INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of income tax expense (benefit)

Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following:

	Federal		State		Total
2021
Current	$	—	$	3,446	$	3,446
Deferred	3,322		(2,676)		646
Total income tax	$	3,322	$	770	$	4,092
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

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:

	2021		2020		2019
Statutory income tax	$	22,065	$	22,858	$	16,965
Increase (reduction) in taxes due to:
State income taxes net of federal tax benefit	7,334		7,598		5,639
Effect of regulatory treatment of fixed asset differences	(6,327)		(9,201)		(3,696)
Investment tax credits	(74)		(74)		(74)
AFUDC equity	(891)		(1,392)		(1,870)
Stock based stock compensation	791		523		302
TCJA refund	(19,417)		(9,470)		—
Other	611		1,176		405
Total income tax	$	4,092	$	12,018	$	17,671

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, 2021 and 2020, are presented in the following table:

	2021		2020
Deferred tax assets:
Developer deposits for contributions in aid of construction	$	31,777	$	29,491
Net operating loss carryforward and tax credits	24,908		37,326
Pension liability	13,570		12,031
Income tax regulatory liability	26,565		41,151
Operating leases liabilities	4,310		4,372
Other	2,439		2,812
Total deferred tax assets	103,569		127,183
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property related basis and depreciation differences	362,139		350,923
WRAM/MCBA and interim rates balancing accounts	22,124		39,107
Operating lease-right to use asset	4,286		4,362
Other	13,965		8,823
Total deferred tax liabilities	402,514		403,215
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	298,945	$	276,032

Schedule of reconciliation of changes in unrecognized tax benefits

The following table reconciles the changes in unrecognized tax benefits for the periods ended December 31 2021, 2020, and 2019:

	2021		2020		2019
Balance at beginning of year	$	13,960	$	11,008	$	9,716
Additions for tax positions taken during current year	1,890		2,952		1,292
Balance at end of year	$	15,850	$	13,960	$	11,008