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Rate and Regulatory Matters | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2014
Rate and Regulatory Matters [Abstract] |
Rate and Regulatory Matters | Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters Middlesex – In June 2014, Middlesex's application with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) seeking permission to increase base water rates was partially approved, granting an increase in annual operating revenues of $4.2 million. The originally-filed base water rate increase request of $10.6 million, filed in November 2013 (subsequently revised to $8.1 million, primarily resulting from lower employee benefit plan costs), was necessitated by capital investments Middlesex had made, or committed to make, increased operations and maintenance costs and lost revenues resulting from the ending of a wholesale water sales contract with the Borough of Sayreville, New Jersey in August 2013 and Middlesex's largest retail water customer, Hess Corporation, ceasing its oil refining operations at its Port Reading, New Jersey facility in February 2013. The new base water rates are designed to recover the increased costs, lost revenues, as well as a return on invested capital in rate base of $208.6 million based on a return on equity of 9.75%. The rate increase became effective on July 20, 2014. In May 2014, Middlesex filed a petition with the NJBPU seeking approval of foundational information (Foundational Filing) that would allow for the implementation of a Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC). A DSIC is a rate-mechanism that allows water utilities to recover investment in capital improvements to their water distribution system made between base rate proceedings. In August 2014, the Foundational Filing was approved by the NJBPU, which allows Middlesex to implement a DSIC rate in September 2014 to recover costs for qualifying projects that are placed in service in the six-month post-approval period. The DSIC rate is allowed to increase in three subsequent six month periods for any additional qualifying projects placed in service during those time periods. The maximum annual revenue allowed to be recovered under the approved Foundational Filing is $3.6 million. Tidewater - The Delaware Public Service Commission (DEPSC) approved a $0.8 million increase in Tidewater's annual base water rates, effective August 19, 2014. The originally-filed base water rate increase request of $3.9 million, filed in November 2013 (subsequently revised to $2.5 million, primarily resulting from lower employee benefit plan costs), was necessitated by capital investments Tidewater had made, or committed to make, as well as increased operations and maintenance costs. In connection with the rate increase application, Tidewater implemented a DEPSC approved 6.5% interim rate increase, subject to refund, on February 6, 2014. Since the final approved rate increase was less than the interim rate increase, Tidewater refunded $0.4 million of previously deferred revenues to customers in the form of a one-time credit to each customer account. In April 2014, the DEPSC approved Tidewater's agreement with the United States Department of Defense for the privatization of the water system of Dover Air Force Base (DAFB) in Dover, Delaware. On October 1, 2014, Tidewater began providing DAFB with potable water service. Based on the recently implemented DEPSC-approved Tidewater base water rate increase, service to DAFB is expected to generate approximately $0.6 million of revenue annually. TESI - The DEPSC approved an April 2014 request by TESI to relinquish its Certificate of Public Necessity and Convenience (“CPCN”) for a real estate parcel in Sussex County, Delaware. This approval allowed for a companion transaction to be completed, whereby TESI was reimbursed with a combination of cash and a future receivable by a real estate developer for $1.9 million of Preliminary Survey and Investigation Costs incurred in connection with the CPCN. TESI recognized a gain of less than $0.1 million from this transaction.

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