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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Recently Adopted Accounting Principles In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes, eliminates certain exceptions within Topic 740, “Income Taxes”, and clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. ASU 2019-12 was effective for SJW Group in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. Use of Estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Depreciable Utility Plant and Equipment The major components of depreciable plant and equipment as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
| 2021 |  | 2020
Equipment | $ | 598,285 |  |  | 567,904 |
Transmission and distribution | 1,802,008 |  |  | 1,699,953 |
Office buildings and other structures | 981,615 |  |  | 930,203 |
Total depreciable plant and equipment | $ | 3,381,908 |  |  | 3,198,060 |
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated remaining service lives of groups of assets. The estimated service lives of depreciable plant and equipment are as follows:
| Useful Lives
Equipment | 5 to 35 years
Transmission and distribution plant | 35 to 75 years
Office buildings and other structures | 7 to 50 years
For the years 2021, 2020 and 2019, depreciation expense as a percent of the beginning of the year balance of depreciable plant was approximately 3.2%, 3.2% and 3.8%, respectively. Depreciation expense for utility plant for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $91,906, $86,823 and $63,785, respectively. The cost of utility plant retired, including retirement costs (less salvage), is charged to accumulated depreciation and no gain or loss is recognized. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, accrued payables for additions to depreciable utility plant were $20,579 and $24,571, respectively. Allowance For Funds Used During Construction (“AFUDC”) AFUDC represents the capitalized costs of borrowed funds or a return on equity funds used to finance utility plant under construction and is capitalized as part of construction work in progress. AFUDC is recorded to the extent approved by the respective states’ utility regulators and is recovered through water rates as the utility plant depreciates. The amount of interest capitalized in 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $4,422, $4,133 and $4,323, respectively. Interest on long-term debt is presented net of amounts capitalized on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. The amount of equity funds capitalized in 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $1,926, $1,249 and $198, respectively, reflected in “Other, net” on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. Prior to the merger with CTWS on October 9, 2019, SJW Group did not have AFUDC for equity funds. Intangible Assets Intangible assets are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset, ranging from 5 to 70 years (see Note 8, “Utility Plant Intangible Assets”). Real Estate Investments and Nonutility Properties Real estate investments and nonutility properties are recorded at cost and consist primarily of land and buildings. Net gains and losses from the sale of real estate investments and nonutility properties are recorded as a component of other (expense) income and operating expense, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Nonutility property is property that is neither used nor useful in providing water utility services to customers and is excluded from rate base for rate-setting purposes. SJWC recognizes gain/loss on disposition of nonutility property in accordance with California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) Code Section 790, whereby the net proceeds are reinvested back into property that is useful in providing water utility services to customers. CTWS and CLWSC do not have regulatory restrictions on the use of proceeds from the sale of nonutility property. There is no depreciation associated with Water Utility Services nonutility property as it is all undeveloped land. The major components of real estate investments and nonutility properties as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
| 2021 |  | 2020
Land | $ | 12,615 |  |  | 14,168 |
Buildings and improvements | 45,017 |  |  | 43,961 |
Total real estate investments and nonutility properties | $ | 57,632 |  |  | 58,129 |
Depreciation on buildings and improvements for real estate investments is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from 7 to 39 years. A former wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Group, Texas Water Alliance Limited was sold to Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (“GBRA”) in 2017. The sales agreement with GBRA included a holdback amount of $3,000 to be paid to SJW Group on June 30, 2021, subject to reduction under certain conditions. SJW Group received the holdback amount without reduction from the GBRA on June 29, 2021 and recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of $3,000. On October 29, 2021, San Jose Water sold two nonutility properties located in San Jose, California for $13,150. SJW Group recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of nonutility properties of $7,230, after selling expenses of $277 for one of the properties sold, and a gain of $5,442 was deferred on the other nonutility property pending CPUC review. On February 15, 2022, the CPUC review was completed and the deferred gain will be recognized in the first quarter of 2022. Also, on October 29, 2021, SJW Land sold undeveloped land located in San Jose, California for $2,600. SJW Group recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of real estate investments of $927, after selling expenses of $121. On September 28, 2020, SJWC sold six nonutility properties located in Los Gatos, California for $1,075. SJW Group recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of real estate investments of $1,048, after selling expenses of $22. Real estate investments include $58,330 and $57,273 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, of assets that are leased or available for lease. The following schedule shows the future minimum rental payments to be received from third parties under operating leases that have remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2021:
Year ending December 31: | Rental Revenue
2022 | $ | 4,251 |
2023 | 4,230 |
2024 | 2,990 |
2025 | 2,912 |
2026 | 3,075 |
Thereafter | 4,753 |
Business Combinations SJW Group applies the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805—“Business Combinations” for the purchase accounting related to business acquisitions. Topic 805 requires SJW Group to recognize separately from goodwill the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the acquisition date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While SJW Group uses best available estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, such estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the one year measurement period from the acquisition date, we record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Accounting for business combinations requires SJW Group to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially at the acquisition date, including estimates for intangible assets, contractual obligations assumed and pre-acquisition contingencies. Although SJW Group believes that the assumptions and estimates we make are reasonable and appropriate, they are based in part on historical experience and information obtained from the acquired company’s management and are inherently uncertain. Events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results. The purchase price allocation process requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions with respect to intangible assets. Although SJW Group believes the assumptions and estimates made are reasonable, they are based in part on historical experience, market conditions and information obtained from management of the acquired companies and are inherently uncertain. Examples of critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets we have acquired include, but are not limited to: future expected cash flows from services; historical and expected customer attrition rates and anticipated growth in revenue from acquired customers; the expected use of the acquired assets; and discount rates. See Note 1 4, “Business Combinations” for further discussion. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill In accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 360—“Property, Plant and Equipment,” the long-lived assets of SJW Group are reviewed for impairment when changes in circumstances or events require adjustments to the carrying values of the assets. When such changes in circumstances or events occur, the company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through the undiscounted expected future cash flows. To the extent an impairment exists, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value with a corresponding charge to operations in the period in which the impairment is identified. Long-lived assets consist primarily of utility plant in service, goodwill, regulatory assets, real estate investments and intangible assets. SJW Group first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test. In assessing the qualitative factors, SJW Group considers the impact of these key factors: change in industry and competitive environment, financial performance, and other relevant Company-specific events. If SJW Group determines that as a result of the qualitative assessment it is more likely than not (> 50% likelihood) that the fair value is less than carrying amount, then a quantitative test is performed. During the year ended December 31, 2021, SJW Group determined that an implementation project for a customer care billing system at CLWSC will no longer be pursued and accordingly wrote-off $2,211 of accumulated costs for the project that were previously recorded as construction in progress on the consolidated balance sheets. No impairments occurred during 2020 and 2019. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid over the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually on October 1st or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not, reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. SJW Group first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test. In assessing the qualitative factors, SJW Group considers the impact of these key factors: change in industry and competitive environment, financial performance, macroeconomic conditions, and other relevant Company-specific events. If SJW Group determines that as a result of the qualitative assessment it is more likely than not (> 50% likelihood) that the fair value is less than carrying amount, then a quantitative test is performed. SJW Group’s goodwill is primarily associated with the recent merger with CTWS in 2019. As of October 1, 2021, SJW Group performed a qualitative assessment and found no indicators of impairment and therefore did not perform the quantitative impairment test. No goodwill impairments occurred during 2021, 2020 or 2019. Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash on deposit with banks with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase. Restricted funds consist of proceeds from state revolving fund bond issuances to Maine Water of $4,000 on December 23, 2020, for capital expenditures. Proceeds are held by a trustee for the bonds and as funding conditions are met, funds are released. As of December 31, 2021, $2,789 of the proceeds from the December 23, 2020, bond were released by the trustee, and a balance of $1,211 remains. No bond issuances of this nature took place during 2021. Financial Instruments and Investments The following instruments are not measured at fair value on the company’s consolidated balance sheets but require disclosure of fair values: cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The estimated fair value of such instruments approximates their carrying value as reported on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of such financial instruments are determined using the income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. The fair value of these instruments would be categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, with the exception of cash and cash equivalents, which would be categorized as Level 1. The fair value of long-term debt is discussed in Note 6, “Long-Term Debt” and pension plan assets in Note 11, “Benefit Plans”. SJW Group has investments in company owned life insurance which are valued at cash surrender value of the policies as reported by the insurer. The value of these contracts is based principally on a referenced pool of investment funds that actively redeem shares, are observable and measurable, and are presented in “Other investments” on SJW Group’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the value of the company owned life insurance was $8,026 and $8,026, respectively, of which $4,191 and $4,311, respectively, was related to assets to fund CTWS’ supplemental retirement plan agreements. See discussion on pension plans in Note 11, “Benefit Plans”. Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the effect of temporary differences between financial and tax reporting. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using current tax rates in effect. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. To the extent permitted by the regulators, investment tax credits resulting from utility plant additions are deferred and amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related property. Advances for Construction and Contributions in Aid of Construction In California, advances for construction received after 1981 are primarily refunded ratably over 40 years. In Connecticut and Maine, advances for construction are refunded as services are connected to the main, over periods not exceeding 15 years and in Texas advances for construction are non-refundable. Estimated refunds for the next five years and thereafter are shown below:
| Estimated Refunds
2022 | $ | 3,609 |
2023 | 3,548 |
2024 | 3,282 |
2025 | 3,030 |
2026 | 2,809 |
Thereafter | 49,582 |
As of December 31, 2021, advances for construction were $130,693 of which $36,388 was related to non-refundable advances for construction and $28,445 was related to advances which are refunded based on service connections made. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the fair value of the advances for construction refunded ratably over 40 years is $51,067 and $50,391, respectively. Contributions in aid of construction represent funds received from developers that are not refundable under applicable regulations. Depreciation applicable to utility plant constructed with these contributions is charged to contributions in aid of construction. Customer advances and contributions in aid of construction received subsequent to 1986 and prior to June 12, 1996, generally must be included in federal taxable income, except for CTWS. Taxes paid relating to advances and contributions are recorded as deferred tax assets for financial reporting purposes and are amortized over 40 years for advances and over the tax depreciable life of the related asset for contributions. Receipts subsequent to June 12, 1996, are generally exempt from federal taxable income, unless specifically prescribed under treasury regulations, including CTWS. Advances and contributions received subsequent to 1991 and prior to 1997 are included in state taxable income, except for CTWS. Asset Retirement Obligation SJW Group’s asset retirement obligation is recorded as a liability included in other non-current liabilities. It reflects principally the retirement costs of wells and other anticipated clean-up costs, which by law, must be remediated upon retirement. Retirement costs have historically been recovered through rates at the time of retirement. As a result, a regulatory asset is also recorded. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the asset retirement obligation is as follows:
| 2021 |  | 2020
Retirement obligation | $ | 4,511 |  |  | 4,619 |
Discount rate | 6 | % |  | 6 | %
Retirement obligation, present value | $ | 925 |  |  | 939 |
Revenue Management has determined that the company has principally five categories of revenues. The first category is recognized in accordance with ASC Topic 606- “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and represents metered revenue of Water Utility Services which includes billings to customers based on meter readings plus an estimate of water used between the customers’ last meter reading and the end of the accounting period. SJW Group satisfies its performance obligation upon delivery of water to the customer at which time the customer consumes the benefits provided by the company. The customer is typically billed on a quarterly or bi-monthly basis after water delivery has occurred. The customer is charged both a service charge which is based upon meter size and covers a portion of the fixed costs of furnishing water to the customer and a consumption charge based on actual water usage. Unbilled revenue from the last meter reading date to the end of the accounting period is estimated based on the most recent usage patterns, production records and the effective tariff rates. As the company has the right to bill for services that it has provided, SJW Group estimates the dollar value of deliveries during the unbilled period and recognizes the associated revenue. Actual results could differ from those estimates, which may result in an adjustment to revenue when billed in a subsequent period. The second category is recognized in accordance with ASC Topic 980-605-25, “Alternative Revenue Programs”. Under Programs established by the CPUC and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority of Connecticut (“PURA”), allowing for automatic adjustment of future rates, the company recognizes revenue when it is objectively determinable, probable of recovery and expected to be collected within 24 months of the year-end in which the revenue is recognized. A reserve, based on an estimate of actual usage over the recovery period, is recorded for amounts SJW Group estimates will not be collected within the 24-month period. SJW Group’s alternative revenue programs include SJWC’s Water Conservation Memorandum Account (“WCMA”) and CTWS’s Water Rate Adjustment mechanism (“WRA”). •The WCMA allows SJWC to track lost revenue, net of related water costs, associated with reduced sales due to water conservation and associated calls for water use reductions. SJWC records the lost revenue captured in the WCMA balancing accounts. In 2021, with the declaration of a drought emergency and conservation mandates in California by Governor Gavin Newsom and Santa Clara Valley Water District (“Valley Water”), SJWC obtained approval to reestablish a WCMA effective July 20, 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2021, SJWC recognized $3,243 in lost revenues accumulated in the WCMA. In December 2019, CPUC denied SJWC’s request to recover the 2018 WCMA balance due to drought mandatory conservation mandates that ended in 2017. As a result of the decision, during the year ended December 31, 2019, SJWC wrote off a total balance of $9,386 related to 2018 lost revenue and $639 related to 2019 lost revenue that was recorded in the 2018 and 2019 WCMA accounts, respectively. •The WRA allows Connecticut Water to mitigate risk associated with changes in demand. The WRA is used to reconcile actual water demands with the demands projected in the most recent general rate case and allows companies to implement a surcharge or surcredit as necessary to recover the revenues approved in the general rate case. The WRA allows the company to defer, as a regulatory asset or liability, the amount by which actual revenues deviate from the revenues allowed in the most recent general rate proceedings. The third and fourth category represents the impact of other balancing and memorandum accounts and other regulatory mechanisms that are accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 980 - “Regulated Operations”. Balancing and memorandum accounts are recognized by SJWC when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process. The last category, rental income, represents lease rental income. Tenants pay monthly in accordance with lease agreements and SJW Group recognizes the income ratably over the lease term as this is the most representative of the pattern in which the benefit is expected to be derived from SJW Group’s underlying asset. The major streams of revenue for SJW Group are as follows:
| 2021 |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Revenue from contracts with customers | $ | 559,568 |  |  | 549,270 |  |  | 447,720 |
Alternative revenue programs, net | 5,304 |  |  | (493) |  |  | (18,232) |
Other balancing and memorandum accounts, net | 5,138 |  |  | 11,856 |  |  | (30,092) |
Other regulatory mechanisms, net | (1,703) |  |  | (1,639) |  |  | 15,689 |
Rental income | 5,379 |  |  | 5,532 |  |  | 5,397 |
| $ | 573,686 |  |  | 564,526 |  |  | 420,482 |
Revenue also includes a surcharge collected from regulated customers that is paid to the CPUC. This surcharge is recorded both in operating revenues and administrative and general expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the surcharge was $5,691, $4,911 and $4,955, respectively. Share-Based Compensation SJW Group calculates the fair value of service-based and performance-based restricted stock awards based on the grant date fair value of the company’s stock price reduced by the present value of the dividends expected to be declared on outstanding shares. SJW Group utilizes the Monte Carlo valuation model, which requires the use of subjective assumptions, to compute the fair value of market-vesting restricted stock units. The compensation cost for service-based restricted stock awards are charged to income on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. For performance-based stock awards, compensation expense is charged to income on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period based on expected attainment of performance targets. Changes in the estimates of the expected attainment of performance targets will result in a change in the number of shares that are expected to vest which may cause a cumulative catch up for the amount of share-based compensation expense during each reporting period in which such estimates are altered. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. Earnings per Share Basic earnings per share is calculated using income available to common stockholders, divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock including both shares outstanding and shares potentially issuable in connection with deferred restricted common stock awards under SJW Group’s Long-Term Incentive Plan and shares potentially issuable under the Employee Stock Purchase Plans. Restricted common stock units of 16,347, 22,396 and 27,082 as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were excluded from the dilutive earnings per share calculation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

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