MIDDLESEX WATER CO - Quarter Report: 2018 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

OR

For the transition period from _________________ to______________________

Commission File Number     0-422

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

1500 Ronson Road, Iselin, New Jersey 08830

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(732) 634-1500

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post files).

Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ¨ No þ

The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of October 31, 2018: Common Stock, No Par Value: 16,398,280 shares outstanding.

INDEX

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 (Unaudited)

  (In thousands except per share amounts)

  See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.              

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL STOCK

AND LONG-TERM DEBT

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments

Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) is the parent company and sole shareholder of Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI), Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates  (Perth Amboy) Inc. (USA-PA), and Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes). Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tidewater. The financial statements for Middlesex and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the Company) are reported on a consolidated basis. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The consolidated notes within the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the 2017 Form 10-K) are applicable to these financial statements and, in the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary (including normal recurring accruals) to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 2018, the results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. Information included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017, has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 included in the 2017 Form 10-K.

Recent Developments

USA-PA currently operates the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey’s water and wastewater systems under a 20-year agreement, which expires in December 2018. In July 2018, through a competitive proposal process, USA-PA was awarded a $67 million base professional services contract to continue to operate the water and wastewater systems through December 31, 2028.

Recent Accounting Guidance

Revenue Recognition - The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance, which replaces most of the existing guidance with a single set of principles for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance became effective January 1, 2018 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. Disclosures related to Revenue Recognition are included in Note 9, Revenue Recognition from Contracts with Customers.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - The FASB issued guidance which (i) requires all investments in equity securities, including other ownership interests such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures and limited liability companies, to be carried at fair value through net income, (ii) requires an incremental recognition and disclosure requirement related to the presentation of fair value changes of financial liabilities for which the fair value option has been elected, (iii) amends several disclosure requirements, including the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate fair value or a description of the changes in the methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value, and (iv) requires disclosure of the fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured at amortized cost at the amount that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability. The guidance became effective January 1, 2018 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows - The FASB issued guidance which amends the previous guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The primary purpose of the amendment is to reduce the diversity in practice that has resulted from the lack of consistent principles on this topic. The guidance became effective January 1, 2018 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Restricted Cash - The FASB issued guidance related to the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows, which requires entities to a) include restricted cash balances in its cash and cash-equivalent balances in the statement of cash flows and b) include a reconciliation of cash and cash-equivalents per the statement of financial position as compared to the statement of cash flows. Changes in restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents that result from transfers between cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will not be presented as cash flow activities in the statement of cash flows. In addition, an entity with a material balance of amounts described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents must disclose information about the nature of the restrictions. The guidance became effective January 1, 2018 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. As a result of adopting this guidance, the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was revised, which resulted in a $0.4 million increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at the Beginning and End of the Period.

Employee Benefit Plans-Net Periodic Benefit Cost –The FASB issued guidance which requires entities to (1) disaggregate the current-service-cost component from the other components of net benefit cost and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the income statement and (2) present the other components elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented. In addition, the guidance requires entities to disclose the income statement lines that contain the other components if they are not presented on appropriately described separate lines. The guidance became effective January 1, 2018 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. See Note 8, Employee Benefit Plans for more information. As a result of adopting this guidance, the consolidated statement of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was revised, which resulted in increases in Operations and Maintenance expense and Other Income (Expense), net of $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

Leases - The FASB issued guidance related to leases which will require lessees to recognize a lease liability (a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis) and a right-of-use asset (an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term). In January 2018, the FASB issued additional guidance related to leases which permits entities to forgo the evaluation of existing land easement arrangements to determine if they contain a lease as part of the adoption of this guidance. Land easement arrangements, or modifications to existing arrangements, entered into after adoption of this guidance will need to be evaluated to determine if they meet the definition of a lease. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures, but, based on the Company’s current leasing activity, does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

There are no other new adopted or proposed accounting guidance that the Company is aware of that could have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters

Middlesex – In March 2018, Middlesex’s petition to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) seeking permission to increase its base water rates was concluded, based on a negotiated settlement, resulting in an increase in annual operating revenues of $5.5 million. In its initial October 2017 filing with the NJBPU, Middlesex had sought an increase of $15.3 million to recover costs for capital infrastructure investments Middlesex has made, or has committed to make, to drinking water infrastructure since the last filing in New Jersey in 2015 as well as increased operations and maintenance costs. During the pendency of this rate matter, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the Tax Act) was signed into law. Under the Tax Act the maximum corporate income tax rate was reduced from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. Because income tax is one of the cost components used to determine a regulated utility’s revenue requirement, Middlesex was able to reduce its original rate increase request by $4.9 million to $10.4 million. The new base water rates are designed to recover the increased operating costs as well as a return on invested capital in rate base of $245.5 million, based on an authorized return on equity of 9.6%. As part of the settlement, Middlesex received approval for regulatory accounting treatment of accumulated deferred income tax benefits associated with required adoption of tangible property regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The settlement agreement allowed for a four-year amortization period for $28.7 million of deferred income tax benefits as well as immediate and prospective recognition of the tangible property regulations tax benefits in future years. The rate increase became effective April 1, 2018.

In August 2018, Middlesex filed a petition with the NJBPU seeking approval to set a tariff rate under a purchased water adjustment clause to recover additional costs of less than $0.1 million for the purchase of treated water from a non-affiliated regulated water utility.  We cannot predict whether the NJBPU will ultimately approve, deny or reduce the amount of our request.

Tidewater - Effective July 1, 2018, Tidewater revised its Delaware Public Service Commission (DEPSC)-approved Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) rate, which is expected to generate $0.2 million of revenues in 2018. A DSIC is a rate-mechanism that allows water utilities to recover investments in, and generate a return on, qualifying capital improvements to their water distribution system made between base rate proceedings.

Tax Act - On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. Tariff rates charged to customers in the Company’s regulated companies include recovery of income taxes at the statutory rate in effect at the time those rates became effective. The conclusion of Middlesex’s base rate case and the resulting rates implemented April 1, 2018 reflect the impact of the Tax Act on its revenue requirement.

In March 2018, the Company submitted compliance filings with the DEPSC proposing to reduce rates charged to its Delaware customers to reflect the impact of the Tax Act. It is uncertain at this time when the DEPSC will act upon the rate reduction proposals or whether it will accept the proposed methodologies.

As of September 30, 2018, the Company has recorded regulatory liabilities of $32.5 million for excess income taxes collected through rates due to the lower income tax rate under the Tax Act. These regulatory liabilities are overwhelmingly related to accelerated tax depreciation deduction timing differences, which are subject to IRS normalization rules. The IRS rules limit how quickly the excess taxes attributable to accelerated tax depreciation can be returned to customers.

Note 3 – Capitalization

Common Stock - During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, there were 21,001 shares (approximately $0.9 million) and 24,154 common shares (approximately $0.9 million), respectively, issued under the Middlesex Water Company Investment Plan.

In July 2018, Middlesex filed a petition with the NJBPU seeking approval of an employee incentive compensation plan, known as the 2018 Restricted Stock Plan. This plan, which was approved by shareholders at the Company’s 2018 Annual Meeting, would allow for the issuance of up to a maximum of 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock through March 31, 2028.  The Company expects the NJBPU to issue a decision by December 31, 2018.

Long-term Debt - In May 2018, Middlesex closed out its $9.5 million RENEW 2017 construction loan by issuing to the NJIB first mortgage bonds designated as Series 2018A ($7.1 million) and Series 2018B ($2.4 million). The interest rate on the Series 2018A bond is zero and the interest rate on the Series 2018B bond ranges between 3.0% and 5.0%. Through September 30, 2018, Middlesex has drawn down a total of $8.3 million and expects to draw down the remaining proceeds during the fourth quarter of 2018. The final maturity date for both bonds is August 1, 2047, with scheduled debt service payments over the life of the loans.

In April 2018, the NJBPU approved Middlesex’s request to borrow up to $57.0 million under the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJIB) program to fund the construction of a large-diameter transmission pipeline from the Carl J. Olsen (CJO) water treatment plant and interconnect with our distribution system. Middlesex closed on a $43.5 million NJIB construction loan in August 2018 with funding requisitions beginning in August 2018 and continuing through the end of 2019.

In April 2018, the NJBPU approved Middlesex’s request to borrow up to $55.0 million under the NJIB program to fund upgrades to the Company’s CJO water treatment plant.

In March 2018, the NJBPU approved Middlesex’s request to borrow up to $14.0 million under the NJIB program to fund the 2018 RENEW Program, which is an ongoing initiative to eliminate all unlined water distribution mains in the Middlesex system. Middlesex closed on an $8.7 million NJIB construction loan in September 2018 with funding requisitions beginning in September 2018 and continuing through early 2019.

In March 2018, the DEPSC approved Tidewater’s request to borrow up to $0.9 million under the Delaware State Revolving Fund (SRF) program to fund the replacement of an entire water distribution system of a small Delaware subdivision. Tidewater closed on the SRF loan in May 2018 and expects to complete the project in the fourth quarter of 2018.

In November 2017, Middlesex closed out three of its NJIB construction loans (booster station upgrade, RENEW 2015 and RENEW 2016 projects) by issuing to the NJIB first mortgage bonds designated as Series XX ($11.3 million) and Series YY ($3.9 million). The interest rate on the Series XX bond is zero and the interest rate on the Series YY bond range between 3.0% and 5.0%. Through September 30, 2018, Middlesex has drawn down $14.9 million and expects to draw down the remaining proceeds during the fourth quarter of 2018. The final maturity date for both bonds is August 1, 2047, with scheduled debt service payments over the life of the loan.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosure for financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The carrying amounts reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable and notes payable approximate their respective fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The fair value of First Mortgage and State Revolving Fund Bonds (collectively, the Bonds) issued by Middlesex is based on quoted market prices for similar issues. Under the fair value hierarchy, the fair value of cash and cash equivalents is classified as a Level 1 measurement and the fair value of notes payable and the Bonds in the table below are classified as Level 2 measurements. The carrying amount and fair value of the Bonds were as follows:

For other long-term debt for which there was no quoted market price and there is not an active trading market, it was not practicable to estimate their fair value (for details, including carrying value, interest rate and due date on these series of long-term debt, please refer to those series noted as “Amortizing Secured Note”, “State Revolving Trust Note” and “Construction Loans” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Capital Stock and Long-Term Debt). The carrying amount of these instruments was $49.7 million and $52.5 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Customer advances for construction have carrying amounts of $22.1 million and $21.4 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Their relative fair values cannot be accurately estimated since future refund payments depend on several variables, including new customer connections, customer consumption levels and future rate increases.

Note 4 – Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) are computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period presented. Diluted EPS assumes the conversion of both the Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series and the Convertible Preferred Stock $8.00 Series.

Note 5 – Business Segment Data

The Company has identified two reportable segments. One is the regulated business of collecting, treating and distributing water on a retail and wholesale basis to residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection customers in parts of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. This segment also includes regulated wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware. The Company is subject to regulations as to its rates, services and other matters by New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania with respect to utility services within these states. The other segment is primarily comprised of non-regulated contract services for the operation and maintenance of municipal and private water and wastewater systems in New Jersey and Delaware. Inter-segment transactions relating to operational costs are treated as pass-through expenses. Finance charges on inter-segment loan activities are based on interest rates that are below what would normally be charged by a third party lender.

Note 6 – Short-term Borrowings

As of September 30, 2018, the Company has established lines of credit aggregating $92.0 million. At September 30, 2018, the outstanding borrowings under these credit lines were $48.5 million at a weighted average interest rate of 3.23%.

The weighted average daily amounts of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s credit lines and the weighted average interest rates on those amounts were as follows:

The maturity dates for the $48.5 million outstanding as of September 30, 2018 are in October 2018 through December 2018 and are extendable at the discretion of the Company.

Interest rates for short-term borrowings under the lines of credit are below the prime rate with no requirement for compensating balances.

Note 7 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Water Supply - Middlesex has an agreement with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA) for the purchase of untreated water through November 30, 2023, which provides for an average purchase of 27.0 million gallons a day (mgd). Pricing is set annually by the NJWSA through a public rate making process. The agreement has provisions for additional pricing in the event Middlesex overdrafts or exceeds certain monthly and annual thresholds.

Middlesex also has an agreement with a non-affiliated regulated water utility for the purchase of treated water. This agreement, which expires February 27, 2021, provides for the minimum purchase of 3.0 mgd of treated water with provisions for additional purchases.

Tidewater contracts with the City of Dover, Delaware to purchase 15.0 million gallons of treated water annually.

Purchased water costs are shown below:

Guarantees - As part of an agreement with the County of Monmouth, New Jersey (County), Middlesex serves as guarantor of the performance of Applied Water Management, Inc. (AWM), an unaffiliated wastewater treatment contractor, to operate a County-owned leachate pretreatment facility at the Monmouth County Reclamation Center in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. The performance guaranty is effective through 2028 unless another guarantor, acceptable to the County, replaces Middlesex before such date. Under agreements with AWM and Natural Systems Utilities, LLC (NSU), the parent company of AWM, Middlesex earns a fee for providing the performance guaranty. In addition, Middlesex may provide operational support to the facility, as needed, and AWM and NSU, serving as guarantor to Middlesex with respect to the performance of AWM, agree to indemnify Middlesex against any claims that may arise under the Middlesex guaranty to the County.

If requested to perform under the guaranty to the County and, if AWM and NSU, as guarantor to Middlesex, do not fulfill their obligations to indemnify Middlesex against any claims that may arise under the Middlesex guaranty to the County, Middlesex would be required to fulfill the remaining operational commitment of AWM. As of both September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the liability recognized in Other Non-Current Liabilities on the balance sheet for the guaranty is less than $0.1 million.

Leases - The Company has entered into commercial office space operating leases. Rental expenses under these operating leases were $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These operating leases continue through 2028.

Construction - The Company has forecasted to spend approximately $73 million for its construction program in 2018. The actual timing and amount of capital expenditures is dependent on project scheduling and refinement of engineering estimates for certain projects. The Company has entered into several contractual construction agreements that in total obligate it to expend an estimated $40 million in the future.

Litigation - The Company is a defendant in lawsuits in the normal course of business. We believe the resolution of pending claims and legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Change in Control Agreements - The Company has Change in Control Agreements with certain of its officers that provide compensation and benefits in the event of termination of employment in connection with a change in control of the Company.

Note 8 – Employee Benefit Plans

Pension Benefits - The Company’s Pension Plan covers all active employees hired prior to April 1, 2007. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company made Pension Plan cash contributions of $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company made Pension Plan cash contributions of $2.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively. The Company expects to make Pension Plan cash contributions of approximately $1.0 million over the remainder of the current year. Employees hired after March 31, 2007 are not eligible to participate in this plan, but do participate in a defined contribution plan that provides an annual contribution at the discretion of the Company, based upon a percentage of the participants’ eligible compensation. In order to be eligible for a contribution, the participant must be employed by the Company on December 31st of the year to which the contribution relates. The Company also maintains an unfunded supplemental retirement benefit plan for certain active and retired Company officers and currently pays $0.3 million in annual benefits to the retired participants.

Other Postretirement Benefits - The Company’s retirement plan other than pensions (Other Benefits Plan) covers substantially all of its current retired employees. Employees hired after March 31, 2007 are not eligible to participate in this plan. Coverage includes healthcare and life insurance. For each of the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company made Other Benefits Plan cash contributions of $0.2 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company made Other Benefits Plan cash contributions of $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The Company expects to make Other Benefits Plan cash contributions of approximately $1.1 million over the remainder of the current year.

The following tables set forth information relating to the Company’s periodic costs for its employee retirement benefit plans:

Note 9 – Revenue Recognition from Contracts with Customers

The Company’s revenues are primarily generated from regulated tariff-based sales of water and wastewater services and non-regulated operation and maintenance contracts for services on water and wastewater systems owned by others. Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when control of a promised good or service is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services.

The Company’s regulated revenue from contracts with customers is derived from tariff-based sales that result from the obligation to provide water and wastewater services to residential, industrial, commercial, fire-protection and wholesale customers. The Company’s residential customers are billed quarterly while most of the Company’s industrial, commercial, fire-protection and wholesale customers are billed monthly. Payments by customers are due between 15 to 30 days after the invoice date. The Company recognizes revenue as the water and wastewater services are delivered to customers as well as records unbilled revenues estimated from the last meter reading date to the end of the accounting period utilizing factors such as historical customer data, regional weather indicators and general economic conditions in its service territories. Unearned Revenues and Advance Service Fees include fixed service charge billings in advance to Tidewater customers that are recognized as service is provided to the customer.

Non-regulated service contract revenues consist of base service fees as well as fees for additional billable services provided to customers, are billed monthly and are due within 30 days after the invoice date. The Company considers the amounts billed to represent the value of these services provided to customers. These contracts expire at various times through December 2028 and thus contain remaining performance obligations for which the Company expects to recognize revenue in the future. These contracts also contain customary termination provisions.

Almost all of the amounts included in operating revenues and accounts receivable are from contracts with customers. The Company records its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical write-offs combined with an evaluation of current economic conditions within its service territories.

The Company’s contracts do not contain any significant financing components.

The Company’s operating revenues are comprised of the following:

Note 10 – Income Taxes

As part of its 2014 Federal income tax return, the Company adopted the final IRS tangible property regulations and changed its accounting method for the tax treatment of expenditures that qualified as deductible repairs. The adoption resulted in a net reduction of $17.6 million in taxes previously remitted to the IRS, for which the Company has already sought and received the tax refunds. While the Company believes that its treatment of qualifying tangible property repair costs is proper, a reserve provision against refunded taxes of $2.3 million was recorded in 2015 at the time of filing its change in accounting method. This was based on a possible challenge by the IRS during an audit examination. The Company’s 2014 federal income tax return was subsequently selected for examination by the IRS in 2016. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company received information from the IRS regarding certain aspects of the its adopted accounting method used to calculate qualifying tangible property repair cost deductions and determined that it should increase its reserve provision to $3.7 million. As the IRS examination continues and pending its completion, the tax liability could be different than the recorded reserve provision. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company has recorded $0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively, in interest expense due to this reserve provision.

Item 2.       Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) included elsewhere herein and with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this periodic report and in the documents incorporated by reference constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. The Company intends that these statements be covered by the safe harbors created under those laws.  They include, but are not limited to statements as to:

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results and outcomes include, but are not limited to:

Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which only speak to the Company’s understanding as of the date of this report. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

For an additional discussion of factors that may affect the Company’s business and results of operations, see Item 1A. - Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Overview

Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) has operated as a water utility in New Jersey since 1897, in Delaware through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), since 1992 and in Pennsylvania through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes), since 2009. We are in the business of collecting, treating and distributing water for domestic, commercial, municipal, industrial and fire protection purposes. We also operate two New Jersey municipal water and wastewater systems under contract and provide regulated wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware through our subsidiaries. We are regulated as to rates charged to customers for water and wastewater services, as to the quality of water service we provide and as to certain other matters in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Only our Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy), Inc. (USA-PA) and White Marsh Environmental Services, Inc. (White Marsh) subsidiaries are not regulated utilities.

Our New Jersey water utility system (the Middlesex System) provides water services to approximately 61,000 retail customers, primarily in central New Jersey. The Middlesex System also provides water service under contract to municipalities in central New Jersey with a total population of approximately 219,000. Our Bayview system provides water services in Downe Township, New Jersey. Our other New Jersey subsidiaries, Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), provide water and wastewater services to approximately 2,500 customers in Southampton Township, New Jersey.

USA-PA has operated the water supply system and wastewater system for the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey (Perth Amboy) since 1998 and was recently awarded a new ten-year contract to provide similar services, except customer service and billing, through 2028.

USA operates the Borough of Avalon, New Jersey’s (Avalon) water utility, sewer utility and storm water system under a ten-year operations and maintenance contract expiring in 2022. USA also provides unregulated water and wastewater services under contract with several New Jersey municipalities. Under a marketing agreement with HomeServe USA (HomeServe), our New Jersey and Delaware residential customers are offered a menu of water and wastewater related home maintenance service program contracts. HomeServe is a leading national provider of such home maintenance service programs. USA receives a service fee for the billing, cash collection and other administrative matters associated with HomeServe’s service contracts. The agreement expires in 2021.

Our Delaware subsidiaries, Tidewater and Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores), provide water services to approximately 45,000 retail customers in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware. Tidewater’s subsidiary, White Marsh, services approximately 4,000 customers in Delaware and Maryland through various operations and maintenance contracts.

Our Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI) subsidiary provides wastewater services to approximately 3,500 residential retail customers in Sussex County, Delaware.

Our Pennsylvania subsidiary, Twin Lakes, provides water services to approximately 120 retail customers in the Township of Shohola, Pike County, Pennsylvania.

The majority of our revenue is generated from retail and contract water services to customers in our franchised and contracted service areas. We record water service revenue as such service is rendered and include estimates for amounts unbilled at the end of each month for services provided after the last billing cycle to the end of the month. Fixed service charges are billed in advance by our subsidiary, Tidewater, and are recognized in revenue as the service is provided.

Recent Developments

Capital Construction Program - The Company’s multi-year capital construction program encompasses numerous projects designed to upgrade and replace utility infrastructure as well as enhance the integrity and reliability of assets to better serve the current and future generations of water and wastewater customers. The Company plans to invest approximately $73 million in 2018 in connection with this plan for projects that include, but are not limited to:

Middlesex Base Water Rate Increase Approved - In March 2018, Middlesex’s petition to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) seeking permission to increase base water rates was concluded based on a negotiated settlement which resulted in an increase in annual operating revenues of $5.5 million. The new base water rates became effective April 1, 2018 and are designed to recover increased operating costs as well as a return on invested capital in rate base of $245.5 million, and reflect an authorized return on equity of 9.6%. Part of Middlesex’s filing also included a request for regulatory accounting treatment for $28.7 million of accumulated deferred tax benefits associated with required adoption of tangible property regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service. The settlement agreement allowed for a four-year amortization period for the deferred tax benefits as well as immediate and prospective recognition of the tangible property regulations tax benefits in future years, which is expected to lower the Company’s income tax expense and, consequently, its effective income tax rate.

Contract Operations - USA-PA operates Perth Amboy’s water and wastewater collection systems under contract, which expires on December 31, 2018. In July 2018, through a competitive proposal process, USA-PA was awarded a $67 million base professional services contract to continue to operate the water and wastewater systems through December 31, 2028.

Outlook

Our ability to increase operating income and net income is based significantly on four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate relief, effective cost management, and customer growth (which are evident in comparison discussions in the Results of Operations section below). Changes in customer water usage habits, as well as increases in capital expenditures and operating costs, are significant factors in determining the timing and extent of rate increase requests. As operating costs have increased in 2018 in a variety of categories, we continue to implement plans to further streamline operations and further reduce, and mitigate increases in, operating costs.

Organic residential customer growth for 2018 has been consistent with that experienced in recent years.

Our strategy for profitable growth is focused on five key areas:

Operating Results by Segment

The discussion of the Company’s operating results is on a consolidated basis and includes significant factors by subsidiary. The Company has two operating segments, Regulated and Non-Regulated. The operations of the Regulated segment are subject to regulations promulgated by state public utility commissions as to rates and level of service. Rates and level service in the Non-Regulated segment are subject to the terms of individually-negotiated and executed contracts with municipal, industrial and other clients. Both segments are subject to federal and state environmental, water and wastewater quality and other associated legal and regulatory requirements.

The segment tables shown below consist of the following companies: Regulated-Middlesex, Tidewater, Pinelands, Southern Shores, TESI and Twin Lakes; Non-Regulated-USA, USA-PA, and White Marsh.

Results of Operations – Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

Operating Revenues

Operating revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased $2.5 million from the same period in 2017. This increase was related to the following factors:

Operation and Maintenance Expense

Operation and maintenance expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased $1.7 million from the same period in 2017. This increase was related to the following factors:

Depreciation

Depreciation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased $0.2 million from the same period in 2017 due to a higher level of utility plant in service.

Other Taxes

Other taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased $0.3 million from the same period in 2017 primarily due to higher revenue related taxes on increased revenues in our Middlesex system.

Other Income, net

Other Income, net for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased $0.4 million from the same period in 2017 primarily due to higher Allowance for Funds Used During Construction resulting from a higher level of capital projects in progress.

Interest Charges

Interest charges for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased $0.2 million from the same period in 2017 due to higher average amounts of total debt outstanding and increased short-term debt interest rates.

Income Taxes

Income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2018 decreased $4.2 million from the same period in 2017, primarily due to regulatory accounting treatment of tangible property regulations tax deductions, which was approved in Middlesex’s most recent base rate case (see “Middlesex Base Water Rate Increase Approved” in Recent Developments for further discussion of this matter) and a lower effective tax rate resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, partially offset by higher pre-tax income.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2018 increased $4.7 million as compared with the same period in 2017. Basic earnings per share were $0.75 and $0.47 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Diluted earnings per share were $0.74 and $0.46 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Results of Operations – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

Operating Revenues

Operating revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased $5.5 million from the same period in 2017. This increase was related to the following factors:

Operation and Maintenance Expense

Operation and maintenance expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased $3.6 million from the same period in 2017, primarily related to the following factors:

Depreciation

Depreciation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased $0.9 million from the same period in 2017 due to a higher level of utility plant in service.

Other Taxes

Other taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased $0.6 million from the same period in 2017 primarily due to higher revenue related taxes on increased revenues in our Middlesex system.

Other Income, net

Other Income, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased $0.9 million from the same period in 2017 primarily due to higher Allowance for Funds Used During Construction resulting from a higher level of capital projects in progress and the sale of wastewater franchise rights at our TESI subsidiary.

Interest Charges

Interest charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased $1.0 million from the same period in 2017 due to accrued interest associated with the IRS examination of the Company’s 2014 federal income tax return (see Note 10 – Income Taxes for further discussion of this matter), higher average amounts of total debt outstanding and increased short-term debt interest rates.

Income Taxes

Income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased $7.6 million from the same period in 2017, primarily due to regulatory accounting treatment of tangible property regulations tax deductions, which were approved in Middlesex’s most recent base rate case (see “Middlesex Base Water Rate Increase Approved” in Recent Developments for further discussion of this matter) and a lower effective tax rate resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, partially offset by higher pre-tax income.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased $8.0 million as compared with the same period in 2017. Basic earnings per share were $1.55 and $1.06 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Diluted earnings per share were $1.54 and $1.06 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Cash Flows

Cash flows from operations are largely based on four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate increases, effective cost management and growth. The effect of those factors on net income is discussed in “Results of Operations.”

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, cash flows from operating activities increased $4.2 million to $32.9 million. The increase in cash flows from operating activities primarily resulted from the timing of vendor and income tax payments. The $32.9 million of net cash flow from operations enabled us to fund approximately 41% of utility plant expenditures internally for the period.

Investing Cash Flows

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, cash flows used in investing activities increased $14.3 million to $49.5 million. The increase in cash flows used in investing activities resulted from increased utility plant expenditures.

For further discussion on the Company’s future capital expenditures and expected funding sources, see “Capital Expenditures and Commitments” below.

Financing Cash Flows

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, cash flows from financing activities increased by $10.5 million to $15.8 million due primarily to increases in short-term and long-term debt funding.

Capital Expenditures and Commitments

To fund our capital program, we use internally generated funds, short-term and long-term debt borrowings, proceeds from sales of common stock under the Middlesex Water Company Investment Plan (the Investment Plan) and proceeds from sales offerings to the public of our common stock. See below for a more detailed discussion regarding the funding of our capital program.

The capital investment program for 2018 is currently estimated to be approximately $73 million. Through September 30, 2018, we have expended $50 million and expect to incur approximately $23 million for capital projects for the remainder of 2018.

We currently project that we may expend approximately $200 million for capital projects in 2019 and 2020. The actual amount and timing of capital expenditures is dependent on project scheduling and refinement of engineering estimates for certain capital projects.

To pay for our capital program for the remainder of 2018 we plan on utilizing:

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – See Note 1 of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures of Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk associated with changes in interest rates and commodity prices. The Company is subject to the risk of fluctuating interest rates in the normal course of business. Our policy is to manage interest rates through the use of fixed rate long-term debt and, to a lesser extent, short-term debt. The Company’s interest rate risk related to existing fixed rate, long-term debt is not material due to the term of the majority of our First Mortgage Bonds, which have final maturity dates ranging from 2019 to 2047. Over the next twelve months, approximately $7.3 million of the current portion of existing long-term debt instruments will mature. Applying a hypothetical change in the rate of interest charged by 10% on those borrowings, would not have a material effect on our earnings.

Our risks associated with commodity price increases for chemicals, electricity and other commodities are reduced through contractual arrangements and the ability to recover price increases through rates. Non-performance by these commodity suppliers could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

We are exposed to credit risk for both our Regulated and Non-Regulated business segments. Our Regulated operations serve residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers while our Non-Regulated operations engage in business activities with developers, government entities and other customers. Our primary credit risk is exposure to customer default on contractual obligations and the associated loss that may be incurred due to the non-payment of customer accounts receivable balances. Our credit risk is managed through established credit and collection policies which are in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and involve monitoring of customer exposure and the use of credit risk mitigation measures such as letters of credit or prepayment arrangements. Our credit portfolio is diversified with no significant customer or industry concentrations. In addition, our Regulated businesses are generally able to recover all prudently incurred costs including uncollectible customer accounts receivable expenses and collection costs through rates.

The Company's retirement benefit plan assets are exposed to fluctuating market prices of debt and equity securities. Changes to the Company's retirement benefit plan asset values can impact the Company's retirement benefit plan expense, funded status and future minimum funding requirements. Our risk is mitigated by our ability to recover retirement benefit plan costs through rates for regulated utility services charged to our customers.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures was conducted by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer along with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this Report. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

None.

The information about risk factors does not differ materially from those set forth in Part I, Item 1A. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

None.

None.

Not applicable.

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 2, 2018