XML 42 R20.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Organization, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Developments (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Organization Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Developments [Abstract]

(a) Organization - Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex) is the parent company and sole shareholder of Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc. (USA-PA) and Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes). Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tidewater. On January 14, 2022, Middlesex closed on the sale of its entire interest in Tidewater Environmental Systems, Inc. (TESI), which was its regulated Delaware wastewater utility business.

Middlesex Water Company has operated as a water utility in New Jersey since 1897 and in Delaware, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tidewater, since 1992. We are in the business of collecting, treating, distributing and selling water for domestic, commercial, municipal, industrial and fire protection purposes. We also operate New Jersey municipal water, wastewater and storm water systems under contract and provide unregulated water and wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware through our subsidiaries. Our rates charged to customers for water and wastewater services, the quality of services we provide and certain other matters are regulated in New Jersey and Delaware by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and the Delaware Public Service Commission (DEPSC), respectively. Our USA, USA-PA and White Marsh subsidiaries are not regulated utilities.

Principles of Consolidation

(b) Principles of Consolidation - The financial statements for Middlesex and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the Company) are reported on a consolidated basis. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Other financial investments in which the Company holds a 50% or less voting interest and cannot exercise control over the operation and policies of the investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company records its investment interests in Non-Utility Assets and its percentage share of the earnings or losses of the investees in Other Income (Expense).

System of Accounts

(c) System of Accounts - The Company’s regulated utilities maintain their accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed by the NJBPU and DEPSC.

Regulatory Accounting

(d) Regulatory Accounting - We maintain our books and records in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Middlesex and certain of its subsidiaries, which account for 91% of Operating Revenues and 99% of Total Assets, are subject to regulation in the state in which they operate. Those companies are required to maintain their accounts in accordance with regulatory authorities’ rules and guidelines, which may differ from other authoritative accounting pronouncements. In those instances, the Company follows the guidance provided in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 980, Regulated Operations.

In accordance with ASC 980, Regulated Operations, costs and obligations are deferred if it is probable that these items will be recognized for rate-making purposes in future rates. Accordingly, we have recorded costs and obligations, which will be amortized over various future periods. Any change in the assessment of the probability of rate-making treatment will require us to change the accounting treatment of the deferred item. We have no reason to believe any of the deferred items that are recorded will be treated differently by the regulators in the future. For additional information, see Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters.

Retirement Benefit Plans

(e) Retirement Benefit Plans - We maintain a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (Pension Plan), which covers all active employees who were hired prior to April 1, 2007, as well as a defined contribution plan in which all employees are eligible to participate. In addition, the Company maintains an unfunded supplemental plan for certain of its executive officers. The Company has a retirement benefit plan other than pensions (Other Benefits Plan) for substantially all of its retired employees. Employees hired after March 31, 2007 are not eligible to participate in this plan. Coverage includes healthcare and life insurance.

Index

The Company’s costs for providing retirement benefits are dependent upon numerous factors, including actual plan experience and assumptions of future experience. Retirement benefit plan obligations and expense are determined based on investment performance, discount rates and various other demographic factors related to the population participating in the Company’s retirement benefit plans, all of which can change significantly in future years. For more information on the Company’s Retirement Benefit Plans, see Note 7 – Employee Benefit Plans.

Utility Plant

(f) Utility Plant - Utility Plant is stated at original cost as defined for regulatory purposes. Property accounts are charged with the cost of betterments and major replacements of property. Cost includes direct material, labor and indirect charges for pension benefits and payroll taxes. The cost of labor, materials, supervision and other expenses incurred in making repairs and minor replacements and in maintaining the properties is charged to the appropriate expense accounts. At December 31, 2021, there was no event or change in circumstance that would indicate that the carrying amount of any long-lived asset was not recoverable.

Depreciation

(g) Depreciation - Depreciation is computed by each regulated member of the Company utilizing a rate approved by the applicable regulatory authority. The accumulated provision for depreciation is charged with the cost of property retired, less salvage. The following table sets forth the range of depreciation rates for the major utility plant categories used to calculate depreciation for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. These rates have been approved by the NJBPU or DEPSC:

Source of Supply	1.15% - 3.44%	Transmission and Distribution (T&D):
Pumping	2.00% - 5.39%	T&D – Mains	1.10% - 3.13%
Water Treatment	1.65% - 7.09%	T&D – Services	2.12% - 3.16%
General Plant	2.08% - 17.84%	T&D – Other	1.61% - 4.63%
Wastewater Collection	1.42% - 1.81%

Non-regulated fixed assets consist primarily of office buildings, furniture and fixtures, and transportation equipment. These assets are recorded at original cost and depreciation is calculated based on the estimated useful lives, ranging from 3 to 42 years.

Preliminary Survey and Investigation (PS&I) Costs

(h) Preliminary Survey and Investigation (PS&I) Costs - In the design of water and wastewater systems that the Company ultimately intends to construct, own and operate, certain expenditures are incurred to advance those project activities. These PS&I costs are recorded as deferred charges on the balance sheet as these costs are expected to be recovered through future rates charged to customers as the underlying project assets are placed into service as utility plant. If it is subsequently determined that costs for a project recorded as PS&I are not recoverable through rates charged to our customers, the applicable PS&I costs are recorded as Other Expense on the Statement of Income at that time.

Customers' Advances for Construction (CAC)

(i) Customers’ Advances for Construction (CAC) - Utility plant and/or cash advances are provided to the Company by customers, real estate developers and builders in order to extend utility service to their properties. These transactions are recorded as CAC. Contractual Refunds of CACs in the form of cash are made by the Company and are based on either additional operating revenues generated from new customers or, as new customers are connected to the respective system. After all refunds are made and/or contract terms have expired, any remaining balance is transferred to Contributions in Aid of Construction.

Contributions in Aid of Construction (CIAC)

Contributions in Aid of Construction (CIAC) - CIAC include direct non-refundable contributions of utility plant and/or cash and the portion of CAC that becomes non-refundable.

In accordance with regulatory requirements, CAC and CIAC are not depreciated. In addition, these amounts reduce the investment base for purposes of setting rates.

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC)

(j) Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC) - Middlesex and its regulated subsidiaries capitalize AFUDC, which represents the cost of financing projects during construction. AFUDC is added to the construction costs of individual projects exceeding specific cost and construction period thresholds established for each company and then depreciated with the utility plant direct costs over the underlying assets’ estimated useful life. AFUDC is calculated using each company’s weighted cost of debt and equity as approved in their most recent respective regulatory rate order. The AFUDC rates for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 for Middlesex and Tidewater are as follows:

	2021	2020	2019
Middlesex	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%
Tidewater	7.92%	7.92%	7.92%

Accounts Receivable

(k) Accounts Receivable - We record bad debt expense based on a variety of factors such as our customers’ payment history, current economic conditions and trending reasonable and supportable forecasts on expected collectability of accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $2.6 million and $2.1 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, bad debt expense was $0.9 million, $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, write-offs were $0.4 million, $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively. During 2021 and 2020, the Company increased its allowance for doubtful accounts for expected increases in accounts receivable write-offs due to the financial impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on customers (for further discussion of COVID-19, see Note 1 (s), COVID-19).

Revenues

(l) Revenues - The Company’s revenues are primarily generated from regulated tariff-based sales of water and wastewater services and non-regulated operation and maintenance contracts for services on water and wastewater systems owned by others. Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when control of a promised good or service is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services.

The Company’s regulated revenue results from tariff-based sales from the provision of water and wastewater services to residential, industrial, commercial, fire-protection and wholesale customers. Residential customers are billed quarterly while most industrial, commercial, fire-protection and wholesale customers are billed monthly. Payments by customers are due between 15 to 30 days after the invoice date. Revenue is recognized as the water and wastewater services are delivered to customers as well as from accrual of unbilled revenues estimated from the last meter reading date to the end of the accounting period utilizing factors such as historical customer data, regional weather indicators and general economic conditions in the relevant service territories. Unearned Revenues and Advance Service Fees include fixed service charge billings in advance to Tidewater customers recognized as service is provided to the customer.

Non-regulated service contract revenues consist of base service fees as well as fees for additional billable services provided to customers. Fees are billed monthly and are due within 30 days after the invoice date. The Company considers the amounts billed to represent the value of these services provided to customers. These contracts expire at various times through June 2030 and contain remaining performance obligations for which the Company expects to recognize revenue in the future. These contracts also contain customary termination provisions.

Substantially all of the amounts included in operating revenues and accounts receivable are from contracts with customers. The Company records its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical write-offs combined with an evaluation of current economic conditions within its service territories.

The Company’s contracts do not contain any significant financing components.

Index

The Company’s operating revenues are comprised of the following:

	(In Thousands)
	Years Ended December 31,
	2021			2020			2019
Regulated Tariff Sales
Residential	$	77,699		$	76,798		$	71,487
Commercial		16,715			15,448			15,198
Industrial		8,990			9,512			9,390
Fire Protection		12,608			12,374			12,291
Wholesale		14,590			15,187			14,319
Non-Regulated Contract Operations		12,391			12,130			11,773
Total Revenue from Contracts with Customers	$	142,993		$	141,449		$	134,458
Other Regulated Revenues		929			532			393
Other Non-Regulated Revenues		427			415			404
Inter-segment Elimination		(1,208	)		(804	)		(657	)
Total Revenue	$	143,141		$	141,592		$	134,598

Unamortized Debt Expense and Premiums on Long-Term Debt

(m) Unamortized Debt Expense and Premiums on Long-Term Debt - Unamortized Debt Expense and Premiums on Long-Term Debt, included on the consolidated balance sheet in long-term debt, are amortized over the lives of the related debt issues.

Income Taxes

(n) Income Taxes - Middlesex files a consolidated federal income tax return for the Company and income taxes are allocated based on the separate return method. Certain income and expense items are accounted for in different time periods for financial reporting than for income tax reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes are provided on differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts at which they are carried in the consolidated financial statements. Investment tax credits have been deferred and are amortized over the estimated useful life of the related property. In the event that there are interest and penalties associated with income tax adjustments from income tax authority examinations, these amounts will be reported under interest expense and other expense, respectively. For more information on income taxes, see Note 3 – Income Taxes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

(o) Cash and Cash Equivalents - For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturity dates of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents represent bank balances and money market funds with investments maturing in less than 90 days.

Restricted Cash

(p) Restricted Cash - Restricted cash includes cash proceeds from loan transactions entered into through government financing programs and are held in trusts for specific capital expenditures or debt service.

Use of Estimates

(q) Use of Estimates - Conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

(r) Recent Accounting Pronouncements - There are no new adopted or proposed accounting guidance that the Company is aware of that could have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

COVID-19 Pandemic

(s) COVID-19 Pandemic - On January 16, 2022, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services renewed the determination that a nationwide health emergency exists as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. While the Company’s operations and capital construction program have not been materially disrupted to date from the pandemic, the COVID-19 impact on economic conditions nationally continues to be uncertain and could affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity in the future. In New Jersey, the declared COVID-19 State of Emergency Order remains in effect through at least March 10, 2022. In Delaware, the declared COVID-19 State of Emergency Order ended in July 2021.

Index

The NJBPU and the DEPSC have approved the tracking of COVID-19 related incremental costs for potential recovery in customer rates in future rate proceedings. Neither jurisdiction has established a timetable or definitive formal procedures for seeking cost recovery. Since March 2020, the Company has increased its allowance for doubtful accounts for expected increases in accounts receivable write-offs due to the financial impact of COVID-19 on customers. The Company has not deferred any COVID-19 related incremental costs. We will continue to monitor the effects of COVID-19.

Regulatory Notice of Non-Compliance

(t) Regulatory Notice of Non-Compliance – In September 2021, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued a Notice of Non-Compliance (Notice) to Middlesex based on self-reporting by Middlesex that the level of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in water treated at its Park Avenue Wellfield Treatment Plant in New Jersey exceeded a recently promulgated NJDEP standard effective in 2021. Neither the NJDEP nor Middlesex has characterized this exceedance as an acute health emergency. However, Middlesex was required to notify its affected customers and complied in November 2021. Further, the Notice required the Company to take any action necessary to comply with the new standard by September 7, 2022.

The NJDEP standard for PFOA was developed based on a Health-based Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 14 parts per trillion (ppt). Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has not yet implemented an enforceable regulation relative to PFOA, the water distributed from the Park Avenue Well Field Treatment Plant does meet the USEPA’s current health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) and would meet the NJDEP’s pre-2021 standard guidance level of 40 ppt, which was not a regulation. Construction of an enhanced treatment process at the Park Avenue Well Field Treatment Plant to comply with the NJDEP standard had already begun when the Notice was issued by the NJDEP. Since completion is not expected until mid-2023, in December 2021, the Company implemented an interim solution to meet the Notice requirements. The Park Avenue Well Field Treatment Plant was taken off-line and alternate sources of supply have been obtained. The Company is in the process of implementing an acceleration of a portion of the Park Avenue Wellfield treatment upgrades in order to meet anticipated increases in the historical higher water demand periods during the summer months and is also intended to result in compliance with the requirements of the Notice.

In November 2021, the Company was served with two PFOA-related class action lawsuits seeking restitution for medical, water replacement and other claimed related costs. These lawsuits are in the early stages of the legal process and their ultimate resolution cannot be predicted at this time. The Company’s insurance provider has acknowledged coverage of potential liability resulting from these lawsuits.

In 2018, the Company identified the party believed to be the source of the PFAS in the wells supplying the Park Avenue Well Field Treatment Plant and filed a lawsuit against that entity seeking compensatory damages for the resulting damage to its properties and costs to remediate PFAS, punitive damages and attorney’s fees and costs. The ultimate resolution of this matter cannot be predicted at this time.

In January 2022, the Company filed a petition with the NJBPU seeking to establish a regulatory asset and deferred accounting until its next base rate setting proceeding for all costs associated with the interim solution to comply with the Notice.

While the Company believes other administrative or monetary penalties are unlikely, the issuance of the Notice does not preclude the State of New Jersey or any of its agencies from initiating formal administrative and/or judicial enforcement action, including assessment of penalties of up to $25,000 per day per offense if the Company is not in compliance with the requirements of the Notice by September 7, 2022.

Sale of Subsidiary

(u) Sale of Subsidiary –In August 2021, Middlesex entered into a definitive agreement with Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc. to sell 100% of the common stock of TESI for $6.4 million in cash and other consideration. The DEPSC approved the transaction which closed on January 14, 2022. The Company will continue to own and operate its regulated water utilities in Delaware as well as its non-regulated operations and maintenance contract business.