GENERAL	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
GENERAL [Abstract]
GENERAL	NOTE 1 – GENERAL Artesian Resources Corporation, or Artesian Resources, includes income from the earnings of our eight wholly owned subsidiaries and the income derived from our Service Line Protection Plans described below. The terms “we”, “our”, “Artesian” and the “Company” as used herein refer to Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries. DELAWARE REGULATED SUBSIDIARIES Artesian Water Company Inc., or Artesian Water, our principal subsidiary, is the oldest and largest public water utility in the State of Delaware and has been providing water service within the state since 1905. Artesian Water distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal and utility customers throughout the State of Delaware. In addition, Artesian Water provides services to other water utilities, including operations and billing functions, and also has contract operation agreements with private and municipal water providers. We also provide water for public and private fire protection to customers in our service territories. Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater, is a regulated entity that owns wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure and provides wastewater services to customers in Delaware as a regulated public wastewater service company. As of March 31, 2012, Artesian Wastewater owned and operated four wastewater treatment facilities, which are capable of treating approximately 730,000 gallons per day and can be expanded to treat approximately 1.6 million gallons per day, or mgd. As contemplated in our original service agreement, ownership of one of the wastewater treatment facilities located in Sussex County previously owned and operated by Artesian Wastewater was transferred to Sussex County. The transfer was scheduled to occur once Sussex County had sewer service available to service the area. The utility plant of $2.2 million related to this wastewater treatment facility was originally received as contributions in aid of construction and subsequently removed from contributions in aid of construction following the transfer. MARYLAND REGULATED SUBSIDIARIES Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Water Maryland, began operations in August 2007. Artesian Water Maryland distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers in Cecil County, Maryland. On December 21, 2011, Artesian Water Maryland completed its purchase from Cecil County of all of Cecil County’s right, title and interest in and to the Meadowview, Pine Hills, Harbourview and Route 7 water facilities and the associated parcels of real property, easement rights and water transmission and distribution systems pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, dated October 7, 2008, as amended, (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”). The total price for the purchased assets was $2.2 million, which, pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, was equal to the net asset value of the purchased assets at closing. Artesian Water Maryland paid the full purchase price and assumed certain liabilities at closing. As previously disclosed, on August 31, 2011, the Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, issued an order granting Artesian Water Maryland authority to exercise the franchise area served by the water facilities acquired under the Asset Purchase Agreement. The water systems serve approximately 1,500 customers. Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, is a regulated wastewater entity in the State of Maryland and was incorporated on June 3, 2008 specifically for the purpose of executing two purchase agreements, or the Asset Purchase Agreements, relating to the Meadowview Wastewater Facility, Highlands Wastewater Facility, Cherry Hill Wastewater Facility and the Harbourview Wastewater Facility, and related real property, easement rights and wastewater collection systems with respect to each facility or the wastewater facilities. On September 27, 2011, Artesian Resources, Artesian Wastewater Maryland and Cecil County mutually agreed to enter into a Termination of Asset Purchase Agreements, Franchise and Parent Guaranty, or the Termination Agreement, to terminate the Asset Purchase Agreements relating to the wastewater facilities. Certain ancillary agreements, including a wastewater franchise agreement between Artesian Wastewater Maryland and Cecil County, and a parent guaranty between Artesian Resources and Cecil County, were also terminated by the Termination Agreement. Termination of the wastewater franchise agreement was approved by the MDPSC on April 18, 2012. PENNSYLVANIA REGULATED SUBSIDIARY Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc., or Artesian Water Pennsylvania, began operations upon receiving recognition as a regulated public water utility by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC, in 2002. It provides water service to a residential community in Chester County. Artesian Water Pennsylvania filed an application with the PAPUC to increase our service area in Pennsylvania, which was approved and a related order was entered on February 4, 2005. This application involved specific developments, in which we expect modest future growth. OTHER SUBSIDIARIES Our three other subsidiaries, none of which are regulated, are Artesian Utility Development, Inc., or Artesian Utility, Artesian Development Corporation, or Artesian Development, and Artesian Consulting Engineers, Inc., or Artesian Consulting Engineers. Artesian Utility was formed in 1996. It designs and builds water and wastewater infrastructure and provides contract water and wastewater services on the Delmarva Peninsula. Artesian Utility also evaluates land parcels, provides recommendations to developers on the size of water or wastewater facilities and the type of technology that should be used for treatment at such facilities, and operates water and wastewater facilities in Delaware and Maryland for municipal and governmental organizations. Artesian Utility also has contracts with developers for design and construction of wastewater facilities within the Delmarva Peninsula, using a number of different technologies for treatment of wastewater at each facility. We currently operate wastewater treatment facilities for the town of Middletown, in Southern New Castle County, or Middletown, under a 20-year contract that expires on February 1, 2021. The facilities include two wastewater treatment stations with capacities of up to approximately 2.5 mgd and 250,000 gallons per day, respectively. We also operate a wastewater disposal facility in Middletown in order to support the 2.5 mgd wastewater treatment station. One of the wastewater treatment facilities in Middletown now provides reclaimed wastewater for use in spray irrigation on public and agricultural lands in the area. Our relationship with the Town of Middletown has given us the opportunity to create the Artesian Water Resource Management Partnership, or AWRMP, to encourage and support the use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation and other needs. Using reclaimed water to irrigate farm fields can save the Delmarva region millions of gallons of groundwater each day. The AWRMP’s first project in Middletown will save up to three million gallons of water per day during the peak growing season. Through the AWRMP initiative, Artesian will provide planning, engineering and technical expertise and help bring together the various state, local and private partners needed for water recycling project approvals. Artesian Development is a real estate holding company that owns properties, including land zoned for office buildings, a water treatment plant and wastewater facility, as well as property for current operations, including an office facility in Sussex County, Delaware. The facility consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of office space along with nearly 10,000 square feet of warehouse space. This facility allows all of our Sussex County, Delaware operations to be housed in one central location. Artesian Consulting Engineers acquired all the assets of Meridian Architects and Engineers in June 2008. As a result of the decline in new housing and development due to the economic downturn, the need for development and architectural services has remained depressed. Therefore, in April 2011, management decided to reduce staffing levels and reorganize the business. Artesian Consulting Engineers no longer provides development and architectural services to outside third parties. Artesian Consulting Engineers will continue to work with existing clients on projects already in progress for engineering services until those projects are complete. Artesian will continue to provide design and engineering contract services through our Artesian Utility subsidiary. OTHER Artesian Resources initiated a Water Service Line Protection Plan, or WSLP Plan, in March 2005. The WSLP Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers’ leaking water service lines up to an annual limit. As of March 31, 2012, approximately 16,800, or 24.3%, of our eligible water customers had signed up for the WSLP Plan. The WSLP Plan was expanded in the second quarter of 2008 to include maintenance or repair to customers’ sewer lines. This plan, the Sewer Service Line Protection Plan, or SSLP Plan, covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers’ leaking or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit. As of March 31, 2012, approximately 9,500, or 13.8%, of our eligible customers had signed up for the SSLP Plan. Also, in the second quarter of 2010, the WSLP Plan and SSLP Plan were extended to include non-customers of Artesian Resources. As of March 31, 2012, approximately 850 non-customer participants have signed up for either the WSLP Plan or SSLP Plan.

Artesian Resources Corporation, or Artesian Resources, includes income from the earnings of our eight wholly owned subsidiaries and the income derived from our Service Line Protection Plans described below. The terms “we”, “our”, “Artesian” and the “Company” as used herein refer to Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries.

Artesian Water Company Inc., or Artesian Water, our principal subsidiary, is the oldest and largest public water utility in the State of Delaware and has been providing water service within the state since 1905. Artesian Water distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal and utility customers throughout the State of Delaware. In addition, Artesian Water provides services to other water utilities, including operations and billing functions, and also has contract operation agreements with private and municipal water providers. We also provide water for public and private fire protection to customers in our service territories.

Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater, is a regulated entity that owns wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure and provides wastewater services to customers in Delaware as a regulated public wastewater service company. As of March 31, 2012, Artesian Wastewater owned and operated four wastewater treatment facilities, which are capable of treating approximately 730,000 gallons per day and can be expanded to treat approximately 1.6 million gallons per day, or mgd. As contemplated in our original service agreement, ownership of one of the wastewater treatment facilities located in Sussex County previously owned and operated by Artesian Wastewater was transferred to Sussex County. The transfer was scheduled to occur once Sussex County had sewer service available to service the area. The utility plant of $2.2 million related to this wastewater treatment facility was originally received as contributions in aid of construction and subsequently removed from contributions in aid of construction following the transfer.

Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Water Maryland, began operations in August 2007. Artesian Water Maryland distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers in Cecil County, Maryland.

On December 21, 2011, Artesian Water Maryland completed its purchase from Cecil County of all of Cecil County’s right, title and interest in and to the Meadowview, Pine Hills, Harbourview and Route 7 water facilities and the associated parcels of real property, easement rights and water transmission and distribution systems pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, dated October 7, 2008, as amended, (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”). The total price for the purchased assets was $2.2 million, which, pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, was equal to the net asset value of the purchased assets at closing. Artesian Water Maryland paid the full purchase price and assumed certain liabilities at closing. As previously disclosed, on August 31, 2011, the Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, issued an order granting Artesian Water Maryland authority to exercise the franchise area served by the water facilities acquired under the Asset Purchase Agreement. The water systems serve approximately 1,500 customers.

Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, is a regulated wastewater entity in the State of Maryland and was incorporated on June 3, 2008 specifically for the purpose of executing two purchase agreements, or the Asset Purchase Agreements, relating to the Meadowview Wastewater Facility, Highlands Wastewater Facility, Cherry Hill Wastewater Facility and the Harbourview Wastewater Facility, and related real property, easement rights and wastewater collection systems with respect to each facility or the wastewater facilities.

On September 27, 2011, Artesian Resources, Artesian Wastewater Maryland and Cecil County mutually agreed to enter into a Termination of Asset Purchase Agreements, Franchise and Parent Guaranty, or the Termination Agreement, to terminate the Asset Purchase Agreements relating to the wastewater facilities. Certain ancillary agreements, including a wastewater franchise agreement between Artesian Wastewater Maryland and Cecil County, and a parent guaranty between Artesian Resources and Cecil County, were also terminated by the Termination Agreement. Termination of the wastewater franchise agreement was approved by the MDPSC on April 18, 2012.

Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc., or Artesian Water Pennsylvania, began operations upon receiving recognition as a regulated public water utility by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC, in 2002. It provides water service to a residential community in Chester County. Artesian Water Pennsylvania filed an application with the PAPUC to increase our service area in Pennsylvania, which was approved and a related order was entered on February 4, 2005. This application involved specific developments, in which we expect modest future growth.

Our three other subsidiaries, none of which are regulated, are Artesian Utility Development, Inc., or Artesian Utility, Artesian Development Corporation, or Artesian Development, and Artesian Consulting Engineers, Inc., or Artesian Consulting Engineers.

Artesian Utility was formed in 1996. It designs and builds water and wastewater infrastructure and provides contract water and wastewater services on the Delmarva Peninsula. Artesian Utility also evaluates land parcels, provides recommendations to developers on the size of water or wastewater facilities and the type of technology that should be used for treatment at such facilities, and operates water and wastewater facilities in Delaware and Maryland for municipal and governmental organizations. Artesian Utility also has contracts with developers for design and construction of wastewater facilities within the Delmarva Peninsula, using a number of different technologies for treatment of wastewater at each facility.

We currently operate wastewater treatment facilities for the town of Middletown, in Southern New Castle County, or Middletown, under a 20-year contract that expires on February 1, 2021. The facilities include two wastewater treatment stations with capacities of up to approximately 2.5 mgd and 250,000 gallons per day, respectively. We also operate a wastewater disposal facility in Middletown in order to support the 2.5 mgd wastewater treatment station.

One of the wastewater treatment facilities in Middletown now provides reclaimed wastewater for use in spray irrigation on public and agricultural lands in the area. Our relationship with the Town of Middletown has given us the opportunity to create the Artesian Water Resource Management Partnership, or AWRMP, to encourage and support the use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation and other needs. Using reclaimed water to irrigate farm fields can save the Delmarva region millions of gallons of groundwater each day. The AWRMP’s first project in Middletown will save up to three million gallons of water per day during the peak growing season. Through the AWRMP initiative, Artesian will provide planning, engineering and technical expertise and help bring together the various state, local and private partners needed for water recycling project approvals.

Artesian Development is a real estate holding company that owns properties, including land zoned for office buildings, a water treatment plant and wastewater facility, as well as property for current operations, including an office facility in Sussex County, Delaware. The facility consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of office space along with nearly 10,000 square feet of warehouse space. This facility allows all of our Sussex County, Delaware operations to be housed in one central location.

Artesian Consulting Engineers acquired all the assets of Meridian Architects and Engineers in June 2008. As a result of the decline in new housing and development due to the economic downturn, the need for development and architectural services has remained depressed. Therefore, in April 2011, management decided to reduce staffing levels and reorganize the business. Artesian Consulting Engineers no longer provides development and architectural services to outside third parties. Artesian Consulting Engineers will continue to work with existing clients on projects already in progress for engineering services until those projects are complete. Artesian will continue to provide design and engineering contract services through our Artesian Utility subsidiary.

Artesian Resources initiated a Water Service Line Protection Plan, or WSLP Plan, in March 2005. The WSLP Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers’ leaking water service lines up to an annual limit. As of March 31, 2012, approximately 16,800, or 24.3%, of our eligible water customers had signed up for the WSLP Plan. The WSLP Plan was expanded in the second quarter of 2008 to include maintenance or repair to customers’ sewer lines. This plan, the Sewer Service Line Protection Plan, or SSLP Plan, covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers’ leaking or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit. As of March 31, 2012, approximately 9,500, or 13.8%, of our eligible customers had signed up for the SSLP Plan. Also, in the second quarter of 2010, the WSLP Plan and SSLP Plan were extended to include non-customers of Artesian Resources. As of March 31, 2012, approximately 850 non-customer participants have signed up for either the WSLP Plan or SSLP Plan.