The York Water Company (YORW) 10-Q2022 Q1 Quarterly report

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

The interim financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods.  Because the financial statements cover an interim period, they do not include all disclosures and notes normally provided in annual financial statements, and therefore, should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022.  Additionally, based on the duration and severity of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, the Company is uncertain of the ultimate impact it could have on the business.

Differences in timing of revenue recognition, billings, and cash collections result in receivables and contract assets.  Generally, billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition, resulting in a contract asset reported as unbilled revenue on the balance sheet.  The Company does not receive advances or deposits from customers before revenue is recognized so no contract liabilities are reported.  Accounts receivable are recorded when the right to consideration becomes unconditional and are presented separately on the balance sheet.  The changes in accounts receivable – customers and in unbilled revenue were primarily due to normal timing difference between performance and the customer’s payments.

Net income of $3,859 and $3,705 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, is used to calculate both basic and diluted earnings per share.  Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive shares.  The dilutive effect of employee stock-based compensation is included in the computation of diluted earnings per share and is calculated using the treasury stock method and expected proceeds upon exercise or issuance of the stock-based compensation.

The following table summarizes the shares used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share:

On March 11, 2013, the Board of Directors, or the Board, authorized a share repurchase program granting the Company authority to repurchase up to 1,200,000 shares of the Company's common stock from time to time.  The stock repurchase program has no specific end date and the Company may repurchase shares in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions.  The Company may suspend or discontinue the repurchase program at any time. NaN shares were repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.  As of March 31, 2022, 618,004 shares remain authorized for repurchase.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company did not enter into any new long-term debt arrangements or modify its outstanding long-term debt, which is summarized in the table below.

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations.  The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments is interest rate risk.  The Company utilizes an interest rate swap agreement to effectively convert the Company's $12,000 variable-rate debt issue to a fixed rate.  Interest rate swaps are contracts in which a series of interest rate cash flows are exchanged over a prescribed period.  The notional amount on which the interest payments are based ($12,000) is not exchanged.  The interest rate swap provides that the Company pays the counterparty a fixed interest rate of 3.16% on the notional amount of $12,000.  In exchange, the counterparty pays the Company a variable interest rate based on 59% of the U.S. Dollar one-month LIBOR rate on the notional amount.  The intent is for the variable rate received from the swap counterparty to approximate the variable rate the Company pays to bondholders on its variable rate debt issue, resulting in a fixed rate being paid to the swap counterparty and reducing the Company's interest rate risk.  The Company's net payment rate on the swap was 2.90% and 2.95% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The interest rate swap agreement is classified as a financial derivative used for non-trading activities.  The accounting standards regarding accounting for derivatives and hedging activities require companies to recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value on the balance sheet.  In accordance with the standards, the interest rate swap is recorded on the balance sheet in other deferred credits at fair value (see Note 6).

The Company uses regulatory accounting treatment rather than hedge accounting to defer the unrealized gains and losses on its interest rate swap.  These unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a regulatory asset.  Based on current ratemaking treatment, the Company expects the unrealized gains and losses to be recognized in rates as a component of interest expense as the swap settlements occur.  Swap settlements are recorded in the income statement with the hedged item as interest expense.  Swap settlements resulted in the reclassification from regulatory assets to interest expense of $90 and $91 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The overall swap result was a gain of $494 and $431 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.  The Company expects to reclassify $246 from regulatory assets to interest expense as a result of swap settlements over the next 12 months.

The interest rate swap agreement contains provisions that require the Company to maintain a credit rating of at least BBB- with Standard & Poor's.  If the Company's rating were to fall below this rating, it would be in violation of these provisions, and the counterparty to the derivative could request immediate payment if the derivative was in a liability position.  On October 8, 2021 Standard & Poor's affirmed the Company's credit rating at A-, with a stable outlook and adequate liquidity.  The Company's interest rate swap was in a liability position as of March 31, 2022.  If a violation due to credit rating, or some other default provision, were triggered on March 31, 2022, the Company would have been required to pay the counterparty approximately $1,523.

The interest rate swap will expire on October 1, 2029.  Other than the interest rate swap, the Company has no other derivative instruments.

The accounting standards regarding fair value measurements establish a fair value hierarchy which indicates the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market.  Level 1 inputs include quoted prices for identical instruments and are the most observable.  Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and observable inputs such as interest rates, commodity rates and yield curves.  Level 3 inputs are not observable in the market and include management’s own judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The Company has recorded its interest rate swap liability at fair value in accordance with the standards.  The liability is recorded under the caption “Other deferred credits” on the balance sheet.  The table below illustrates the fair value of the interest rate swap as of the end of the reporting period.

Fair values are measured as the present value of all expected future cash flows based on the LIBOR-based swap yield curve as of the date of the valuation.  These inputs to this calculation are deemed to be Level 2 inputs.  The balance sheet carrying value reflects the Company's credit quality as of March 31, 2022.  The rate used in discounting all prospective cash flows anticipated to be made under this swap reflects a representation of the yield to maturity for 30-year debt on utilities rated A- as of March 31, 2022.  The use of the Company's credit rating resulted in a reduction in the fair value of the swap liability of $23 as of March 31, 2022.  The fair value of the swap reflecting the Company's credit quality as of December 31, 2021 is shown in the table below.

The carrying amount of current assets and liabilities that are considered financial instruments approximates fair value as of the dates presented.  The Company's total long-term debt, with a carrying value of $154,276 at March 31, 2022, and $149,190 at December 31, 2021, had an estimated fair value of approximately $155,000 and $168,000, respectively.  The estimated fair value of debt was calculated using a discounted cash flow technique that incorporates a market interest yield curve with adjustments for duration and risk profile.  These inputs to this calculation are deemed to be Level 2 inputs.  The Company recognized its credit rating in determining the yield curve, and did not factor in third-party credit enhancements including the letter of credit on the 2008 Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority Series A issue.

Customers' advances for construction and note receivable had carrying values at March 31, 2022 of $13,161 and $255, respectively.  At December 31, 2021, customers' advances for construction and note receivable had carrying values of $12,820 and $255, respectively.  The relative fair values of these amounts cannot be accurately estimated since the timing of future payment streams is dependent upon several factors, including new customer connections, customer consumption levels and future rate increases.

The Company entered into a consent order agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in December 2016 after the Company determined it exceeded the action level for lead as established by the Lead and Copper Rule, or LCR, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The Company did not have an exceedance in any subsequent compliance test.  Under the agreement, the Company successfully completed its commitment to exceed the LCR replacement schedule by replacing all the known company-owned lead service lines within four years from the agreement.  Any additional company-owned lead service lines that are discovered will be replaced and included in utility plant but are not expected to have a material impact on the financial position of the Company.

The Company was granted approval by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PPUC, to modify its tariff to include the cost of the annual replacement of up to 400 lead customer-owned service lines over nine years from the agreement.  The tariff modification allows the Company to replace customer-owned service lines at its own initial cost.  The Company will record the costs as a regulatory asset to be recovered in future base rates to customers, over a four-year period.  The cost for the customer-owned lead service line replacements was approximately $1,401 and $1,351 through March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and is included as a regulatory asset.  Based on its experience, the Company estimates that lead customer-owned service lines replacements will cost $1,450.  This estimate is subject to adjustment as more facts become available.

The Company provides utility service as a distinct and single performance obligation to each of its water and wastewater customers.  The transaction price is detailed in the tariff pursuant to an order by the PPUC and made publicly available.  There is no variable consideration and no free service, special rates, or subnormal charges to any customer.  Due to the fact that the contract includes a single performance obligation, no judgment is required to allocate the transaction price.  The performance obligation is satisfied over time through the continuous provision of utility service through a stand-ready obligation to perform and the transfer of water or the collection of wastewater through a series of distinct transactions that are identical in nature and have the same pattern of transfer to the customer.  The Company uses an output method to recognize the utility service revenue over time.  The stand-ready obligation is recognized through the passage of time in the form of a fixed charge and the transfer of water or the collection of wastewater is recognized at a per unit rate based on the actual or estimated flow through the meter.  Each customer is invoiced every month and the invoice is due within twenty days.  The utility service has no returns or warranties associated with it.  No revenue is recognized from performance obligations satisfied in prior periods and no performance obligations remain unsatisfied as of the end of the reporting period.  A contract asset for unbilled revenue is recognized for the passage of time and the actual or estimated usage from the latest meter reading to the end of the accounting period.  The methodology is standardized and consistently applied to reduce bias and the need for judgment.

The Company provides billing and revenue collection service as distinct performance obligations to 2 municipalities within the service territory of the Company.  The municipalities provide wastewater service to their residents and the Company acts as the billing and revenue collection agent for the municipalities.  The transaction price is a fixed amount per bill prepared as established in the contract.  There is no variable consideration.  Due to the fact that both the billing performance obligation and the revenue collection performance obligation are materially complete by the end of the reporting period, the Company does not allocate the transaction price between the two performance obligations.  The performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time when the bills are sent as the municipalities receive all the benefits and bears all of the risk of non-collection at that time.  Each municipality is invoiced when the bills are complete and the invoice is due within thirty days.  The billing and revenue collection service has no returns or warranties associated with it.  No revenue is recognized from performance obligations satisfied in prior periods and no performance obligations remain unsatisfied as of the end of the reporting period.

The Company provides collection service as a distinct and single performance obligation to several municipalities within the service territory of the Company.  The municipalities provide wastewater service to their residents.  If those residents are delinquent in paying for their wastewater service, the municipalities request that the Company post for and shut off the supply of water to the premises of those residents.  When the resident is no longer delinquent, the Company will restore water service to the premises.  The transaction price for each posting, each shut off, and each restoration is a fixed amount as established in the contract.  There is no variable consideration.  Due to the fact that the contract includes a single performance obligation, no judgment is required to allocate the transaction price.  The performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time when the posting, shut off, or restoration is completed as the municipalities receive all the benefits in the form of payment or no longer providing wastewater service.  Each municipality is invoiced periodically for the posting, shut offs, and restorations that have been completed since the last billing and the invoice is due within thirty days.  The collection service has no returns or warranties associated with it.  No revenue is recognized from performance obligations satisfied in prior periods and no performance obligations remain unsatisfied as of the end of the reporting period.  A contract asset for unbilled revenue is recognized for postings, shut offs, and restorations that have been completed from the last billing to the end of the accounting period.

The Company provides service line protection as a distinct and single performance obligation to current water customers that choose to participate.  The transaction price is detailed in the plan’s terms and conditions and made publicly available.  There is no variable consideration.  Due to the fact that the contract includes a single performance obligation, no judgment is required to allocate the transaction price.  The performance obligation is satisfied over time through the continuous provision of service line protection through a stand-ready obligation to perform.  The Company uses an output method to recognize the service line protection revenue over time.  The stand-ready obligation is recognized through the passage of time.  A customer has a choice to prepay for an entire year or to pay in advance each month.  The service line protection plan has no returns or extended warranties associated with it.  No revenue is recognized from performance obligations satisfied in prior periods and no material performance obligations remain unsatisfied as of the end of the reporting period.

From time to time, the Company files applications for rate increases with the PPUC and is granted rate relief as a result of such requests.  Most recently, the PPUC authorized an increase in rates effective March 1, 2019.  The company anticipates that it will file a rate increase request in 2022.

The PPUC permits water utilities to collect a distribution system improvement charge, or DSIC.  The DSIC allows the Company to add a charge to customers' bills for qualified replacement costs of certain infrastructure without submitting a rate filing.  This surcharge mechanism typically adjusts periodically based on additional qualified capital expenditures completed or anticipated in a future period.  The DSIC is capped at 5% of base rates, and is reset to 0 when new base rates that reflect the costs of those additions become effective or when a utility's earnings exceed a regulatory benchmark.  The Company's earnings are currently below the regulatory benchmark allowing the Company to collect DSIC. The DSIC provided revenues of $404 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Pension service cost is recorded in operating expenses.  All other components of net periodic pension cost are recorded as other pension costs in other income (expenses).

 

The Company previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 that it expected to contribute $2,300 to its pension plans in 2022.  For the three months ended March 31, 2022, contributions of $575 have been made.  The Company expects to contribute the remaining $1,725 during the final three quarters of 2022.

On May 2, 2016, the Company’s stockholders approved The York Water Company Long-Term Incentive Plan, or LTIP.  The LTIP was adopted to provide the incentive of long-term stock-based awards to officers, directors and key employees. The LTIP provides for the granting of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance restricted stock grants and units, restricted stock grants and units, and unrestricted stock grants.  A maximum of 100,000 shares of common stock may be issued under the LTIP over the ten-year life of the plan.  The maximum number of shares of common stock subject to awards that may be granted to any participant in any one calendar year is 2,000.  Shares of common stock issued under the LTIP may be treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares.  The LTIP will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, or the full Board, provided that the full Board will administer the LTIP as it relates to awards to non-employee directors of the Company.  The Company filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2016 covering the offering of stock under the LTIP.  The LTIP was effective on July 1, 2016.

The restricted stock awards provide the grantee with the rights of a shareholder, including the right to receive dividends and to vote such shares, but not the right to sell or otherwise transfer the shares during the restriction period.  As a result, the awards are included in common shares outstanding on the balance sheet.  Restricted stock awards result in compensation expense valued at the fair market value of the stock on the date of the grant and are amortized ratably over the restriction period.

NaN long-term stock-based awards were granted under the LTIP during the three months ended March 31, 2022. NaN previously issued restricted stock awards vested or were forfeited during the three months ended March 31, 2022. For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the statement of income includes $45 and $28 of stock-based compensation, respectively, and related recognized tax benefits of $13 and $8, respectively.  Total stock based compensation related to nonvested awards not yet recognized is $413 which will be recognized over the remaining three-year vesting period.

Under the Internal Revenue Service tangible property regulations, or TPR, the Company is permitted to deduct the costs of certain asset improvements that were previously being capitalized and depreciated for tax purposes as an expense on its income tax return.  This ongoing deduction results in a reduction in the effective income tax rate, a net reduction in income tax expense, and a reduction in the amount of income taxes currently payable.  It also results in increases to deferred tax liabilities and regulatory assets representing the appropriate book and tax basis difference on capital additions.

The Company’s effective tax rate was (6.4)% and 7.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.  The lower effective tax rate is primarily due to higher deductions from the TPR.  The effective tax rate will vary depending on the level of eligible asset improvements expensed for tax purposes under TPR each period.

On April 5, 2022, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 975,600 shares of its common stock, with an offering price of $41 per share.  On April 7, 2022, the Company closed on the full exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase an additional 146,340 shares of its common stock at the same price.  Janney Montgomery Scott LLC was the underwriter in the offering.  The Company received net proceeds in the offering, after deducting offering expenses and underwriters’ discounts and commissions, of approximately $44,000.  The net proceeds were used to repay the Company’s borrowings under its line of credit agreement incurred to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions, and for general corporate purposes.  The proceeds and new shares issued have not been reflected in the financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2022.

Certain statements contained in this report on Form 10-Q constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933.  Words such as "may," "should," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include certain information relating to the Company’s business strategy; statements including, but not limited to:

The forward-looking statements in this report reflect what the Company currently anticipates will happen.  What actually happens could differ materially from what it currently anticipates will happen.  The Company does not intend to make a public announcement when forward-looking statements in this report are no longer accurate, whether as a result of new information, what actually happens in the future or for any other reason.  Important matters that may affect what will actually happen include, but are not limited to:

The primary business of the Company is to impound, purify to meet or exceed safe drinking water standards and distribute water.  The Company also owns and operates three wastewater collection systems and five wastewater collection and treatment systems.  The Company operates within its franchised water and wastewater territory, which covers portions of 51 municipalities within three counties in south-central Pennsylvania.  The Company is regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PPUC, for both water and wastewater in the areas of billing, payment procedures, dispute processing, terminations, service territory, debt and equity financing and rate setting.  The Company must obtain PPUC approval before changing any practices associated with the aforementioned areas.

Water service is supplied through the Company's own distribution system.  The Company obtains the bulk of its water supply from both the South Branch and East Branch of the Codorus Creek, which together have an average daily flow of 73.0 million gallons.  This combined watershed area is approximately 117 square miles.  The Company has two reservoirs, Lake Williams and Lake Redman, which together hold up to approximately 2.2 billion gallons of water.  The Company supplements its reservoirs with a 15-mile pipeline from the Susquehanna River to Lake Redman which provides access to an additional supply of 12.0 million gallons of untreated water per day.  The Company also owns nine wells which are capable of providing a safe yield of approximately 597,000 gallons per day to supply water to the customers of its satellite systems in Adams County.  As of March 31, 2022, the Company's average daily availability was 35.6 million gallons, and average daily consumption was approximately 19.9 million gallons.  The Company's service territory had an estimated population of 204,000 as of December 31, 2021.  Industry within the Company's service territory is diversified, manufacturing such items as fixtures and furniture, electrical machinery, food products, paper, ordnance units, textile products, air conditioning systems, laundry detergent, barbells, and motorcycles.

The Company's water business is somewhat dependent on weather conditions, particularly the amount and timing of rainfall.  Revenues are particularly vulnerable to weather conditions in the summer months.  Prolonged periods of hot and dry weather generally cause increased water usage for watering lawns, washing cars, and keeping golf courses and sports fields irrigated.  Conversely, prolonged periods of dry weather could lead to drought restrictions from governmental authorities.  Despite the Company’s adequate water supply, customers may be required to cut back water usage under such drought restrictions which would negatively impact revenues.  The Company has addressed some of this vulnerability by instituting minimum customer charges which are intended to cover fixed costs of operations under all likely weather conditions.

The Company’s business does not require large amounts of working capital and is not dependent on any single customer or a very few customers for a material portion of its business.  Increases in revenues are generally dependent on the Company’s ability to obtain rate increases from the PPUC in a timely manner and in adequate amounts and to increase volumes of water sold through increased consumption and increases in the number of customers served.  The Company continuously looks for water and wastewater acquisition and expansion opportunities both within and outside its current service territory as well as additional opportunities to enter into bulk water contracts with municipalities and other entities to supply water.

The Company has agreements with several municipalities to provide sewer billing and collection services.  The Company also has a service line protection program on a targeted basis in order to further diversify its business.  Under this optional program, customers pay a fixed monthly fee, and the Company will repair or replace damaged customer service lines, as needed, subject to an annual maximum dollar amount.  The Company continues to review and consider opportunities to expand both initiatives.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a pandemic.  The Company has taken steps, consistent with directions from federal, state, and local authorities, to mitigate known risks with the health and safety of its employees and customers as its first priority.

The Company is an essential, life-sustaining business and has continued normal operations.  Although most restrictions have been lifted, the Company continues to monitor guidance from federal, state, and local authorities.  Any new restrictions are not expected to materially impede the Company’s ability to complete its planned capital expenditures or acquisitions.  The Company has not experienced any material supply chain disruptions.  The Company has been informed of longer lead times for some items, although this does not impact daily operating supplies.  The Company maintains an adequate inventory of critical repair parts which are available as needed.  The Company continues to maintain relationships with its vendors to identify issues in a timely manner while also seeking out additional vendor relationships to diversify its supply chain.  The Company has addressed the longer lead times by placing orders proactively with its vendors to align with current lead times.  If the delays increase materially or if certain materials and supplies become unavailable, the Company may re-prioritize some of its capital projects or experience higher operating expenses or capital costs.  The Company believes it has sufficient liquidity and access to the capital markets if needed.

To date, there has been no material impact on the Company’s workforce, operations, financial performance, liquidity, or supply chain as a result of COVID-19.  However, the ultimate duration and severity of the pandemic or its effects on the economy, the capital and credit markets, or the Company’s workforce, customers, and suppliers, as well as governmental and regulatory responses, are uncertain.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared

With Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

Net income for the first quarter of 2022 was $3,859, an increase of $154, or 4.2%, from net income of $3,705 for the same period of 2021.  The primary contributing factors to the increase were higher operating revenues and lower income taxes, which were partially offset by higher expenses.

Operating revenues for the first quarter of 2022 increased $1,159, or 8.9%, from $13,081 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to $14,240 for the corresponding 2022 period.  The increase was primarily due to growth in the customer base and revenues from the distribution system improvement charge, or DSIC, allowed by the PPUC of $404.  The average number of wastewater customers served in 2022 increased as compared to 2021 by 2,171 customers, from 3,295 to 5,466 customers, primarily due to the Company beginning to operate the West Manheim Township wastewater collection system on January 3, 2022.  The average number of water customers served in 2022 increased as compared to 2021 by 586 customers, from 69,409 to 69,995 customers.  Total per capita consumption for 2022 was approximately 1.9% higher than the same period of last year.  For the remainder of the year, the Company expects revenues to increase due to an increase in the number of water and wastewater customers from acquisitions and growth within the Company’s service territory, the DSIC, and higher summer demand.  The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic including any resulting economic slowdown or changes in consumption patterns could impact results.  Other regulatory actions and weather patterns could also impact results.

Operating expenses for the first quarter of 2022 increased $1,215, or 15.7%, from $7,727 for the first quarter of 2021 to $8,942 for the corresponding 2022 period.  The increase was primarily due to higher expenses of approximately $306 for depreciation, $300 for wastewater treatment, $199 for distribution system maintenance, $141 for wages, and $101 for outside services.  Other expenses increased by a net of $168.  For the remainder of the year, the Company expects depreciation expense to continue to rise due to additional investment in utility plant, and other expenses to increase at a moderate rate as costs to treat water and wastewater, and to maintain and extend the distribution system, continue to rise.

Interest on debt for the first quarter of 2022 increased $83, or 6.8%, from $1,214 for the first quarter of 2021 to $1,297 for the corresponding 2022 period.  The increase was primarily due to an increase in long-term debt outstanding.  The average debt outstanding under the lines of credit was $32,524 for the first quarter of 2022 and $6,821 for the first quarter of 2021.  The weighted average interest rate on the lines of credit was 1.30% for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.  Interest expense for the remainder of the year is expected to decrease after the line of credit was repaid upon the completion of the underwritten common stock offering in April 2022.

Allowance for funds used during construction increased $33, from $262 in the first quarter of 2021 to $295 in the corresponding 2022 period due to a higher volume of eligible construction.  Allowance for funds used during construction for the remainder of the year is expected to increase based on a projected increase in the amount of eligible construction.

Other income (expenses), net for the first quarter of 2022 reflects increased expenses of $248 as compared to the same period of 2021.  Higher charitable contributions of approximately $260 were the primary reason for the increase.  Other expenses decreased by a net of $12.  For the remainder of the year, other income (expenses) will be largely determined by the change in market returns and discount rates for retirement programs and related assets.

Income taxes for the first quarter of 2022 decreased $523, or 179.1%, compared to the same period of 2021 primarily due to higher deductions from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, tangible property regulations, or TPR.  The Company’s effective tax rate was (6.4)% for the first quarter of 2022 and 7.3% for the first quarter of 2021.  The Company's effective tax rate for the remainder of 2022 will largely be determined by the level of eligible asset improvements expensed for tax purposes under TPR each period.

See Note 9 to the financial statements included herein for a discussion of rate matters.

Effective April 1, 2022, the Company's tariff included a distribution system improvement charge on revenues of 4.15%.

The Company expects to file a rate increase request in 2022.

In total, these acquisitions are expected to be immaterial to Company results.  The Company is also pursuing other bulk water contracts and acquisitions in and around its service territory to help offset any further declines in per capita water consumption and to grow its business.

On May 10, 2017, the Company signed an emergency interconnect agreement with Dallastown-Yoe Water Authority.  The effectiveness of this agreement is contingent upon receiving approval from all required regulatory authorities.  Approval is expected to be granted in 2022 at which time the Company will begin construction of a water main extension to a single point of interconnection and either supply a minimum agreed upon amount of water to the authority, receive a payment in lieu of water, or provide water during an emergency, at current tariff rates.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company invested $7,504 in construction expenditures for routine items and wastewater treatment plant construction as well as various replacements and improvements to infrastructure.  The Company was able to fund construction expenditures using internally-generated funds, line of credit borrowings, proceeds from its stock purchase plans and customer advances and contributions from developers, municipalities, customers, or builders.

The Company anticipates construction expenditures for the remainder of 2022 of approximately $35,300 exclusive of any potential acquisitions not yet approved.  In addition to routine transmission and distribution projects, a portion of the anticipated expenditures will be for armoring and replacing the spillway of the Lake Williams dam, additional main extensions, and various replacements and improvements to infrastructure.  The Company intends to use primarily internally-generated funds for its anticipated construction and fund the remainder through cash generated from the underwritten common stock offering, line of credit borrowings, proceeds from its stock purchase plans and customer advances and contributions.  Customer advances and contributions are expected to account for between 5% and 10% of funding requirements during the remainder of 2022.  The Company believes it will have adequate credit facilities and access to the capital markets, if necessary, to fund anticipated capital and acquisition expenditures in the remainder of 2022.

The accounts receivable balance tends to follow the change in revenues but is also affected by the timeliness of payments by customers and the level of the reserve for doubtful accounts.  Accounts receivable – customers for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were consistent with the end of 2021.  A reserve is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for losses that can be reasonably anticipated based on inactive accounts with outstanding balances.  Management periodically evaluates the adequacy of the reserve based on past experience, agings of the receivables, adverse situations that may affect a customer’s ability to pay, current economic conditions, and other relevant factors.  During 2022, management’s assessment included consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic along with past trends during times of economic instability and regulations from the PPUC regarding customer collections, including the aging of balances in payment agreements, and determined its allowance for doubtful accounts should remain elevated compared to historical norms.  If the status of these factors deteriorates, the Company may incur additional expenses for uncollectible accounts and experience a reduction in its internally-generated funds.

The amount of internally-generated funds available for operations and construction depends on the Company’s ability to obtain timely and adequate rate relief, changes in regulations including taxes, customers’ water usage, weather conditions, customer growth and controlled expenses.  During the first three months of 2022, the Company generated $5,333 internally from operations as compared to the $6,597 it generated during the first three months of 2021.  The decrease was primarily due to the prior year decrease in accounts receivable – customers due to a strengthening in the timeliness of payments not repeated in the current year.

On April 5, 2022, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 975,600 shares of its common stock, with an offering price of $41 per share.  On April 7, 2022, the Company closed on the full exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase an additional 146,340 shares of its common stock at the same price.  Janney Montgomery Scott LLC was the underwriter in the offering.  The Company received net proceeds in the offering, after deducting offering expenses and underwriters’ discounts and commissions, of approximately $44,000.  The net proceeds were used to repay the Company’s borrowings under its line of credit agreement incurred to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions, and for general corporate purposes.

Common stockholders’ equity as a percent of the total capitalization was 50.0% as of March 31, 2022, compared with 50.6% as of December 31, 2021.  Based on the equity percentage falling to fifty percent, the Company completed the underwritten common stock offering, increasing equity as a percentage of total capitalization.  It is the Company’s general intent to target a ratio between fifty and fifty-four percent.

The Company’s loan agreements contain various covenants and restrictions.  Management believes it is currently in compliance with all of these restrictions.  See Note 6 to the financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for additional information regarding these restrictions.

The Company’s total long-term debt as a percentage of the total capitalization, defined as total common stockholders’ equity plus total long-term debt, was 50.0% as of March 31, 2022, compared with 49.4% as of December 31, 2021.  Based on the debt percentage reaching fifty percent, the Company completed an underwritten common stock offering in April 2022 and repaid its line of credit, decreasing long-term debt as a percentage of total capitalization.  A debt to total capitalization ratio between forty-six and fifty percent has historically been acceptable to the PPUC in rate filings.

The variable rate line of credit and the interest rate swap of the Company use the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) as a benchmark for establishing the rates.  The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (UK FCA), which regulates LIBOR, has previously announced that it intends to stop encouraging or compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR rates after 2021.  On January 4, 2022, the UK FCA announced that certain dollar denominated LIBOR settings, including the 1-month setting used by the Company’s variable line of credit and interest rate swap, would be calculated through June 30, 2023.  This indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis is not guaranteed after that date and, based on the foregoing, it appears likely that LIBOR will be discontinued or modified.  The Company’s line of credit agreement explicitly states that another index may be used if LIBOR is discontinued or otherwise unavailable.  The Company believes that it is implicit in its other agreements that a successor rate to LIBOR may be used.  The Company is not yet aware what successor rate will be used and therefore cannot estimate the impact to the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, but it could include an increase in the cost of the variable rate indebtedness.

Under the Internal Revenue Service TPR, the Company is permitted to deduct the costs of certain asset improvements that were previously being capitalized and depreciated for tax purposes as an expense on its income tax return.  This ongoing deduction results in a reduction in the effective income tax rate, a net reduction in income tax expense, and a reduction in the amount of income taxes currently payable.  It also results in increases to deferred tax liabilities and regulatory assets representing the appropriate book and tax basis difference on capital additions.  The Company expects to continue to expense these asset improvements in the future.

The Company’s effective tax rate will largely be determined by the level of eligible asset improvements expensed for tax purposes that would have been capitalized for tax purposes prior to the implementation of TPR.

On October 8, 2021, Standard & Poor’s affirmed the Company’s credit rating at A-, with a stable outlook and adequate liquidity.  The Company’s ability to maintain its credit rating depends, among other things, on adequate and timely rate relief, which it has been successful in obtaining, its ability to fund capital expenditures in a balanced manner using both debt and equity and its ability to generate cash flow.  The Company’s objectives are to continue to maximize its funds provided by operations and maintain a strong capital structure in order to be able to attract capital.

The Company maintains security measures at its facilities, and collaborates with federal, state, and local authorities and industry trade associations regarding information on possible threats and security measures for water and wastewater utility operations.  The costs incurred are expected to be recoverable in water and wastewater rates and are not expected to have a material impact on its business, financial condition, or results of operations.

The Company relies on information technology systems in connection with the operation of the business, especially with respect to customer service, billing, accounting, and in some cases, the monitoring and operation of treatment, storage, and pumping facilities.  In addition, the Company relies on these systems to track utility assets and to manage maintenance and construction projects, materials and supplies, and human resource functions.  The information technology systems may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from cyber security attacks or other cyber-related events, including, but not limited to, power loss, computer systems failures, internet, telecommunications or data network failures, physical and electronic loss of data, computer viruses, intentional security breaches, hacking, denial of service actions, misappropriation of data, and similar events.  In some cases, administration of certain functions may be outsourced to third-party service providers that could also be targets of cyber security attacks.  A loss of these systems, or major problems with the operation of these systems, could harm the business, financial condition, and results of operations of the Company through the loss or compromise of customer, financial, employee, or operational data, disruption of billing, collections or normal field service activities, disruption of electronic monitoring and control of operational systems, and delays in financial reporting and other normal management functions.

Possible impacts associated with a cyber security attack or other events may include remediation costs related to lost, stolen, or compromised data, repairs to data processing systems, increased cyber security protection costs, adverse effects on our compliance with regulatory and environmental laws and regulation, including standards for drinking water, litigation, and reputational damage.

The Company has implemented processes, procedures, and controls to prevent or limit the effect of these possible events, and maintains insurance to help defray costs associated with cyber security attacks.  The Company has not experienced a material impact on business or operations from these attacks.  Although the Company does not believe its systems are at a materially greater risk of cyber security attacks than other similar organizations and despite the implementation of robust security measures, the Company cannot provide assurance that the insurance will fully cover the costs of a cyber security event, and its robust security measures do not guarantee that reputation and financial results will not be adversely affected by such an incident.

The Company entered into a consent order agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in December 2016 after the Company determined it exceeded the action level for lead as established by the Lead and Copper Rule, or LCR, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The Company did not have an exceedance in any subsequent compliance test.  Under the agreement, the Company successfully completed its commitment to exceed the LCR replacement schedule by replacing all the known company-owned lead service lines within four years from the agreement.  Any additional company-owned lead service lines that are discovered will be replaced and included in utility plant but are not expected to have a material impact on the financial position of the Company.

The Company was granted approval by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PPUC, to modify its tariff to include the cost of the annual replacement of up to 400 lead customer-owned service lines over nine years from the agreement.  The tariff modification allows the Company to replace customer-owned service lines at its own initial cost.  The Company will record the costs as a regulatory asset to be recovered in future base rates to customers, over a four-year period.  The cost for the customer-owned lead service line replacements was approximately $1,401 and $1,351 through March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and is included as a regulatory asset.  Based on its experience, the Company estimates that lead customer-owned service lines replacements will cost $1,450.  This estimate is subject to adjustment as more facts become available.

The methods, estimates, and judgments the Company used in applying its accounting policies have a significant impact on the results reported in its financial statements.  The Company’s accounting policies require management to make subjective judgments because of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain.  The Company’s most critical accounting estimates include regulatory assets and liabilities, revenue recognition, accounting for its pension plans, and income taxes.  There has been no significant change in accounting estimates or the method of estimation during the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

The Company does not use off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements or obligations that may have a material current or future effect on financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources or significant components of revenues or expenses.  The Company does not use securitization of receivables or unconsolidated entities. For risk management purposes, the Company uses a derivative financial instrument, an interest rate swap agreement discussed in Note 5 to the financial statements included herein.  The Company does not engage in trading or other risk management activities, does not use other derivative financial instruments for any purpose, has no guarantees and does not have material transactions involving related parties.

Not applicable.

The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon this evaluation, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer along with the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report are effective such that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.  A controls system cannot provide absolute assurance, however, that the objectives of the controls 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.

No change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting occurred during the Company's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

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.