INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of income tax expense (benefit)

Income tax expense (benefit) consisted of the following:

	Federal		State		Total
2022
Current	$	1,857	$	3	$	1,860
Deferred	4,726		(211)		4,515
Total income tax	$	6,583	$	(208)	$	6,375
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

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:

	2022		2021		2020
Statutory income tax	$	21,344	$	22,065	$	22,858
Increase (reduction) in taxes due to:
State income taxes net of federal tax benefit	7,383		7,334		7,598
Effect of regulatory treatment of fixed asset differences	(6,274)		(6,327)		(9,201)
Investment tax credits	(74)		(74)		(74)
AFUDC equity	(1,155)		(891)		(1,392)
Stock based stock compensation	455		791		523
TCJA refund	(13,919)		(19,417)		(9,470)
Other	(1,385)		611		1,176
Total income tax	$	6,375	$	4,092	$	12,018

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, 2022 and 2021, are presented in the following table:

	2022		2021
Deferred tax assets:
Developer deposits for contributions in aid of construction	$	31,589	$	31,777
Net operating loss carry-forward and tax credits	18,329		29,206
Pension liability	13,860		13,570
Income tax regulatory liability	22,838		26,565
Operating leases liabilities	4,170		4,310
Other	4,264		2,439
Total deferred tax assets	95,050		107,867
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property related basis and depreciation differences	393,007		362,139
WRAM/MCBA and interim rates balancing accounts	14,192		22,124
Operating lease-right to use asset	4,130		4,286
Other	13,972		13,965
Total deferred tax liabilities	425,301		402,514
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	330,251	$	294,647

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 2022, 2021, and 2020:

	2022		2021		2020
Balance at beginning of year	$	15,850	$	13,960	$	11,008
Additions for tax positions taken during current year	1,955		1,890		2,952
Lapse of statute of limitations	(4,199)		—		—
Balance at end of year	$	13,606	$	15,850	$	13,960