ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes. For discussion of the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023, refer to Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the December 31, 2024 Annual report on Form 10-K, filed on February 28, 2025.
Operations
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 providing an essential water utility service 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. We also 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,
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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 65,000 retail customers in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware. Tidewater’s subsidiary, White Marsh, services approximately 3,700 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.
Rates and Regulatory Matters
Middlesex - In February 2026, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved:
• $14.5 million of base rate increases for Middlesex and Pinelands, effective February 23, 2026;
• A Resiliency and Environmental System Improvement Charge (RESIC) Foundational Filing, which allows for the recovery of certain costs of future Middlesex and Pinelands investments related to compliance with requirements to address existing and emerging chemical elements or compounds, installation of new plant or equipment or replacement of existing plant or equipment to further maintain, enhance, or improve resiliency, health, safety or environmental protection; and
• A Distribution System Improvement System Charge (DSIC) Foundational Filing, which allows for the recovery of future Middlesex and Pinelands Water investments in qualifying capital improvements to their water distribution system.
In January 2026, the NJBPU approved the merger of Pinelands into Middlesex through a corporate reorganization.
Tidewater - In July 2025, the Delaware Public Service Commission (DEPSC) approved a $5.5 million base rate increase for Tidewater, effective July 3, 2025.
In April 2025 and January 2026, Tidewater completed the acquisitions of the water utility assets of the Town of Ocean View, Delaware and Pinewood Acres, LLC, respectively, as authorized by the DEPSC.
For additional information, see Note 2, Rates and Regulatory Matters
Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Multi-District Litigation Settlement
Several of the Company’s utility subsidiaries are parties to a multi-district litigation (MDL) lawsuit against manufacturers of certain PFAS for damages, contribution and reimbursement of costs incurred and continuing to be incurred to address the presence of such PFAS in public water supply systems owned and operated by these utility subsidiaries and throughout their service areas. Settlements with several defendants in the MDL have received final approval by the MDL court. The Company timely submitted to the MDL court its Phase One claim forms under settlement agreements with defendants 3M Company, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Tyco Fire Products LP and BASF Corporation. In 2025, the Company received settlement payments from 3M Company that will ultimately be refunded to customers. The Company anticipates receiving additional settlement payments in 2026 from the defendants named above.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Issues Final 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,
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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 treatment solutions if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs. The USEPA has announced its plans to issue a proposed rule extending the compliance date to 2031.
Beginning in April 2029 and absent an extension by the USEPA, 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 implementing its strategy to meet these lower MCLs for Regulated PFAS and is currently designing and implementing the most effective PFAS treatment approach.
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 better serve current and future generations of water and wastewater customers. The Company plans to invest approximately $126 million in 2026 in connection with this plan for projects that include, but are not limited to:
• Upgrade of the Carl J. Olson Surface Water Treatment Plant (CJO Plant) to integrate PFAS removal from source water and CJO Plant finished water pump electrical distribution system improvements in our Middlesex System;
• Construction of new water treatment facilities, distribution system improvements and PFAS treatment facilities in Delaware; and
• Various water main replacements and improvements.
Strategy for 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.
Outlook
The Company has projected to spend approximately $506 million for the 2026-2028 capital investment program, including approximately $255 million for upgrading our CJO Plant to integrate PFAS removal from source water, $34 million on the RENEW Program, which is our ongoing initiative to replace water mains in the Middlesex System, $17 million for replacement of a transmission main in Metuchen in our Middlesex System, $8 million for booster station generator replacement and electrical improvements. $9 million for construction of the Bethany Bay new water treatment facility in the Tidewater System and $13 million for elevated storage tanks in our Tidewater System.
The Company utilizes semi-annual DSIC and RESIC filings between general rate case filings to timely recover costs for qualified capital investments related to its utility systems as well as compliance with requirements to address existing and emerging chemical elements or compounds, installation of new plant or equipment or replacement of existing plant or equipment to further maintain and enhance resiliency, health, safety or environmental protection investments.
Organic residential customer growth continues in our Tidewater system (approximately 3.0% in 2025) through expansion of our franchise area.
The Company continues to seek "tuck-in" acquisition opportunities for small water systems near our current service areas that are easily integrated into our Company, such as the recent acquisitions of the water utility assets of the Town of Ocean View and Pinewood Acres, LLC in Delaware.
Our ability to increase earnings is based primarily on four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate relief, effective cost management and customer growth (which are evident in comparison discussions in the Results of Operations section below). Weather patterns which can result in lower customer demand for water may occur in 2026. 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 base rate increase requests.
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Operating Results by Segment
The Company has two operating segments, Regulated and Non-Regulated. Our Regulated segment contributed approximately 94% and 93% of total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and approximately 94% of net income for each of the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The discussion of the Company’s results of operations is on a consolidated basis and includes significant factors by subsidiary. 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 for 2025 as Compared to 2024
(In Millions)
Years Ended December 31,
Regulated
Non-
Regulated
Total
Regulated
Non-
Regulated
Total
Revenues
Operations and maintenance expenses
Depreciation expense
Other taxes
Operating income
Other income, net
Interest expense
Income taxes
Net income
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased $2.8 million from the same period in 2024 due primarily to the following factors:
• Middlesex System revenues increased by $1.5 million due to the increase in base rates effective March 1, 2024 and the increase in DSIC partially offset by lower consumption driven by unfavorable weather;
• Tidewater System revenues increased by $1.6 million due to the increase in base rates effective July 3, 2025 and customer growth partially offset by lower consumption driven by unfavorable weather;
• Pinelands System revenues increased $0.2 million due to the full year impact of base rate increases;
• Non-regulated revenues decreased $0.6 million, primarily due to lower supplemental contract services; and
• All other operating revenue categories increased $0.1 million.
Operation and Maintenance Expense
Operation and maintenance expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased $1.1 million from the same period in 2024 due to higher capitalizable costs and lower legal, financial and regulatory matter costs, partially offset by increased production costs from weather-driven lower water quality, increased weather-driven main break repair costs, higher labor cost due to wage and employee headcount increases 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.
Depreciation
Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased $2.7 million from the same period in 2024 due to higher average utility plant in service 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 year ended December 31, 2025 are consistent with the same period in 2024.
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Other Income, net
Other Income, net for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased $4.5 million from the same period in 2024 primarily 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 Middlesex’s 2023 rate case order, partially offset by higher allowance for funds used during construction from increased capital expenditures.
Interest Charges
Interest charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased $0.3 million from the same period in 2024 due to higher average debt outstanding offset by lower average interest rates.
Income Taxes
Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2025 decreased by $2.1 million from the same period in 2024, primarily due to lower pretax income and higher income tax benefits associated with increased repair expenditures on tangible property in the Middlesex System, partially offset by the 2024 recovery of income taxes on the taxable portion of the proceeds from a litigation agreement.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Cash flows from operating activities are largely influenced by 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 the Results of Operations section above.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash flows from operating activities increased $3.9 million to $62.6 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, Tidewater's base rate increase effective July 3, 2025, Middlesex's increased DSIC, decreased unbilled revenues and lower federal income tax payments.
Increases in certain operating costs impact our liquidity and capital resources. We continually monitor the need for timely rate case filings to minimize the lag between the time we experience increased operating costs and capital expenditures and the time we receive appropriate rate relief.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash flows used in investing activities increased $26.3 million to $101.0 million due to increased utility plant expenditures in 2025 and Tidewater’s acquisition of the water utility assets of Ocean View.
For further discussion on the Company’s future capital expenditures and expected funding sources, see “ Capital Expenditures and Commitments ” section below.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash flows from financing activities increased $20.9 million to $38.6 million. The increase in cash flows provided by financing activities is due to higher long-term debt and short-term borrowings, and higher proceeds from the issuance of common stock under Middlesex’s At-the-Market (ATM) equity offering program, partially offset by proceeds received from a litigation settlement in 2024.
For further discussion on the Company’s long-term debt, short-term borrowings and common stock, see “ Sources of Liquidity ” section below.
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 (Investment Plan) and ATM equity offering program, and, when market conditions are favorable, proceeds from sales to the public of our common stock.
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The table below summarizes our estimated capital expenditures for the years 2026-2028.
(In Millions)
Total
Distribution/Network System
Production System
Information Technology (IT) Systems
Other
Total Estimated Capital Expenditures
Our estimated capital expenditures for the items listed above are primarily comprised of the following:
• Distribution/Network System - Includes projects associated with replacement, installation and relocation of water mains and service lines and wastewater collection systems, construction of water storage tanks, installation and replacement of hydrants, meters and meter pits and the RENEW Program. RENEW is our ongoing initiative to replace water mains in the Middlesex System. In connection with RENEW, we expect to spend approximately $12 million each year from 2026 to 2028. Also, we plan to replace a transmission main in Metuchen, New Jersey in our Middlesex System for approximately $8 million in 2027 and 2028. In addition, we expect to invest $2 million in Tidewater distribution system improvements in 2026. Also, we expect to invest $3 million and $9 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively, for elevated storage tanks in our Tidewater System.
• Production System - Includes projects associated with our treatment plants, including approximately $36 million, $119 million and $100 million of expenditures in 2026, 2027 and 2028, respectively to install PFAS treatment at our CJO Plant.
• Information Technology (IT) Systems - Includes additional upgrades of our enterprise resource planning system and hardware and software purchases for other IT systems.
• Other - Includes purchase of transportation equipment, tools, furniture, laboratory equipment, security systems and other general infrastructure needs including improvements to field and inventory management facilities.
The actual amount and timing of capital expenditures is dependent on the need for replacement of existing infrastructure, customer growth, residential new home construction and sales, project scheduling and continued refinement of project scope and costs.
To fund our capital program in 2026, we estimate we will utilize some or all of the following:
• Internally generated funds;
• Short-term borrowings, as needed, through $148 million of available lines of credit with several financial institutions. (see discussion under “ Sources of Liquidity-Short-term Borrowings ” below);
• Proceeds from the Delaware State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program. SRF programs provide lower cost financing for projects meeting certain water quality and system improvement benchmarks (see discussion under “ Sources of Liquidity-Long-term Debt ” below);
• Proceeds from other long-term borrowings (see discussion under “ Sources of Liquidity-Long-term Debt ” below); and
• Proceeds from common stock sales through the ATM equity offering program and Investment Plan and proceeds from sales to the public of our common stock when market conditions are favorable (see discussion under “ Sources of Liquidity-Common Stock ” below).
Sources of Liquidity
Short-term Borrowings - In February 2026, the Company increased available lines of credit from $148 million to $180 million. The outstanding borrowings under the credit lines at December 31, 2025 were $28.3 million, at a weighted average interest rate of 5.03%.
The weighted average daily amounts of borrowings outstanding under the credit lines and the weighted average interest rates on those amounts were $42.1 million and $38.7 million at 5.42% and 6.33% for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Long-term Debt - Subject to regulatory approval, the Company periodically issues long-term debt to fund investments in utility plant. To the extent possible and fiscally prudent, the Company finances qualifying capital projects under 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.
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The Company intends to issue debt securities in a series of transaction offerings over a multi-year period to fund the multi-year capital construction program.
In September 2025, the NJBPU authorized Middlesex to borrow up to $260.0 million during the period January 2026 through December 2028, in one or more negotiated transactions in the form of notes and/or first mortgage bonds through loans from the New Jersey SRF Program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, private placement and other financial institutions as needed. Middlesex was previously authorized to borrow up to $300.0 million for the period beginning in April 2023 through December 2025.
In October 2025, Middlesex closed on a $30.0 million, 5.99% private placement of First Mortgage Bonds (FMBs) due 2055, designated as Series 2025A. The net proceeds from the sale were used to repay short-term borrowings under the Company’s bank lines of credit and for other general corporate purposes.
In September 2024, Tidewater closed on a $2.2 million Delaware SRF loan with a 0.0% interest rate with an expected maturity date 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 $1.8 million as of December 31, 2025.
In May 2024, Tidewater closed on four DEPSC-approved Delaware SRF loans totaling $5.6 million, all at interest rates of 2.0% with maturity dates in 2045. These loans are for the construction, relocation, improvement, and/or interconnection of transmission mains and construction of a water treatment facility. In December 2025, Tidewater closed on an additional $1.0 million, 2.0% SRF loan with a maturity date of 2045 related to these projects. Tidewater has drawn down $0.9 million on these loans as of December 31, 2025. Each project has its own construction timetable with the last spending set to occur in 2027.
Separately, Tidewater has two active construction projects funded by 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 $7.1 million through December 31, 2025 and expects that the requisitions will continue through the first quarter of 2026.
In December 2025, Southern Shores closed on a $0.4 million Delaware SRF loan with a 0.0% interest rate with a maturity date in 2045. This loan is for costs associated with Southern Shore’s obligation, as required by federal law and Delaware regulations, to identify and inventory lead service lines in its service area.
In February 2026, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater repaid in full $3.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively, of their amortizing secured notes. The interest rates and due dates on both of these notes were 6.17% and 2043, respectively.
Substantially all of the utility plant of the Company is subject to the lien of its mortgage, which includes debt service and capital ratio covenants. As of December 31, 2025, the Company is in compliance with all of its mortgage covenants.
Common Stock - The Company issues shares of its common stock in connection with the Investment Plan, a direct share purchase and dividend reinvestment plan for the Company’s common stock. The Company raised approximately $0.9 million through the issuance of shares under the Investment Plan during 2025.
In September 2025, the NJBPU authorized Middlesex to issue and sell up to 2.5 million shares of its common stock, without par value, during the period January 2026 through December 2028, through one or more traditional underwriting offerings and/or ATM offerings. Middlesex's was previously authorized to issue and sell up to 1.0 million shares of its common stock, without par value for the period beginning in April 2023 through December 2025.
In May 2025, Middlesex entered into an ATM Equity Offering Sales Agreement (Equity Sales Agreement) with BofA Securities, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, pursuant to which Middlesex may offer and sell shares of its common stock, no par value per share, from time to time in “at-the-market” offerings, having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $110.0 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from these sales, after deducting commissions and offering expenses, to fund our capital expenditures, to purchase and maintain plant equipment, as well as for other general corporate purposes. In 2025, Middlesex issued and sold a total of 560,000 shares of common stock, at a weighted average price of $53.54 per share, and received $29.5 million in net proceeds, under the Equity Sales Agreement. As of December 31, 2025, the Company has $80.0 million of aggregate gross sales remaining under the Equity Sales Agreement.
In order to fully fund the ongoing capital investment program and maintain a balanced capital structure required for a regulated water utility, Middlesex may offer for sale additional shares of its common stock. The amount, the timing and the sales method of the common stock is dependent on the timing of the construction expenditures, the level of additional debt financing and financial market conditions. Common stock offerings will occur as needed to maintain a balanced capital structure as we continue on a parallel path with future debt offerings.
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Sales of additional shares of common stock are part of the Company’s comprehensive financing plan to fund its multi-year utility plant infrastructure investment program.
Contractual Obligations
In the course of normal business activities, the Company enters into a variety of contractual obligations and commercial commitments. Some result in direct obligations on the Company’s balance sheet while others are commitments, some firm and some based on uncertainties, which are disclosed in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
The table below presents our known contractual obligations for the periods specified as of December 31, 2025.
Payment Due by Period
(Millions of Dollars)
Total
Less than 1
Year
2-3 Years
4-5 Years
More than
5 Years
Long-term Debt
Note Payable
Interest on Long-Term Debt
Purchased Water Contracts
Commercial Office Leases
TOTAL
The table above does not reflect any anticipated cash payments for retirement benefit plan obligations. The effect on the timing and amount of these payments resulting from potential changes in actuarial assumptions and returns on plan assets cannot be estimated. In 2025 the Company contributed $2.0 million to its postretirement benefit plans and expects to contribute approximately $2.0 million in 2026 as well.
We do not currently have, nor have we ever had, any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements, or for other contractually narrow or limited purposes. In addition, we do not engage in trading activities involving non-exchange traded contracts.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The application of accounting policies and standards often requires the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments. The Company regularly evaluates these estimates, assumptions and judgments, including those related to the calculation of pension and other retirement benefits, unbilled revenues, and the recoverability of certain assets, including regulatory assets. The Company bases its estimates, assumptions and judgments on historical experience and current operating environment. Changes in any of the variables that are used for the Company’s estimates, assumptions and judgments may lead to significantly different financial statement results.
Our critical accounting policies and estimates are set forth below.
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 are subject to regulation in the states 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 in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 980 Regulated Operations (Regulatory Accounting).
In accordance with Regulatory Accounting, 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 deferred certain costs and obligations, which will be amortized in the same periods that revenues for these costs are recognized. Any change in the assessment of the probability of rate-making treatment would 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.
Revenues
Revenues from our regulated customers, which include amounts billed quarterly or monthly to residential customers and monthly to industrial, commercial, fire-protection and wholesale customers, also include unbilled amounts based upon estimated usage from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the accounting period. While actual usage for
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customers may differ from the estimate, we believe the overall total estimate of consumption and revenue for the fiscal period will not differ materially from actual consumption.
Retirement Benefit Plans
We maintain a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (Pension Plan) which covers all currently active employees hired prior to April 1, 2007. In addition, the Company maintains an unfunded supplemental plan for certain executive officers.
The Company has a retirement benefit plan other than pensions (Other Benefits Plan) for substantially all of its retired employees. Employees hired after March 31, 2007 are not eligible to participate in the Other Benefits Plan. Coverage includes healthcare and life insurance.
The costs for providing retirement benefits are dependent upon numerous factors, including actual plan experience and assumptions of future experience. Future retirement benefit plan obligations and expense will depend on future investment performance, changes in future 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.
The primary assumptions used for determining future retirement benefit plans’ obligations and costs, which are reviewed and revised as needed each year, are as follows:
• Discount Rate - calculated based on market rates for long-term, high-quality corporate bonds specific to the expected duration of our Pension Plan and Other Benefits Plan’s liabilities;
• Compensation Increase - based on management projected future employee compensation increases;
• Long-Term Rate of Return - determined based on expected returns from our asset allocation for our Pension Plan and Other Benefits Plan assets;
• Mortality - The Company utilizes the Society of Actuaries’ mortality table (Pri-2012) (Fully Generational, IRS Adjusted, Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2021); and
• Healthcare Cost Trend Rate - based on management projected future healthcare costs.
The discount rate, compensation increase rate and long-term rate of return used to determine future obligations of our retirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2025 are as follows:
Pension Plan
Other Benefits Plan
Discount Rate
Compensation Increase
Long-term Rate of Return
For the 2025 valuation, costs and obligations for our Other Benefits Plan assumed an 8.0% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare benefits in 2026 with the annual rate of increase declining 0.15% per year for 2027-2046, resulting in an annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare benefits of 5.0% by year 2046.
The following is a sensitivity analysis for certain actuarial assumptions used in determining projected benefit obligations (PBO) and expenses for our retirement benefit plans:
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Pension Plan
Actuarial Assumptions
Estimated
Increase/
(Decrease)
on PBO
Estimated
Increase/
(Decrease)
on Expense
Discount Rate 1% Increase
Discount Rate 1% Decrease
Other Benefits Plan
Actuarial Assumptions
Estimated
Increase/
(Decrease)
on PBO
Estimated
Increase/
(Decrease)
on Expense
Discount Rate 1% Increase
Discount Rate 1% Decrease
Healthcare Cost Trend Rate 1% Increase
Healthcare Cost Trend Rate 1% Decrease
Recent Accounting Standards
See Note 1(q) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
ITEM 7A. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
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, variable rate 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 $7.9 million of the current portion of existing long-term debt instruments will mature. The Company manages its interest rate risk related to existing variable-rate short-term debt by limiting our variable rate exposure. Applying a hypothetical change in the rate of interest charged by 10% on those fixed- and variable-rate 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 we use 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 rates.
The Company's retirement benefit plan assets are exposed to the market price variations of debt and equity securities. Changes to the Company's retirement benefit plan assets’ value 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.
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