Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Utility Plant

The following remaining lives are used for financial reporting purposes:

	December 31				Approximate range
Utility Plant Asset Category	2019		2018		of remaining lives
Mains and accessories	$	200,954	$	190,679	11 – 86 years
Services, meters and hydrants		77,501		74,178	17 – 51 years
Operations structures, reservoirs and water tanks		63,530		61,868	10 – 58 years
Pumping and treatment equipment		33,124		32,575	7 – 30 years
Office, transportation and operating equipment		14,464		13,531	3 – 23 years
Land and other non-depreciable assets		3,393		3,202	–
Utility plant in service		392,966		376,033
Construction work in progress		8,417		4,751	–
Total Utility Plant	$	401,383	$	380,784

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

Regulatory assets and liabilities are comprised of the following:

	December 31				Remaining Recovery
	2019		2018		Periods
Assets
Income taxes	$	24,405	$	21,432	Various
Postretirement benefits		365		3,071	5 – 10 years
Unrealized swap losses		2,227		1,799	1 – 10 years
Utility plant retirement costs		5,012		4,841	5 years
Customer-owned lead service line replacements		944		304	Various
Income taxes on customers' advances for construction and contributions in aid of construction		998		577	Various
Service life study expenses		13		18	3 years
Rate case filing expenses		225		311	2 years
	$	34,189	$	32,353
Liabilities
Excess accumulated deferred income taxes on accelerated depreciation	$	14,008	$	14,184	Various
Income taxes		7,494		6,979	Various
IRS TPR catch-up deduction		3,671		3,887	14 years
Revenue reduction for tax rate change		226		1,764	1 year
	$	25,399	$	26,814