Jan 27 (Reuters) - Eversource Energy ( ES ) said on

Monday it has agreed to sell its public water supply unit in a

deal valued at $2.4 billion, as the utility firm aims to pare

debt and focus on the core electric and natural gas businesses.

The company had purchased Connecticut-based Aquarion Water

in 2017 for about $1.7 billion to diversify into the water

supply business.

The deal will allow "us to optimize our portfolio and

strengthen our balance sheet while reinvesting capital to

benefit our customers," Eversource CEO Joe Nolan said in a

statement.

The water utility serves nearly 250,000 water and wastewater

customers in 72 cities and towns across Connecticut,

Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Eversource expects to record a loss on the planned sale of

Aquarion of about $300 million in its fourth-quarter results.

The transaction is expected to close in late 2025.