Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Assets
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 13,737,387	$ 12,610,376
Less: accumulated depreciation	2,606,441	2,358,510
Net property, plant and equipment	11,130,946	10,251,866
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	11,398	10,567
Accounts receivable, net	206,324	141,025
Unbilled revenues	170,504	119,896
Inventory - materials and supplies	46,592	33,756
Inventory - gas stored	153,143	75,804
Current assets held for sale	11,167
Prepayments and other current assets	39,759	36,597
Regulatory assets	19,272	20,150
Total current assets	658,159	437,795
Regulatory assets	1,342,753	1,429,840
Deferred charges and other assets, net	166,653	141,955
Funds restricted for construction activity	1,342	1,313
Goodwill	2,340,792	2,340,815
Non-current assets held for sale	32,124
Operating lease right-of-use assets	41,734	48,930
Intangible assets	4,604	5,764
Total assets	15,719,107	14,658,278
Essential Utilities stockholders' equity:
Common stock at $0.50 par value, authorized 600,000,000 shares, issued 266,973,321 and 256,102,388 as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021	133,486	128,050
Capital in excess of par value	3,793,262	3,705,814
Retained earnings	1,534,331	1,434,201
Treasury stock, at cost, 3,236,237 and 3,234,765 shares as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021	(83,693)	(83,615)
Total stockholders' equity	5,377,386	5,184,450
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	6,418,039	5,815,211
Less: debt issuance costs	46,982	35,707
Long-term debt, excluding current portion, net of debt issuance costs	6,371,057	5,779,504
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 9)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	199,356	132,146
Loans payable	228,500	65,000
Accounts payable	238,843	192,932
Book overdraft	28,694	81,722
Accrued interest	47,063	40,815
Accrued taxes	34,393	37,924
Liabilities related to assets held for sale	3,263
Regulatory liabilities	35,276	384
Dividends payable	75,808
Other accrued liabilities	130,673	124,140
Total current liabilities	1,021,869	675,063
Deferred credits and other liabilities:
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits	1,345,766	1,406,537
Customers' advances for construction	114,732	103,619
Regulatory liabilities	778,754	769,617
Asset retirement obligations	843	1,256
Operating lease liabilities	37,666	48,230
Non-current liabilities related to assets held for sale	974
Pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities	31,244	50,226
Other	28,562	43,666
Total deferred credits and other liabilities	2,338,541	2,423,151
Contributions in aid of construction	610,254	596,110
Total liabilities and equity	$ 15,719,107	$ 14,658,278