Nicholas DeBenedictis has a long history at Essential Utilities, Inc., where he was the CEO from 2006 to 2017. During his time leading the company, he focused on performance metrics related to earnings and safety, guiding the company through various...

Nicholas DeBenedictis has a long history at Essential Utilities, Inc., where he was the CEO from 2006 to 2017. During his time leading the company, he focused on performance metrics related to earnings and safety, guiding the company through various business challenges. An interesting aspect of his leadership is that he extended his employment beyond the usual retirement age to ensure stability and continuity in the company, showing commitment to his role. His compensation saw significant jumps, particularly in 2017 when he earned over $4.3 million, mainly through performance-based options and other incentives, reflecting his ability to meet company goals. Nicholas also engaged actively in stock transactions, with notable insider trading activities peaking at around $5.15 million in stock value at the beginning of 2022. His strategic choices and response to the financial landscape have contributed to the growth and adaptability of Essential Utilities, making him a significant figure in the utility sector.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Essential Utilities CEOs

E

Nicholas DeBenedictis

Ex-CEO of Essential Utilities

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Utilities

Born

January 1, 1951 - 74 years ago

CEO of Essential Utilities for

11 years 4 months (Aug 2006 - Dec 2017)

Previous Experience

Chief Executive Officer of Aqua America, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Nicholas DeBenedictis

A

Robert J. Sprowls

CEO of American States Water

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.51M

Salary

$924.52K

Bonus

$300.00K

Other

$29.52K

Total Holdings

$14.44M

C

Patricia Kessler Poppe

CEO of CMS Energy

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.24M

Bonus

$1.95M

Other

$23.85K

Total Holdings

$26.21M

A

M. Susan Hardwick

CEO of American Water Works

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.91M

Salary

$1.07M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$329.77K

Total Holdings

$5.94M

C

Timothy Cawley

CEO of Consolidated Edison

2023 Compensation

Stock

$11.43M

Salary

$1.35M

Bonus

$2.26M

Other

$79.60K

Total Holdings

$23.63M

W

Scott J. Lauber

CEO of WEC Energy Group

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.09M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$504.54K

Total Holdings

$5.61M

I

Lisa A. Grow

CEO of IDACORP

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$850.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$13.44K

Total Holdings

$6.14M

Holdings

See how much did Nicholas DeBenedictis make over time.

Nicholas DeBenedictis has been involved with stock transactions at Essential Utilities, where his holdings fluctuated significantly over the years. He recorded insider trading activities with peak values reaching $5.15 million as of January 2022, showing a strong confidence in the...

Nicholas DeBenedictis has been involved with stock transactions at Essential Utilities, where his holdings fluctuated significantly over the years. He recorded insider trading activities with peak values reaching $5.15 million as of January 2022, showing a strong confidence in the company's performance and his own investments. His holdings have seen ups and downs but generally rose over time, reflecting his deep engagement with the company's progress. At one point, he held most of his wealth in these stocks, which indicates his dedication and belief in the company's future.

Mar 17, 2025

E

shares

EXC @ $44.39

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Nicholas DeBenedictis.

EXC

$38.76K

EXC at $43.36/share

Mar 31, 2021

Received

EXC

$38.77K

EXC at $41.20/share

Dec 31, 2020

Received

EXC

$38.74K

EXC at $35.84/share

Sep 30, 2020

Received

EXC

$38.76K

EXC at $40.00/share

Jun 30, 2020

Received

EXC

$38.76K

EXC at $43.12/share

Mar 31, 2020

Received

EXC

$38.77K

EXC at $44.72/share

Dec 31, 2019

Received

EXC

$38.73K

EXC at $48.35/share

Sep 30, 2019

Received

EXC

$38.76K

EXC at $49.57/share

Jun 30, 2019

Received

EXC

$38.73K

EXC at $48.78/share

Mar 31, 2019

Received

EXC

$36.24K

EXC at $47.00/share

Dec 31, 2018

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Nicholas DeBenedictis make over time.

In 2017, Nicholas DeBenedictis saw a significant increase in his compensation, totaling approximately $4.3 million. Most of this came from performance-based options, highlighting the company's incentive structure, which aligns executive pay with company performance. Over the years, his compensation varied widely, from around $196,250 in 2016 to millions in subsequent years as he successfully met established performance metrics. His pay package included a base salary as well as bonuses, but he did not receive bonuses for some years, such as 2016 and 2017, showing how the focus was on longer-term gains. This system kept him motivated to steer Essential Utilities towards operational excellence and profitability, rewarding him richly when targets were met.

Year

2017

Total Compensation

$719.88K

Salary

$705.73K

Board Justification

The compensation program is designed to provide a competitive level of total compensation, motivate executives to contribute to financial success, retain talented executives, and reward leadership excellence and performance.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was reported for 2017.

Other

$14.15K

Board Justification

Includes the taxable value of group life insurance, 401(k) contributions, and car allowance.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock was vested in 2017 as the focus was on performance share units and restricted stock units which are not included in this total.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics included earnings per share, safety metrics, compliance metrics, and individual goals.

Other Essential Utilities CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Essential Utilities

Christopher H. Franklin

CEO of Essential Utilities

July 2015 - Present