XML 55 R19.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013
REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS [Abstract] |
REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS | NOTE 12 REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS Our water and wastewater utilities generate operating revenue from customers based on rates that are established by state Public Service Commissions through a rate setting process that may include public hearings, evidentiary hearings and the submission of evidence and testimony in support of the requested level of rates by the Company. We are subject to regulation by the following state regulatory commissions: · The Delaware Public Service Commission, or DEPSC, regulates both Artesian Water and Artesian Wastewater. · The Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, regulates both Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Wastewater Maryland. · The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC, regulates Artesian Water Pennsylvania. Rate Proceedings Our regulated utilities periodically seek rate increases to cover the cost of increased operating expenses, increased financing expenses due to additional investments in utility plant and other costs of doing business. In Delaware, utilities are permitted by law to place rates into effect, under bond, on a temporary basis pending completion of a rate increase proceeding. The first temporary increase may be up to the lesser of $2.5 million on an annual basis or 15% of gross water sales. Should the rate case not be completed within seven months, by law, the utility may put the entire requested rate relief, up to 15% of gross water sales, in effect under bond until a final resolution is ordered and placed into effect. If any such rates are found to be in excess of rates the DEPSC finds to be appropriate, the utility must refund the portion found to be in excess to customers with interest. The timing of our rate increase requests are therefore dependent upon the estimated cost of the administrative process in relation to the investments and expenses that we hope to recover through the rate increase. We can provide no assurances that rate increase requests will be approved by applicable regulatory agencies and, if approved, we cannot guarantee that these rate increases will be granted in a timely or sufficient manner to cover the investments and expenses for which we initially sought the rate increase. Artesian Water, the DEPSC, and the Division of the Public Advocate entered into an agreement to settle Artesian Water's April 2011 application for an increase in rates. PSC Order No. 8097, issued on January 31, 2012, approved the settlement agreement, authorizing a permanent rate increase in revenue of approximately 11.13%, or $6.25 million on an annualized basis. Since the permanent rate increase did not exceed amounts already collected under previously approved temporary increases in rates, Artesian Water was not required to refund any amounts to its customers. The approved permanent rate increase became effective January 1, 2012. The settlement also authorized a return on equity of 10%. Additionally, effective January 1, 2012, the settlement agreement permitted a tariff change that includes the use of a seasonal connection charge as well as a new approach for presenting the cost of retired property and ratemaking treatment for salvage costs to be recovered in rates. Previously, when depreciable units of utility plant were retired, the cost of retired property, together with any cost associated with retirement less any salvage value or proceeds received, was charged to accumulated depreciation. Under the settlement agreement, effective January 1, 2012, any cost associated with retirement less any salvage value or proceeds received is charged to a regulated retirement liability. This new approach resulted in an approximately $1.2 million reclassification of accumulated depreciation of utility plant to deferred credits and other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2012. The settlement also authorized Artesian Water to change from quarterly to monthly billing, which was implemented in April 2012. In late 2013, Artesian Water provided notice to the DEPSC of its intent to file an application on April 1, 2014 for a change in water rates. Artesian Water's last request to implement new rates was filed in April 2011. On January 18, 2013, Artesian Wastewater filed an application with the DEPSC to revise its rates and charges for wastewater services concerning territories located in Kent and Sussex County, Delaware. Artesian Wastewater requested authorization to implement proposed rates for wastewater services to meet a requested increase in revenue of approximately $343,000, or 34.8%, on an annualized basis. The new rates are designed to support Artesian Wastewater's ongoing capital improvement program and to cover increased costs of operations. On August 6, 2013, Artesian Wastewater, the Staff of the Delaware Public Service Commission and the Division of the Public Advocate entered into an agreement to settle Artesian Wastewater's application for an increase in rates. On October 8, 2013, the DEPSC approved the settlement agreement authorizing a two-step increase in rates, with the first step effective upon approval of the settlement and the second step effective one year thereafter. Once fully implemented, based on the current number of households, the new rates will provide Artesian Wastewater approximately $174,000 in additional annual revenue. The settlement also authorized a return on equity of 10%. Service Territory Expansion Proceedings In November 2012, Artesian Water Maryland closed on the transfer of the CECO water system assets. CECO transferred its water utility assets, which included water mains, a treatment facility and an elevated water storage tank, to Artesian Water Maryland. The CECO water system serves approximately 200 customers. The CECO system was connected to Artesian Water Maryland's Meadowview water system upon closing on the transfer of assets. Other Proceedings Delaware law permits water utilities to put into effect, on a semi-annual basis, increases related to specific types of distribution system improvements through a Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC. This charge may be implemented by water utilities between general rate increase applications that normally recognize changes in a water utility's overall financial position. The DSIC approval process is less costly when compared to the approval process for general rate increase requests. The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings is capped at 7.5% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates and charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied cannot exceed 5% within any 12-month period. In May 2012, Artesian Water filed an application with the DEPSC for approval to collect a DSIC rate of 0.14% effective July 1, 2012. This rate was based on approximately $486,000 in eligible plant improvements since the last rate application. On June 19, 2012, the DEPSC approved the DSIC effective July 1, 2012. In December 2013, the DEPSC issued an Order affirming the DSIC rate effective July 1, 2012. In November 2012, Artesian Water filed an application with the DEPSC for approval to collect a DSIC rate of 1.59% effective January 1, 2013. This rate was based on approximately $4.6 million in eligible plant improvements since the last rate application. On December 14, 2012, the DEPSC approved the DSIC effective January 1, 2013, subject to audit at a later date. In May 2013, Artesian Water filed an application with the DEPSC for approval to collect a DSIC rate of 2.09% effective July 1, 2013. This rate was based on approximately $2.0 million in eligible plant improvements since the last rate application. On June 18, 2013, the DEPSC approved the DSIC effective July 1, 2013, subject to audit at a later date. In November 2013, Artesian Water filed an application with the DEPSC for approval to collect a DSIC rate of 3.32% effective January 1, 2014. This rate was based on approximately $4.9 million in eligible plant improvements since the last rate application. On December 17, 2013, the DEPSC approved the DSIC effective January 1, 2014, subject to audit at a later date. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we earned approximately $1.1 million and $42,000 in DSIC revenue.

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for public utilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RegulatedOperationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration