REGULATORY ASSETS (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	$ 3,996,000	$ 4,176,000
Period over which depreciation and salary study expenses amortized (in years)	5 years
Period over which Delaware rate proceedings and applications expenses amortized (in years)	two and a half years
Period over which Maryland rate proceedings and applications expenses amortized	five years or until the next rate increase application
Period over which goodwill amortized (in years)	50 years
Period over which Port Deposit and Cecil County deferred acquisition costs amortized (in years)	20 years
Period over which Cecil County deferred franchise costs amortized (in years)	80 years
Artesian Water contributed to its postretirement benefit plan	$ 24,000
Maximum [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period of debt issuance costs	30 years
Minimum [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period of debt issuance costs	10 years
Postretirement benefit obligation [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	$ 329,000	329,000
Debt Issuance Costs [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	1,717,000	1,747,000
Deferred income taxes recoverable in future rates [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	442,000	446,000
Goodwill A R T N A [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	316,000	318,000
Deferred acquisition and franchise costs [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	710,000	720,000
Expense of rate and regulatory proceedings [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	$ 482,000	$ 616,000