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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

x           QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

OR

o           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from  _____  to  _____

Commission file number 000-18516

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
51-0002090
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

664 Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware 19702
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Address of principal executive offices

(302) 453 – 6900
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

þ
Yes
o
No
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

þ
Yes
o
No
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12(b)-2 of the Exchange Act.:

Large Accelerated Filer o
Accelerated Filer þ
Non-Accelerated Filer o
Smaller Reporting Company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

o
Yes
þ
No
 

As of November 3, 2011, 7,711,523 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding.
 



 
 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q

         
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2

 

 

 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
Unaudited
 
(In thousands)
 
ASSETS
 
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
Utility plant, at original cost less accumulated depreciation
  $ 350,504     $ 345,383  
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    207       179  
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts 2011 - $234; 2010-$230)
    4,814       5,094  
Unbilled operating revenues
    3,873       3,614  
Materials and supplies
    1,490       1,246  
Prepaid property taxes
    1,942       1,260  
Prepaid expenses and other
    1,321       2,640  
Total current assets
    13,647       14,033  
Other assets
               
Non-utility property (less accumulated depreciation 2011-$388; 2010-$377)
    4,237       4,480  
Other deferred assets
    5,200       5,023  
Total other assets
    9,437       9,503  
Regulatory assets, net
    2,252       2,610  
    $ 375,840     $ 371,529  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Stockholders' equity
               
Common stock
  $ 8,592     $ 7,637  
Preferred stock
    ---       ---  
Additional paid-in capital
    85,865       69,989  
Retained earnings
    16,330       17,520  
Total stockholders' equity
    110,787       95,146  
Long-term debt, net of current portion
    105,955       105,061  
      216,742       200,207  
Current liabilities
               
Lines of credit
    12,195       29,071  
Overdraft payable
    611       740  
Current portion of long-term debt
    1,716       1,545  
Accounts payable
    2,741       3,401  
Dividends payable
    1,658       ---  
Accrued expenses
    2,607       2,126  
Deferred income taxes
    935       459  
Accrued interest
    1,352       1,189  
Customer deposits
    916       805  
Other
    2,077       2,549  
Total current liabilities
    26,808       41,885  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
    ---       ---  
                 
Deferred credits and other liabilities
               
Net advances for construction
    15,410       16,159  
Postretirement benefit obligation
    366       525  
Deferred investment tax credits
    648       664  
Deferred income taxes
    40,545       37,558  
Total deferred credits and other liabilities
    56,969       54,906  
                 
Net contributions in aid of construction
    75,321       74,531  
    $ 375,840     $ 371,529  
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
               
 
 
 
3

 

 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS
 
Unaudited
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
             
             
   
For the Three Months
   
For the Nine Months
 
   
Ended September 30,
   
Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Operating revenues
                       
Water sales
  $ 15,921     $ 16,097     $ 43,520     $ 42,901  
Other utility operating revenue
    751       657       2,208       1,990  
Non-utility revenue
    1,058       1,209       3,269       4,059  
      17,730       17,963       48,997       48,950  
                                 
Operating expenses
                               
Utility operating expenses
    8,313       7,697       24,527       22,531  
Non-utility operating expenses
    709       946       2,424       2,923  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,897       1,750       5,530       5,204  
State and federal income taxes
    1,505       1,922       3,459       4,248  
Property and other taxes
    939       942       2,882       2,931  
      13,363       13,257       38,822       37,837  
                                 
Operating income
    4,367       4,706       10,175       11,113  
                                 
Other income (expense), net
                               
Allowance for funds used during construction
    67       73       140       140  
Miscellaneous
    (387 )     (47 )     185       520  
                                 
Income before interest charges
    4,047       4,732       10,500       11,773  
                                 
Interest charges
    1,809       1,835       5,500       5,432  
                                 
Net income
  $ 2,238     $ 2,897     $ 5,000     $ 6,341  
                                 
Retained earnings, beginning of period
  $ 17,379     $ 16,200     $ 17,520     $ 15,577  
                                 
Less dividends
    (3,287 )     (1,422 )     (6,190 )     (4,243 )
                                 
Retained earnings, end of period
  $ 16,330     $ 17,675     $ 16,330     $ 17,675  
                                 
                                 
Income per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.26     $ 0.38     $ 0.63     $ 0.84  
Diluted
  $ 0.26     $ 0.38     $ 0.63     $ 0.83  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
                               
Basic
    8,547       7,562       7,960       7,538  
Diluted
    8,579       7,623       8,000       7,601  
                                 
Cash dividend per common share
  $ 0.1902     $ 0.1882     $ 0.5696     $ 0.5637  
                                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 

 
4

 

 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Unaudited
 
(In thousands)
 
   
For the Nine Months
 
   
Ended September 30
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
           
Net income
  $ 5,000     $ 6,341  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash  provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    5,530       5,204  
Deferred income taxes, net
    3,447       2,412  
Stock compensation
    91       80  
AFUDC
    (140 )     (140 )
                 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
    280       854  
Unbilled operating revenues
    (259 )     (647 )
Materials and supplies
    (244 )     (8 )
Prepaid property taxes
    (682 )     (671 )
Prepaid expenses and other
    1,319       (539 )
Other deferred assets
    (264 )     (128 )
Regulatory assets
    358       (107 )
Accounts payable
    (660 )     (577 )
Accrued expenses
    481       594  
Accrued interest
    163       (23 )
Customer deposits and other, net
    (361 )     671  
Postretirement benefit obligation
    (159 )     (50 )
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    13,900       13,266  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Capital expenditures (net of AFUDC)
    (10,730 )     (11,650 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    47       43  
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (10,683 )     (11,607 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Net repayments under lines of credit agreements
    (16,876 )     (1,258 )
(Decrease) increase in overdraft payable
    (129 )     2,409  
Net advances and contributions in aid of construction
    500       1,671  
Change in deferred debt issuance costs
    43       27  
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
    16,740       1,029  
Dividends paid
    (4,532 )     (4,243 )
Issuance of long-term debt
    2,892       ---  
Principal repayments of long-term debt
    (1,827 )     (1,334 )
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    (3,189 )     (1,699 )
                 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    28       (40 )
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
    179       474  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ 207     $ 434  
                 
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
               
Utility plant received as construction advances and contributions
  $ 614     $ 329  
Interest paid
  $ 5,337     $ 5,455  
Income taxes paid
  $ ---     $ 1,942  
                 
                 
See notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
               


 
5

 
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 – GENERAL

Artesian Resources Corporation, or Artesian Resources, includes income from the earnings of our eight wholly owned subsidiaries and the income derived from our Service Line Protection Plans described below.  The terms “we”, “our”, “Artesian” and the “Company” as used herein refer to Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries.  The variable interest entity previously required to be consolidated under guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, is no longer consolidated as of August 6, 2010, as further discussed in Note 2 below.

DELAWARE REGULATED SUBSIDIARIES

Artesian Water Company Inc., or Artesian Water, our principal subsidiary, is the oldest and largest public water utility in the State of Delaware and has been providing water service within the state since 1905.  Artesian Water distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal and utility customers throughout the State of Delaware.  In addition, Artesian Water provides services to other water utilities, including operations and billing functions, and also has contract operation agreements with private and municipal water providers.  We also provide water for public and private fire protection to customers in our service territories.

Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater, is a regulated entity that owns wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure and provides wastewater services to customers in Delaware as a regulated public wastewater service company.  Artesian Wastewater currently owns and operates five wastewater treatment facilities, which are capable of treating approximately 750,000 gallons per day and can be expanded to treat approximately 1.6 million gallons per day, or mgd.

The preliminary engineering and design work was completed on a regional wastewater treatment and disposal facility located in the northern Sussex County area that has the potential to treat up to approximately 8 mgd.  This facility is strategically situated to provide service to the growing population in the Georgetown, Ellendale and Milton areas, as well as to neighboring municipal systems.  This facility was granted conditional use approval by Sussex County Council to serve the Elizabethtown subdivision of approximately 4,000 homes and 439,000 square feet of proposed commercial space, as well as seven additional projects comprising approximately 3,000 residential units.  The facility will also be capable of offering wastewater services to local municipalities.  The agreement signed on June 30, 2008 (and as amended on April 29, 2009) between Artesian Utility Development, Inc., or Artesian Utility, and Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, LLC, or NSRWRC, for the design, construction and operation of this facility was cancelled on August 6, 2010.  Artesian Wastewater will manage the design and construction of the facility going forward and, once completed, the operation of the facility.

In July 2008, Artesian Wastewater and the Town of Georgetown, or Georgetown, finalized a wastewater service agreement establishing a long term arrangement that will meet the future wastewater treatment and disposal needs in Georgetown’s growth and annexation areas.  Artesian Wastewater will provide up to 1 mgd of wastewater capacity for the town.

MARYLAND REGULATED SUBSIDIARIES

Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Water Maryland, began operations in August 2007 with the acquisition of the Carpenters Point Water Company, which includes a 141 home community in Cecil County near the Interstate 95 growth corridor between Philadelphia and Baltimore and which has sufficient groundwater supply and elevated water storage to serve additional customers in the undeveloped portions of its franchise and surrounding area.  The Mountain Hill Water Company was acquired in August 2008, which includes service rights to 8,000 acres of undeveloped land in Cecil County’s growth area.  Included in this Mountain Hill Service Area is the Principio Business Park, as well as the proposed 660 home residential development of Charlestown Crossing.  We currently serve three commercial accounts in the Principio Business Park.  On June 4, 2009, the Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, approved installation of a water main to serve residents of Whitaker Woods, an existing 172 home development located adjacent to the Mountain Hill Service Area.  As of September 30, 2011, 40 homes in Whitaker Woods were receiving water service.  On September 9, 2009, the MDPSC approved Artesian Water Maryland’s request to construct a water system to serve the first phase, consisting of 71 homes, in the Charlestown Crossing housing development, of which 22 homes are currently served.


 
6

 


In November 2010, Artesian Water Maryland purchased water assets from the Town of Port Deposit, or Port Deposit, which includes access to the Susquehanna River as a source of water supply and water service rights for the service area that encompasses Port Deposit’s existing 280 customers and several adjacent tracts of land including the Bainbridge property, a 1,200-acre former U.S. Navy facility, which has the potential to be developed for 2,800 residential homes as well as office, commercial and educational uses.  Artesian Water Maryland purchased all of the assets used in providing potable water, water distribution and water meter services, or the Facilities, from Port Deposit.  Port Deposit transferred to Artesian Water Maryland all of Port Deposit’s right, title and interest in and to all of the plant and equipment, associated real property, contracts and permits possessed by Port Deposit related to the operation of the Facilities as well as the water distribution, treatment and water meter systems possessed by Port Deposit or used in the operation of the Facilities.  Port Deposit also transferred to Artesian Water Maryland all rights to serve the customers within Port Deposit (which shall include Port Deposit as it currently exists as well as certain additional growth areas that may be added to Port Deposit in the future) and all rights to be served by all vendors and suppliers of Port Deposit.  Port Deposit shall collect and remit to Artesian Water Maryland its tariff connection charges as approved by the MDPSC for new connections to the water system within Port Deposit.  The MDPSC approved this transaction on July 28, 2010, including the exercise of franchise agreements granted by Port Deposit and Cecil County, Maryland.  The existing water system consists of a water treatment facility, an existing 700,000 gallon per day Susquehanna River Water Appropriation Permit, a 500,000-gallon ground storage tank and water mains.

In addition, Artesian Water Maryland has entered into a purchase agreement to further expand our service capabilities.  In October 2008, Artesian Water Maryland signed an agreement, or the Cecil County Purchase Agreement, to purchase from Cecil County all of Cecil County’s rights, title and interest in and to the Meadowview, Pine Hills, Harbourview and Route 7 water facilities and the associated parcels of real property, easement rights and water transmission and distribution systems at a price equal to the net asset value of the purchased assets, which is approximately $2.3 million, and assume certain liabilities at closing.  This sum may be paid in cash at closing or, upon mutual agreement, by a note payable to Cecil County.  The Cecil County Purchase Agreement may be terminated by either party, subject to certain exceptions, in the event of an uncured breach by the other party.  In response to the Cecil County Purchase Agreement, the Appleton Regional Community Alliance, or Appleton Alliance, filed a petition with The Circuit Court of Cecil County, Maryland, or Circuit Court, in opposition to the transactions on the grounds that Cecil County has no right to sell the assets involved in the transaction, which has delayed the closing.  The Circuit Court decided in favor of Cecil County on July 24, 2009.  On August 19, 2009, the Appleton Alliance filed an appeal of the Circuit Court’s decision with the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.  Upon the request of Cecil County, which was not opposed by the Appleton Alliance, the matter was moved to the state’s highest Court of Appeals, where it was heard on June 2, 2010.  Upon the mutual agreement of the parties, the closing date was extended to the final day of the sixth month following the final judicial determination by the Maryland Court of Appeals on the Appleton Alliance petition. The Court of Appeals issued a decision on June 21, 2011, holding that Maryland law does not prohibit Cecil County from entering into the Cecil County Purchase Agreement with Artesian Water Maryland.  The decision enabled Artesian Water Maryland to proceed with consummating the transaction contemplated by the Cecil County Purchase Agreement, subject to receipt of approval of the transaction from the MDPSC.  On August 31, 2011, the MDPSC issued an order granting Artesian Water Maryland authority to exercise the franchise area awarded by Cecil County, including areas served by the water facilities being acquired by Artesian Water Maryland under the Cecil County Purchase Agreement.  On September 30, 2011, the Appleton Alliance filed a petition for judicial review of the MDPSC decision to issue the order in the Circuit Court of Baltimore City.  Artesian Water Maryland and the MDPSC have each filed a notice of intent to participate for filing in this matter.  The closing on the Cecil County Purchase Agreement is expected to occur on or before December 31, 2011.

Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, is a regulated wastewater entity in the State of Maryland and was incorporated on June 3, 2008 specifically for the purpose of executing the purchase agreements described below.

On September 27, 2011, Artesian Resources, Artesian Wastewater Maryland and Cecil County mutually agreed to enter into a Termination of Asset Purchase Agreements, Franchise and Parent Guaranty, or the Termination Agreement, to terminate the following agreements:

1.  
Asset Purchase Agreement, or the Meadowview Wastewater Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2008, under which Artesian Wastewater Maryland agreed to purchase from Cecil County the wastewater facilities known as the Meadowview Wastewater Facility, the Highlands Wastewater Facility and the associated parcels of real property, easement rights and wastewater collection systems with respect to each facility.
 
 
 
7

 
 
 
2.  
Asset Purchase Agreement, or the Cherry Hill Wastewater Asset Purchase Agreement and, together with the Meadowview Wastewater Asset Purchase Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreements, dated as of October 7, 2008, under which Artesian Wastewater Maryland agreed to purchase from Cecil County the wastewater facilities known as the Cherry Hill Wastewater Facility, the Harbourview Wastewater Facility and the associated parcels of real property, easement rights and wastewater collection systems with respect to each facility.

Certain ancillary agreements, including a wastewater franchise agreement between Artesian Wastewater Maryland and Cecil County, and a parent guaranty between Artesian Resources and Cecil County, were also terminated by the Termination Agreement.  The termination of the Asset Purchase Agreements resulted in an approximately $349,000 reclassification of deferred acquisition costs from regulatory assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to miscellaneous other expense on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income.

Termination of the Asset Purchase Agreements and the wastewater franchise agreement is subject to the approval of the MDPSC.  Artesian Wastewater Maryland has agreed to file an application with the MDPSC for such approval.

As a result of the termination, Artesian Wastewater Maryland will not have any right or interest in the wastewater facilities or other assets covered by the Asset Purchase Agreements.  In addition, neither Artesian Wastewater Maryland nor Cecil County will have any obligation to each other with respect to the Asset Purchase Agreements, except with respect to MDPSC approval as described above.

PENNSYLVANIA REGULATED SUBSIDIARY

Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc., or Artesian Water Pennsylvania, began operations upon receiving recognition as a regulated public water utility by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC, in 2002.  It provides water service to a residential community in Chester County.  Artesian Water Pennsylvania filed an application with the PAPUC to increase our service area in Pennsylvania, which was approved and a related order was entered on February 4, 2005.  This application involved specific developments, in which we expect modest future growth.

OTHER SUBSIDIARIES

Our three other subsidiaries, none of which are regulated, are Artesian Utility, Artesian Development Corporation, or Artesian Development, and Artesian Consulting Engineers, Inc., or Artesian Consulting Engineers.

Artesian Utility was formed in 1996.  It designs and builds water and wastewater infrastructure and provides contract water and wastewater services on the Delmarva Peninsula.  Artesian Utility also evaluates land parcels, provides recommendations to developers on the size of water or wastewater facilities and the type of technology that should be used for treatment at such facilities, and operates water and wastewater facilities in Delaware and Maryland for municipal and governmental organizations.  Artesian Utility also has several contracts with developers for design and construction of wastewater facilities within the Delmarva Peninsula, using a number of different technologies for treatment of wastewater at each facility.

We currently operate wastewater treatment facilities for the town of Middletown, in Southern New Castle County, or Middletown, under a 20-year contract that expires on February 1, 2021.  The facilities include two wastewater treatment stations with capacities of up to approximately 2.5 mgd and 250,000 gallons per day, respectively.  We also operate a wastewater disposal facility in Middletown in order to support the 2.5 mgd wastewater treatment station.

One of the wastewater treatment facilities in Middletown now provides reclaimed wastewater for use in spray irrigation on public and agricultural lands in the area.  Our relationship with the Town of Middletown has given us the opportunity to create the Artesian Water Resource Management Partnership, or AWRMP, to encourage and support the use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation and other needs.  Using reclaimed water to irrigate farm fields can save the Delmarva region millions of gallons of groundwater each day.  The AWRMP’s first project in Middletown will save up to 3 million gallons of water per day during the peak growing season.  Through the AWRMP initiative, Artesian will provide planning, engineering and technical expertise and help bring together the various state, local and private partners needed for water recycling project approvals.

The agreement signed on June 30, 2008 (and as amended April 29, 2009) between Artesian Utility and NSRWRC for the design, construction and operation of the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, a wastewater treatment facility to be located in Sussex County, Delaware, was cancelled on August 6, 2010.  Artesian Wastewater will manage the design and construction of the facility going forward and, once constructed, the operation of the facility.
 
 
 
8

 
 
In connection with the Asset Purchase Agreements described above under Artesian Wastewater Maryland, in March 2009, Artesian Utility signed an agreement with the Cecil County Department of Public Works in Cecil County, Maryland to operate the Meadowview Wastewater and Highlands Wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.  This agreement was to remain effective until Artesian Wastewater Maryland purchased the facilities.  The Asset Purchase agreements have since been terminated.  This agreement also employed Artesian Utility to operate two water supply and treatment stations and two booster stations in Cecil County.  In June 2011, Artesian Utility received a notice of termination of the operation agreement for these facilities.  Upon mutual agreement, the termination of the operation agreement became effective September 30, 2011.

Artesian Development owns an approximately six-acre parcel of land zoned for office buildings located immediately adjacent to our corporate headquarters and two nine-acre parcels of land located in Sussex County.

In October 2010, Artesian Development purchased an office facility located in Sussex County, Delaware.  The facility consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of office space along with nearly 10,000 square feet of warehouse space.  This facility has allowed all of our Sussex County, Delaware operations to be housed in one central location.

Artesian Consulting Engineers acquired all the assets of Meridian Architects and Engineers in June 2008.  As a result of the decline in new housing and development due to the economic downturn, the need for development and architectural services has remained depressed.  Therefore, in April 2011, management decided to reduce staffing levels and reorganize the business.  Artesian Consulting Engineers will no longer provide development and architectural services to outside third parties.  Artesian Consulting Engineers will continue to work with existing clients on projects already in progress for engineering services until those projects are complete.  Artesian will continue to provide design and engineering contract services through our Artesian Utility subsidiary.

OTHER

Artesian Resources initiated a Water Service Line Protection Plan, or WSLP Plan, in March 2005.  The WSLP Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers’ leaking water service lines up to an annual limit.  As of September 30, 2011, approximately 16,200, or 23.5%, of our eligible water customers had signed up for the WSLP Plan.  The WSLP Plan was expanded in the second quarter of 2008 to include maintenance or repair to customers’ sewer lines.  This plan, the Sewer Service Line Protection Plan, or SSLP Plan, covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers’ leaking or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit.  As of September 30, 2011, approximately 8,900, or 12.8%, of our eligible customers had signed up for the SSLP Plan.  Also, in the second quarter of 2010, the WSLP Plan and SSLP Plan were extended to include non-customers of Artesian Resources.  As of September 30, 2011, approximately 730 non-customer participants have signed up for either the WSLP Plan or SSLP Plan.

NOTE 2 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all the disclosures required in the financial statements included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K.  Accordingly, these financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2011.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Artesian Resources Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including its principal operating company, Artesian Water.  In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company's balance sheet position as of September 30, 2011, the results of operations for the quarterly and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

As more fully discussed in Note 9 - Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, LLC, Artesian Resources and Darin A. Lockwood, the owner of NSRWRC, signed a Conclusion and Termination Agreement on August 6, 2010.  Consequently, effective August 6, 2010, NSRWRC was deconsolidated from the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The Company is no longer the primary beneficiary of NSRWRC and NSRWRC no longer constitutes a variable interest entity, or VIE, as defined by FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 810.

The results of operations for the interim period presented are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year or for future periods.
 
 
 
9

 

 
NOTE 3 – STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS

On May 25, 2005, the Company’s stockholders approved a new Equity Compensation Plan, which authorizes up to 500,000 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, or Class A Stock, for issuance, referred to as the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan, or the Plan.  Since May 25, 2005, no additional grants have been made under the Company’s other stock-based compensation plans that were previously available.  The Company accounts for stock options issued after January 1, 2006 under FASB ASC Topic 718.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compensation expense of approximately $29,000 and $91,000 was recorded for stock options granted in May 2011 and May 2010.  Approximately $32,000 and $80,000 in compensation expense was recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 for stock options issued in May 2010 and May 2009.  Costs were determined based on the fair value at the grant dates and those costs are being charged to income over the service period associated with the grants.
 
The fair value of each option grant is estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grants issued in 2011 and 2010.  All options were granted at market value with a 10-year option term with a vesting period of one year from the date of grant.
 

   
2011
   
2010
 
Expected Dividend Yield
    3.99 %     4.24 %
Expected Stock Price Volatility
    0.25       0.27  
Weighted Average Risk-Free Interest Rate
    3.12 %     3.38 %
Weighted Average Expected Life of Options (in years)
    8.36       8.97  

The expected dividend yield was based on a 12-month rolling average of the Company’s dividend yield.  The expected volatility is the standard deviation of the change in the natural logarithm of the stock price (expressed as an annual rate) for the expected term shown above.  The expected term was based on historic exercise patterns for similar grants.  The risk-free interest rate is the 10-year Treasury Constant Maturity rate as of the date of the grants.

The following summary reflects changes in the shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock under option:

   
Option Shares
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price
   
Weighted Average Remaining Life (Yrs.)
   
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
 
Plan options
                       
Outstanding at January 1, 2011
    440,800     $ 17.18              
Granted
    33,750       19.06              
Exercised
    (15,050 )     11.54              
Expired
    ---                      
Outstanding at September 30, 2011
    459,500     $ 17.50       4.68     $ 524  
                                 
Options exercisable at September 30, 2011
    425,750     $ 17.38       4.28     $ 524  

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was approximately $111,000.


 
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The following summary reflects changes in the non-vested shares of Class A Stock under option:

Non-vested Shares
 
Option Shares
   
Weighted Average Grant – Date Fair Value Per Option
 
Non-vested at January 1, 2011
    33,750     $ 3.73  
Granted
    33,750       3.50  
Vested
    (33,750 )     3.73  
Canceled
    ---       ---  
Non-vested at September 30, 2011
    33,750     $ 3.50  

As of September 30, 2011, there was $73,000 of total unrecognized expense related to non-vested option shares granted under the Plan.  The cost will be recognized over the remaining 0.63 year vesting period of the unvested options.

NOTE 4 - REGULATORY ASSETS

FASB ASC Topic 980 stipulates generally accepted accounting principles for companies whose rates are established or subject to approvals by a third-party regulatory agency.  Certain expenses are recoverable through rates charged to our customers, without a return on investment, and are deferred and amortized during future periods using various methods as permitted by the Delaware Public Service Commission, or DEPSC, the MDPSC and the PAPUC.  Depreciation and salary study expenses are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of five years and two years for all other expenses related to Delaware rate proceedings and applications to increase rates.  Other expenses related to Maryland rate proceedings and applications to increase rates are amortized on a straight line basis over a period of five years or until the next rate increase application.  The postretirement benefit obligation, which is being amortized over twenty years, is adjusted for the difference between the net periodic postretirement benefit costs and the cash payments.  The amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements is determined on an actuarial basis, which uses assumptions about inflation, mortality, medical trend rates and discount rates.  The deferred income taxes will be amortized over future years as the tax effects of temporary differences previously flowed through to the customers reverse.  Goodwill was recognized as a result of the acquisition of Mountain Hill in August 2008 and is currently being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of fifty years.  Deferred acquisition and franchise costs are the result of due diligence costs related to the proposed purchase and franchise agreements for water facilities in Cecil County, Maryland and the November 2010 purchase of the Port Deposit, Maryland water assets.  Amortization of these deferred acquisition costs begin once the acquired assets are placed into service.  The amortization of the Port Deposit acquisition began in November 2010 and will be amortized over a period of twenty years.  The termination of the Asset Purchase Agreements discussed in Note 1 - General - Maryland Regulated Subsidiaries resulted in an approximately $349,000 reclassification of deferred acquisition costs from regulatory assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to miscellaneous other expense on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income.

Regulatory assets, net of amortization, comprise:
 
 
Unaudited
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
             
Postretirement benefit obligation
  $ 477     $ 637  
Deferred income taxes recoverable in future rates
    510       521  
Goodwill
    350       355  
Deferred acquisition and franchise costs
    672       1,009  
Expense of rate and regulatory proceedings
    243       88  
    $ 2,252     $ 2,610  


 
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Expenses related to the Net Periodic Pension Cost for the postretirement benefit obligation are as follows:

   
Unaudited
 
   
(in thousands)
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
           
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net Periodic Pension Cost
           
Interest cost
  $ 26     $ 33  
Amortization of net loss (gain)
    11       (2 )
Amortization of transition obligation
    6       6  
                 
Total Net Periodic Benefit Cost
  $ 43     $ 37  

Contributions

Artesian Water contributed $83,000 to its postretirement benefit plan in the first nine months of 2011.  These contributions consist of insurance premium payments for medical, dental and life insurance benefits made on behalf of the Company’s eligible retired employees.

NOTE 5 - NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE AND EQUITY PER COMMON SHARE

Basic net income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted net income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the potentially dilutive effect of employee stock options.  The following table summarizes the shares used in computing basic and diluted net income per share:

   
For the Three Months
   
For the Nine Months
 
   
Ended September 30,
   
Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(in thousands)
   
(in thousands)
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
                       
during the period for Basic computation
    8,547       7,562       7,960       7,538  
Dilutive effect of employee stock options
    32       61       40       63  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
                               
during the period for Diluted computation
    8,579       7,623       8,000       7,601  

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, employee stock options to purchase 267,750 and 234,000 shares of common stock were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income per share as the calculated proceeds from the options’ exercise were greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock during this period.

The Company has 15,000,000 authorized shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, or Class A Stock, and 1,040,000 authorized shares of Class B Common Stock, or Class B Stock.  As of September 30, 2011, 7,710,195 shares of Class A Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Stock were issued and outstanding.  As of September 30, 2010, 6,694,958 shares of Class A Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Stock were issued and outstanding.  The par value for both classes is $1.00 per share.  For the three months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010 the Company issued 28,049 and 23,918 shares of Class A Stock, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the Company issued 66,251 and 69,180 shares of Class A Stock, respectively.  In addition, on July 20, 2011 and August 15, 2011, the Company completed the sale of 804,290 shares and 84,000 shares of its Class A Stock, respectively.

Equity per common share was $13.92 and $12.59 at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  These amounts were computed by dividing common stockholders' equity by the number of shares of common stock outstanding on September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
 
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NOTE 6 - REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS

Our water and wastewater utilities generate operating revenue from customers based on rates that are established by state Public Service Commissions through a rate setting process that may include public hearings, evidentiary hearings and the submission of evidence and testimony in support of the requested level of rates by the Company.

We are subject to regulation by the following state regulatory commissions:  The DEPSC regulates both Artesian Water and Artesian Wastewater.  Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Wastewater Maryland are subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the MDPSC, and Artesian Water Pennsylvania is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the PAPUC.

Rate Proceedings

Our regulated utilities periodically seek rate increases to cover the cost of increased operating expenses, increased financing expenses due to additional investments in utility plant and other costs of doing business.  In Delaware, utilities are permitted by law to place rates into effect, under bond, on a temporary basis pending completion of a rate increase proceeding.  The first temporary increase may be up to the lesser of $2.5 million on an annual basis or 15% of gross water sales.  Should the rate case not be completed within seven months, by law, the utility may put the entire requested rate relief, up to 15% of gross water sales, in effect under bond until a final resolution is ordered and placed into effect.  If any such rates are found to be in excess of rates the DEPSC finds to be appropriate, the utility must refund the portion found to be in excess to customers with interest.  The timing of our rate increase requests are therefore dependent upon the estimated cost of the administrative process in relation to the investments and expenses that we hope to recover through the rate increase.  We can provide no assurances that rate increase requests will be approved by applicable regulatory agencies and, if approved, we cannot guarantee that these rate increases will be granted in a timely or sufficient manner to cover the investments and expenses for which we initially sought the rate increase.

On April 11, 2011, Artesian Water filed a request with the DEPSC to implement new rates to meet a requested increase in revenue of 19.45%, or approximately $10.9 million, on an annualized basis.  The new rates are designed to support Artesian Water’s ongoing capital improvement program and to cover increased costs of operations, including chemicals and fuel, electricity, taxes, labor and benefits.  Artesian Water’s last request to implement new rates was filed in April 2008.  As permitted by law, on June 10, 2011, we placed temporary rates into effect designed to generate an increase in annual operating revenue of approximately 4.45%, or $2.5 million on an annualized basis, until new rates are approved by the DEPSC.  Also as permitted by law, on November 11, 2011, we will place into effect a second step of temporary rates designed to generate an additional increase in annual operating revenue of approximately 6.44%, or $3.8 million on an annualized basis, until new rates are approved by the DEPSC.

On December 29, 2010, Artesian Water Maryland filed an application with the MDPSC to revise its rates and charges concerning the former Mountain Hill Water system.  Artesian Water Maryland requested authorization to implement proposed new rates for water service to meet a requested increase in revenue of approximately $65,000 on an annualized basis.  In addition to the increase in rates, Artesian Water Maryland is requesting a change to its rate structure, reducing the per thousand gallon charge while adding a monthly customer and fire protection charge.  On September 16, 2011, the MDPSC authorized a rate increase in revenue of approximately $51,000 on an annualized basis and approved the change in rate struture.

Service Territory Expansion Proceedings

On September 7, 2010, the DEPSC entered Order No. 7833, which approved the Revised Water Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity Regulations as final.  After extensive proceedings regarding Regulation Docket No. 51, the DEPSC repealed and replaced its existing Regulations Governing Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for Water Utilities with a new revised set of regulations (the “Revised Water CPCN Regulations”).  The Revised Water CPCN Regulations changed the definition of a “Proposed Service Area” to encompass either a single parcel or two or more contiguous parcels that will be provided water by the same system or main extension.

In Maryland, the Company must obtain approval from the appropriate local government authority for the ability to serve a particular area and also ensure that acquired area is in the county’s master water and sewer plan.  The authority to exercise a franchise must then be obtained from the MDPSC.  Utilities that seek to develop a franchise by constructing new facilities must obtain appropriate approvals from the Maryland Department of the Environment, the local government and the MDPSC.  The utility must also obtain approval for soil and erosion plans and easement agreements from appropriate parties.
 
 
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On June 4, 2009, the MDPSC approved Artesian Water Maryland’s request to construct a water system to serve the 172 residents of the Whitaker Woods housing development located adjacent to the Mountain Hill Service Area.  This expanded franchise area is subject to the Mountain Hill tariff rates.  We began serving customers in this development in November 2009.  On September 9, 2009, the MDPSC approved Artesian Water Maryland’s request to construct a water system to serve 71 residents in the Charlestown Crossing housing development.  Construction was completed in July 2010.
 
In December 2009, Artesian Water Maryland applied for approval from the MDPSC to exercise a franchise to provide water service to the Town of Port Deposit.  This application also requested authority to finance the purchase of water system facilities, and to establish water service rates.  On July 28, 2010, the MDPSC approved our application.  On November 1, 2010, Artesian Water Maryland closed on this transaction and began serving customers.

On September 30, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Wastewater Maryland filed joint applications with the MDPSC to exercise franchises granted to the Company by Cecil County.  On March 31, 2009, we presented an updated application that included an extended service area and the acquisition of certain facilities.  A petition by the Appleton Alliance delayed the exercise of franchises granted.  On June 21, 2011, the Maryland Court of Appeals held that Maryland law does not prohibit the transfer and sale of assets contemplated by these transactions.  On August 31, 2011, the MDPSC granted authority to exercise the franchises.  On September 27, 2011, Artesian Wastewater Maryland and Cecil County mutually agreed to terminate two asset purchase agreements and a wastewater franchise agreement with respect to certain wastewater facilities in Cecil County.  Termination of the wastewater franchise agreement is subject to receipt of approval from the MDPSC.  Artesian Wastewater Maryland has agreed to file an application with the MDPSC for such approval.  See Note 1 – General – Maryland Regulated Subsidiaries for further discussion.

Other Proceedings

Delaware law permits water utilities to put into effect, on a semi-annual basis, increases related to specific types of distribution system improvements through a Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC.  This charge may be implemented by water utilities between general rate increase applications that normally recognize changes in a water utility’s overall financial position.  The DSIC approval process is less costly when compared to the approval process for general rate increase requests.  The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings is capped at 7.5% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates and charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied cannot exceed 5% within any 12-month period.  During 2010, Artesian Water filed two applications with the DEPSC for approval to collect a 0.34% increase and 0.68% increase during the first and second half of the year, respectively.  These increases recover the costs of eligible revenue producing improvements made since the last rate increase in 2008, and were calculated to generate approximately $286,000 in revenue annually.  In November 2010, we filed an application with the DEPSC for approval to increase the DSIC rate to 1.47% effective January 1, 2011, which will generate approximately $390,000 in revenue on an annual basis.  The DEPSC approved the DSIC effective January 1, 2010, July 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011, subject to audit at a later date.  For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we earned approximately $106,000 in DSIC revenue.  We did not earn any DSIC revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, we earned approximately $347,000 and $193,000, respectively, in DSIC revenue.

On April 10, 2006, the DEPSC made effective new rules under Regulation Docket 15 that govern the terms and conditions under which water utilities require advances or contributions from customers or developers.  These regulations require that developers pay for all water facilities within a new development, with such funding recorded as contributions in aid of construction by the water utility.  In addition, the utility is required to receive a contribution in aid of construction of $1,500 for each new residential connection to its system towards the cost of water supply, treatment and storage facilities.  These regulations further require developers to fully pay for facilities to serve satellite systems.  These required contributions are intended to place a greater burden upon new customers to pay for the cost of facilities required to serve them.  On February 12, 2010 and February 11, 2011, respectively, we filed the first and second of three required annual reports with the DEPSC, in order to demonstrate our compliance with Regulation Docket 15.

In 2003, legislation was enacted in Delaware requiring all water utilities serving within northern New Castle County, Delaware to certify by July 2006, and each three years thereafter, that they have sufficient sources of self-supply to serve their respective systems.  The DEPSC accepted our certification of sufficient water supply through 2009.  Artesian Water filed a new certification of self-sufficiency with the DEPSC on June 30, 2009, for the period through 2012.  On June 1, 2010, the DEPSC accepted our self-sufficiency certification through 2012.
 
 
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NOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES

Under FASB ASC Topic 740, an uncertain tax position represents our expected treatment of a tax position taken, or planned to be taken in the future, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes.  As a result of our review of our tax positions, we determined that we had no material uncertain tax positions.  The Company would recognize, if applicable, interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and in accordance with the regulations of the jurisdictions involved.  There were no such interest and penalty charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 or September 30, 2010.  The Company remains subject to examination by state authorities for tax years 2008 through 2010 and by federal authorities for the tax years 2009 through 2010.  During the second quarter of 2010, the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, conducted an examination of the Company’s Federal income tax returns for 2007 and 2008.  The IRS has proposed no changes to the 2007 consolidated corporate income tax return.  The IRS made changes to the tax depreciation expense, which is related to the bonus depreciation calculation, on the 2008 consolidated corporate income tax return in the amount of approximately $1.9 million.  This change does not constitute a disallowance of a deduction, but only a deferral of such deduction.  The depreciation expense will be taken in subsequent years over the remaining tax lives of the applicable assets.  This adjustment reduces the Net Operating Loss generated in 2008 by the same amount.  The Company agrees with this change.

NOTE 8 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

Current Assets and Liabilities

For those current assets and liabilities that are considered financial instruments, the carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

Long-term Financial Liabilities

The fair value of Artesian Resources' long-term debt as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, determined by discounting their future cash flows using current market interest rates on similar instruments with comparable maturities as guided under FASB ASC 825 are shown below:

In thousands
   
 
September 30, 2011
 
December 31, 2010
 
Carrying amount
  $ 107,671     $ 106,606  
Estimated fair value
    125,180       113,481  
                 

The fair value of Advances for Construction cannot be reasonably estimated due to the inability to accurately estimate the timing and amounts of future refunds expected to be paid over the life of the contracts.  Refund payments are based on the water sales to new customers in the particular development constructed.  The fair value of Advances for Construction would be less than the carrying amount because these financial instruments are non-interest bearing.

NOTE 9 – NORTHERN SUSSEX REGIONAL WATER RECYCLING COMPLEX, LLC

On August 6, 2010, Artesian Resources, on behalf of itself and all applicable subsidiaries, signed a Conclusion and Termination Agreement, or Termination Agreement, with Darin A. Lockwood, on behalf of himself and all applicable business entities in which he has an interest, or Lockwood, including without limitation the NSRWRC, a business entity owned by Lockwood, pursuant to which all contracts and agreements with Lockwood and NSRWRC were cancelled except as set forth below.

 
15

 
 
The Termination Agreement supersedes and terminates all contracts and agreements previously existing between the parties, including the cancellation of the Wastewater Services Agreement between Artesian Utility and NSRWRC for the design, construction and operation of the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, a wastewater treatment facility to be located in Sussex County, Delaware.  Artesian Wastewater will manage the design and construction of the facility going forward and, once constructed, the operation of the facility.  Other contracts cancelled by the Termination Agreement include a sublease agreement for office space, an asset purchase agreement and a consulting agreement.  Any other contracts or business relationships between Artesian Resources and Lockwood not specifically noted were also cancelled with no additional compensation paid to either party.  Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Lockwood received a final net settlement payment of $800,000 including deposit.  In addition, on August 6, 2010, Artesian Resources and Lockwood entered into a confidentiality agreement and covenant not to compete.

Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Artesian Wastewater purchased the 75-acre parcel of land, purchased by Lockwood on July 1, 2008, for the operation of the wastewater facility known as the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recharge Complex and entered into a Water and Wastewater Easement Agreement that provides Artesian Wastewater right of way to a portion of land adjacent to the 75-acre parcel of land.  The Company purchased the land (with a carrying value of $5.2 million) and all engineering and design work (with a carrying value of $2.7 million) by paying off the $7.9 million remaining balance of the NSRWRC’s construction loan with a financial institution secured by the 75-acre parcel that was previously guaranteed by the Company.  There is no other security pledged for the 75-acre parcel of land.  No gain was recognized as a result of the Termination Agreement since the assets were purchased at their carrying cost on NSRWRC’s balance sheet and the loan concurrently repaid equaled the carrying value of the assets at the date of the Termination Agreement.

As a result of the Termination Agreement, effective August 6, 2010, NSRWRC was deconsolidated from the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The Company is no longer the primary beneficiary of NSRWRC and NSRWRC no longer constitutes a VIE, as defined by FASB ASC Topic 810.  See Note 2 – Basis of Presentation.  The deconsolidation of NSRWRC resulted in the reclassification of the facility from non-utility property to utility plant on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

NOTE 10 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Prior to the signing of the Termination Agreement on August 6, 2010 discussed in Note 9 - Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Complex, LLC, the Company entered into transactions in the normal course of business with related parties.  The owner of NSRWRC is the sole owner of Meridian Architects and Engineers, LLC, or Meridian Architects, Meridian Enterprises, LLC, or Meridian Enterprises, and Meridian Consulting, LLC, or Meridian Consulting.  Approximately $15,000 was paid to Meridian Enterprises for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 for office space rental.  Also, as of September 30, 2010, the Company had an accounts receivable balance for engineering services due from Triple D Double S, LLC of approximately $1,000, which was owned by the owner of NSRWRC.  In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, related party revenue for engineering services was approximately $4,000 from Triple D Double S, LLC.  All services were provided in the ordinary course of business at fees and on terms and conditions that the Company believes are the same as those that would result from arm’s-length negotiations between unrelated parties.

NOTE 11 – COMMON STOCK OFFERING

On July 20, 2011, the Company completed the sale of 804,290 shares of its Class A Non-Voting Common Stock.  The net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses) of approximately $14.1 million were used to fund a paid-in capital contribution in the same amount to Artesian Water.  Artesian Water used the paid-in capital contribution to repay short-term borrowings (including borrowings incurred under our line of credit with Citizens Bank that is available to all of our subsidiaries) incurred primarily to finance expenses associated with its construction program, including investment in utility plant and equipment, and to fund capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes.

On August 15, 2011, the Company completed the sale of an additional 84,000 shares of its Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, in accordance with the option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments associated with our July 2011 stock offering.  The net proceeds of approximately $1.5 million were used to fund a paid-in capital contribution in the same amount to Artesian Water as noted above.

 
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NOTE 12 - IMPACT OF RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to represent the converged guidance of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB (together with the FASB, the “Boards”) on fair value measurement.  The collective efforts of the Boards and their respective staffs, reflected in this guidance, have resulted in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term “fair value.”  The Boards have concluded the common requirements will result in greater comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The amendments in this guidance are to be applied prospectively.  For public entities, the amendments are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  Early application by public entities is not permitted.  The Company does not expect a material impact on the Company's financial statements due to the adoption of this guidance.

In June 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income.  This guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.  The amendments in this guidance do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. This guidance should be applied retrospectively.  For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption is permitted.  The Company currently does not have other comprehensive income.  Should the Company have other comprehensive income in the future we will determine if we will present it on a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance that permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the annual two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test.  Under this guidance, an entity would not be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount.  The amendments include a number of events and circumstances for an entity to consider in conducting the qualitative assessment.  This guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption is permitted.  The Company does not expect a material impact on the Company's financial statements due to the adoption of this guidance.

 
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

OVERVIEW

Our profitability is primarily attributable to the sale of water by Artesian Water.  Gross water sales in Artesian Water comprise 87.8% of total operating revenues.  Our profitability is also attributed to the various contract operations, water and sewer Service Line Protection Plans and other services we provide.  Water sales are subject to seasonal fluctuations, particularly during summer when water demand may vary with rainfall and temperature.  In the event temperatures during the typically warmer months are cooler than expected, or rainfall is greater than expected, the demand for water may decrease and our revenues may be adversely affected.  We believe the effects of weather are short term and do not materially affect the execution of our strategic initiatives.  Our contract operations and other services provide a revenue stream that is not affected by changes in weather patterns.

While water sales revenues are our primary source of revenues, we continue to seek growth opportunities to provide wastewater service in Delaware and the surrounding areas.  We also continue to explore and develop relationships with developers and municipalities in order to increase revenues from contract water and wastewater operations, wastewater management services, design, construction and engineering services.  We plan to continue developing and expanding our contract operations and other services in a manner that complements our growth in water service to new customers.  Our anticipated growth in these areas is subject to changes in residential and commercial construction, which may be affected by interest rates, inflation and general housing and economic market conditions.  We anticipate continued growth in our non-regulated division due to our water and sewer Service Line Protection Plans.

Water Division

Artesian Water, Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Water Pennsylvania provide water service to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal and utility customers.  Increases in the number of customers served contributed to increases in our operating revenue.  The Town of Middletown, which is one of our municipal customers and is located in southern New Castle County, Delaware, has nearly doubled in population since 2001, and population growth in this area is expected to continue for some time as a result of ongoing and future residential construction.  As population growth continues in Middletown and other areas in Delaware, we believe that the demand for water will increase, thereby contributing to an increase in our operating revenues.  As of September 30, 2011, we had approximately 78,500 metered water customers in Delaware, an increase of approximately 800 compared to September 30, 2010.  The number of metered water customers in Maryland increased by approximately 300 compared to 2010, and the number of metered water customers in Pennsylvania remained consistent with 2010.

Wastewater Division

Artesian Wastewater owns wastewater infrastructure and began providing wastewater services in Delaware in July 2005.  Artesian Wastewater Maryland was incorporated on June 3, 2008 to provide regulated wastewater services in Maryland.  Our wastewater customers are billed a flat monthly fee, which contributes to providing a revenue stream unaffected by weather.

Non-Regulated Division

Artesian Utility provides contract water and wastewater operation services to private, municipal and governmental institutions.  Artesian Utility currently operates wastewater treatment facilities for the town of Middletown, in Southern New Castle County, or Middletown, under a 20-year contract that expires on February 1, 2021.  The facilities include two wastewater treatment stations with capacities of up to approximately 2.5 mgd and 250,000 gallons per day, respectively.  We also operate a wastewater disposal facility in Middletown in order to support the 2.5 mgd wastewater facility.

 
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One of the wastewater treatment facilities in Middletown now provides reclaimed wastewater for use in spray irrigation on public and agricultural lands in the area.  Our relationship with the Town of Middletown has given us the opportunity to create the Artesian Water Resource Management Partnership, or AWRMP, to encourage and support the use of reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation and other needs.  Using reclaimed water to irrigate farm fields can save the Delmarva region millions of gallons of groundwater each day.  The AWRMP’s first project in Middletown will save up to 3 million gallons of water per day during the peak growing season.  Through the AWRMP initiative, Artesian will provide planning, engineering and technical expertise and help bring together the various state, local and private partners needed for water recycling project approvals.

Artesian Development is a real estate holding company that owns properties, including land zoned for office buildings, a water treatment plant and wastewater facility, as well as property for current operations, including the recent purchase of an office facility.  The facility consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of office space along with nearly 10,000 square feet of warehouse space.  This facility allows all of our Sussex County, Delaware operations to be housed in one central location.

Artesian Consulting Engineers acquired all the assets of Meridian Architects and Engineers in June 2008.  As a result of the decline in new housing and development due to the economic downturn, the need for development and architectural services has remained depressed.  Therefore, in April 2011, we decided to reduce staffing levels and reorganize the business.  Artesian Consulting Engineers will no longer provide development and architectural services to outside third parties.  Artesian Consulting Engineers will continue to work with existing clients on projects already in progress for engineering services until those projects are complete.  We will continue to provide design and engineering contract services through our Artesian Utility subsidiary.

Protection Plans

In addition to services discussed above, Artesian Resources initiated a Water Service Line Protection Plan, or WSLP Plan, in March 2005.  The WSLP Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers’ leaking water service lines up to an annual limit.  As of September 30, 2011, approximately 16,200, or 23.5%, of our eligible water customers had signed up for the WSLP Plan.  The WSLP Plan was expanded in the second quarter of 2008 to include maintenance or repair to customers’ sewer lines.  This plan, the Sewer Service Line Protection Plan, or SSLP Plan, covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers’ leaking or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit.  As of September 30, 2011, approximately 8,900, or 12.8%, of our eligible customers had signed up for the SSLP Plan.  Also, in the second quarter of 2010, the WSLP Plan and SSLP Plan were extended to include non-customers of Artesian Resources.  As of September 30, 2011, approximately 730 non-customer participants have signed up for either the WSLP Plan or SSLP Plan.

Strategic Direction

Our strategy is to significantly increase customer growth, revenues, earnings and dividends by expanding our water, wastewater, and Service Line Protection Plan services across the Delmarva Peninsula.  We remain focused on providing superior service to our customers and continuously seeking ways to improve our efficiency and performance.  By providing water and wastewater services, we believe we are positioned as the primary resource for developers and communities throughout the Delmarva Peninsula seeking to fill both needs simultaneously.  We have a proven ability to acquire and integrate high growth, reputable entities, through which we have captured additional service territories that will serve as a base for future revenue.  With recent acquisitions, we have successfully integrated their operations, infrastructure, technology and employees.  We believe this experience presents a strong platform for further expansion and that our success to date also produces positive relationships and credibility with regulators, municipalities, developers and customers in both existing and prospective service areas.

In our regulated water division, our strategy is to focus on a wide spectrum of activities, which include identifying new and dependable sources of supply, developing the wells, treatment plants and delivery systems to supply water to customers and educating customers on the wise use of water.  Our strategy includes focused efforts to expand in new regions added to our Delaware service territory over the last 10 years.  In addition, we believe growth will occur in the Maryland counties on the Delmarva Peninsula.  We plan to expand our regulated water service area in the Cecil County designated growth corridor and to expand our business through the design, construction, operation, management and acquisition of additional water systems.  The expansion of our exclusive franchise areas elsewhere in Maryland and the award of additional contracts will similarly enhance our operations within the state.


 
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We believe that Delaware's generally lower cost of living in the region, availability of development sites in relatively close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean in Sussex County, and attractive financing rates for construction and mortgages have resulted, and will continue to result, in increases to our customer base.  Delaware’s lower property and income tax rate make it an attractive region for new home development and retirement communities.  Substantial portions of Delaware are currently not served by a public water system, which could also assist in an increase to our customer base as systems are added.  According to the United States Census Bureau, Delaware's population increased an estimated 14.6% from 2000 to 2010, as compared to the nationwide growth rate of approximately 10.6%.

In our regulated wastewater division, we foresee significant growth opportunities and will continue to seek strategic partnerships and relationships with developers and municipalities to complement existing agreements for the provision of wastewater service on the Delmarva Peninsula.  Artesian Wastewater completed an agreement with Georgetown, Delaware in July 2008 to provide wastewater treatment and disposal services for Georgetown’s growth and annexation areas.  Artesian Wastewater will provide up to 1 mgd of wastewater capacity for the town.  The preliminary engineering and design work was completed on a regional wastewater treatment and disposal facility located in the northern Sussex County area that has the potential to treat up to approximately 8 mgd.  This facility is strategically situated on 75 acres to provide service to the growing population in the Georgetown, Ellendale and Milton areas, as well as to neighboring municipal systems.  This facility was granted conditional use approval by Sussex County Council to serve the Elizabethtown subdivision of approximately 4,000 homes and 439,000 square feet of proposed commercial space, as well as seven additional projects comprising approximately 3,000 residential units.  The facility will also be capable of offering wastewater services to local municipalities.  Artesian Wastewater will manage the design and construction of the facility and, once constructed, the operation of the facility.

The general need for increased capital investment in our water and wastewater systems is due to a combination of population growth, more protective water quality standards and aging infrastructure.  Our capital investment plan for the next five years includes projects for water treatment plant improvements and additions in both Delaware and Maryland and wastewater treatment plant improvements and additions in Delaware.  Capital improvements are planned and budgeted to meet anticipated changes in regulations and needs for increased capacity related to projected growth.  The Delaware Public Service Commission and Maryland Public Service Commission have generally recognized the operating and capital costs associated with these improvements in setting water and wastewater rates for current customers and capacity charges for new customers.

In our non-regulated division, we are actively pursuing opportunities to expand our contract operations.  In Artesian Utility, we will seek to expand our contract design and construction services of water and wastewater facilities for developers, municipalities and other utilities.  Artesian Development owns two nine-acre parcels of land, located in Sussex County, Delaware, which will allow for construction of a water treatment facility and wastewater treatment facility.  Artesian Consulting Engineers will no longer provide development and architectural services to outside third parties.  Artesian Consulting Engineers will continue to work with existing clients on projects already in progress for engineering services until those projects are complete.  Artesian will continue to provide design and engineering contract services through our Artesian Utility subsidiary.

Regulatory Matters and Inflation

Our water and wastewater utility operations are subject to regulation by their respective state regulatory commissions, which have broad administrative power and authority to regulate rates charged for service, determine franchise areas and conditions of service, approve acquisitions, authorize the issuance of securities and oversee other matters.  The profitability of our utility operations is influenced, to a great extent, by the timeliness and adequacy of rate allowances we are granted by the respective regulatory commissions or authorities in the states in which we operate.

On April 11, 2011, Artesian Water filed a request with the Delaware Public Service Commission to implement new rates to meet a requested increase in revenue of 19.45%, or approximately $10.9 million, on an annualized basis.  The new rates are designed to support Artesian Water’s ongoing capital improvement program and to cover increased costs of operations, including chemicals and fuel, electricity, taxes, labor and benefits.  Artesian Water’s last request to implement new rates was filed in April 2008.  As permitted by law, on June 10, 2011, we placed temporary rates into effect designed to generate an increase in annual operating revenue of approximately 4.45%, or $2.5 million on an annualized basis, until new rates are approved by the Delaware Public Service Commission.  Also as permitted by law, on November 11, 2011, we will place into effect a second step of temporary rates designed to generate an additional increase in annual operating revenue of approximately 6.44%, or $3.8 million on an annualized basis, until new rates are approved by the DEPSC.

 
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On December 29, 2010, Artesian Water Maryland filed an application with the Maryland Public Service Commission to revise its rates and charges concerning the former Mountain Hill Water system.  Artesian Water Maryland requested authorization to implement proposed new rates for water service to meet a requested increase in revenue of approximately $65,000 on an annualized basis.  In addition to the increase in rates, Artesian Water Maryland is requesting a change to its rate structure, reducing the per thousand gallon charge while adding a monthly customer and fire protection charge.  On September 16, 2011, the MDPSC authorized a rate increase in revenue of approximately $51,000 on an annualized basis and approved the change in rate struture.

We are affected by inflation, most notably by the continually increasing costs required to maintain, improve and expand our service capability.  The cumulative effect of inflation results in significantly higher facility costs compared to investments made 20 to 40 years ago, which must be recovered from future cash flows.


Results of Operations – Analysis of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

Operating Revenues
 
Revenues totaled $17.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, $0.3 million, or 1.3%, below revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 of $18.0 million.  Water sales revenues decreased $176,000, or 1.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2011 over the corresponding period in 2010.  The record precipitation experienced during July through September of 2011 reduced per capita consumption in comparison to the quarter ended September 30, 2010, thereby offsetting the effect of the temporary rate increase that was placed into effect on June 10, 2011 and reducing water sales revenue.  In addition, the Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC, of 1.47% was discontinued, as required under Delaware law, following the implementation of the 4.45% temporary rate increase on June 10, 2011.  The decrease in water sales revenue is partially offset by increases due to the addition of service territory and an increase in resale water revenue.  We realized 89.8% of our total operating revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from the sale of water as compared to 89.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Other utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.1 million, from $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011.  The increase is primarily the result of increases in service charges, contract revenue and rental income.  In addition, wastewater revenues increased due to customer growth.

Non-utility operating revenue decreased $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, or 12.5%, from $1.2 million in 2010 to $1.1 million for the same period in 2011.  This decrease is primarily due to less design and permitting services performed for a project in Middletown, Delaware, a decrease in contract services performed for municipalities in Maryland following the purchase of the Town of Port Deposit’s water assets and a reduction in contract services for municipalities in Pennsylvania.  In addition, consulting revenue earned by Artesian Consulting Engineers decreased due to the reduction and reorganization of the business.  The decrease in non-utility operating revenue is partially offset by an increase in water and wastewater Service Line Protection Plan, or SLP Plans, revenue earned by Artesian Resources.  The SLP Plans provide coverage for all material and labor required to repair or replace participants’ leaking water service or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $0.4 million, or 3.9%, to $10.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $9.6 million for the same period in 2010.  The components of the change in operating expenses include an increase in utility operating expenses of $0.6 million and a decrease in non-utility operating expenses of $0.2 million.

The increase in utility operating expenses of $0.6 million, or 8.0%, for the three months ended September 30, 2011 over the same period in 2010, is primarily comprised of an increase in payroll and employee benefits costs, repair and maintenance expenses and administration expenses.

Payroll and employee benefit costs increased $0.3 million, or 6.3%, compared to the same period in 2010, primarily as a result of an increase in wages and increased medical benefit premiums.

Repair and maintenance expenses increased $0.2 million, or 29.7%, as a result of increased water treatment equipment maintenance costs, increased meter maintenance costs, increased software support fees and increased fuel costs.

 
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Administration expenses increased $0.1 million, or 14.1%, primarily due to rate filing costs associated with our Delaware water rate increase filing and legal costs associated with ongoing litigation against Chester Water Authority contesting the propriety of rates they have charged for water we purchase under contract.

Non-utility expenses decreased approximately $237,000, or 25.1%, primarily the result of less project activity in Artesian Utility as compared to the same period in 2010.

The ratio of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total revenue was 56.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 53.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $147,000, or 8.4%, primarily due to continuing investment in utility plant in service providing supply, treatment, storage and distribution of water.

Federal and state income tax expense decreased $417,000 primarily due to lower taxable income for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010.  In addition, federal and state income tax expense decreased due to a reclassification of deferred acquisition costs from regulatory assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to miscellaneous other expense on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income, resulted in an approximately $138,000 tax effect.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Miscellaneous income decreased $340,000 primarily due to an approximately $349,000 reclassification of deferred acquisition costs from regulatory assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to miscellaneous other income (expense) on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income, as a result of the termination of agreements discussed in Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 to this Form 10-Q under the heading “General – Maryland Regulated Subsidiaries.”

Interest Charges

Interest charges decreased $26,000, or 1.4%, primarily due to a decrease in short-term debt outstanding.  We used the proceeds from our July 2011 offering of common stock to repay short-term borrowings.

Net Income

Our net income decreased $659,000, or 22.8%, for the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period a year ago.  This decrease in net income was due to lower operating income margins in our water utility business.  This decrease is also due to an approximately $349,000 reclassification of deferred acquisition costs from regulatory assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to miscellaneous other expense on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income, as a result of the termination of agreements discussed in Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 to this Form 10-Q under the heading “General – Maryland Regulated Subsidiaries.”

 
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Results of Operations – Analysis of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

Operating Revenues
 
Revenues totaled $49.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, $47,000, or 0.1%, above revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $48.9 million.  Water sales revenues increased $619,000, or 1.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 over the corresponding period in 2010.  The increase in water sales is due to the addition of service territory, an increase in resale water revenue and a temporary rate increase placed into effect on June 10, 2011, as permitted under Delaware law, until new rates are approved by the DEPSC.  In addition, the Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC, revenue increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.  However, per capita demand has declined for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 in comparison to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to the effects of an unusually wet late summer weather pattern, thereby reducing the effect of the temporary rate increase.  We realized 88.8% of our total operating revenue in the first nine months of 2011 from the sale of water as compared to 87.6% in 2010.

Other utility operating revenue totaled $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $2.0 million in 2010.  The increase is primarily the result of increased wastewater revenues due to customer growth and an increase in our service charges, contract revenue and rental income.

Non-utility operating revenue decreased $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, or 19.5%, from $4.1 million in 2010 to $3.3 million for the same period in 2011.  This decrease is primarily due to less design and permitting services performed for a project in Middletown, Delaware, a decrease in contract services performed for municipalities in Maryland following the purchase of the Town of Port Deposit’s water assets and a reduction in contract services for municipalities in Pennsylvania.  In addition, consulting revenue earned by Artesian Consulting Engineers decreased due to the reduction and reorganization of the business.  The decrease in non-utility operating revenue is partially offset by an increase in water and wastewater Service Line Protection Plan, or SLP Plans, revenue earned by Artesian Resources.  The SLP Plans provide coverage for all material and labor required to repair or replace participants’ leaking water service or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $1.5 million, or 5.1%, to $29.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $28.3 million for the same period in 2010.  The components of the change in operating expenses include an increase in utility operating expenses of $2.0 million and decrease in non-utility operating expenses of $0.5 million.

The increase in utility operating expenses of $2.0 million, or 8.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 over the same period in 2010, is primarily comprised of an increase in payroll and employee benefits costs, administration expenses and repair and maintenance expenses.

Payroll and employee benefit costs increased $1.1 million, or 9.1%, compared to the same period in 2010, primarily as a result of an increase in wages and increased medical benefit premiums.

Administration expenses increased $0.5 million, or 17.3%, primarily due to legal costs associated with ongoing litigation against Chester Water Authority contesting the propriety of rates they have charged for water we purchase under contract.

Repair and maintenance expenses increased $0.4 million, or 24.3%, a result of increased water treatment equipment maintenance costs, increased meter maintenance costs increased software support fees and increased fuel costs.

Non-utility expenses decreased approximately $0.5 million, or 17.1%, primarily the result of less project activity in Artesian Utility as compared to the same period in 2010.  The decrease in non-utility expenses is partially offset by an increase in legal costs of approximately $236,000 as a result of a federal grand jury subpoena in connection with an investigation being conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Property and other taxes decreased by $49,000, or 1.7%, compared to the same period in 2010, primarily due to the first year assessment of a Maryland facility that was recorded in 2010 and was retroactive to include 2009.

The ratio of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total revenue was 60.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 58.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $326,000, or 6.3%, primarily due to continuing investment in utility plant in service providing supply, treatment, storage and distribution of water.

Federal and state income tax expense decreased $789,000 due to lower taxable income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  The decrease in federal and state income tax expense is also due to a reclassification of deferred acquisition costs from regulatory assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to miscellaneous other expense on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income, resulting in an approximately $138,000 tax effect.  The decrease in federal and state income tax expense is partially offset by an increase due to a retroactive adjustment to our effective tax rate applied to a deferred tax liability related to the bonus depreciation calculation in the State of Maryland.

 
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Interest Charges

Interest charges increased $68,000, or 1.3%, primarily due to an increase in average short-term debt outstanding during 2011 and increased short-term borrowing interest charges that were previously capitalized, a result of the Termination Agreement with NSRWRC as of August 6, 2010.  The increased interest charges are also due to an increase in long-term debt outstanding.  The proceeds from our July 2011 offering of common stock were used to repay short-term borrowings.

Net Income

Our net income decreased $1.3 million, or 21.1%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period a year ago.  This decrease in net income was primarily due to lower operating income margins from our water utility business as a result of the wetter weather experienced during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.  The decrease in net income is also due to lower operating income margins from our non-utility business, a result of decreased contract services.  In addition, net income decreased due to an approximately $349,000 reclassification of deferred acquisition costs from regulatory assets on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to miscellaneous other expense on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income, as a result of the termination of agreements discussed in Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 1 to this Form 10-Q under the heading “General – Maryland Regulated Subsidiaries.”

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Overview

Our primary sources of liquidity for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were $13.9 million provided by cash flow from operating activities, $2.9 million from the issuance of long-term debt and $16.7 million in net proceeds from the issuance of approximately 955,000 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock.  On July 20, 2011 and August 15, 2011, the Company completed the sale of 804,290 shares and 84,000 shares of its Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, respectively.  Cash flow from operating activities is primarily provided by our utility operations, and is impacted by the timeliness and adequacy of rate increases and changes in water consumption as a result of year-to-year variations in weather conditions, particularly during the summer.  A significant part of our ability to maintain and meet our financial objectives is to ensure that our investments in utility plant and equipment are recovered in the rates charged to customers.  As such, from time to time, we file rate increase requests to recover increases in operating expenses and investments in utility plant and equipment.

Investment in Plant and Systems

The primary focus of Artesian Water’s investment was to continue to provide high quality reliable service to our growing service territory.  We invested $10.7 million in capital expenditures during the first nine months of 2011 compared to $11.6 million invested during the same period in 2010.  During the first nine months of 2011, we invested $2.7 million to enhance or improve existing treatment facilities and for the rehabilitation of pumping equipment to better serve our customers.  We invested $2.7 million to upgrade and automate our meter reading equipment.  We invested approximately $0.1 million for our rehabilitation program for transmission and distribution facilities by replacing aging or deteriorating mains and for new transmission and distribution facilities.  We invested approximately $2.3 million in mandatory utility plant expenditures, due to governmental highway projects, which require the relocation of water service mains.  Developers financed $1.0 million for the installation of water mains and hydrants for the first nine months of 2011 compared to $1.5 million for the first nine months of 2010.  We also invested $0.6 million for equipment purchases, computer hardware and software upgrades, and building upgrades, furniture and equipment related to renovations made to our main office building located in New Castle County.  The investment in general plant also includes an additional investment of $0.7 million for transportation and equipment purchases.  An additional $0.6 million was invested in wastewater projects in Delaware.

Lines of Credit

At September 30, 2011, Artesian Resources had a $40 million line of credit with Citizens Bank, or Citizens, which is available to all subsidiaries of Artesian Resources.  As of September 30, 2011, there was $27.8 million of available funds under this line of credit.  The interest rate for borrowings under this line is the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 1.00%.  This is a demand line of credit and therefore the financial institution may demand payment for any outstanding amounts at any time.  The term of this line of credit expires on the earlier of May 31, 2012 or any date on which Citizens demands payment.

 
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At September 30, 2011, Artesian Water had a $20 million line of credit with CoBank, ACB, or CoBank, that allows for the financing of operations for Artesian Water, with up to $10 million of this line available for the operations of Artesian Water Maryland.  As of September 30, 2011, there were no borrowings under this line of credit.  The interest rate for borrowings under this line is LIBOR plus 1.50%.  The term of this line of credit expires on January 17, 2012.

On July 20, 2011, the Company completed the sale of 804,290 shares of its Class A Non-Voting Common Stock.  The net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses) of approximately $14.1 million were used to fund a paid-in capital contribution in the same amount to Artesian Water.  Artesian Water used the paid-in capital contribution to repay short-term borrowings (including borrowings incurred under our line of credit with Citizens that is available to all of our subsidiaries) incurred primarily to finance expenses associated with its construction program, including investment in utility plant and equipment, and to fund capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes.

On August 15, 2011, the Company completed the sale of an additional 84,000 shares of its Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, in accordance with the option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments associated with our July 2011 stock offering.  The net proceeds of approximately $1.5 million were used to fund a paid-in capital contribution in the same amount to Artesian Water as noted above.

Pursuant to the Termination Agreement between Artesian Resources and Darin A. Lockwood signed on August 6, 2010, Artesian Resources purchased the 75-acre parcel of land, previously purchased by Darin A. Lockwood on July 1, 2008, for the operation of the wastewater facility known as the Northern Sussex Regional Water Recharge Complex.  The Company purchased the land (with a carrying value of $5.2 million) and all engineering and design work (with a carrying value of $2.7 million) by paying off the $7.9 million remaining balance of the NSRWRC’s construction loan with a financial institution secured by the 75-acre parcel that was previously guaranteed by the Company.  There is no other security pledged for the 75-acre parcel of land.


Line of Credit Commitments
 
Commitment Due by Period
 
 
In thousands
 
Less than
1 Year
   
1-3 Years
   
4-5 Years
   
Over 5 Years
 
 
Lines of Credit
  $ 12,195     $ -----     $ -----     $ -----  


Long-Term Debt

On August 1, 2008, Artesian Water Maryland executed a promissory note in the amount of approximately $2.3 million to Sunrise Holdings, L.P., or Sunrise, in connection with the Mountain Hill acquisition, that bears interest at a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.50%.  The note is payable in four equal annual installments, commencing on the first anniversary of the closing date.  Three annual installment payments were made in the amount of $0.6 million each.  The remaining principal balance due on this note, as of September 30, 2011, is $0.6 million.  The note is secured by a first lien security interest in all of Mountain Hill’s assets in favor of Sunrise and is guaranteed by Artesian Resources.

Artesian Water’s trust indentures, which set certain criteria for the issuance of new long-term debt, limit long-term debt, including the short-term portion thereof, to 66 ⅔% of total capitalization.  Our debt to total capitalization, including the short-term portion thereof, was 49.3% at September 30, 2011.  In addition, our revolving line of credit with CoBank contains customary affirmative and negative covenants that are binding on us (which are in some cases subject to certain exceptions), including, but not limited to, restrictions on our ability to make certain loans and investments, guaranty certain obligations, enter into, or undertake, certain mergers, consolidations or acquisitions, transfer certain assets, change our business or incur additional indebtedness.  In addition, this line of credit requires us to abide by certain financial covenants and ratios.  As of September 30, 2011, we were in compliance with these covenants.

 
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We expect to fund our activities for the next twelve months using our available cash balances and bank credit lines, plus projected cash generated from operations.
 
Contractual Obligations
 
Payments Due by Period
 
In thousands
 
Less than
1 Year
   
1-3
Years
   
4-5
Years
   
After 5
Years
   
Total
 
First Mortgage Bonds (Principal and Interest)
  $ 7,067     $ 14,022     $ 13,847     $ 154,594     $ 189,530  
State revolving fund loans (Principal and Interest)
    798       1,595       1,595       6,799       10,787  
Note Payable (Principal and Interest)
    590       ---       ---       ---       590  
Operating leases
    65       95       101       1,634       1,895  
Unconditional purchase obligations
    3,791       7,561       7,571       19,865       38,788  
Tank painting contractual obligation
    78       ---       ---       ---       78  
Total contractual cash obligations
  $ 12,389     $ 23,273     $ 23,114     $ 182,892     $ 241,668  

Long-term debt obligations reflect the maturities of certain series of our first mortgage bonds, which we intend to refinance when due.  The state revolving fund loan obligation has an amortizing mortgage payment payable over a 20-year period, and will be refinanced as future securities are issued.  Both the long-term debt and the state revolving fund loan have certain financial covenant provisions, the violation of which could result in default and require the obligation to be immediately repaid, including all interest.  We have not experienced conditions that would result in our default under these agreements, and we do not anticipate any such occurrence.  Payments for unconditional purchase obligations reflect minimum water purchase obligations based on rates that are subject to change under our interconnection agreement with the Chester Water Authority.

On July 15, 2011, Artesian Water entered into a Financing Agreement, or Financing Agreement, with the Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, acting by and through the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, a public agency of Delaware, or the Department.  The Company has been given a loan of approximately $3.6 million, or the Loan, from the Delaware Safe Drinking Water Revolving Fund to finance all or a portion of the cost to replace specific water transmission mains in service areas located in New Castle County, Delaware (collectively, the “Project”).  In accordance with the Financing Agreement, the Company will from time to time request funds under the Loan as it incurs costs in connection with the Project.  The Company shall pay to the Department, on the principal amount drawn down and outstanding from the date drawn, interest at a rate of 1.7% per annum and an administrative fee at the rate of 1.7% per annum.  As of September 30, 2011, no funds were borrowed under this Loan.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, including any arrangements with any structured finance, special purpose or variable interest entities.

Critical Accounting Assumptions, Estimates and Policies; Recent Accounting Standards

This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on the accounting policies used and disclosed in our 2010 consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes that were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and included as part of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  The preparation of those financial statements required management to make assumptions and estimates that affected the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  Actual amounts or results could differ from those based on such assumptions and estimates.

Our critical accounting policies are described in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  There have been no changes in our critical accounting policies.  Our significant accounting policies are described in our notes to the 2010 consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Information concerning our implementation and the impact of recent accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board is included in the notes to our 2010 consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and also in the notes to our consolidated financial statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.  We did not adopt any accounting policy in the first nine months of 2011 that had a material impact on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

 
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CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which express our “belief,” “anticipation” or “expectation,” as well as other statements which are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Statements regarding our goals, priorities, growth and expansion plans and expectation for our water and wastewater subsidiaries and non-regulated subsidiaries, customer base growth opportunities in Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland, our belief regarding our capacity to provide water services for the foreseeable future to our customers, our belief relating to our compliance and the cost to achieve compliance with relevant governmental regulations, our expectation of the timing of decisions by regulatory authorities, our expectation of the timing of the closing for pending acquisitions, the impact of weather on our operations and the execution of our strategic initiatives, our expectation of the timing for construction on new projects, our belief regarding our reliance on outside engineering firms, our expectation relating to the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements, contract operations opportunities, legal proceedings, our properties, deferred tax assets, adequacy of our available sources of financing, the expected recovery of expenses related to our long-term debt, our expectation to be in compliance with financial covenants in our debt instruments, our ability to refinance our debt as it comes due, the timing and terms of renewals of our lines of credit, plans to increase our wastewater treatment operations, engineering services and other revenue streams less affected by weather, expected future contributions to our postretirement benefit plan, and our liquidity needs are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “may”, “should”, variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  Certain factors as discussed under Item 1A -Risk Factors, in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, such as changes in weather, changes in our contractual obligations, changes in government policies, the timing and results of our rate requests, changes in economic and market conditions generally, and other matters could cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so and you should not rely on any forward-looking statement as representation of the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


ITEM 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

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 exposure to interest rate risk related to existing fixed rate, long-term debt is due to the term of the majority of our First Mortgage Bonds, which have final maturity dates ranging from 2018 to 2043.  The Company has $60 million of variable rate lines of credit with two banks, under which the interim bank loans payable at September 30, 2011 were approximately $12.2 million.  We are also exposed to market risk associated with changes in commodity prices.  Our risks associated with price increases in chemicals, electricity and other commodities are mitigated by our ability to recover our costs through rate increases to our customers.  We have also sought to mitigate future significant electric price increases by signing a two year supply contract, at a fixed price.

 
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ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  In addition, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were effective to achieve the foregoing objectives.  A control system cannot provide absolute assurance, however, that the objectives of the control system are met and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.
 
(b) Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


As previously disclosed, Artesian Water received a federal grand jury subpoena in connection with an investigation being conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Environmental Protection Agency. The subpoena requests certain documents from Artesian Water principally relating to eight wastewater facilities in Pennsylvania formerly operated by personnel of Artesian Utility Development, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary.  Artesian Resources was subsequently advised that Artesian Utility’s prior operation of the eight wastewater facilities in Pennsylvania is a subject of the grand jury investigation.  We are fully cooperating with the investigation. Due to the stage of the investigation, we are unable to predict the outcome of the investigation, or the possible loss or range of loss, if any, which could be associated with the resolution of any possible criminal charges or civil claims that may be brought against us.  Should such charges or claims be brought, we could face significant fines, damage awards or regulatory consequences which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.

Periodically, we are involved in other proceedings or litigation arising in the ordinary course of business.  We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will materially affect our business, financial position or results of operations.


In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.  There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in such Annual Report on Form 10-K.


 
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Exhibit No.
Description
   
10.1
Financing Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2011, between Artesian Water Company, Inc. and Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, acting by and through the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s form 8-K filed on July 19, 2011.
   
10.2
General Obligation Note (New Castle County Water Main Transmission Replacements Projects), Series 2011-SRF, dated as of July 15, 2011, issued by Artesian Water Company, Inc. in favor of Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, acting by and through the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Company’s form 8-K filed on July 19, 2011.
   
10.3
Stock Repurchase Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2011, between Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, and Artesian Resources Corporation.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s form 8-K filed on September 6, 2011.
   
10.4
Termination of Asset Purchase Agreements, Franchise and Parent Guaranty, dated as of September 27, 2011, by and among Artesian Resources Corporation, Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc. and Cecil County, Maryland.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s for 8-K filed on September 28, 2011.
   
   
   
   
101
The following financial statements from Artesian Resources Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
*   Filed herewith

 
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION


Date:  November 8, 2011
By:
/s/ DIAN C. TAYLOR 
   
Dian C. Taylor (Principal Executive Officer)


Date:  November 8, 2011
By:
/s/ DAVID B. SPACHT
   
David B. Spacht (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



 
 

 


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
Description
   
10.1
Financing Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2011, between Artesian Water Company, Inc. and Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, acting by and through the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s form 8-K filed on July 19, 2011.
   
10.2
General Obligation Note (New Castle County Water Main Transmission Replacements Projects), Series 2011-SRF, dated as of July 15, 2011, issued by Artesian Water Company, Inc. in favor of Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, acting by and through the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Company’s form 8-K filed on July 19, 2011.
   
10.3
Stock Repurchase Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2011, between Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, and Artesian Resources Corporation.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s form 8-K filed on September 6, 2011.
   
10.4
Termination of Asset Purchase Agreements, Franchise and Parent Guaranty, dated as of September 27, 2011, by and among Artesian Resources Corporation, Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc. and Cecil County, Maryland.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company’s for 8-K filed on September 28, 2011.
   
   
   
   
101
The following financial statements from Artesian Resources Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

*   Filed herewith