Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

equipment and construction in progress

	December 31,
	2012		2011
Land	$	3,223,361	$	3,223,361
Buildings		17,751,797		16,732,298
Plant and equipment		57,635,523		58,758,920
Distribution system		24,213,390		24,099,566
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment		2,644,900		2,492,913
Vehicles		1,182,782		1,283,037
Leasehold improvements		228,007		222,829
Lab equipment		19,192		34,874
		106,898,952		106,847,798
Less accumulated depreciation		47,905,546		42,662,688
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	58,993,406	$	64,185,110
Construction in progress	$	2,612,800	$	141,204

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had outstanding capital commitments of approximately $132,000. The Company maintains insurance for loss or damage to all fixed assets that it deems susceptible to loss. The Company does not insure its underground distribution system as the Company considers the possibility of material loss or damage to this system to be remote. During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, $278,214 and $13,576,895, respectively, of construction in progress was placed in service. Depreciation expense was $7,381,759, $5,789,401, and $6,195,266 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.