Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

8. Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

	December 31,
	2018		2017
Land	$	3,435,361	$	3,435,361
Buildings		19,829,575		19,916,098
Plant and equipment		61,777,836		58,873,604
Distribution system		36,057,078		33,901,161
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment		3,635,184		3,413,702
Vehicles		1,431,719		1,444,182
Leasehold improvements		244,221		237,027
Lab equipment		27,795		157,838
		126,438,769		121,378,973
Less accumulated depreciation		67,557,951		71,695,202
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	58,880,818	$	49,683,771
Construction in progress	$	6,015,043	$	1,823,284

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had outstanding capital commitments of $443,503. 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, 2018 and 2017, $14,398,624 and $3,183,122, respectively, of construction in progress was placed in service. Depreciation expense was $5,514,881 and $5,746,865 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.