Rate and Regulatory Matters	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Rate and Regulatory Matters [Abstract]
Rate and Regulatory Matters	Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters Middlesex - In August 2015, Middlesex's Petition to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) seeking permission to increase base water rates was concluded, based on a negotiated settlement, resulting in an increase in annual operating revenues of $5.0 million. The base water rate increase request of $9.5 million, filed in March 2015, was necessitated by declining consumption by Middlesex's Commercial and Industrial class customers, increasing benefit costs for active and retired employees, capital infrastructure investments and regulation-driven increases in other operations and maintenance costs. The new base water rates are designed to recover the increased costs and lost revenues, as well as a return on invested capital in rate base of $219.0 million, based on a return on equity of 9.75%. The rate increase became effective on August 29, 2015. Concurrent with the increase Middlesex was required to reset its Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) to zero. A DSIC is a rate-mechanism that allows water utilities to recover investments in, and generate a return on, qualifying capital improvements to their water distribution system made between base rate proceedings. The Middlesex DSIC had been in effect since May 2015, and had generated less than $0.1 million of revenues. Tidewater - Effective July 1, 2015, Tidewater's Delaware Public Service Commission-approved DSIC was increased from 0.31% to 0.37%. Total annual revenues under the Tidewater DSIC are expected to amount to approximately $0.1 million. Pinelands - In October 2015, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater filed separate petitions with the NJBPU seeking permission to increase base rates by approximately $0.3 million and $0.2 million per year, respectively. These requests were necessitated by capital infrastructure investments both companies have made, or have committed to make, increased operations and maintenance costs and lower non-fixed fee revenues for both companies. We cannot predict whether the NJBPU will ultimately approve, deny, or reduce the amount of the requests. A decision by the NJBPU in either matter is not expected until the third quarter of 2016.

Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters

Middlesex - In August 2015, Middlesex's Petition to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) seeking permission to increase base water rates was concluded, based on a negotiated settlement, resulting in an increase in annual operating revenues of $5.0 million. The base water rate increase request of $9.5 million, filed in March 2015, was necessitated by declining consumption by Middlesex's Commercial and Industrial class customers, increasing benefit costs for active and retired employees, capital infrastructure investments and regulation-driven increases in other operations and maintenance costs. The new base water rates are designed to recover the increased costs and lost revenues, as well as a return on invested capital in rate base of $219.0 million, based on a return on equity of 9.75%. The rate increase became effective on August 29, 2015. Concurrent with the increase Middlesex was required to reset its Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) to zero. A DSIC is a rate-mechanism that allows water utilities to recover investments in, and generate a return on, qualifying capital improvements to their water distribution system made between base rate proceedings. The Middlesex DSIC had been in effect since May 2015, and had generated less than $0.1 million of revenues.

Tidewater - Effective July 1, 2015, Tidewater's Delaware Public Service Commission-approved DSIC was increased from 0.31% to 0.37%. Total annual revenues under the Tidewater DSIC are expected to amount to approximately $0.1 million.

Pinelands - In October 2015, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater filed separate petitions with the NJBPU seeking permission to increase base rates by approximately $0.3 million and $0.2 million per year, respectively. These requests were necessitated by capital infrastructure investments both companies have made, or have committed to make, increased operations and maintenance costs and lower non-fixed fee revenues for both companies. We cannot predict whether the NJBPU will ultimately approve, deny, or reduce the amount of the requests. A decision by the NJBPU in either matter is not expected until the third quarter of 2016.