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Commitments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments [Abstract]  
Commitments
8.  Commitments

Based on its capital budget, the Company anticipates construction and acquisition expenditures for 2023 and 2024 of approximately $60,600 and $47,100, respectively, exclusive of any acquisitions not yet approved.  The Company plans to finance ongoing capital expenditures with internally-generated funds, borrowings against the Company’s line of credit, proceeds from the issuance of common stock under its dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase and sale plan and ESPP, potential common stock or debt issues and customer advances and contributions.

The Company has committed to capital expenditures of approximately $39,205 to armor and replace the spillway of the Lake Williams dam, of which $26,181 remains to be incurred as of December 31, 2022.  The Company may make additional commitments for this project in the future.

The Company was granted approval by the PPUC to modify its tariff to include the cost of the annual replacement of up to 400 lead customer-owned service lines over nine years from the agreement.  The tariff modification allows the Company to replace customer-owned service lines at its own initial cost.  The Company will record the costs as a regulatory asset to be recovered in future base rates to customers, over a four-year period.  The cost for the customer-owned lead service line replacements was approximately $1,518 and $1,351 through December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and is included as a regulatory asset.  Based on its experience, the Company estimates that lead customer-owned service lines replacements will cost $1,700.  This estimate is subject to adjustment as more facts become available.

As of December 31, 2022, approximately 32% of the Company’s full-time employees are under union contract.  The current contract was ratified in October 2020 and expires on April 30, 2023.  Management is currently preparing for negotiations with the union leadership.  The Company expects to reach an operationally and fiscally responsible agreement with no interruption of service.

The Company is involved in certain legal and administrative proceedings before various courts and governmental agencies concerning utility service and other matters.  The Company expects that the ultimate disposition of these proceedings will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.