Exhibit 23

            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Registration  Statement  No.
33-11717 on Form S-3 of our report dated March 15, 2005 (November  14,2005 as to
the  effects  of  the  restatement  described  in  Note  10),  relating  to  the
consolidated  financial  statements  of Middlesex  Water  Company  (which report
expresses an unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs relating to
the  restatement  described in Note 10),  and of our report on internal  control
over  financial  reporting  dated  March 15, 2005  (November  14, 2005 as to the
effect of the material  weakness  described in  Management's  Report on Internal
Control  Over  Financial  Reporting (as  revised)), (which  expresses an adverse
opinion on the  effectiveness  of the Company's  internal control over financial
reporting  because of a material  weakness),  appearing in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A of Middlesex Water Company for the year ended December 31, 2004.


/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Parsippany, New Jersey
November 17, 2005