Goodwill

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Goodwill [Abstract]

Goodwill

Note 4 – Goodwill 

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s goodwill, by business segment:

	Regulated Water		Regulated Natural Gas		Other		Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2021	$	58,527	$	2,277,447	$	4,841	$	2,340,815
Reclassification to utility plant acquisition adjustment		(23)		-		-		(23)
Balance at September 30, 2022	$	58,504	$	2,277,447	$	4,841	$	2,340,792

The reclassification of goodwill to utility plant acquisition adjustment results from a mechanism approved by the applicable utility commission. The mechanism provides for the transfer over time, and the recovery through customer rates, of goodwill associated with some acquisitions upon achieving specific objectives.

As of July 31, 2022, the Company performed a qualitative assessment for its annual test of the goodwill attributable for each of its reporting units for impairment. The qualitative factors we consider include, in part, the general macroeconomic environment, industry and market specific conditions for each reporting unit, financial performance including actual versus planned results, operating costs and cost impacts, as well as issues or events specific to the reporting unit. The results of the qualitative analysis indicated that it was more-likely-than-not that the fair value of each of our reporting units exceeded their carrying value and that none of the Company’s goodwill was impaired.

The estimated fair value of each reporting unit is derived from valuation techniques that require significant judgment and estimates. Adverse regulatory actions or changes in significant assumptions, including discount and growth rates, utility sector market performance and comparable transaction multiples, and projected operating and capital cash flows, could potentially result in future impairments.