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REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2022
REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS [Abstract] |
REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS | NOTE 13 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 Company’s requested level of rates. We are subject to regulation by the following state regulatory commissions: • The DEPSC, regulates Artesian Water, Artesian Wastewater, and TESI • The MDPSC, regulates both Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Wastewater Maryland. • The PAPUC, regulates Artesian Water Pennsylvania. Our water and wastewater utility operations are also subject to regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, or Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act of 1972, or the Clean Water Act, and related state laws, and under federal and state regulations issued under these laws. These laws and regulations establish criteria and standards for drinking water and for wastewater discharges. Capital expenditures and operating costs required as a result of water quality standards and environmental requirements have been traditionally recognized by state regulatory commissions as appropriate for inclusion in establishing rates. Water and Wastewater Rates Our regulated subsidiaries 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. Artesian Water provided notice to the DEPSC of its intent to file a request in the second quarter of 2023 to implement new rates to support Artesian Water’s ongoing capital improvement program and to cover increased costs of operations. 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. Any DSIC rate in effect will be reset to zero upon implementation of a temporary increase in base rates charged to customers. 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 customers the portion found to be in excess with interest. The timing of our rate increase requests is 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. 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 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 7.50% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates and charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied cannot exceed 5.0% within any 12-month period. The following table summarizes (1) Artesian Water’s applications with the DEPSC to collect DSIC rates and (2) the rates upon which eligible plant improvements are based:
Application Date | 11/15/2019 | 5/29/2020 | 11/20/2020
DEPSC Approval Date | 12/12/2019 | 6/17/2020 | 12/14/2020
Effective Date | 01/01/2020 | 07/1/2020 | 01/1/2021
Cumulative DSIC Rate | 7.50% | 7.50% | 7.50%
Net Eligible Plant Improvements – Cumulative Dollars (in millions) | 43.1 | 43.1 | 43.1
Eligible Plant Improvements – Installed Beginning Date | 10/01/2014 | 10/01/2014 | 10/01/2014
Eligible Plant Improvements – Installed Ending Date | 04/30/2019 | 04/30/2019 | 04/30/2019
The rate reflects the eligible plant improvements installed through April 30, 2019. The January 1, 2021 rate currently remains in effect and is subject to periodic audit by the DEPSC. For the years ended December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we earned approximately $5.1 million, $5.1 million and $5.0 million in DSIC revenue, respectively.

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