INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of income tax expense (benefit)

Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following:

	Federal		State		Total
2020
Current	$	—	$	3	$	3
Deferred	14,692		(2,677)		12,015
Total income tax	$	14,692	$	(2,674)	$	12,018
2019
Current	$	—	$	3	$	3
Deferred	15,582		2,086		17,668
Total income tax	$	15,582	$	2,089	$	17,671
2018
Current	$	—	$	3	$	3
Deferred	15,995		(126)		15,869
Total income tax	$	15,995	$	(123)	$	15,872

Schedule of difference between the total income tax expense and computed tax expense

The difference between the recorded and the statutory income tax expense is reconciled in the table below:

	2020		2019		2018
Statutory income tax	$	22,858	$	16,965	$	17,105
Increase (reduction) in taxes due to:
State income taxes net of federal tax benefit	7,598		5,639		5,685
Effect of regulatory treatment of fixed asset differences	(9,201)		(3,696)		(5,954)
Investment tax credits	(74)		(74)		(74)
AFUDC equity	(1,392)		(1,870)		(1,106)
Share based stock compensation	523		302		(278)
TCJA refund	(9,470)		—		—
Other	1,176		405		494
Total income tax	$	12,018	$	17,671	$	15,872

Schedule of tax effects of differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities

The deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, are presented in the following table:

	2020		2019
Deferred tax assets:
Developer deposits for contributions in aid of construction	$	29,491	$	25,114
Net operating loss carryforward and tax credits	37,326		11,029
Pension liability	12,031		10,095
Income tax regulatory liability	41,151		47,196
Operating leases liabilities	4,372		4,024
Other	2,812		2,975
Total deferred tax assets	127,183		100,433
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property related basis and depreciation differences	350,923		297,470
WRAM/MCBA and interim rates balancing accounts	39,107		17,771
Operating lease-right to use asset	4,362		4,030
Other	8,823		3,752
Total deferred tax liabilities	403,215		323,023
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	276,032	$	222,590

Schedule of reconciliation of changes in unrecognized tax benefits

The following table reconciles the changes in unrecognized tax benefits:

	December 31, 2020		December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Balance at beginning of year	$	11,008	$	9,716	$	11,058
Additions for tax positions taken during current year	2,952		1,292		1,787
Reduction to prior year tax position	—		—		(3,129)
Balance at end of year	$	13,960	$	11,008	$	9,716