REGULATORY ASSETS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

REGULATORY ASSETS [Abstract]

Amortization period of other regulatory expense

Regulatory expenses amortized on a straight-line basis are noted below:

Expense	Years Amortized
Debt related costs	15 to 25 (based on term of related debt)
Depreciation and salary studies	5
Delaware rate proceedings	2.5
Maryland rate proceedings	5
Goodwill (resulting from acquisition of Mountain Hill Water Company in 2008)	50
Deferred acquisition costs (resulting from purchase of water assets in Cecil County, Maryland in 2011 and Port Deposit, Maryland in 2010)	20
Franchise Costs (resulting from purchase of water assets in Cecil County, Maryland in 2011)	80

Regulatory assets, net of amortization, comprise

Regulatory assets, net of amortization, comprise:
	(in thousands)
	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Postretirement benefit obligation	$	186	$	186
Deferred income taxes		427		431
Debt related costs		6,221		1,648
Expense of rate and regulatory proceedings		105		116
Goodwill		309		310
Deferred acquisition and franchise costs		674		683
	$	7,922	$	3,374