Middlesex Water Co: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2025

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) included elsewhere herein and with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this periodic report and in the documents incorporated by reference constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “strategy,” or “anticipates,” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology. The Company intends that these statements be covered by the safe harbors created under those laws. They include, but are not limited to statements as to:

• expected financial condition, performance, prospects and earnings of the Company;
• strategic plans for growth;
• the amount and timing of rate increases and other regulatory matters, including the recovery of certain costs recorded as regulatory assets;
• the Company’s expected liquidity needs during the upcoming fiscal year and beyond and the sources and availability of funds to meet its liquidity needs;
• expected customer rates, consumption volumes, service fees, revenues, margins, expenses and operating results;
• financial projections;
• the expected amount of cash contributions to fund the Company’s retirement benefit plans, anticipated discount rates and rates of return on plan assets;
• the ability of the Company to pay dividends;
• the Company’s compliance with environmental laws and regulations and estimations of the materiality of any related costs;
• the safety and reliability of the Company’s equipment, facilities and operations;
• the Company’s plans to renew municipal franchises and consents in the territories it serves;
• trends; and
• the availability and quality of our water supply.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results and outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• effects of general economic conditions, including recently announced tariffs;
• increases in competition for growth in non-franchised markets to be potentially served by the Company;
• ability of the Company to adequately control selected operating expenses which are necessary to maintain safe and proper utility services, and which may be beyond the Company’s control;
• availability of adequate supplies of quality water;
• actions taken by government regulators, including decisions on rate increase requests;
• new or modified water quality standards and compliance with related legal and regulatory requirements;
• weather variations, including climate variability, and other natural phenomena impacting utility operations;
• financial and operating risks associated with acquisitions and/or privatizations;
• acts of war or terrorism;
• cyber-attacks;
• changes in the pace of new housing development;

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• availability and cost of capital resources;
• timely availability of materials and supplies for operations and critical infrastructure projects;
• effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; and
• other factors discussed elsewhere in this report.

Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which only speak to the Company’s understanding as of the date of this report. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

For an additional discussion of factors that may affect the Company’s business and results of operations, see Item 1A. - Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

Overview

Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) has operated as a water utility in New Jersey since 1897 and in Delaware through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), since 1992. We are in the business of collecting, treating and distributing water for domestic, commercial, municipal, industrial and fire protection purposes. We operate water and wastewater systems under contract for governmental entities and private entities primarily in New Jersey and Delaware and provide regulated wastewater services in New Jersey. We are regulated by state public utility commissions as to rates charged to customers for water and wastewater services, as to the quality of water and wastewater service we provide and as to certain other matters in the states in which our regulated subsidiaries operate. Only our Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy), Inc. (USA-PA) and White Marsh Environmental Services, Inc. (White Marsh) subsidiaries are not regulated public utilities as related to rates and services quality. All municipal or commercial entities whose utility operations are managed by these entities, however, are subject to environmental regulation at the federal and state levels.

Our principal New Jersey water utility system (the Middlesex System) provides water services to approximately 61,000 retail customers, primarily in central New Jersey. The Middlesex System also provides water sales under contract to municipalities in central New Jersey with a total population of over 0.2 million. Our other New Jersey subsidiaries, Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands) provide water and wastewater services to approximately 2,500 customers in Southampton Township, New Jersey.

Our Delaware subsidiaries, Tidewater and Southern Shores Water Company, LLC, provide water services to approximately 62,000 retail customers in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware. Tidewater’s subsidiary, White Marsh, services approximately 4,300 households in Kent and Sussex Counties through various operations and maintenance contracts.

USA-PA operates the water and wastewater systems for the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey (Perth Amboy) under a 10-year operations and maintenance contract expiring in 2028. In addition to performing day-to day operations, USA-PA is also responsible for emergency response and management of capital projects funded by Perth Amboy.

USA operates the Borough of Avalon, New Jersey’s (Avalon) water utility, sewer utility and storm water system under a ten-year operations and maintenance contract expiring in 2032. USA also operates the Borough of Highland Park, New Jersey’s (Highland Park) water and wastewater systems under a 10-year operations and maintenance contract expiring in 2030. In addition to performing day-to-day service operations, USA is responsible for emergency response and management of capital projects funded by Avalon and Highland Park.

Under a marketing agreement with HomeServe USA Corp. (HomeServe) expiring in 2031, USA offers residential customers in New Jersey and Delaware water and wastewater related services and home maintenance programs. HomeServe is a leading national provider of such home maintenance service programs. USA receives a service fee for the billing, cash collection and other administrative matters associated with HomeServe’s service contracts. USA also provides unregulated water and wastewater services under contract with several New Jersey municipalities.

Recent Developments

Tidewater Acquisition of the Water Utility Assets of the Town of Ocean View, Delaware - In April 2025, Tidewater completed the acquisition of the water utility assets of the Town of Ocean View, Delaware (Ocean View) for approximately $4.6 million. Ocean View serves approximately 900 customers in Sussex County, Delaware, who have been receiving water supply from Tidewater since the system was constructed in 2008.

Middlesex Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) - In April 2025, Middlesex filed a third DSIC rate application with the New jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) that is expected to result in $1.9 million of annual revenues starting June 2025, in addition to the existing $1.1 million of annual revenues from the first and second DSIC filings.

Middlesex Purchase Water Adjustment Clause (PWAC) - In February 2025, the NJBPU approved Middlesex’s petition to reset its PWAC tariff rate to recover additional annual costs of $0.5 million, primarily for the purchase of treated water from a non-affiliated water utility regulated by the NJBPU. A PWAC is a rate mechanism that allows for the recovery of increased purchased water costs between base rate case filings. The PWAC is reset to zero once those increased costs are included in base rates. The new PWAC rate was effective March 1, 2025.

Tidewater Base Water Rate Increase Application - In August 2024, Tidewater filed an application with the DEPSC to increase its general rates for water service. In the application, Tidewater seeks an overall increase in annual operating revenue of $10.3 million or 25.66% over current revenue. The request for rate increases will allow Tidewater to recover prudently incurred investments made in the last ten years to support continued regulatory compliance, enhance water quality, service reliability, security and resiliency of the water utility infrastructure assets. Effective October 30, 2024, Tidewater received approval of the DEPSC to suspend its DSIC rate and implement an interim rate increase, which is expected to result in approximately $2.5 million of annual revenues, subject to refund pending the outcome of the rate case application.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Issues Final Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Regulations - In April 2024, the USEPA finalized drinking water regulations for PFAS, establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for three PFAS compounds (Regulated PFAS) that are lower than the current New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection MCLs adhered to by the Company. Under the new USEPA regulations, effective April 2024, water systems must monitor for Regulated PFAS and have three years to complete initial monitoring (by April 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Water systems must also provide the public with information on the levels of Regulated PFAS in their drinking water beginning in 2027. Water systems have five years (by April 2029) to implement solutions that reduce Regulated PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs.

Beginning in April 2029, water systems that have Regulated PFAS in drinking water which exceeds one or more of these MCLs must take action to reduce levels of these PFAS compounds in their drinking water and must provide notification to the public of the violation.

In anticipation of these new USEPA standards, in 2023, the Company began, and continues, implementing its strategy to meet these lower MCLs for Regulated PFAS and is currently performing preliminary engineering studies to ensure that effective PFAS treatment approaches are implemented.

Capital Construction Program - The Company’s multi-year capital construction program encompasses numerous projects designed to upgrade and replace utility infrastructure as well as enhance the integrity and reliability of assets to maintain and improve service for the current and future generations of water and wastewater customers. The Company plans to invest approximately $93 million in 2025 in connection with this plan for projects that include, but are not limited to:

• Replacement of 19,550 linear feet of cast iron main in Woodbridge Township in our Middlesex System;
• Construction of new elevated water tanks in Delaware; and
• Various water main replacements and improvements.

The actual amount and timing of capital expenditures is dependent on project scheduling and refinement of engineering estimates for certain capital projects.

Outlook

Our ability to increase operating income and net income is based significantly on four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate relief, effective cost management and customer growth. Weather patterns which can result in lower customer demand for water may occur at any time. As operating costs are anticipated to increase in 2025 in a variety of categories, we continue to implement plans to further streamline operations and further reduce and mitigate increases in operating costs. Changes in customer water usage habits, as well as increases in capital expenditures and operating costs, are significant factors in determining the timing and extent of rate increase requests.

Our investments in system infrastructure continue to grow significantly and our operating costs are anticipated to increase in 2025 and 2026 in a variety of categories. These factors, among others, may require a base rate increase request by Middlesex in mid-2025.

Overall, organic residential customer growth continues in our Tidewater system (approximately 3.5% in 2024). However, current and evolving economic market conditions may challenge that growth.

Our strategy for selective and sustainable growth is focused on the following key areas:

• Invest in our utility infrastructure to build system resiliency and meet compliance requirements;
• Timely and adequate recovery of infrastructure investments and other costs to maintain and continually improve service quality;
• Selective acquisitions of investor and municipally-owned water and wastewater utilities; and
• Operation of municipal and industrial water and wastewater systems on a contract basis which meet our risk profile.

Operating Results by Segment

The discussion of the Company’s operating results is on a consolidated basis and includes significant factors by subsidiary. The Company has two operating segments, Regulated and Non-Regulated. The operations of the Regulated segment are subject to regulations promulgated by state public utility commissions as to rates and level of service. Rates and level of service in the Non-Regulated segment are subject to the terms of individually-negotiated and executed contracts with municipal, industrial and other clients. Both segments are subject to federal and state environmental, water and wastewater quality and other associated legal and regulatory requirements.

The segments in the tables included below are comprised of the following companies: Regulated-Middlesex, Tidewater, Pinelands and Southern Shores; Non-Regulated-USA, USA-PA, and White Marsh.

Results of Operations – Three Months Ended March 31, 2025

(In Thousands)

Operating Revenues

Operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 increased $3.8 million from the same period in 2024 due to the following factors:

• Middlesex System revenues increased $3.4 million due to the base rate increase effective March 1, 2024, DSIC rate increases and increased general meter service and wholesale customer demand;
• Tidewater System revenues increased $0.6 million due to customer growth, an interim rate increase effective November 1, 2024 and increased customer demand; and
• Non-regulated revenues decreased $0.2 million, primarily due to lower supplemental contract services.

Operations and Maintenance Expense

Operations and Maintenance Expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 increased $0.6 million from the same period in 2024 due to increased variable production costs from higher customer demand, increased weather-driven main break activity and the one-time recovery in 2024 of previous water treatment operating costs at Middlesex’s Park Avenue Plant in connection with Middlesex’s 2023 rate case order, partially offset by higher capitalizable costs.

Depreciation

Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 increased $1.1 million from the same period in 2024 due to higher average utility plant in service during the quarter and the one-time recovery in 2024 of previous depreciation costs related to the PFAS treatment upgrades at Middlesex’s Park Avenue Plant in connection with Middlesex’s 2023 rate case order.

Other Taxes

Other Taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2025 increased $0.3 million from the same period in 2024 primarily due to higher gross receipts taxes on higher revenue in our Middlesex system.

Other Income, net

Other Income, net for the three months ended March 31, 2025 decreased $3.6 million from the same period in 2024 due to lower actuarially-determined retirement benefit plans non-service benefit and the one-time recovery in 2024 of carrying costs on PFAS treatment upgrades at Middlesex’s Park Avenue Plant in connection with the Middlesex’s 2023 rate case order.

Interest Charges

Interest Charges for the three months ended March 31, 2025 decreased $0.6 million from the same period in 2024 due to lower average debt outstanding and lower average interest rates.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2025 decreased by $0.1 million from the same period in 2024, primarily due to lower pre-tax income and higher income tax benefits associated with increased repair expenditures on tangible property in the Middlesex System offset by the 2024 recovery of income taxes on the taxable portion of the proceeds from a litigation agreement. The conclusion of Middlesex’s 2023 base rate increase request allowed Middlesex to recover costs, including income taxes, from the proceeds from a litigation agreement related to the PFAS treatment upgrades at Middlesex’s Park Avenue Plant.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Cash Flows

Cash flows from operations are largely based on four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate increases, effective cost management and customer growth. The effect of those factors on net income is discussed in “Results of Operations.”

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, cash flows from operating activities increased $7.1 million to $13.8 million. The increase in cash flows from operating activities primarily resulted from the impact of Middlesex’s approved base rate increase effective March 1, 2024 and timing of vendor payments.

Investing Cash Flows

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, cash flows used in investing activities increased $4.5 million to $18.9 million due to increased utility plant expenditures in 2024.

For further discussion on the Company’s future capital expenditures and expected funding sources, see “Capital Expenditures and Commitments” below.

Financing Cash Flows

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, cash flows from financing activities decreased $4.6 million to $3.6 million. The decrease in cash flows provided by financing activities is due to lower borrowings under the Company’s lines of credit.

Capital Expenditures and Commitments

To fund our capital program, we use internally generated funds, short-term and long-term debt borrowings, proceeds from sales of common stock under the Middlesex Water Company Investment Plan and, when market conditions are favorable, proceeds from sales to the public of our common stock. To the extent possible and fiscally prudent, the Company finances qualifying capital projects under State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan programs in New Jersey and Delaware. These government programs provide financing at interest rates typically below rates available in the broader financial markets.

Middlesex has received approval from the NJBPU to borrow up to $300.0 million from the New Jersey SRF Program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, private placement and other financial institutions as needed through December 31, 2025. The Company expects to issue debt securities in a series of one or more transaction offerings over a multi-year period to help fund Middlesex’s multi-year capital construction program.

In September 2024, Tidewater closed on a $2.2 million Delaware SRF loan with a 0.0% interest rate with maturity dates in 2044. This loan is for costs associated with Tidewater’s obligation, as required by federal law and Delaware regulations, to identify and inventory lead service lines throughout Tidewater’s service area. Tidewater has drawn down $1.7 million as of March 31, 2025 and expects that the requisitions will continue through the fourth quarter of 2025.

In May 2024, Tidewater closed on four Delaware SRF loans totaling $5.6 million, all at interest rates of 2.0% with maturity dates in 2044. These loans are for the construction, relocation, improvement, and/or interconnection of transmission mains and construction of a water treatment facility. Tidewater has drawn down less than $0.1 million on these loans as of March 31, 2025. Each project has its own construction timetable with the last spending set to occur in 2027.

Tidewater also has two active construction projects funded by prior year Delaware SRF loans totaling $8.3 million with remaining availability of funds for borrowing. These loans are for the construction of a one million gallon elevated storage tank and construction, relocation, improvement, and interconnection of transmission mains. Tidewater has drawn a total of $4.9 million through March 31, 2025 and expects that the requisitions will continue through the fourth quarter of 2025.

In order to fully fund the ongoing investment program in our utility plant infrastructure and maintain a balanced capital structure consistent with regulators’ expectations for a regulated water utility, Middlesex may offer for sale additional shares of its common stock. The amount, timing and method of sale of common stock is dependent on the timing of construction expenditures, the level of additional debt financing and financial market conditions. As approved by the NJBPU, the Company is authorized to issue and sell up to 1.0 million shares of its common stock in one or more transactions through December 31, 2025.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – See Note 1 of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements and guidance.

We are exposed to market risk associated with changes in interest rates and commodity prices. The Company is subject to the risk of fluctuating interest rates in the normal course of business. Our policy is to manage interest rates through the use of fixed rate long-term debt and, to a lesser extent, short-term debt. The Company’s interest rate risk related to existing fixed rate, long-term debt is not material due to the term of the majority of our First Mortgage Bonds, which have final maturity dates ranging from 2026 to 2059. Over the next twelve months, approximately $7.7 million of the current portion of existing long-term debt instruments will mature. Applying a hypothetical change in the rate of interest charged by 10% on those borrowings would not have a material effect on our earnings. Fixed rate long-term debt and variable rate short-term debt agreements were not entered into for trading purposes.

Our risks associated with commodity price increases for chemicals, electricity and other commodities are reduced through contractual arrangements and the ability to recover price increases through rates. Non-performance by these commodity suppliers could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

We are exposed to credit risk for both our Regulated and Non-Regulated business segments. Our Regulated operations serve residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers while our Non-Regulated operations engage in business activities with developers, government entities and other customers. Our primary credit risk is exposure to customer default on contractual obligations and the associated loss that may be incurred due to the non-payment of customer accounts receivable balances. Our credit risk is managed through established credit and collection policies which are in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and involve monitoring of customer exposure and the use of credit risk mitigation measures such as letters of credit or prepayment arrangements. Our credit portfolio is diversified with no significant customer or industry concentrations. In addition, our Regulated businesses are generally able to recover all prudently incurred costs including uncollectible customer accounts receivable expenses and collection costs through customers’ rates.

The Company's retirement benefit plan assets are exposed to the market prices variations of debt and equity securities. Changes to the Company's retirement benefit plan asset values can impact the Company's retirement benefit plan expense, funded status and future minimum funding requirements. Our exposure to market price risk in our retirement benefit plan assets is managed through our ability to recover retirement benefit plan costs through customer rates. There were no material changes to our primary market risk exposures or how such exposures are managed in 2025 nor are there expected to be in the future.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures was conducted by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer along with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this Report. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

The information about risk factors does not differ materially from those set forth in Part I, Item 1A. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.