Note 1 - Organization, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Developments

(a) Organization - Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex) is the parent company and sole shareholder of Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI), Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc. (USA-PA) and Twin Lakes Utilities, Inc. (Twin Lakes). Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tidewater.

Middlesex Water Company has operated as a water utility in New Jersey since 1897 and in Delaware, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tidewater, since 1992. We are in the business of collecting, treating, distributing and selling water for domestic, commercial, municipal, industrial and fire protection purposes. We also operate New Jersey municipal water, wastewater and storm water systems under contract and provide unregulated water and wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware through our subsidiaries. Our rates charged to customers for water and wastewater services, the quality of services we provide and certain other matters are regulated in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), Delaware Public Service Commission (DEPSC) and Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PAPUC), respectively. Our USA, USA-PA and White Marsh subsidiaries are not regulated utilities.

(b) Principles of Consolidation - The financial statements for Middlesex and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the Company) are reported on a consolidated basis. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Other financial investments in which the Company holds a 50% or less voting interest and cannot exercise control over the operation and policies of the investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company records its investment interests in Non-Utility Assets and its percentage share of the earnings or losses of the investees in Other Income (Expense).

(c) System of Accounts - Middlesex, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater maintain their accounts in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed by the NJBPU. Tidewater, TESI and Southern Shores maintain their accounts in accordance with DEPSC requirements. Twin Lakes maintains its accounts in accordance with PAPUC requirements.

(d) Regulatory Accounting - We maintain our books and records in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Middlesex and certain of its subsidiaries, which account for 91% of Operating Revenues and 99% of Total Assets, are subject to regulation in the state in which they operate. Those companies are required to maintain their accounts in accordance with regulatory authorities’ rules and guidelines, which may differ from other authoritative accounting pronouncements. In those instances, the Company follows the guidance provided in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 980, Regulated Operations.

In accordance with ASC 980, Regulated Operations, costs and obligations are deferred if it is probable that these items will be recognized for rate-making purposes in future rates. Accordingly, we have recorded costs and obligations, which will be amortized over various future periods. Any change in the assessment of the probability of rate-making treatment will require us to change the accounting treatment of the deferred item. We have no reason to believe any of the deferred items that are recorded will be treated differently by the regulators in the future. For additional information, see Note 2 – Rate and Regulatory Matters.

(e) Retirement Benefit Plans - We maintain a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (Pension Plan), which covers all active employees who were hired prior to April 1, 2007, as well as a defined contribution plan in which all employees are eligible to participate. In addition, the Company maintains an unfunded supplemental plan for a limited number of its executive officers. The Company has a retirement benefit plan other than pensions

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(Other Benefits Plan) for substantially all of its retired employees. Employees hired after March 31, 2007 are not eligible to participate in this plan. Coverage includes healthcare and life insurance.

The Company’s costs for providing retirement benefits are dependent upon numerous factors, including actual plan experience and assumptions of future experience. Retirement benefit plan obligations and expense are determined based on investment performance, discount rates and various other demographic factors related to the population participating in the Company’s retirement benefit plans, all of which can change significantly in future years. For more information on the Company’s Retirement Benefit Plans, see Note 7 – Employee Benefit Plans.

(f) Utility Plant - Utility Plant is stated at original cost as defined for regulatory purposes. Property accounts are charged with the cost of betterments and major replacements of property. Cost includes direct material, labor and indirect charges for pension benefits and payroll taxes. The cost of labor, materials, supervision and other expenses incurred in making repairs and minor replacements and in maintaining the properties is charged to the appropriate expense accounts. At December 31, 2020, there was no event or change in circumstance that would indicate that the carrying amount of any long-lived asset was not recoverable.

(g) Depreciation - Depreciation is computed by each regulated member of the Company utilizing a rate approved by the applicable regulatory authority. The accumulated provision for depreciation is charged with the cost of property retired, less salvage. The following table sets forth the range of depreciation rates for the major utility plant categories used to calculate depreciation for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. These rates have been approved by the NJBPU, DEPSC or PAPUC:

Source of Supply	1.15% - 3.44%	Transmission and Distribution (T&D):
Pumping	2.00% - 5.39%	T&D – Mains	1.10% - 3.13%
Water Treatment	1.65% - 7.09%	T&D – Services	2.12% - 3.16%
General Plant	2.08% - 17.84%	T&D – Other	1.61% - 4.63%
Wastewater Collection	1.42% - 1.81%

Non-regulated fixed assets consist primarily of office buildings, furniture and fixtures, and transportation equipment. These assets are recorded at original cost and depreciation is calculated based on the estimated useful lives, ranging from 3 to 42 years.

(h) Preliminary Survey and Investigation (PS&I) Costs - In the design of water and wastewater systems that the Company ultimately intends to construct, own and operate certain expenditures are incurred to advance those project activities. These PS&I costs are recorded as deferred charges on the balance sheet because these costs are expected to be recovered through future rates charged to customers as the underlying projects are placed into service as utility plant. If it is subsequently determined that costs for a project recorded as PS&I are not recoverable through rates charged to our customers, the applicable PS&I costs are recorded as Other Expense on the statement of income at that time.

(i) Customers’ Advances for Construction (CAC) - Utility plant and/or cash advances are provided to the Company by customers, real estate developers and builders in order to extend utility service to their properties. These transactions are recorded as CAC. Contractual Refunds of CACs in the form of cash are made by the Company and are based on either additional operating revenues generated from new customers or as new customers are connected to the respective system. After all refunds are made and/or contract terms have expired, any remaining balance is transferred to Contributions in Aid of Construction.

Contributions in Aid of Construction (CIAC) - CIAC include direct non-refundable contributions of utility plant and/or cash and the portion of CAC that becomes non-refundable.

CAC and CIAC are not depreciated in accordance with regulatory requirements. In addition, these amounts reduce the investment base for purposes of setting rates.

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(j) Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC) - Middlesex and its regulated subsidiaries capitalize AFUDC, which represents the cost of financing projects during construction. AFUDC is added to the construction costs of individual projects exceeding specific cost and construction period thresholds established for each company and then depreciated along with the rest of the utility plant’s costs over its estimated useful life. AFUDC is calculated using each company’s weighted cost of debt and equity as approved in their most recent respective regulatory rate order. The AFUDC rates for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 for Middlesex and Tidewater are as follows:

	2020	2019	2018
Middlesex	6.50%	6.50%	6.50%
Tidewater	7.92%	7.92%	7.92%

(k) Accounts Receivable - We record bad debt expense based on a variety of factors such as our customers’ payment history, current economic conditions and trending reasonable and supportable forecasts on expected collectability of accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $2.1 million and $1.4 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, bad debt expense was $1.1 million, $1.0 million and $0.8 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, write-offs were $0.5 million, $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively. During 2020, the Company increased its allowance for doubtful accounts for expected increases in accounts receivable write-offs due to the financial impact of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on customers (for further discussion of COVID-19, see Note 1 (s), COVID-19).

(l) Revenues - The Company’s revenues are primarily generated from regulated tariff-based sales of water and wastewater services and non-regulated operation and maintenance contracts for services on water and wastewater systems owned by others. Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when control of a promised good or service is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services.

The Company’s regulated revenue from contracts with customers is derived from tariff-based sales that result from the obligation to provide water and wastewater services to residential, industrial, commercial, fire-protection and wholesale customers. The Company’s residential customers are billed quarterly while most of the Company’s industrial, commercial, fire-protection and wholesale customers are billed monthly. Payments by customers are due between 15 to 30 days after the invoice date. The Company recognizes revenue as the water and wastewater services are delivered to customers as well as records unbilled revenues estimated from the last meter reading date to the end of the accounting period utilizing factors such as historical customer data, regional weather indicators and general economic conditions in its service territories. Unearned Revenues and Advance Service Fees include fixed service charge billings in advance to Tidewater customers that are recognized as service is provided to the customer.

Non-regulated service contract revenues consist of base service fees as well as fees for additional billable services provided to customers. Fees are billed monthly and are due within 30 days after the invoice date. The Company considers the amounts billed to represent the value of these services provided to customers. These contracts expire at various times through June 2030 and contain remaining performance obligations for which the Company expects to recognize revenue in the future. These contracts also contain customary termination provisions.

Almost all of the amounts included in operating revenues and accounts receivable are from contracts with customers. The Company records its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical write-offs combined with an evaluation of current economic conditions within its service territories.

The Company’s contracts do not contain any significant financing components.

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The Company’s operating revenues are comprised of the following:

	(In Thousands)
	Years Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Regulated Tariff Sales
Residential	$	76,798		$	71,487		$	69,785
Commercial		15,448			15,198			14,844
Industrial		9,512			9,390			10,183
Fire Protection		12,374			12,291			12,099
Wholesale		15,187			14,319			14,655
Non-Regulated Contract Operations		12,130			11,773			16,374
Total Revenue from Contracts with Customers	$	141,449		$	134,458		$	137,940
Other Regulated Revenues		532			393			335
Other Non-Regulated Revenues		415			404			404
Inter-segment Elimination		(804	)		(657	)		(602	)
Total Revenue	$	141,592		$	134,598		$	138,077

(m) Unamortized Debt Expense and Premiums on Long-Term Debt - Unamortized Debt Expense and Premiums on Long-Term Debt, included on the consolidated balance sheet in long-term debt, are amortized over the lives of the related debt issues.

(n) Income Taxes - Middlesex files a consolidated federal income tax return for the Company and income taxes are allocated based on the separate return method. Certain income and expense items are accounted for in different time periods for financial reporting than for income tax reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes are provided on differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts at which they are carried in the consolidated financial statements. Investment tax credits have been deferred and are amortized over the estimated useful life of the related property. In the event that there are interest and penalties associated with income tax adjustments from income tax authority examinations, these amounts will be reported under interest expense and other expense, respectively. For more information on income taxes, see Note 3 – Income Taxes.

(o) Cash and Cash Equivalents - For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturity dates of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents represent bank balances and money market funds with investments maturing in less than 90 days.

(p) Restricted Cash - Restricted cash includes cash proceeds from loan transactions entered into through government financing programs and are held in trusts for specific capital expenditures or debt service.

(q) Use of Estimates - Conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(r) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Leases - The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB) issued guidance related to leases which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability (a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis) and a right-of-use asset (an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term). The guidance became effective on January 1, 2019. The Company elected the optional transition method of adoption to apply the requirements of the standard in the period of adoption with no restatement of prior periods. The Company utilized the package of transition practical expedients provided by the new guidance, including carrying forward prior conclusions related to contracts that contain leases and lease classification. The Company also utilized the transition practical expedient permitting entities to forgo the evaluation of existing land easement arrangements to determine if they contain a lease. Land easement arrangements, or modifications to existing arrangements, entered into after adoption of this guidance will need to be evaluated to determine if they meet the definition of a lease. The adoption of this guidance resulted in the recording of a $6.7 million right-of-use asset, a $7.1 million lease liability and a $0.4 million regulatory asset on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019. For further discussion, see “Leases” in Note 4 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities.

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Credit Losses on Financial Instruments - The FASB issued guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including trade receivables, which requires expected credit losses to be measured based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount of financial assets. The new guidance became effective January 1, 2020. For the Company, this applies primarily to accounts receivable and unbilled revenue balances. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Expected credit losses on accounts receivable and unbilled revenues are based on historical write-offs combined with an evaluation of current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Customer accounts are written off when collection efforts have been exhausted.

There are no other new adopted or proposed accounting guidance that the Company is aware of that could have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

(s) COVID-19 - On March 13, 2020, the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency. The ongoing impact on changing economic conditions due to COVID-19 continues to be uncertain and could affect the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity in the future. While the Company’s operations and capital construction program have not been significantly disrupted to date from COVID-19, we are unable to assess with certainty the impact that COVID-19 will have on our business, our customers and our vendors prospectively, due to numerous uncertainties, including the continued severity duration of the pandemic, sufficiency of the government’s vaccination program and actions which could potentially be taken by federal or state governmental and/or regulatory authorities.

The NJBPU and the DEPSC have allowed for potential future recovery of COVID-19 related incremental costs through customer rates by the regulated utilities under their respective jurisdictions. Neither jurisdiction has yet to establish a timetable or definitive formal procedures for seeking cost recovery. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and evaluate its impact on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.