Capitalization

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Capitalization, Long-term Debt and Equity [Abstract]

Capitalization

Note 3 – Capitalization

Common Stock

During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, there were 63,649 common shares (approximately $1.3 million) and 64,034 common shares (approximately $1.2 million), respectively, issued under the Company’s Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan.

The Company maintains a stock plan for its non-management directors (Outside Director Stock Compensation Plan). In May 2013 and May 2012, the Company granted and issued 5,432 (approximately $0.1 million) and 5,768 shares (approximately $0.1 million) of common stock, respectively, to the non-management directors under the Outside Director Stock Compensation Plan.

Preferred Stock

In August 2013, 4,000 shares ($0.5 million) of the Company’s no par $8.00 Series Cumulative and Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 54,856 shares of common stock.

Long-term Debt

In May 2013, Middlesex borrowed $4.0 million through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust under the New Jersey State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan program and issued first mortgage bonds designated as Series TT ($3.0 million) and Series UU ($1.0 million). The interest rate on the Series TT bond is zero and the interest rate on the Series UU bond ranges from 3.0% to 3.25% depending on the serial maturity date. The final maturity date for both bonds is August 1, 2032. Proceeds were initially recorded as Restricted Cash and may only be used for the Middlesex 2013 RENEW project, which is part of a program to clean and cement all unlined mains in the Middlesex system.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosure for financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The carrying amounts reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable and notes payable approximate their respective fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt relating to First Mortgage and SRF Bonds (Bonds) is based on quoted market prices for similar issues. Under the fair value hierarchy, the fair value of cash and cash equivalents is classified as a Level 1 measurement and the fair value of the Bonds in the table below are classified as Level 2 measurements. The carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s bonds were as follows: 

	(Thousands of Dollars)
	September 30, 2013				December 31, 2012
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
	Amount		Value		Amount		Value
First Mortgage Bonds	$	87,471	$	80,193	$	91,938	$	93,556
SRF Bonds	$	625	$	628	$	708	$	712

For other long-term debt for which there was no quoted market price and there is not an active trading market, it was not practicable to estimate their fair value (for details, including carrying value, interest rate and due date on these series of long-term debt, please refer to those series noted as “Amortizing Secured Note” and “State Revolving Trust Note” on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Capital Stock and Long-Term Debt). The carrying amount of these instruments was $45.7 million at September 30, 2013 and $47.7 million at December 31, 2012. Customer advances for construction have carrying amounts of $21.8 million and $22.0 million, respectively, at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. Their relative fair values cannot be accurately estimated since future refund payments depend on several variables, including new customer connections, customer consumption levels and future rate increases.