REGULATORY ASSETS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

REGULATORY ASSETS [Abstract]

Amortization Period of Other Regulatory Expense

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

Expense	Years Amortized
Rate case studies	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, 2019		December 31, 2018
Postretirement benefit obligation	$	75	$	74
Deferred income taxes		397		401
Expense of rate case studies		36		22
Debt issuance costs		5,727		5,815
Goodwill		294		295
Deferred acquisition and franchise costs		613		647
	$	7,142	$	7,254