California American Water Appoints New Corporate Counsel

California American Water announced today that Sarah Leeper has been appointed to the position of corporate counsel. Leeper will be based at the company’s San Francisco office.

In this role, Leeper will focus on the company’s rates and regulatory filings. Corporate counsel plays a vital function in the rate setting process and assists in formulating, drafting and filing regulatory requests at the CPUC. Her goal will be to assist the team in improving the overall quality of the work product submitted to regulators while reducing the need for external counsel and the associated expense.

“Sarah Leeper has a proven track record of successful work with regulatory agencies in the state as we have witnessed firsthand in the work she has performed on behalf of our company as outside counsel,” said Rob MacLean, President of California American Water. “Her many years of experience working for various utilities will greatly strengthen our legal and regulatory operations.”

Leeper joins California American Water after having spent several years at the law firm of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, where she represented utility clients in rate cases and other matters before the CPUC. Before that, Leeper spent nearly a decade representing utility companies for various matters before the CPUC and the Federal Communications Commission. Leeper earned her law and undergraduate degree from Bringham Young University. She is a member of the California Bar and is fluent in Russian.

California American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 600,000 people.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a yearlong campaign to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap. To learn more, visit www.amwater125.com.