REVENUE RECOGNITION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

REVENUE RECOGNITION [Abstract]

REVENUE RECOGNITION

NOTE 2

REVENUE RECOGNITION

Background

Artesian’s operating revenues are primarily attributable to contract services based upon regulated tariff rates approved by the Delaware Public Service Commission, or DEPSC, the Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC.  Regulated tariff contract service revenues consist of water consumption, industrial wastewater services, fixed fees for water and wastewater services including customer and fire protection fees, service charges and Distribution System Improvement Charges, or DSIC, billed to customers at rates outlined in our tariffs that represent stand-alone selling prices.  Our non-tariff contract revenues, which are primarily non-utility revenues, consist of Service Line Protection Plan, or SLP Plan, fees, water and wastewater contract operations, design and installation contract services, and wastewater inspection fees.  Other regulated operating revenue primarily consists of developer guarantee contributions for wastewater and rental income for antenna agreements, which are not considered in the scope of Accounting Standards Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Tariff Contract Revenues

Artesian generates revenue from the sale of water to customers in Delaware, Cecil County, Maryland, and Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania once a customer requests service in our territory.  We recognize water consumption revenue at tariff rates on a cycle basis for the volume of water transferred to customers based upon meter readings for actual gallons of water consumed as well as unbilled amounts for estimated usage from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the accounting period.  As actual usage amounts are known based on recurring meter readings, adjustments are made to the unbilled estimates in the next billing cycle based on the actual results.  Estimates are made on an individual customer basis, based on one of three methods: the previous year’s consumption in the same period, the previous billing period’s consumption, or averaging. While actual usage for individual customers may differ materially from the estimate based on management judgments described above, we believe the overall total estimate of consumption and revenue for the fiscal period will not differ materially from actual billed consumption.  The majority of our water customers are billed for water consumed on a monthly basis, while the remaining customers are billed on a quarterly basis.  As a result, we record unbilled operating revenue (contract asset) for any estimated usage through the end of the accounting period that will be billed in the next monthly or quarterly billing cycle.

Artesian generates revenue from industrial wastewater services provided to a customer in Sussex County, Delaware.  We recognize industrial wastewater service revenue at a contract rate on a monthly basis for the volume of wastewater transferred to Artesian’s wastewater facilities based upon meter readings for actual gallons of wastewater transferred.  These services are invoiced at the end of every month based on the actual meter readings for that month, and therefore there is no contract asset or liability associated with this revenue.  The contract also provides for a minimum required volume of wastewater flow to our facility.  At each year end, any shortfall of the actual volume from the required minimum volume is billed to the industrial customer and recorded as revenue.  Additionally, if during the course of the year it is probable that the actual volume will not meet the minimum required volume, estimated revenue amounts would be recorded for the pro rata minimum volume, constrained for potential flow capacity that could occur in the remainder of the year.  Pursuant to a settlement agreement, the minimum required volume was prorated on a seven month basis beginning June 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2021.

Artesian generates revenue from metered wastewater services provided to certain customers in Sussex County, Delaware.  We recognize metered wastewater services at tariff rates on a cycle basis for the volume of wastewater transferred to Artesian’s wastewater facilities based upon meter readings for actual gallons of water transferred, as well as unbilled amounts for estimated volume from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the accounting period.  As actual volume amounts are known based on recurring meter readings, adjustments are made to the unbilled estimates in the next billing cycle based on the actual results.  Estimates are made on an individual customer basis, based on one of three methods: the previous year’s volume in the same period, the previous billing period’s volume, or averaging. While actual usage for individual customers may differ materially from the estimate based on management judgments described above, we believe the overall total estimate of volume and revenue for the fiscal period will not differ materially from actual billed consumption.  The majority of these wastewater customers are billed for the volume of water transferred on a quarterly basis.  As a result, we record unbilled operating revenue (contract asset) for any estimated volume through the end of the accounting period that will be billed in the next monthly cycle.

Artesian generates fixed-fee revenue for water and wastewater services provided to customers once a customer requests service in our territory.  Our wastewater territory is located in Sussex County, Delaware.  We recognize revenue from these services on a ratable basis over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes all the benefits of the Company remaining ready to provide them water and wastewater service.  These contract services are billed either in advance or arrears at tariff rates on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis.  For contract services billed in arrears, we record unbilled operating revenue (contract asset) for any services through the end of the accounting period that will be billed in the next monthly or quarterly cycle.  For contract services billed in advance, we record deferred revenue (contract liability) and accounts receivable for any amounts for which we have a right to invoice but for which services have not been provided.  This deferred revenue is netted with unbilled operating revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Artesian generates service charges primarily from non-payment fees, such as water shut-off and reconnection fees and finance charges.  These fees are billed and recognized as revenue at the point in time when our tariffs indicate the Company has the right to payment such as days past due have been reached or shut-offs and reconnections have been performed.  There is no contract asset or liability associated with these fees.

Artesian generates revenue from DSIC, which are surcharges applied to water customer tariff rates in Delaware related to specific types of water distribution system improvements.  This rate is calculated on a semi-annual basis based on an approved projected revenue requirement over the following six-month period.  This rate is adjusted up or down at the next DSIC filing to account for any differences between actual earned revenue and the projected revenue requirement.  Since DSIC revenue is a surcharge applied to tariff rates, we recognize DSIC revenue based on the same guidelines as noted above depending on whether the surcharge was applied to consumption revenue or fixed-fee revenue.

Accounts receivable related to tariff contract revenues are typically due within 25 days of invoicing.  An allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated as a percentage of total associated revenues based upon historical trends and adjusted for current conditions.  We mitigate our exposure to credit losses by discontinuing services in the event of non-payment; accordingly, the related allowance for doubtful accounts and associated bad debt expense has not been significant.  However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing hardships for many utility customers, the Company experienced longer receivable cycles throughout 2020 and into 2021 and made an adjustment to increase the reserve for bad debt by $0.5 million in 2020.  In June 2021 we made an adjustment to reduce the reserve by $0.3 million.  We will continue to monitor factors that affect the reserve for bad debt.

Non-tariff Contract Revenues

Artesian generates SLP Plan revenue once a customer requests service to cover all parts, materials and labor required to repair or replace leaking water service lines, leaking or clogged sewer lines, or water and wastewater lines within the customer’s residence, up to an annual limit.  We recognize revenue from these services on a ratable basis over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes all the benefits of having service line protection services.  These contract services are billed in advance on a monthly or quarterly basis.  As a result, we record deferred revenue (contract liability) and accounts receivable for any amounts for which we have a right to invoice but for which services have not been provided.  Accounts receivable from SLP Plan customers are typically due within 25 days of invoicing.  An allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated as a percentage of total SLP Plan contract revenue.  We mitigate our exposure to credit losses by discontinuing services in the event of non-payment; accordingly, the related allowance for doubtful accounts and associated bad debt expense has not been significant.

Artesian generates contract operation revenue from water and wastewater operation services provided to customers.  We recognize revenue from these operation contracts, which consist primarily of monthly operation and maintenance services, over time as customers receive and consume the benefits of such services performed. The majority of these services are invoiced in advance at the beginning of every month and are typically due within 30 days, and therefore there is no contract asset or liability associated with most of these revenues.  We have one operation contract that was paid in advance resulting in a contract liability for services that have not yet been provided.  An allowance for doubtful accounts is provided based on a periodic analysis of individual account balances, including an evaluation of days outstanding, payment history, recent payment trends, and our assessment of our customers’ creditworthiness.  The related allowance for doubtful accounts and associated bad debt expense has not been significant.

Artesian generates design and installation revenue for services related to the design and construction of wastewater infrastructure for a state agency under contract.  We recognize revenue from these services over time as services are performed using the percentage-of-completion method based on an input method of incurred costs (cost-to-cost).  These services are invoiced at the end of every month based on incurred costs to date.  As of December 31, 2022, there is no associated contract asset or liability.  There is no allowance for doubtful accounts or bad debt expense associated with this revenue.

Artesian generates inspection fee revenue for inspection services related to onsite wastewater collection systems installed by developers of new communities.  These fees are paid by developers in advance when a service is requested for a new phase of a development.  Inspection fee revenue is recognized on a per lot basis once the inspection of the infrastructure that serves each lot is completed.  As a result, we record deferred revenue (contract liability) for any amounts related to infrastructure not yet inspected.  There are no accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts or bad debt expense associated with inspection fee contracts.

Sales Tax

The majority of Artesian’s revenues are earned within the State of Delaware, where there is no sales tax.  Revenues earned in the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are related primarily to the sale of water by a public water utility and are exempt from sales tax.  Therefore, no sales tax is collected on revenues.

Disaggregated Revenues

The following table shows the Company’s revenues disaggregated by service type; all revenues are generated within a similar geographical location:

	For the Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2022		2021		2020
Tariff Revenue
Consumption charges	$	47,809	$	47,924	$	47,145
Fixed fees		31,431		27,977		27,109
Service charges		597		579		351
DSIC		5,085		5,093		4,997
Metered wastewater services		649		—		—
Industrial wastewater services		1,853		675		1,448
Total Tariff Revenue	$	87,424	$	82,248	$	81,050

Non-Tariff Revenue
Service line protection plans	$	5,020	$	4,594	$	4,381
Contract operations		931		884		840
Design and installation		3,315		562		88
Inspection fees		326		341		266
Total Non-Tariff Revenue	$	9,592	$	6,381		5,575
Other Operating Revenue	$	1,881	$	2,230		1,516
Total Operating Revenue	$	98,897	$	90,859	$	88,141

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

Our contract assets and liabilities consist of the following:

(in thousands)	December 31, 2022		December 31, 2021
Contract Assets – Tariff	$	2,618	$	2,144
Deferred Revenue
Deferred Revenue – Tariff	$	1,231	$	1,227
Deferred Revenue – Non-Tariff		438		287
Total Deferred Revenue	$	1,669	$	1,514

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized revenue of $1.2 million from amounts that were included in Deferred Revenue – Tariff at the beginning of the year and revenue of $0.3 million from amounts that were included in Deferred Revenue – Non-Tariff at the beginning of the year.

The increases of Contract Assets and Deferred Revenue were primarily due to normal timing differences between our performance and customer payments.

Remaining Performance Obligations

As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, Deferred Revenue – Tariff is recorded net of contract assets within Unbilled operating revenues and represents our remaining performance obligations for our fixed fee water and wastewater services, all of which are expected to be satisfied and associated revenue recognized in the next three months.

As of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, Deferred Revenue – Non-Tariff is recorded within Other current liabilities and represents our remaining performance obligations for our SLP Plan services and wastewater inspections, which are expected to be satisfied and associated revenue recognized within the next three months and one year for the SLP Plan revenue and inspection fee revenue, respectively.