Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

	December 31,
	2016		2015
Land	$	3,570,361	$	3,223,361
Buildings		19,366,123		18,437,758
Plant and equipment		62,227,399		63,733,553
Distribution system		33,482,674		31,726,766
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment		3,405,633		3,210,819
Vehicles		1,396,886		1,384,294
Leasehold improvements		261,147		260,519
Lab equipment		151,233		157,851
		123,861,456		122,134,921
Less accumulated depreciation		70,777,351		68,391,751
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	53,084,105	$	53,743,170
Construction in progress	$	885,494	$	1,928,610

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding capital commitments of $1,809,418. The Company maintains insurance for loss or damage to all fixed assets that it deems susceptible to loss. The Company does not insure its underground distribution system as the Company considers the possibility of material loss or damage to this system to be remote. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, $3,542,119 and $2,694,733, respectively, of construction in progress was placed in service. Depreciation expense was $5,765,580, $5,501,491, and $5,355,771 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.