Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

	December 31,
	2017		2016
Land	$	3,435,361	$	3,570,361
Buildings		20,135,753		19,366,123
Plant and equipment		61,437,751		62,227,399
Distribution system		33,986,305		33,482,674
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment		3,425,992		3,405,633
Vehicles		1,446,468		1,396,886
Leasehold improvements		261,148		261,147
Lab equipment		158,637		151,233
		124,287,415		123,861,456
Less accumulated depreciation		73,762,351		70,777,351
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	50,525,064	$	53,084,105
Construction in progress	$	1,823,284	$	885,494

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had outstanding capital commitments of $3,619,925. 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, 2017 and 2016, $3,183,122 and $3,542,119, respectively, of construction in progress was placed in service. Depreciation expense was $5,862,947, $5,765,580, and $5,501,491 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.