Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 8,201,936	$ 7,648,469
Less: accumulated depreciation	1,856,146	1,718,143
Net property, plant and equipment	6,345,790	5,930,326
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,868,922	3,627
Accounts receivable, net	67,137	65,825
Unbilled revenues	40,483	35,400
Inventory, materials and supplies	18,379	15,844
Prepayments and other current assets	16,259	23,337
Assets held for sale	1,558	3,139
Total current assets	2,012,738	147,172
Regulatory assets	878,132	788,076
Deferred charges and other assets, net	42,652	39,237
Investment in joint venture	5,984	6,959
Goodwill	63,822	52,726
Operating lease right-of-use assets	12,867
Total assets	9,361,985	6,964,496
Essential Utilities stockholders' equity:
Common stock at $0.50 par value, authorized 300,000,000 shares, issued 223,871,284 and 181,151,827 as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018	111,935	90,576
Capital in excess of par value	2,636,555	820,378
Retained earnings	1,210,072	1,174,245
Treasury stock, at cost, 3,112,565 and 3,060,206 shares as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018	(77,702)	(75,835)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Total stockholders' equity	3,880,860	2,009,364
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	2,972,349	2,419,115
Less: debt issuance costs	29,022	20,651
Long-term debt, excluding current portion, net of debt issuance costs	2,943,327	2,398,464
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 9)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	105,051	144,545
Loans payable	25,724	15,449
Accounts payable	74,919	77,331
Book overdraft	10,944	8,950
Accrued interest	29,818	23,300
Accrued taxes	22,775	22,234
Interest rate swap agreements		59,779
Other accrued liabilities	49,618	47,389
Total current liabilities	318,849	398,977
Deferred credits and other liabilities:
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits	936,158	845,403
Customers' advances for construction	95,556	93,343
Regulatory liabilities	517,599	531,027
Operating lease liabilities	11,645
Other	102,465	97,182
Total deferred credits and other liabilities	1,663,423	1,566,955
Contributions in aid of construction	555,526	590,736
Total liabilities and equity	$ 9,361,985	$ 6,964,496