SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Schedule of Utility Plant

Utility plant comprises:
In thousands
			December 31,
	Estimated Useful Life (In Years)		2022		2021
Utility plant at original cost
Utility plant in service-Water
Intangible plant		—	$	140	$	140
Source of supply plant		45-85		25,223		25,045
Pumping and water treatment plant		8-62		116,915		109,087
Transmission and distribution plant
Mains		81		338,368		320,767
Services		39		56,396		53,210
Storage tanks		76		34,567		29,972
Meters		26		29,720		28,778
Hydrants		60		17,751		16,789
General plant		5-31		65,632		62,604
Utility plant in service-Wastewater
Intangible plant		—		117		116
Treatment and disposal plant		21-81		66,420		43,725
Collection mains & lift stations		81		49,189		33,901
General plant		5-31		1,845		1,665
Property held for future use		—		4,489		5,536
Construction work in progress		—		34,213		18,481
				840,985		749,816
Less – accumulated depreciation				172,954		159,385
			$	668,031	$	590,431

Amortization Period of Other Regulatory Expense

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

Expense	Years Amortized
Deferred contract costs and other	5
Rate case studies	5
Delaware rate proceedings	2.5
Maryland rate proceedings	5
Debt related costs	15 to 30 (based on term of related debt)
Deferred costs affiliated interest agreement	20
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)	December 31, 2022		December 31, 2021
Deferred income taxes	$	465	$	355
Deferred contract costs and other		227		288
Debt related costs		4,682		4,902
Goodwill		266		273
Deferred costs affiliated interest agreement		1,114		—
Deferred acquisition and franchise costs		520		503
	$	7,274	$	6,321

Other Deferred Assets, Net of Amortization

Other deferred assets at December 31, net of amortization, comprise:

In thousands	2022		2021
Investment in CoBank	$	5,351	$	4,850
Settlement agreement receivable-long term		4,991		—
Other deferred assets		194		247
	$	10,536	$	5,097

Regulatory Liabilities

Regulatory liabilities comprise:
	(in thousands)
	December 31, 2022		December 31, 2021
Utility plant retirement cost obligation	$	—	$	149
Deferred settlement refunds		7,487		—
Deferred income taxes (related to TCJA)		21,234		21,111
	$	28,721	$	21,260

Changes in Accounts Receivable

	December 31,
In thousands	2022		2021
Customer accounts receivable – water	$	5,981	$	5,986
Customer accounts receivable – wastewater		482		1,326
Settlement agreement receivable		2,532		—
Miscellaneous accounts receivable		3,781		786
Developer receivable		1,151		698
		13,927		8,796
Less allowance for doubtful accounts		416		429
Net accounts receivable	$	13,511	$	8,367

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The activities in the allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:

	December 31,
In thousands	2022			2021
Beginning balance	$	429		$	862
Allowance adjustments		146			(236	)
Recoveries		28			25
Write off of uncollectible accounts		(187	)		(222	)
Ending balance	$	416		$	429