UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

OR

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from  _____  to  _____

Commission file number 000-18516

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION

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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

664 Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware 19702

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Address of principal executive offices

(302) 453 – 6900

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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.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data file required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

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", "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12(b)-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 Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

As of November 6, 2018, 8,364,803 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding.

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ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

(In thousands)

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Unaudited

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Unaudited

(In thousands)

See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND IMPACT OF RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Artesian Resources Corporation, or Artesian Resources, includes income from the earnings of our nine wholly owned subsidiaries.  Artesian Resources operates as the parent holding company of five regulated public utilities: Artesian Water Company, Inc., or Artesian Water, Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc., or Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Water Maryland, Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater, Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, and four non-regulated subsidiaries: Artesian Utility Development, Inc., or Artesian Utility, Artesian Development Corporation, or Artesian Development, Artesian Storm Water Services, Inc., or Artesian Storm Water, and Artesian Consulting Engineers, Inc., or Artesian Consulting Engineers.  The terms "we", "our", "Artesian" and the "Company" as used herein refer to Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries.

Basis of Presentation

The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year or for future periods.

Impact of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or 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 was 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 2, Revenue Recognition.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on leases to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use, or ROU, model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available.  This guidance, as well as additional guidance issued in January 2018 and July 2018, provides for certain practical expedients, including permitting the Company to elect not to evaluate land easements that existed prior to implementation and were not previously accounted for as leases, comparative reporting requirements for initial adoption and separating lease and non-lease components in a contract and allocating the consideration in the contract to the separate components for lessor only.  Management is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard, which includes compiling a list of all contracts that meet the definition of a lease under the new standard and determining the proper classification and accounting treatment of such contracts in order to determine the ultimate impact the new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

NOTE 2 – REVENUE RECOGNITION

Background

On January 1, 2018 the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification 606, or ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, using the modified retrospective approach. The Company identified its sources of revenue streams that fall within the scope of this guidance and applied the five-step model to all qualifying revenue streams to determine when to recognize revenue. The Company concluded there is not a material change to how revenue was recognized before and after the adoption of ASC 606, therefore, no cumulative retained earnings adjustment was required.

Artesian's operating revenues are primarily attributable to regulated contract services based upon tariff rates approved by the Delaware Public Service Commission, or DEPSC, the Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC.  Regulated contract service revenues consist of water consumption, fixed fees for water and wastewater services including customer and fire protection fees, services charges and a Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC, billed to customers at rates outlined in our tariffs that represent stand-alone selling prices.  Our non-regulated contract revenues consist of Service Line Protection Plan, or SLP Plan, fees, water and wastewater contract operations, and wastewater inspection fees.

Regulated Contract Revenues

Artesian generates revenue from the sale of water to customers in Delaware, Cecil County, Maryland, and Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania once a customer requests service in our territory.  We recognize water consumption revenue at tariff rates on a cycle basis for the volume of water transferred to customers based upon meter readings for actual gallons of water consumed as well as unbilled amounts for estimated usage from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the accounting period.  As actual usage amounts are known based on recurring meter readings, adjustments are made to the unbilled estimates in the next billing cycle based on the actual results.  Estimates are made on an individual customer basis, based on one of three methods (the previous year's consumption in the same period, the previous billing period's consumption, or averaging) and are adjusted to reflect current changes in water demand on a system-wide basis. While actual usage for individual customers may differ materially from the estimate based on management judgements described above, we believe the overall total estimate of consumption and revenue for the fiscal period will not differ materially from actual billed consumption.  The majority of our water customers are billed for water consumed on a monthly basis, while the remaining customers are billed on a quarterly basis.  As a result, we record unbilled operating revenue (contract asset) for any estimated usage through the end of the accounting period that will be billed in the next monthly or quarterly billing cycle.   

Artesian generates fixed fee revenue for water and wastewater services provided to customers once a customer requests service in our territory.  Our wastewater territory is located in Sussex County, Delaware.  We recognize revenue from these services on a ratable basis over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes all the benefits of the Company remaining ready to provide them water and wastewater service.  These contract services are billed in advance at tariff rates on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis.  As a result, we record deferred revenue (contract liability) and accounts receivable for any amounts for which we have a right to invoice but for which services have not been provided.  This deferred revenue is netted with unbilled operating revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Artesian generates service charges primarily from non-payment fees, such as water shut off and reconnection fees and finance charges.  These fees are billed and recognized as revenue at the point in time when our tariffs indicate the Company has the right to payment such as days past due have been reached or shut-offs and reconnections have been performed.  There is no contract asset or liability associated with these fees.

Artesian generates revenue from DSICs, which are surcharges applied to water customer tariff rates in Delaware related to specific types of water distribution system improvements.  This rate is calculated on a semi-annual basis based on an approved projected revenue requirement over the following six-month period.  This rate is adjusted up or down at the next DSIC filing to account for any differences between actual earned revenue and the projected revenue requirement.  Since DSIC revenue is a surcharge applied to tariff rates, we recognize DSIC revenue based on the same guidelines as noted above depending on whether the surcharge was applied to consumption revenue or fixed fee revenue.

 

The DEPSC required Delaware utilities to determine the impact that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA, had on its customers and potential rate relief due to customers.  The Company expects any reduction in corporate income tax expense resulting from the TCJA will be passed through to customers in the form of reduced tariff rates or approved DSIC rate.  Until a final decision is determined by the DEPSC, recognized DSIC revenue for the first nine months of 2018 is being held in reserve (refund liability) and is not reflected in income.  This reserved amount approximates the TCJA impact to Artesian Water's customers.

Accounts receivable from our regulated contract customers are typically due within 25 days of invoicing.  An allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated as a percentage of total associated revenues.  We mitigate our exposure to credit losses by discontinuing services in the event of non-payment; accordingly, the related allowance for doubtful accounts and associated bad debt expense has not been significant.

Non-regulated Contract Revenues

Artesian generates  SLP Plan revenue once a customer requests service to cover all parts, materials and labor required to repair or replace leaking water service lines, leaking or clogged sewer lines, or water and wastewater lines within the customers' residences, up to an annual limit.  We recognize revenue from these services on a ratable basis over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes all the benefits of having service line protection services.  These contract services are billed in advance on a monthly or quarterly basis.  As a result, we record deferred revenue (contract liability) and accounts receivable for any amounts for which we have a right to invoice but for which services have not been provided.  Accounts receivable from SLP Plan customers are typically due within 25 days of invoicing. An allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated as a percentage of total SLP contract revenue.  We mitigate our exposure to credit losses by discontinuing services in the event of non-payment; accordingly, the related allowance for doubtful accounts and associated bad debt expense has not been significant.

Artesian generates contract operation revenue from water and wastewater operation services provided to customers.  We recognize revenue from these operation contracts, which consist primarily of monthly operation and maintenance services over time as customers receive and consume the benefits of such services performed. These services are invoiced in advance at the beginning of every month and are typically due within 30 days, and therefore there is no contract asset or liability associated with these revenues.  An allowance for doubtful accounts is provided based on a periodic analysis of individual account balances, including an evaluation of days outstanding, payment history, recent payment trends, and our assessment of our customers' creditworthiness.  The related allowance for doubtful accounts and associated bad debt expense has not been significant.

Artesian generates inspection fee revenue for inspection services related to onsite wastewater collection systems installed by developers of new communities.  These fees are paid by developers in advance when a service is requested for a new phase of a development.  Inspection fee revenue is recognized on a per lot basis once the inspection of the infrastructure that serves each lot is completed.  As a result, we record deferred revenue (contract liability) for any amounts related to infrastructure not yet inspected.  There are no accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts or bad debt expense associated with inspection fee contracts.

Sales Tax

The majority of Artesian's revenues are earned within the State of Delaware, where there is no sales tax.  Revenue earned in the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are related primarily to the sale of water by a public water utility and are exempt from sales tax.  Therefore, no sales tax is collected on revenues.

 

Disaggregated Revenues

The following table shows the Company's revenues disaggregated by service type; all revenues are generated within a similar geographical location:

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

Our contract assets and liabilities consist of the following:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized revenue of $1.1 million from amounts that were included in Deferred Revenue – Regulated at the beginning of the year and revenue of $183,000 from amounts that were included in Deferred Revenue – Non- Regulated at the beginning of the year.

The increases (decreases) of Accounts Receivable, Contract Assets and Deferred Revenue were primarily due to normal timing differences between our performance and customer payments.  The increase in the Refund Liability is due to management's best estimate of the most probable ultimate amount of a pending regulatory adjustment related to the TCJA.

 

Remaining Performance Obligations

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Deferred Revenue – Regulated is recorded net of contract assets within Unbilled operating revenues and represents our remaining performance obligations for our fixed fee water and wastewater services, all of which are expected to be satisfied and associated revenue recognized in the next three months.

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Deferred Revenue – Non-Regulated is recorded within Other current liabilities and represents our remaining performance obligations for our SLP Plan services and wastewater inspections, which are expected to be satisfied and associated revenue recognized within the next three months and one year for the SLP Plan revenue and inspection fee revenue, respectively.

On December 9, 2015, the Company's stockholders approved the 2015 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2015 Plan, which replaced the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan which expired on May 24, 2015. The 2015 Plan provides that grants may be in any of the following forms: incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock units, stock awards, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards. The 2015 Plan is administered and interpreted by the Compensation Committee of the Board, or the Committee. The Committee has the authority to determine the individuals to whom grants will be made under the 2015 Plan, the type, size and terms of the grants, the time when grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period (subject to the limitations of the 2015 Plan), and deal with any other matters arising under the 2015 Plan. The Committee presently consists of three directors, each of whom is a non-employee director of the Company. All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and non-employee directors of the Company are eligible for grants under the 2015 Plan. 

Compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, of approximately $49,000 and $144,000, respectively, was recorded for restricted stock awards issued in May 2017 and May 2018. Compensation expense, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, of approximately $48,000 and $375,000, respectively, was recorded for restricted stock awards issued in May 2016 and May 2017, as well as fully vested stock awards issued in June 2017. Costs were determined based on the fair value on the dates of the awards and those costs were charged to income over the service periods associated with the awards. There was no stock compensation cost capitalized as part of an asset.

On May 2, 2018, 5,000 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, or Class A Stock, were granted as restricted stock awards.  The fair value per share was $38.51, the closing price of the Class A Stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 2, 2018.  On May 3, 2017, 5,000 shares of Class A Stock, were granted as restricted stock awards.  The fair value per share was $38.10, the closing price of the Class A Stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 3, 2017.  On May 4, 2016, 5,000 shares of Class A Stock were granted as restricted stock awards.  The fair value per share was $27.70, the closing price of the Class A Stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 4, 2016.  The restricted shares are subject to a one-year vesting period from the date of each grant.  Prior to their release date, these restricted stock awards may be subject to forfeiture in the event of the recipient's termination of employment.

On June 28, 2017, 6,568 shares of Class A Stock were issued as fully vested stock awards. The fair market value per share was $38.06, the closing price of the Class A Stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 28, 2017.

The following summary reflects changes in the shares of Class A Stock underlying options and restricted stock awards for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was approximately $176,000.

There were no unvested option shares outstanding under the 2015 Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

As of September 30, 2018, there was no unrecognized expense related to non-vested option shares granted under the 2015 Plan.  

As of September 30, 2018, there was $112,400 total unrecognized expense related to non-vested awards of restricted shares awarded under the 2015 Plan.  The cost will be recognized over 0.58 years, the remaining vesting period for the restricted stock awards.

NOTE 4 - REGULATORY ASSETS

The Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, ASC Topic 980 stipulates generally accepted accounting principles for companies whose rates are established or subject to approvals by a third-party regulatory agency. Certain expenses are recoverable through rates charged to our customers, without a return on investment, and are deferred and amortized during future periods using various methods as permitted by the DEPSC, MDPSC, and PAPUC.

The postretirement benefit obligation is the recognition of an offsetting regulatory liability as it relates to the accrual of the expected cost of providing postretirement health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees. Artesian Water contributed $28,100 to its postretirement benefit plan in the first nine months of 2018. These contributions consist of insurance premium payments for medical, dental and life insurance benefits made on behalf of the Company's eligible retired employees.

The deferred income taxes will be amortized over future years as the tax effects of temporary differences that previously flowed through to our customers are reversed.

Debt related costs include debt issuance costs and other debt related expense. The DEPSC has allowed rate recovery on unamortized issuance costs and make-whole premiums associated with the early retirement of Series O and Q First Mortgage bonds as the replacement of that debt in January 2017 with Series T First Mortgage bonds was deemed more favorable for the ratepayers.  The DEPSC has also allowed rate recovery on issuance costs associated with the Series U First Mortgage bond purchase in January 2018 that paid the full indebtedness of the Series P First Mortgage bond.  These amounts are recovered over the term of the new long-term debt issued.  For both the Series T First Mortgage bond purchase and the Series U First Mortgage bond purchase, no cash, other than the issue costs, was paid or received as the trustee facilitated direct exchanges of the bonds issued.

 

Regulatory expenses amortized on a straight-line basis are noted below:

NOTE 5 – REGULATORY LIABILITIES

FASB, ASC Topic 980 stipulates generally accepted accounting principles for companies whose rates are established or subject to approvals by a third-party regulatory agency.  Certain obligations are deferred and/or amortized as determined by the DEPSC, MDPSC, and PAPUC.  Regulatory liabilities represent excess recovery of cost or other items that have been deferred because it is probable such amounts will be returned to customers through future regulated rates.

The postretirement benefit obligation is the recognition of an offsetting regulatory asset as it relates to the accrual of the expected cost of providing postretirement health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees.  Artesian Water contributed $28,100 to its postretirement benefit plan in the first nine months of 2018. These contributions consist of insurance premium payments for medical, dental and life insurance benefits made on behalf of the Company's eligible retired employees.

Utility plant retirement cost obligation consists of estimated costs related to the potential removal and replacement of facilities and equipment on the Company's water and wastewater properties.  Effective January 1, 2012, as authorized by the DEPSC, when depreciable units of utility plant are retired, any cost associated with retirement, less any salvage value or proceeds received is charged to a regulated retirement liability. The DEPSC authorized an amount to be recorded each year to the liability.  

Pursuant to the enactment of the TCJA on December 22, 2017, the Company adjusted its existing deferred income tax balances as of December 31, 2017 to reflect the decrease in the corporate income tax rate from 34% to 21% (see Note 8).  This resulted in a decrease in the net deferred income tax liability of approximately $24.3 million of which $23.4 million was reclassified as a regulatory liability.  These amounts are subject to certain Internal Revenue Service normalization rules that require the benefits to customers be spread over the remaining useful life of the underlying assets giving rise to the associated deferred income taxes.  The amount and timing of potential settlements of the established net regulatory liabilities will be determined by the utilities' respective rate regulators.

NOTE 6 - NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE AND EQUITY PER COMMON SHARE

Basic net income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, the potentially dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted stock awards.

The following table summarizes the shares used in computing basic and diluted net income per share:

For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, no shares of restricted stock awards were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income per share.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, 4,108 and 4,240 shares of restricted stock awards were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income per share, respectively.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, no shares of stock options were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income per share, as the calculated proceeds from the options' exercise were lower than the average market price of the Company's common stock during the period.

The Company has 15,000,000 authorized shares of Class A Stock and 1,040,000 authorized shares of Class B Common Stock, or Class B Stock.  As of September 30, 2018, 8,364,231 shares of Class A Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Stock were issued and outstanding. As of September 30, 2017, 8,311,100 shares of Class A Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Stock were issued and outstanding. The par value for both classes is $1.00 per share. During the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, the Company issued 4,493 and 5,027 shares of Class A Stock, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, the Company issued 30,777 and 65,067 shares of Class A Stock, respectively.

Equity per common share was $16.25 and $15.98 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. These amounts were computed by dividing common stockholders' equity by the number of shares of common stock outstanding on September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

 

NOTE 7 - 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 DEPSC regulates both Artesian Water and Artesian Wastewater

·	The MDPSC regulates both Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Wastewater Maryland

·	The PAPUC regulates Artesian Water Pennsylvania

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 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.

On January 16, 2018, the DEPSC approved the opening of Docket No. 17-1240 requiring Delaware utilities to determine the impact that the TCJA had on their customers and potential rate relief due to customers.  We submitted the required reports to the DEPSC by the March 31, 2018 deadline.  The Company expects any reduction in corporate income tax expense resulting from the TCJA will be passed through to customers in the form of reduced tariff rates or approved DSIC rates.  Until a final decision is determined by the DEPSC, DSIC revenue for the first nine months of 2018 is being held in reserve and is not reflected in income. This reserved amount approximates the TCJA impact to Artesian Water's customers.

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:

The DSIC rate effective July 1, 2018 replaces the DSIC rate effective January 1, 2017.  This reduced rate reflects the TCJA impact to customers, partially offset by eligible plant improvements installed through April 30, 2018.  The DSIC rate effective July 1, 2018 is still subject to audit at a later date by the DEPSC.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 we did not report any earnings in DSIC revenue since the full amount of $655,000 and $2,203,000, respectively, is being held in reserve pending the outcome of the DEPSC's decision regarding the TCJA impact to customers. The 2018 DSIC amount held in reserve is included in Other current liabilities on the Balance Sheet. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we earned approximately $858,000 and $2,401,000 in DSIC revenue, respectively.

 

The SEC Staff issued Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting of the TCJA, which provides guidance to address situations where a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the TCJA in the period in which the TCJA was enacted. Under the guidance, registrants can report the effects of the TCJA as provisional amounts based on reasonable estimates in those areas in which the accounting is incomplete. The provisional amounts are subject to adjustment during a measurement period that can extend no longer than one year from the enactment date. As of December 31, 2017, the Company made reasonable estimates in measuring and accounting for the effects of the TCJA and as of September 30, 2018 made additional adjustments reflective of recent proposed regulations and analysis, however, these estimates could change based on further analysis of the TCJA or further regulatory rulings from the Company's various Public Service Commissions.

Under FASB ASC Topic 740, an uncertain tax position represents our expected treatment of a tax position taken, or planned to be taken in the future, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes.

The Company establishes reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management's judgment as to the sustainability of these positions. These accounting estimates related to the uncertain tax position reserve require judgments to be made as to the sustainability of each uncertain tax position based on its technical merits. The Company believes its tax positions comply with applicable law and that it has adequately recorded reserves as required. However, to the extent the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the estimates recorded, the Company would then adjust its tax reserves or unrecognized tax benefits in the period that this information becomes known. The Company has elected to recognize accrued interest (net of related tax benefits) and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of its income tax expense.

The Company established two reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management's judgment as to the sustainability of these positions related to the methodology for determining the deduction for utility system repairs and the difference in the tax depreciation expense utilizing the half-year convention rather than the mid-quarter convention.

The Company has accrued approximately $9,400 in penalties and interest for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company remains subject to examination by federal and state authorities for the tax years 2015 through 2017.

 

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 mandated that Advances and CIAC, received subsequent to December 31, 1986, generally are taxable income.  The 1996 Tax Act provided an exclusion from taxable income for CIAC and Advances received after June 12, 1996 except for certain contributions for large services that are not included in rate base for rate-making purposes.  On December 22, 2017, the TCJA repealed the 1996 exclusion from gross income effective on the enactment date.

Investment tax credits were deferred through 1986 and are recognized as a reduction of deferred income tax expense over the estimated economic useful lives of the related assets.

NOTE 9 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

Current Assets and Liabilities

For those current assets and liabilities that are considered financial instruments, the carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

Long-term Financial Liabilities

All of Artesian Resources' outstanding long-term debt as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was fixed-rate. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is determined by discounting its future cash flows using current market interest rates on similar instruments with comparable maturities consistent with FASB ASC 825. Under the fair value hierarchy, the fair value of the long-term debt in the table below is classified as Level 2 measurements. Level 2 is valued using observable inputs other than quoted prices. The fair values for long-term debt differ from the carrying values primarily due to interest rates that differ from the current market interest rates. The carrying amount and fair value of Artesian Resources' long-term debt are shown below:

The fair value of Advances for Construction cannot be reasonably estimated due to the inability to estimate accurately the timing and amounts of future refunds expected to be paid over the life of the contracts. Refund payments are based on the water sales to new customers in the particular development constructed. The fair value of Advances for Construction would be less than the carrying amount because these financial instruments are non-interest bearing.

NOTE 10 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In October 2017, September 2017, and February 2017, Artesian Water entered into agreements in the normal course of business with W.F. Construction, Inc. for work associated with building modifications to water treatment plants.  The amounts of these agreements were approximately $60,000, $36,000 and $100,000, respectively. The owner of W.F. Construction, Inc. is the husband of Mrs. Jennifer Finch, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Artesian Resources.  No amounts were paid to W.F. Construction, Inc. for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.  No amounts were paid to W.F. Construction, Inc. for the three months ended September 30, 2017.  Approximately $87,000 was paid to W.F. Construction, Inc. during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  As of September 30, 2018, the Company had no liability to W.F. Construction, Inc.

 

On September 23, 2018, the Board elected Mr. Michael Houghton to serve as a director for the remainder of the three year term class that expires at the Annual Meeting of the Class B Stock shareholders to be held in 2021 and until his respective successor shall be elected and qualified.  Mr. Houghton is a Partner in the law firm of Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell, or MNAT, in Wilmington, Delaware.  In the normal course of business, the Company utilizes the services of MNAT for various regulatory, real estate and public policy matters.  Approximately $271,000 and $446,000 was paid to MNAT during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, for legal services.  Approximately $80,000 and $286,000 was paid to MNAT during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, for legal services.  As of September 30, 2018, the Company had a $16,000 accounts payable balance due to MNAT.

As set forth in the Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and, if appropriate, approving all related party transactions between us and any officer, any director, any person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company's voting securities or any other related person that would potentially require disclosure. In its review and approval of the related party transactions with W.F. Construction, Inc. and the related party transactions with MNAT, the Audit Committee considered the nature of the related person's interest in the transactions; the satisfactory performance of work contracted with the related parties prior to our employment of Mrs. Finch and prior to the director election of Mr. Houghton; and the material terms of the transactions, including, without limitation, the amount and type of transactions, the importance of the transactions to the related person, the importance of the transactions to the Company and whether the transactions would impair the judgment of a director or officer to act in the best interest of the Company. The Audit Committee approves only those related person transactions that are in, or are consistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

NOTE 11 – BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

On March 29, 2018, Artesian Water purchased the utility assets of Slaughter Beach Water Company, which serves the community of Slaughter Beach located in Sussex County, Delaware along the Delaware Bay consisting of 265 customers.  The total purchase price was $450,000 in cash, which approximates the fair value of the net identifiable assets received.  The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under ASC Topic 805, "Business Combinations".  The purchase price was allocated to the acquired utility assets, including land, based on the utility assets' estimated fair values as of the acquisition date.  This acquisition was approved by the DEPSC on March 27, 2018 subject to the DEPSC determining the appropriate ratemaking treatment of the acquisition price and the assets acquired in Artesian Water's next base rate case.  The pro forma effect of the business acquired is not material to the Company's financial position or results of operations.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which express our "belief", "anticipation" or "expectation," as well as other statements which are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Statements regarding our goals, priorities, growth and expansion plans and expectation for our water and wastewater subsidiaries and non-regulated subsidiaries, customer base growth opportunities in Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland, our belief regarding our capacity to provide water services for the foreseeable future to our customers, our belief relating to our compliance and the cost to achieve compliance with relevant governmental regulations, our expectation of the timing of decisions by regulatory authorities, the impact of weather on our operations and the execution of our strategic initiatives, our expectation of the timing for construction on new projects, our expectation relating to the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements, contract operations opportunities, legal proceedings, our properties, deferred tax assets, adequacy of our available sources of financing, the expected recovery of expenses related to our long-term debt, our expectation to be in compliance with financial covenants in our debt instruments, our ability to refinance our debt as it comes due, our ability to adjust our debt level, interest rate, maturity schedule and structure, the timing and terms of renewals of our lines of credit, plans to increase our wastewater treatment operations, engineering services and other revenue streams less affected by weather, expected future contributions to our postretirement benefit plan, anticipated growth in our non-regulated division, the impact of recent acquisitions on our ability to expand and foster relationships, anticipated investments in certain of our facilities and systems and the sources of funding for such investments, the sufficiency of internally generated funds and credit facilities to provide working capital and our liquidity needs are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "should", variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  Certain factors as discussed under Item 1A -Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, such as changes in weather, changes in our contractual obligations, changes in government policies, the timing and results of our rate requests, failure to receive regulatory approval, changes in economic and market conditions generally, and other matters could cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so and you should not rely on any forward-looking statement as a representation of the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

OVERVIEW

Our profitability is primarily attributable to the sale of water. Gross water sales comprise 88.4% of total operating revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Our profitability is also attributed to the various contract operations, water, sewer and internal SLP Plans and other services we provide. Water sales are subject to seasonal fluctuations, particularly during summer when water demand may vary with rainfall and temperature. In the event temperatures during the typically warmer months are cooler than expected, or rainfall is greater than expected, the demand for water may decrease and our revenues may be adversely affected. We believe the effects of weather are short term and do not materially affect the execution of our strategic initiatives. Our contract operations and other services provide a revenue stream that is not affected by changes in weather patterns.

While water sales are our primary source of revenues, we continue to seek growth opportunities to provide wastewater services in Delaware and the surrounding areas. We also continue to explore and develop relationships with developers and municipalities in order to increase revenues from contract water and wastewater operations, wastewater management services, and design, construction and engineering services. We plan to continue developing and expanding our contract operations and other services in a manner that complements our growth in water service to new customers. Our anticipated growth in these areas is subject to changes in residential and commercial construction, which may be affected by interest rates, inflation and general housing and economic market conditions. We anticipate continued growth in our non-regulated division due to our water, sewer, and internal SLP Plans.

 

Artesian Water, Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Water Pennsylvania provide regulated water services to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal and utility customers.

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 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 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.  Artesian Water Maryland owns and operates 8 public water systems including one in Port Deposit that has the ability to supply up to 1 million gallons per day, or mgd, of water through an intake in the Susquehanna River.

Artesian Water Pennsylvania began operations in 2002. It provides water service to a residential community in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Increases in the number of customers contribute to increases, or help to offset any intermittent decreases, in our operating revenue. As of September 30, 2018 we had approximately 85,600 metered water customers in Delaware, an increase of approximately 1,800 compared to September 30, 2017. The number of metered water customers in Maryland totaled approximately 2,400 as of September 30, 2018, a slight increase compared to September 30, 2017. The number of metered water customers in Pennsylvania remained consistent compared to September 30, 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, approximately 6.0 billion gallons of water were distributed in our Delaware systems and approximately 105.1 million gallons of water were distributed in our Maryland systems.

Our residential and commercial wastewater customers are billed a flat monthly fee, which contributes to providing a revenue stream unaffected by weather.  There has been consistent customer growth over the years.  The number of Delaware wastewater customers totaled approximately 2,000 as of September 30, 2018, an increase of approximately 300, or 17.1%, compared to September 30, 2017.  In addition, Artesian Wastewater entered into a wastewater services agreement with Allen Harim Foods, LLC, or Allen Harim, a large industrial customer, under which service is expected to begin in 2019. The wastewater services agreement with Allen Harim is discussed further in the "Strategic Direction" section below.

Our non-regulated subsidiaries are Artesian Utility, Artesian Development, Artesian Storm Water and Artesian Consulting Engineers.

 

Artesian Utility was formed in 1996 and designs and builds water and wastewater infrastructure and provides contract water and wastewater operation services on the Delmarva Peninsula to private, municipal and governmental institutions.  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 for municipal and governmental organizations. Artesian Utility also 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. In addition, as further discussed below, Artesian Utility operates the Water Service Line Protection Plan, or WSLP Plan, the Sewer Service Line Protection Plan, or SSLP Plan, and the Internal Service Line Protection Plan, or ISLP Plan.

Artesian Utility currently operates wastewater treatment facilities for the town of Middletown, in southern New Castle County, Delaware, or Middletown, under a 20-year contract that expires in July 2022. 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 facility. 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.

Artesian Utility also offers three protection plans to customers, the WSLP Plan, the SSLP Plan, and the ISLP Plan. 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. The 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. The ISLP Plan enhances available coverage to include water and wastewater lines within customers' residences.  As of September 30, 2018, approximately 19,400, or 23.5%, of our eligible water customers enrolled in the WSLP Plan, approximately 15,400, or 18.8%, of our eligible customers enrolled in the SSLP Plan, and approximately 5,300, or 6.5%, of our eligible customers enrolled in the ISLP Plan.  Approximately 1,700 non-utility customers enrolled in one of our three protection plans.

Artesian Consulting Engineers no longer offers development and architectural services to outside third parties.  We will continue to provide design and engineering contract services through Artesian Utility.

Strategic Direction

 

In June 2017, Artesian Water purchased existing water assets from Fort DuPont Redevelopment and Preservation Corporation.  The Fort DuPont National Historic District, or Fort DuPont, consists of 325-acres and lies between the Delaware River on the east, the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on the south and the Delaware City Branch Canal to the north and west.  The final purchase price for the water assets consisting of a water treatment plant, storage tank, wells, mains, and other equipment used to provide potable water and fire suppression services to portions of Fort DuPont and the surrounding properties was $852,000.  In connection with the planned future development of Fort DuPont, the parties intend to design, build and operate a state of the art, cost effective, safe and reliable water system that will include both new water assets as well as improvements and upgrades to the existing water assets.  The water system can be expanded to meet the needs of the planned 600 residential units as well as new commercial customers, in addition to water service currently provided to the Governor Bacon Health Center and National Guard facilities.

On March 29, 2018, Artesian Water purchased the utility assets of Slaughter Beach Water Company, or SBWC, for $450,000.  The public water system currently serves the community of Slaughter Beach located in Sussex County, Delaware along the Delaware Bay consisting of 265 customers. The SBWC was founded in 1951 as a public water system in Delaware.

Artesian Wastewater entered into agreements that will provide growth opportunities and will utilize our larger regional wastewater facilities.  In August 2016, Artesian Wastewater and Sussex County, a political subdivision of Delaware, entered into an agreement to provide reciprocal services to address the periodic need of each for additional wastewater treatment and disposal capacity in certain service areas within Sussex County.  There are numerous locations in Sussex County where Artesian Wastewater's and Sussex County's facilities are capable of being connected or integrated to allow for the movement and disposal of wastewater generated by one or the other's system in a manner that most efficiently and cost effectively manages wastewater transmission, treatment and disposal.

On September 27, 2016, Artesian Wastewater entered into a wastewater services agreement with Allen Harim for Artesian Wastewater to provide treatment and disposal services for sanitary wastewater discharged from Allen Harim's properties located in Sussex County, Delaware upon completion of a pipeline to transfer the sanitary wastewater.  The pipeline was completed in the second quarter of 2017.  The transfer of sanitary wastewater is pending receipt of a construction permit and installation of related on-site improvements by Allen Harim at its facility.  On January 27, 2017, Artesian Wastewater entered into a second wastewater agreement with Allen Harim for Artesian Wastewater to provide disposal services for approximately 1.5 million gallons per day of treated industrial process wastewater upon completion of an approximately eight mile pipeline that will transfer the wastewater from Allen Harim's properties to a 90 million gallon storage lagoon at Artesian's Sussex Regional Recharge Facility.  We will use the reclaimed wastewater for spray irrigation on agricultural land in the area.  The completion of the industrial process wastewater pipeline and storage lagoon should occur by the end of 2018.

 

In our non-regulated division, we continue pursuing opportunities to expand our contract operations. Through Artesian Utility, we will seek to expand our contract design, engineering and construction services of water and wastewater facilities for developers, municipalities and other utilities. We also anticipate continued growth due to our water, sewer and internal SLP Plans. Artesian Development owns two nine-acre parcels of land, located in Sussex County, Delaware, which will allow for construction of a water treatment facility and wastewater treatment facility. Artesian Storm Water was recently formed to expand contract work related to the design, installation, maintenance and repair services associated with existing or proposed storm water management systems in Delaware and the surrounding areas.

Regulatory Matters

Our water and wastewater utility operations are subject to regulation by their respective state regulatory commissions, which have broad administrative power and authority to regulate rates charged for service, determine franchise areas and conditions of service, approve acquisitions, authorize the issuance of securities and oversee other matters. The profitability of our utility operations is influenced, to a great extent, by the timeliness and adequacy of rate allowances we are granted by the respective regulatory commissions or authorities in the states in which we operate.

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:

The DSIC rate effective July 1, 2018 replaces the DSIC rate effective January 1, 2017.  This reduced rate reflects the TCJA impact to customers, partially offset by eligible plant improvements installed through April 30, 2018.  The DSIC rate effective July 1, 2018 is subject to audit at a future date by the DEPSC.   For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 we did not report any earnings in DSIC revenue since the full amount of $655,000 and $2,203,000, respectively, is being held in reserve pending the outcome of the DEPSC's decision regarding the TCJA impact to customers.  The 2018 DSIC amount held in reserve is included in Other current liabilities on the Balance Sheet.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we earned approximately $858,000 and $2,401,000 in DSIC revenue, respectively.

Inflation

We are affected by inflation, most notably by the continually increasing costs required to maintain, improve and expand our service capability.  The cumulative effect of inflation results in significantly higher facility costs compared to investments made 20 to 40 years ago, which must be recovered from future cash flows.

 

Revenues totaled $21.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, $0.4 million, or 1.9%, less than revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Water sales revenue decreased $0.6 million, or 2.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2018 from the corresponding period in 2017, primarily due to a decrease in DSIC related to approximately $0.7 million of earnings being held in reserve pending the final determination of the potential rate relief due to customers as a result of the TCJA.  This decrease is partially offset by an increase in overall water consumption. We realized 88.8% and 89.7% of our total operating revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively, from the sale of water.

Other utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.2 million, or 14.8%, for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase is primarily due to an increase in wastewater revenue from customer growth and new development inspections, partially offset by a decrease in water service charges.

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $0.4 million, or 2.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. 

Utility operating expenses increased $0.3 million, or 2.6%, for the three months ended September 30, 2018 over the same period in 2017. The increase is primarily related to the following:

·	Payroll, employee benefit costs and related expenses increased $0.2 million due to an increase in and timing of compensation partially offset by greater capitalized payroll and benefits related to a software upgrade of Artesian's billing system.

·	Other expenses increased $0.2 million, primarily related to an increase in administration, water treatment, purchased water and purchased power costs.

·	Repairs and maintenance decreased $0.1 million, primarily due to the timing of expenses related to the maintenance of tanks, water treatment equipment, and meters.  This decrease is partially offset by an increase related to the maintenance of wells and hardware and software support fees.

Property and other taxes increased $0.1 million, or 7.8%, primarily due to an increase in utility plant subject to taxation. Property taxes are assessed on land, buildings and certain utility plant, which include the footage and size of pipe, hydrants and wells.

The ratio of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total revenue was 56.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 53.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Other income, net increased $0.2 million, primarily due to a one-time additional patronage payment from CoBank, ACB, related predominately to savings generated from federal tax reform legislation passed at the end of 2017 along with earnings from significant non-recurring items in the first half of 2018.

 

Revenues totaled $61.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, $1.0 million, or 1.6%, less than revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Water sales revenue decreased $1.2 million, or 2.3%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 from the corresponding period in 2017, primarily due to a decrease in DSIC related to approximately $2.2 million of earnings being held in reserve pending the final determination of the potential rate relief due to customers as a result of the TCJA.  This decrease is partially offset by an increase in overall water consumption and an increase in customer charges from customer growth. We realized 88.4% and 89.0% of our total operating revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively, from the sale of water.

Other utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.2 million, or 6.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increase is primarily due to an increase in wastewater revenue from customer growth, partially offset by a decrease in water service charges.

Non-utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.1 million, or 1.8%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The increase is primarily due to an increase in SLP Plan revenue.

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $0.1 million, or 0.2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. 

Utility operating expenses decreased $0.1 million, or 0.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 over the same period in 2017. The decrease is primarily related to the following:

·

Payroll, employee benefit costs and related expenses decreased $0.2 million, primarily due to a decrease in equity compensation awards and an increase in capitalized payroll and benefits related to a software upgrade of Artesian's billing system.  This decrease is partially offset by an increase in compensation.

·	Purchased water expense decreased $0.2 million, primarily due to more water purchased in 2017 during relocation of a major transmission main in our northern New Castle County, Delaware water system due to state highway construction.

·	Purchase power expense increased $0.1 million, primarily due to an increase in electric demand related to an increase in water production.

·	Other expenses increased $0.1 million, primarily related to an increase in administration and water treatment costs.

Property and other taxes increased $0.2 million, or 5.5%, primarily due to an increase in utility plant subject to taxation. Property taxes are assessed on land, buildings and certain utility plant, which include the footage and size of pipe, hydrants and wells.

The ratio of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total revenue was 56.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 55.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

 

Other income, net increased $1.0 million, primarily due to an increase in the amount of the patronage payment from CoBank, ACB, related to the refinancing of the Series O and Series Q First Mortgage bonds in January 2017 and savings generated from federal tax reform legislation passed at the end of 2017 along with earnings from significant non-recurring items in the first half of 2018.  The patronage has been equal to 1.00% of the average line of credit and loan volume outstanding.  In addition, a pledge was made in 2017 to a non-profit entity in Delaware to support the state's economic development effort.  A similar pledge was not made in 2018.

Interest expense decreased $0.1 million, primarily due to the refinancing of the Series P First Mortgage bond in January 2018, reducing the interest rate from 6.58% to 4.71%.  This decrease is partially offset by an increase in interest charges due to an increase in borrowing under lines of credit.

Our net income applicable to common stock increased $1.0 million, primarily due to an increase in the amount of the patronage payment from CoBank, ACB and reduced utility operating expenses, federal and state income taxes and interest expense.

Our primary sources of liquidity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $21.1 million of cash provided by operating activities, $7.5 million from a new loan in August 2018, $6.6 million in net contributions and advances from developers, $5.7 million from lines of credit borrowings, and $0.8 million in net proceeds from the issuance of common stock. Cash flow from operating activities is primarily provided by our utility operations, and is impacted by the timeliness and adequacy of rate increases and changes in water consumption as a result of year-to-year variations in weather conditions, particularly during the summer. A significant part of our ability to maintain and meet our financial objectives is to ensure that our investments in utility plant and equipment are recovered in the rates charged to customers. As such, from time to time, we file rate increase requests to recover increases in operating expenses and investments in utility plant and equipment.

On December 22, 2017, the TCJA was signed into law. The TCJA reduces the federal corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent, among other things. Notwithstanding the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the overall impact of the TCJA is uncertain.  However, based on its assessment of the reduction in the federal corporate tax rate through September 30, 2018, the Company currently expects that its 2018 effective tax rate will be reduced and will result in overall lower tax expense in 2018.  Such estimate is based on management's current assumptions with respect to, among other things, the Company's earnings, state income tax levels and tax deductions. The Company's actual effective tax rate in 2018 may differ from management's estimate.  The TCJA also includes certain other provisions specifically related to the public utility industry, including the exclusion from utilizing bonus depreciation.  The impact with respect to provisions specifically related to the public utility industry or to corporate taxpayers in general may also impact our future financial performance, including our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity, which impacts will largely be determined through future regulatory proceedings.

At September 30, 2018, Artesian Resources had a $40 million line of credit with Citizens Bank, or Citizens, which is available to all subsidiaries of Artesian Resources. As of September 30, 2018, there was $32.1 million of available funds under this line of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under this line is the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 1.00%. This is a demand line of credit and therefore the financial institution may demand payment for any outstanding amounts at any time. The term of this line of credit expires on the earlier of May 24, 2019 or any date on which Citizens demands payment. The Company expects to renew this line of credit.

At September 30, 2018, Artesian Water had a $20 million line of credit with CoBank, ACB, or CoBank, that allows for the financing of operations for Artesian Water, with up to $10 million of this line available for the operations of Artesian Water Maryland. As of September 30, 2018, there was $12.5 million of available funds under this line of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under this line is LIBOR plus 1.50%. The term of this line of credit expires on July 20, 2019. We expect to renew this line of credit.

 

The Series U Bond carries an annual interest rate of 4.71% through and including the Series U Maturity Date. Interest is payable on January 30th, April 30th, July 30th and October 30th in each year and on the Series U Maturity Date, beginning April 30, 2018 until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest shall be discharged.  Overdue payments shall bear interest as provided in the Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture. The term of the Series U Bond also includes certain limitations on the Company's indebtedness.

In order to control purchased power cost, in August 2018 Artesian Water entered into an electric supply contract with MidAmerican. The fixed rate for MidAmerican will be lowered 10.8% starting in September 2018. The current contract term has been in effect since October 2015. The new fixed price contract will be effective from September 2018 through May 2022. In August 2018, Artesian Water Maryland entered into an electric supply agreement with Constellation NewEnergy.  The fixed rate for Constellation NewEnergy will be lowered 4.9% starting in May 2019. The current contract term has been in effect since December 2015. The new fixed price contract will be effective from May 2019 through May 2022.

Payments for unconditional purchase obligations reflect minimum water purchase obligations based on rates that are subject to change under our interconnection agreement with the Chester Water Authority, which expires December 31, 2021.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, including any arrangements with any structured finance, special purpose or variable interest entities.

Critical Accounting Assumptions, Estimates and Policies; Recent Accounting Standards

This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on the accounting policies used and disclosed in our 2017 consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes that were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and included as part of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The preparation of those financial statements required management to make assumptions and estimates that affected the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual amounts or results could differ from those based on such assumptions and estimates.

Our critical accounting policies are described in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no changes in our critical accounting policies. Our significant accounting policies are described in our notes to the 2017 consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Information concerning our implementation and the impact of recent accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board is included in the notes to our 2017 consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and also in the notes to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.  We did not adopt any accounting policy in the first nine months of 2018 that had a material impact on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

 

ITEM 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

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 exposure to interest rate risk related to existing fixed rate, long-term debt is due to the term of the majority of our First Mortgage Bonds, which have final maturity dates ranging from 2028 to 2038, and interest rates ranging from 4.24% to 5.96%, which exposes the Company to interest rate risk as interest rates may drop below the existing fixed rate of the long-term debt prior to such debt's maturity. In addition, the Company has interest rate exposure on $60 million of variable rate lines of credit with two banks, under which the interim bank loans payable at September 30, 2018 were approximately $15.4 million. An increase in interest rates will result in an increase in the cost of borrowing on this variable rate line.  We are also exposed to market risk associated with changes in commodity prices. Our risks associated with price increases in chemicals, electricity and other commodities are mitigated by our ability to recover our costs through rate increases to our customers. We have also sought to mitigate future significant electric price increases by signing a multi-year supply contract, at a fixed price.

ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  In addition, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were effective to achieve the foregoing objectives.

(b) Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Periodically, we are involved in proceedings or litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will materially affect our business, financial position or results of operations.  However, we cannot assure that we will prevail in any litigation and, regardless of the outcome, may incur significant litigation expense and may have significant diversion of management attention.

ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in such Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 2 – UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3 – DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4 – MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5 – OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

Table of Contents

ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS

*   Filed herewith

** Furnished herewith

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