Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments	Note 1 – Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) is the parent company and sole shareholder of Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI), Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc. (USA-PA), and Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes). Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tidewater. The financial statements for Middlesex and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are reported on a consolidated basis. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The consolidated notes within the 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the 2019 Form 10-K) are applicable to these financial statements and, in the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary (including normal recurring accruals) to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 2020, the results of operations for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. Information included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2019, has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included in the 2019 Form 10-K. Recent Developments Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - On March 13, 2020, the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency. The impact on changing economic conditions due to COVID-19 is uncertain and could affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity in the future. While the Company’s operations and capital construction program have not been significantly disrupted to date from COVID-19, we are unable to assess with certainty the impact that COVID-19 will have on our business, our customers and our vendors prospectively, due to numerous uncertainties, including the severity of the pandemic, the duration of the outbreak and actions which could potentially be taken by governmental and/or regulatory authorities. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and the Delaware Public Service Commission (DEPSC) have allowed for potential future recovery of COVID-19 related incremental costs through customer rates by the regulated utilities under their respective jurisdictions. Neither jurisdiction has yet to establish a timetable or definitive method for formally providing for cost recovery. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and evaluate its impact on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Contract Operations – In May 2020, USA, through a competitive bidding process, was awarded a ten-year, $8.3 million contract to operate and maintain the Borough of Highland Park, New Jersey’s water and wastewater systems. The contract commenced July 1, 2020. Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance Credit Losses on Financial Instruments - The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including trade receivables, which requires expected credit losses to be measured based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount of financial assets. The new guidance became effective January 1, 2020. For the Company, this applies primarily to accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Expected credit losses on accounts receivable and unbilled revenues are based on historical write-offs combined with an evaluation of current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Customer accounts are written off when collection efforts have been exhausted. There are no other new adopted or proposed accounting guidance that the Company is aware of that could have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation and Recent Developments

Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) is the parent company and sole shareholder of Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI), Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc. (USA-PA), and Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes). Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tidewater. The financial statements for Middlesex and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are reported on a consolidated basis. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The consolidated notes within the 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the 2019 Form 10-K) are applicable to these financial statements and, in the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary (including normal recurring accruals) to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 2020, the results of operations for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. Information included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2019, has been derived from the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included in the 2019 Form 10-K.

Recent Developments

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - On March 13, 2020, the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency. The impact on changing economic conditions due to COVID-19 is uncertain and could affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity in the future. While the Company’s operations and capital construction program have not been significantly disrupted to date from COVID-19, we are unable to assess with certainty the impact that COVID-19 will have on our business, our customers and our vendors prospectively, due to numerous uncertainties, including the severity of the pandemic, the duration of the outbreak and actions which could potentially be taken by governmental and/or regulatory authorities.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and the Delaware Public Service Commission (DEPSC) have allowed for potential future recovery of COVID-19 related incremental costs through customer rates by the regulated utilities under their respective jurisdictions. Neither jurisdiction has yet to establish a timetable or definitive method for formally providing for cost recovery. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and evaluate its impact on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

Contract Operations – In May 2020, USA, through a competitive bidding process, was awarded a ten-year, $8.3 million contract to operate and maintain the Borough of Highland Park, New Jersey’s water and wastewater systems. The contract commenced July 1, 2020.

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

Credit Losses on Financial Instruments - The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including trade receivables, which requires expected credit losses to be measured based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount of financial assets. The new guidance became effective January 1, 2020. For the Company, this applies primarily to accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Expected credit losses on accounts receivable and unbilled revenues are based on historical write-offs combined with an evaluation of current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Customer accounts are written off when collection efforts have been exhausted.

There are no other new adopted or proposed accounting guidance that the Company is aware of that could have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.