REGULATORY ASSETS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

REGULATORY ASSETS [Abstract]

Amortization period of other regulatory expense

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

Expense	Years Amortized
Depreciation and salary studies	5
Delaware rate proceedings	2.5
Maryland rate proceedings	5
Debt related costs	15 to 25 (based on term of related debt)
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, 2018		December 31, 2017
Postretirement benefit obligation	$	149	$	149
Deferred income taxes		412		416
Debt related costs		68		70
Expense of rate and regulatory proceedings		5,948		5,965
Goodwill		301		303
Deferred acquisition and franchise costs		637		646
	$	7,515	$	7,549