Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Property, plant and equipment and construction in progress

	December 31,
	2015		2014
Land	$	3,223,361	$	3,223,361
Buildings		18,437,758		18,462,770
Plant and equipment		63,733,553		61,679,293
Distribution system		31,726,766		31,481,048
Office furniture, fixtures and equipment		3,210,819		3,159,699
Vehicles		1,384,294		1,273,803
Leasehold improvements		260,519		260,519
Lab equipment		157,851		28,743
		122,134,921		119,569,236
Less accumulated depreciation		68,391,751		63,172,248
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	53,743,170	$	56,396,988
Construction in progress	$	1,928,610	$	1,900,016

As of December 31, 2015, the Company had outstanding capital commitments of $563,551. The Company maintains insurance for loss or damage to all fixed assets that it deems susceptible to loss. The Company does not insure its underground distribution system as the Company considers the possibility of material loss or damage to this system to be remote. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, $2,694,733 and $2,693,622, respectively, of construction in progress was placed in service. Depreciation expense was $5,501,491, $5,355,771, and $5,113,589 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.