciation expense is calculated on a group straight-line basis based on the useful lives of assets, and judgment is involved when estimating the useful lives of certain assets. The Company conducts independent depreciation studies on a periodic basis as part of the regulatory ratemaking process and considers the results presented in these studies in determining the useful lives of the Company’s fixed assets. A change in the estimated useful lives of these assets could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Provisions for depreciation were equivalent to the following composite rates, based on the average depreciable property balances at the beginning and end of each year: 2023 - 3.33%, 2022 - 3.26% and 2021 - 3.29%.

Stock-based Employee Compensation - Unitil accounts for stock-based employee compensation using the fair value method (See Note 5 Equity).

Income Taxes - The Company is subject to Federal and State income taxes as well as various other business taxes. The Company’s process for determining income tax amounts involves estimating the Company’s current tax liabilities as well as assessing temporary and permanent differences resulting from the timing of the deductions of expenses and recognition of taxable income for tax and book accounting purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company accounts for income tax assets, liabilities and expenses in accordance with the FASB Codification guidance on Income Taxes. The Company classifies penalties and interest expense related to income tax liabilities as income tax expense and interest expense, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Provisions for income taxes are calculated in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates for each period for which a statement of earnings is presented. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the FASB Codification guidance on Income Taxes, which requires an asset and liability approach for the financial accounting and reporting of income taxes. Significant judgments and estimates are required in determining the current and deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect its best assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid. In accordance with the FASB Codification, the Company periodically assesses the realization of its deferred tax assets and liabilities and adjusts the income tax provision, the current tax liability and deferred taxes in the period in which the facts and circumstances which gave rise to the revision become known.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09). ASU 2023-09 establishes new income tax disclosure requirements in addition to modifying and eliminating certain existing requirements. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect this new guidance to have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Dividends - The Company’s dividend policy is reviewed periodically by the Board of Directors. The amount and timing of all dividend payments is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon business conditions, results of operations, financial conditions and other factors. For the year ended December 31, 2023 the Company paid quarterly dividends of $0.405 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend rate of $1.62 per common share. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company paid quarterly dividends of $0.39 and $0.38 per common share, respectively, resulting in annualized dividend rates of $1.56 and $1.52 per common share, respectively. At its January 2024 meeting, the Unitil Corporation Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the Company’s common stock of $0.425 per share, an increase of $0.02 per share on a quarterly basis, resulting in an increase in the effective annualized dividend rate to $1.70 per share from $1.62 per share.

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and Cash Equivalents includes all cash and cash equivalents to which the Company has legal title. Cash equivalents include short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less and interest bearing deposits. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held at financial institutions and at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. Under the Independent System Operator—New England (ISO-NE) Financial Assurance Policy (Policy), Unitil’s subsidiaries Unitil Energy, Fitchburg and Unitil Power are required to provide assurance of their ability to satisfy their obligations to ISO-NE. Under this Policy, Unitil’s subsidiaries provide cash deposits covering approximately 2-1/2 months of outstanding obligations, less credit amounts that are based on the

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Company’s credit rating. On December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Unitil subsidiaries had deposited $3.3 million and $6.0 million, respectively, to satisfy their ISO-NE obligations.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - The Company recognizes a provision for doubtful accounts that reflects the Company’s estimate of expected credit losses for electric and gas utility service accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated by applying a historical loss rate to customer account balances and management’s assessment of current and expected economic conditions, customer trends, or other factors. The Company also calculates the amount of written-off receivables that are recoverable through regulatory rate reconciling mechanisms. The Company’s distribution utilities are authorized by regulators to recover the costs of the energy commodity portion of bad debts through rate mechanisms. Also, the electric and gas divisions of Fitchburg are authorized to recover through rates past due amounts associated with protected hardship accounts. Evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts requires judgment about the assumptions used in the analysis. The Company’s experience has been that the assumptions used in evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts have proven to be reasonably accurate. (See Note 3 Allowance for Doubtful Accounts).

Accounts Receivable, Net includes $2.3 million and $2.5 million of the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Unbilled Revenues, net (a component of Accrued Revenue) includes $0.1 million and $0.1 million of the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Accrued Revenue - Accrued Revenue includes the current portion of Regulatory Assets (see “Regulatory Accounting”) and unbilled revenues (see “Utility Revenue Recognition”). The following table shows the components of Accrued Revenue as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

December 31,

Regulatory Assets—Current $ 56.5 $ 66.5

Unbilled Revenues 6.9 6.3

Total Accrued Revenue $ 63.4 $ 72.8

Exchange Gas Receivable - Northern Utilities and Fitchburg have gas exchange and storage agreements whereby natural gas purchases during the months of April through October are delivered to a third party. The third party delivers natural gas back to the Company during the months of November through March. The exchange and storage gas volumes are recorded at weighted average cost. The following table shows the components of Exchange Gas Receivable as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

December 31,

Exchange Gas Receivable (millions) 2023 2022

Northern Utilities $ 8.6 $ 16.3

Total Exchange Gas Receivable $ 9.4 $ 18.0

Gas Inventory - The Company uses the weighted average cost methodology to value natural gas inventory. The following table shows the components of Gas Inventory as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

December 31,

Natural Gas $ 0.3 $ 1.0

Liquefied Natural Gas & Other 0.4 0.4

Total Gas Inventory $ 1.0 $ 1.8

The Company also has an inventory of Materials and Supplies in the amounts of $13.5 million and $11.4 million as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. These amounts are recorded at weighted average cost.

Utility Plant - The cost of additions to Utility Plant and the cost of renewals and betterments are capitalized. Cost of additions consists of labor, materials, services and certain indirect construction costs, including an allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC). The average interest rates applied to AFUDC were 5.48%, 2.50% and 1.71% in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The costs of current repairs and minor replacements are charged to appropriate operating expense accounts.

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The original cost of utility plant retired or otherwise disposed of is charged to the accumulated provision for depreciation. The Company includes in its mass asset depreciation rates, which are periodically reviewed as part of its ratemaking proceedings, cost of removal amounts to provide for future negative salvage value. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company has recorded cost of removal amounts of $126.3 million and $116.1 million, respectively, that have been collected in depreciation rates but have not yet been expended, and which represent regulatory liabilities. These amounts are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Cost of Removal Obligations.

Regulatory Accounting - The Company’s principal business is the distribution of electricity and natural gas by the three distribution utilities: Unitil Energy, Fitchburg and Northern Utilities. Unitil Energy and Fitchburg are subject to regulation by the FERC. Fitchburg is also regulated by the MDPU, Unitil Energy is regulated by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC) and Northern Utilities is regulated by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) and NHPUC. Granite State, the Company’s natural gas transmission pipeline, is regulated by the FERC. Accordingly, the Company uses the Regulated Operations guidance as set forth in the FASB Codification. The Company has recorded Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities which will be recovered from customers, or applied for customer benefit, in accordance with rate provisions approved by the applicable public utility regulatory commission. The electric and gas divisions of Fitchburg are authorized to recover through rates past due amounts associated with hardship accounts that are protected from shut-off. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has recorded $6.0 million and $5.8 million, respectively, of hardship accounts in Regulatory Assets. These amounts are included in “Other Deferred Charges” in the following table. The Company currently receives recovery in rates or expects to receive recovery of these hardship accounts in future rate cases.

December 31,

Regulatory Assets consist of the following (millions) 2023 2022

Retirement Benefits $ 29.8 $ 29.1

Energy Supply & Other Rate Adjustment Mechanisms 52.4 63.0

Deferred Storm Charges 9.2 3.4

Environmental 6.1 5.9

Other Deferred Charges 11.0 11.1

Less: Current Portion of Regulatory Assets(1) 56.5 66.5

Regulatory Assets—noncurrent $ 53.1 $ 47.8

(1)

Reflects amounts included in Accrued Revenue on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

December 31,

Regulatory Liabilities consist of the following (millions) 2023 2022

Rate Adjustment Mechanisms $ 9.3 $ 10.9

Total Regulatory Liabilities 47.9 51.9

Less: Current Portion of Regulatory Liabilities 13.5 15.0

Regulatory Liabilities—noncurrent $ 34.4 $ 36.9

Generally, the Company receives a return on investment on its regulated assets for which a cash outflow has been made. Included in Regulatory Assets as of December 31, 2023 are $7.2 million of environmental costs, rate case costs and other expenditures to be recovered over varying periods in the next seven years. Regulators have authorized recovery of these expenditures, but without a return. Regulatory commissions can reach different conclusions about the recovery of costs, which can have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company believes it is probable that its regulated distribution and transmission utilities will recover their investments in long-lived assets, including regulatory assets. If the Company, or a portion of its assets or operations, were to cease meeting the criteria for application of these accounting rules, accounting standards for businesses in general would become applicable and immediate recognition of any previously deferred costs, or a portion of deferred costs, would be required in the year in which the criteria are no longer met, if such deferred costs were not recoverable in the portion of the business that continues to meet the criteria for application of the FASB Codification topic on Regulated Operations. If unable to continue to apply the FASB Codification provisions for Regulated Operations, the Company would be required to apply the provisions for the Discontinuation of Rate-Regulated Accounting included in the FASB Codification. In the Company’s opinion, its regulated operations will be subject to the FASB Codification provisions for Regulated Operations for the foreseeable future.

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Leases - The Company records assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases are classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from lease components and instead to account for both as a single lease component. The Company’s accounting policy election for leases with a lease term of 12 months or less is to recognize the lease payments as lease expense in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings on a straight-line basis over the lease term. See additional discussion in the “Leases” section of Note 4 (Debt and Financing Arrangements).

Derivatives - The Company’s regulated energy subsidiaries enter into energy supply contracts to serve their electric and gas customers. The Company follows a procedure for determining whether each contract qualifies as a derivative instrument under the guidance provided by the FASB Codification on Derivatives and Hedging. For each contract, the Company reviews and documents the key terms of the contract. Based on those terms and any additional relevant components of the contract, the Company determines and documents whether the contract qualifies as a derivative instrument as defined in the FASB Codification. The Company has determined that its energy supply contracts either do not qualify as a derivative instrument under the guidance set forth in the FASB Codification, have been elected as normal purchase, or have contingencies that have not yet been met in order to establish a notional amount.

Fitchburg has entered into power purchase agreements for which contingencies exist (see “Fitchburg – Massachusetts RFP’s” section of Note 7 (Commitments and Contingencies). Until these contingencies are satisfied, these contracts will not qualify for derivative accounting. The Company believes that the power purchase obligations under these long-term contracts will have a material effect on the contractual obligations of Fitchburg.

Investments in Marketable Securities - The Company maintains a trust through which it invests in a money market fund and a fixed income fund. These funds are intended to satisfy obligations under the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) (See additional discussion of the SERP in Note 9 Retirement Benefit Plans).

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value of the Company’s investments in these trading securities, which are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Other Assets, were $6.0 million and $5.8 million, respectively, as shown in the following table. These investments are valued based on quoted prices from active markets and are categorized in Level 1 as they are actively traded and no valuation adjustments have been applied. Changes in the fair value of these investments are recorded in Other (Income) Expense, Net.

December 31,

Fair Value of Marketable Securities (millions) 2023 2022

Money Market Funds $ 2.0 $ 5.8

Fixed Income Funds 4.0 —

Total Marketable Securities $ 6.0 $ 5.8

The Company also sponsors the Unitil Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (the DC Plan). The DC Plan is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that provides a vehicle for participants to accumulate tax-deferred savings to supplement retirement income. The DC Plan, which was effective January 1, 2019, is open to senior management or other highly compensated employees as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, and may also be used for recruitment and retention purposes for newly hired senior executives. The DC Plan design mirrors the Company’s Tax Deferred Savings and Investment Plan formula, but provides for contributions on compensation above the IRS limit, which will allow participants to defer up to 85% of base salary, and up to 85% of any cash incentive for retirement. The Company may also elect to make discretionary contributions on behalf of any participant in an amount determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. A trust has been established to invest the funds associated with the DC Plan.

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At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value of the Company’s investments in these trading securities related to the DC Plan, which are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Other Assets, were $1.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively. These investments are valued based on quoted prices from active markets and are categorized in Level 1 as they are actively traded and no valuation adjustments have been applied. Changes in the fair value of these investments are recorded in Other (Income) Expense, Net.

December 31,

Fair Value of Marketable Securities (millions) 2023 2022