| Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Operations ─ Essential Utilities, Inc. (“Essential Utilities,” the “Company,” “we,” “our”, or “us”) is the holding company for regulated utilities providing water, wastewater, or natural gas services concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky under the Aqua and Peoples brands. On February 3, 2020, we changed our name from Aqua America, Inc. to Essential Utilities, Inc. to align the name of the Company with its business plan following the March 16, 2020 completion of the Peoples Gas Acquisition and to reflect the combination of regulated water utilities and natural gas utilities that offer essential utility services to customers. One of our largest operating subsidiaries is Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., which accounted for approximately 55 % of our Regulated Water segment’s operating revenues and approximately 67 % of our Regulated Water segment’s income for 2020. As of December 31, 2020, Aqua Pennsylvania provided water or wastewater services to approximately one-half of the total number of Regulated Water customers we serve. Aqua Pennsylvania’s service territory is located in the suburban areas north and west of the City of Philadelphia and in 27 other counties in Pennsylvania. The Company’s other regulated water utility subsidiaries provide similar services in seven additional states. Additionally, with the completion of the Peoples Gas Acquisition, the Company began to provide natural gas distribution services to customers in western Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Approximately 93 % of the total number of natural gas utility customers we serve are in western Pennsylvania. Lastly, the Company’s market-based activities are conducted through our non-regulated natural gas operations, Aqua Infrastructure LLC, and Aqua Resources, Inc. Prior to our October 2020 sale of our investment in a joint venture, Aqua Infrastructure provided non-utility raw water supply services for firms in the natural gas drilling industry. Aqua Resources offers, through a third-party, water and sewer line protection solutions and repair services to households. The Company has identified twelve operating segments and has two reportable segments. The Regulated Water segment is comprised of eight operating segments representing its water and wastewater regulated utility companies, which are organized by the states where the Company provides water and wastewater services. These operating segments are aggregated into one reportable segment since each of the Company’s operating segments has the following similarities: economic characteristics, nature of services, production processes, customers, water distribution or wastewater collection methods, and the nature of the regulatory environment. The Regulated Natural Gas segment is comprised of one operating segment representing natural gas utility companies, acquired in the Peoples Gas Acquisition, where the Company provides natural gas distribution services. In addition, our non-regulated natural gas operations, Aqua Resources, and Aqua Infrastructure are not quantitatively significant to be reportable and are included as a component of “Other,” in addition to corporate costs that have not been allocated to the Regulated Water and Regulated Natural Gas segments, because they would not be recoverable as a cost of utility service, and intersegment eliminations. Regulation ─ Most of the operating companies that are regulated public utilities are subject to regulation by the utility commissions of the states in which they operate. The respective utility commissions have jurisdiction with respect to rates, service, accounting procedures, issuance of securities, acquisitions and other matters. Some of the operating companies that are regulated public utilities are subject to rate regulation by county or city government. Regulated public utilities follow the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) accounting guidance for regulated operations, which provides for the recognition of regulatory assets and liabilities as allowed by regulators for costs or credits that are reflected in current rates or are considered probable of being included in future rates. Costs, for which the Company has received or expects to receive prospective rate recovery, are deferred as a regulatory asset and amortized over the period of rate recovery in accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance for regulated operations. The regulatory assets or liabilities are then relieved as the cost or credit is reflected in Company’s rates charged for utility service. If, as a result of a change in circumstances, it is determined that a regulated operating company no longer meets the criteria to apply regulatory accounting, the operating company would have to discontinue regulatory accounting and write-off the respective regulatory assets and liabilities. See Note – 6 Regulatory Assets and Liabilities for further information regarding the Company’s regulatory assets. The Company makes significant judgments and estimates to record regulatory assets and liabilities. For each regulatory jurisdiction with regulated operations, the Company evaluates at the end of each reporting period, whether the regulatory assets and liabilities continue to meet the probable criteria for future recovery or refund. The evaluation considers factors such as regulatory orders or guidelines, in the same regulatory jurisdiction, of a specific matter or a similar matter, as provided to the Company in the past or to other regulated utilities. In addition, the evaluation may be impacted by changes in the regulatory environment and pending or new legislation that could impact the ability to recover costs through regulated rates. There may be multiple participants to rate or transactional regulatory proceedings who might offer different views on various aspects of such proceedings, and in these instances may challenge the prudence of our business policies and practices, seek cost disallowances or request other relief. Use of Estimates in Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements ─ The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The current novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has caused significant social and economic restrictions that have been imposed in the United States and abroad, which has resulted in significant volatility in the global economy and led to reduced economic activity in some industries. In the preparation of these financial statements and related disclosures, we have assessed the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our estimates, assumptions, forecasts, and accounting policies. Because of the essential nature of our business, we do not believe the COVID-19 pandemic had a material impact on our estimates, assumptions and forecasts used in the preparation of our financial statements, although we continue to monitor this closely. As the COVID-19 situation is unprecedented and ever evolving, future events and effects related to the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be determined with precision, and actual results could significantly differ from our estimates or forecasts. Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The following prior period amounts in the consolidated balance sheet have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation: the current portion of regulatory assets and liabilities; and pension and other postretirement liabilities, which was formerly presented in non-current liabilities within other. Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation ─ Property, plant and equipment consist primarily of utility plant. The cost of additions includes contracted cost, direct labor and fringe benefits, materials, overheads, and for additions meeting certain criteria, allowance for funds used during construction. Utility systems acquired are typically recorded at estimated original cost of utility plant when first devoted to utility service and the applicable depreciation is recorded to accumulated depreciation. Further, utility systems acquired under fair value regulations would be recorded based on the valuation of the utility plant as approved by the respective utility commission. The difference between the estimated original cost, less applicable accumulated depreciation, and the purchase price may be recorded as an acquisition adjustment within utility plant as permitted by the applicable regulatory jurisdiction. At December 31, 2020, utility plant includes a net credit acquisition adjustment of $ 12,215 , which is generally being amortized from 2 to 59 years. Amortization of the acquisition adjustments totaled $ 2,895 in 2020, $ 6,076 in 2019, and $ 2,645 in 2018. Utility expenditures for maintenance and repairs, including major maintenance projects and minor renewals, are charged to operating expenses when incurred in accordance with the system of accounts prescribed by the utility commissions of the states in which the company operates. The cost of new units of property and betterments are capitalized. Utility expenditures for water main cleaning and relining of pipes are deferred and are presented in net property, plant and equipment in accordance with the FASB’s accounting guidance for regulated operations. As of December 31, 2020, $ 1,557 of these costs have been incurred since the last respective rate proceeding and the Company expects to recover these costs in future rates. The cost of software upgrades and enhancements are capitalized if they result in added functionality, which enables the software to perform tasks it was previously incapable of performing. Information technology costs associated with major system installations, conversions and improvements, such as software training, data conversion and business process reengineering costs, are deferred as a regulatory asset if the Company expects to recover these costs in future rates. If these costs are not deferred, then these costs are charged to operating expenses when incurred. As of December 31, 2020, $ 31,509 of these costs have been deferred since the last respective rate proceeding as a regulatory asset, and the deferral is reported as a component of net property, plant and equipment. When units of utility property are replaced, retired or abandoned, the recorded value thereof is credited to the asset account and such value, together with the net cost of removal, is charged to accumulated depreciation. To the extent the Company anticipates recovery of the cost of removal or other retirement costs through rates after the retirement costs are incurred, a regulatory asset is recorded as those costs are incurred. In some cases, the Company recovers retirement costs through rates during the life of the associated asset and before the costs are incurred. These amounts, which are not yet utilized, result in a regulatory liability being reported based on the amounts previously recovered through customer rates. The straight-line remaining life method is used to compute depreciation on utility plant. Generally, the straight-line method is used with respect to transportation and mechanical equipment, office equipment and laboratory equipment. Long-lived assets of the Company, which consist primarily of utility plant in service, and regulatory assets, are reviewed for impairment when changes in circumstances or events occur. These circumstances or events could include a disallowance of utility plant in service or regulatory assets by the respective utility commission, a decline in the market value or physical condition of a long-lived asset, an adverse change in the manner in which long-lived assets are used or planned to be used, a change in historical trends, operating cash flows associated with the long-lived assets, changes in macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, or overall financial performance. When these circumstances or events occur, the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of those assets is less than their carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not (that is, the likelihood of more than 50 percent), the Company would recognize an impairment charge if it is determined that the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the sum of the undiscounted estimated cash flows. In this circumstance, the Company would recognize an impairment charge equal to the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the asset. Fair value is estimated to be the present value of future net cash flows associated with the asset, discounted using a discount rate commensurate with the risk and remaining life of the asset. During the period there has been no change in circumstances or events that have occurred that require adjustments to the carrying values of the Company’s long-lived assets. Allowance for Funds Used During Construction ─ The allowance for funds used during construction (“AFUDC”) represents the capitalized cost of funds used to finance the construction of utility plant. In general, AFUDC is applied to construction projects requiring more than one month to complete. No AFUDC is applied to projects funded by customer advances for construction, contributions in aid of construction, or applicable state-revolving fund loans. AFUDC includes the net cost of borrowed funds and a rate of return on other funds when used and is recovered through rates as the utility plant is depreciated. The amount of AFUDC related to equity funds in 2020 was $ 8,253 , 2019 was $ 11,941 , and 2018 was $ 9,691 . No interest was capitalized by our market-based businesses. Recognition of Revenues ─ The Company recognizes revenue as utility services are provided to our customers, which happens over time as the services are delivered and the performance obligation is satisfied. The Company’s utility revenues recognized in an accounting period includes amounts billed to customers on a cycle basis and unbilled amounts based on estimated usage from the last billing to the end of the accounting period. Unbilled amounts are calculated by deriving estimates based on average usage of the prior month. The Company’s actual results could differ from these estimates, which would result in operating revenues being adjusted in the period that the revision to our estimates are determined. Generally, payment is due within 30 days once a bill is issued to a customer. Sales tax and other taxes we collect on behalf of government authorities, concurrent with our revenue-producing activities, are primarily excluded from revenue. The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by major source and customer class: 2020 Water Revenues Wastewater Revenues Natural Gas Revenues Other Revenues Revenues from contracts with customers: Residential $ 567,486 $ 95,051 $ 314,274 $ - Commercial 143,479 19,062 50,239 - Fire protection 35,340 - - - Industrial 29,764 1,619 6,923 - Gas transportation - - 133,685 - Other water 32,372 - - - Other wastewater - 5,385 - - Customer rate credits ( 3,757 ) ( 323 ) ( 18,924 ) - Other utility - - 20,243 12,861 Revenues from contracts with customers 804,684 120,794 506,440 12,861 Alternative revenue program 87 114 124 - Other and eliminations - - - 17,594 Consolidated $ 804,771 $ 120,908 $ 506,564 $ 30,455 2019 Water Revenues Wastewater Revenues Other Revenues Revenues from contracts with customers: Residential $ 518,192 $ 83,561 $ - Commercial 145,599 15,222 - Fire protection 33,589 - - Industrial 30,667 1,765 - Other water 39,353 - - Other wastewater - 4,656 - Other utility - - 13,835 Revenues from contracts with customers 767,400 105,204 13,835 Alternative revenue program 80 ( 89 ) - Other and eliminations - - 3,262 Consolidated $ 767,480 $ 105,115 $ 17,097 2018 Water Revenues Wastewater Revenues Other Revenues Revenues from contracts with customers: Residential $ 482,946 $ 73,418 $ - Commercial 133,753 13,147 - Fire protection 32,236 - - Industrial 28,848 1,857 - Other water 53,658 - - Other wastewater - 5,748 - Other utility - - 9,427 Revenues from contracts with customers 731,441 94,170 9,427 Alternative revenue program ( 708 ) 308 - Other and eliminations - - 3,453 Consolidated $ 730,733 $ 94,478 $ 12,880 On March 16, 2020, the Company completed the Peoples Gas Acquisition, which expanded the Company’s regulated utility business to include natural gas distribution. The natural gas revenues of Peoples are included for the period since the date of the acquisition. Revenues from Contracts with Customers – These revenues are composed of four main categories: water, wastewater, natural gas, and other. Water revenues represent revenues earned for supplying customers with water service. Wastewater revenues represent revenues earned for treating wastewater and releasing it into the environment. Natural gas revenues represent revenues earned for the delivery of natural gas to customers. Other revenues are associated fees that relate to our utility businesses but are not water, wastewater, or natural gas revenues. See description below for a discussion on the performance obligation for each of these revenue streams: Tariff Revenues – These revenues are categorized by customer class: residential, commercial, fire protection, industrial, gas transportation, other water, and other wastewater. The rates that generate these revenues are approved by the respective state utility commissions, and revenues are billed cyclically and accrued for when unbilled. Other water and other wastewater revenues consists primarily of fines, penalties, surcharges, and availability lot fees. Customer rate credits represent a commitment that the Company made, a ssociated with the approval of the Peoples Gas Acquisition by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, to provide $ 23,004 of one-time customer rate credits to its Pennsylvania natural gas utility customers and water and wastewater customers served by Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. In 2020, the Company granted $ 4,080 of customer rate credits to its water and wastewater customers, and $ 18,924 to its natural gas utility customers. Our performance obligation for tariff revenues is to provide potable water, wastewater treatment service, or delivery of natural gas to customers. This performance obligation is satisfied over time as the services are rendered. The amounts that the Company has a right to invoice for tariff revenues reflect the right to consideration from the customers in an amount that corresponds directly with the value transferred to the customer for the performance completed to date. Other Utility Revenues – Other utility revenues represents revenues earned primarily from: antenna revenues, which represents fees received from telecommunication operators that have put cellular antennas on our water towers, operation and maintenance and billing contracts, which represents fees earned from municipalities for our operation of their water or wastewater treatment services or performing billing services, and fees earned from developers for accessing our water mains, miscellaneous service revenue from gas distribution operations; gas processing and handling revenue; sales of natural gas at market-based rates and contracted fixed prices; sales of gas purchased from third parties; and other gas marketing activities. The performance obligations vary for these revenues, but all are primarily recognized over time as the service is delivered. Alternative Revenue Program: o Water / Wastewater Revenues – These revenues represent the difference between the actual billed utility volumetric water and wastewater revenues for Aqua Illinois and the revenues set in the last Aqua Illinois rate case. In accordance with the Illinois Commerce Commission, we recognize revenues based on the target amount established in the last rate case, and then record either a regulatory asset or liability based on the cumulative annual difference between the target and actual, which results in either a refund due to customers or a payment from customers. The cumulative annual difference is either refunded to customers or collected from customers over a nine-month period. o Natural Gas Revenues – These revenues represent the weather-normalization adjustment (“WNA”) mechanism in place for our natural gas customers served in Kentucky. The WNA serves to minimize the effects of weather on the Company’s results for its residential and small commercial natural gas customers. This regulatory mechanism adjusts revenues earned for the variance between actual and normal weather and can have either positive (warmer than normal) or negative (colder than normal) effects on revenues. Customer bills are adjusted in the December through April billing months, with rates adjusted for the difference between actual revenues and revenues calculated under this mechanism billed to the customers. These revenue programs represent a contract between the utility and its regulators, not customers, and therefore are not within the scope of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) accounting guidance for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. Other and Eliminations – Other and eliminations consists of our market-based revenues, which comprises: our non-regulated natural gas operations, Aqua Infrastructure, and Aqua Resources (described below), and intercompany eliminations for revenue billed between our subsidiaries. Our non-regulated natural gas operations consist of utility service line protection solutions and repair services to households and the operation of gas marketing and production entities. Revenue is recognized and the performance obligation is satisfied over time as the service is delivered. Aqua Infrastructure is the holding company for our former 49 % investment in a joint venture that operated a private pipeline system to supply raw water to natural gas well drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale of north central Pennsylvania. Prior to our October 30, 2020 sale of our investment in joint venture, the joint venture earned revenues through providing non-utility raw water supply services to natural gas drilling companies which enter into water supply contracts. The performance obligation is to deliver non-potable water to the joint venture’s customers. Aqua Infrastructure’s share of the revenues recognized by the joint venture is reflected, net, in equity earnings in joint venture on our consolidated statements of operations. Aqua Resources earns revenues by providing non-regulated water and wastewater services through an operating and maintenance contract, which concluded in 2020, and third-party water and sewer service line protection and repair services. The performance obligations are performing agreed upon services in the contract, most commonly operation of third-party water or wastewater treatment services, or billing services, or allowing the use of our logo to a third-party water and sewer service line protection and repair services. Revenues are primarily recognized over time as service is delivered. The Company’s market-based subsidiaries recognized revenues of $ 16,761 in 2020, $ 3,395 in 2019, and $ 3,590 in 2018. Cash and Cash Equivalents ─ The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less, which are not restricted for construction activity, to be cash equivalents. The Company had a book overdraft, which represents transactions that have not cleared the bank accounts at the end of the period, for specific disbursement cash accounts of $ 44,003 and $ 10,944 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company transfers cash on an as-needed basis to fund these items as they clear the bank in subsequent periods. The balance of the book overdraft is reported as book overdraft and the change in the book overdraft balance is reported as cash flows from financing activities, due to our ability to fund the overdraft with the Company’s credit facility. Accounts Receivable ─ Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts, which consists of billed and unbilled revenues. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable and is determined based on lifetime expected credit losses and the aging of account balances. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts quarterly. Account balances are written off against the allowance when it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. When utility customers request extended payment terms, credit is extended based on regulatory guidelines, and collateral is not required. Inventories – Materials and Supplies ─ Inventories are stated at cost. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Inventory – Gas Stored – The Company accounts for gas in storage inventory using the weighted average cost of gas method. Investment in Joint Venture – The Company used the equity method of accounting to account for our former 49 % investment in a joint venture with a firm in the natural gas industry for the construction and operation of a private pipeline system to supply raw water to natural gas well drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale in north-central Pennsylvania, which commenced operations in 2012. In 2020, the Company sold its investment in joint venture and recorded a charge of $ 3,700 associated with the sale. Our share of equity loss (earnings) in the joint venture was reported in the consolidated statements of operations as equity loss (earnings) in joint venture. During 2020 and 2019 we received distributions of $ 2,137 and $ 3,185 , respectively. Goodwill ─ Goodwill represents the excess cost over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired through acquisitions. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment annually, or more often, if circumstances indicate a possible impairment may exist. When testing goodwill for impairment, we may assess qualitative factors, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, and entity specific events, for some or all of our reporting units to determine whether it’s more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Alternatively, based on our assessment of the qualitative factors previously noted, we may perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test by determining the fair value of a reporting unit based on a discounted cash flow analysis. If we perform a quantitative test and determine that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we would record an impairment loss for the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The Company performed a quantitative assessment for its annual test of the goodwill attributable to its Regulated Water and Aqua Resources reporting units for impairment and a qualitative assessment for its Regulated Natural gas business reporting unit as of July 31, 2020, and concluded that it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit, which has goodwill recorded, exceeded its carrying amount, indicating that no ne of the Company’s goodwill was impaired. The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s goodwill: Regulated Water Regulated Natural Gas Other Consolidated Balance at December 31, 2018 $ 47,885 $ - $ 4,841 $ 52,726 Goodwill acquired 11,126 - - 11,126 Reclassifications to utility plant acquisition adjustment ( 30 ) - - ( 30 ) Balance at December 31, 2019 58,981 - 4,841 63,822 Goodwill acquired 2,596 2,261,047 - 2,263,643 Reclassifications to utility plant acquisition adjustment ( 2,918 ) - - ( 2,918 ) Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 58,659 $ 2,261,047 $ 4,841 $ 2,324,547 On March 16, 2020, the Company completed the Peoples Gas Acquisition, which resulted in goodwill of $ 2,261,047 , subject to adjustment over the one year measurement period. Refer to Note 2 – Acquisitions for information about the goodwill attributed to our Regulated Natural Gas segment. The reclassification of goodwill to utility plant acquisition adjustment results from either a regulatory order or a mechanism approved by the applicable utility commission. A regulatory order may provide for the one-time transfer of certain acquired goodwill. The mechanism provides for the transfer over time, and the recovery through customer rates, of goodwill associated with some acquisitions upon achieving specific objectives. Intangible assets – The Company’s intangible assets consist of customer relationships for our non-regulated natural gas operations, and non-compete agreements with certain former employees of Peoples. These intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of fifteen years for the customer relationships and five years for the non-compete agreements. Derivative Instruments – The Company’s natural gas commodity price risk, driven mainly by price fluctuations of natural gas, is mitigated by its purchased-gas cost adjustment mechanisms. The Company also uses derivative instruments to economically hedge the cost of anticipated natural gas purchases during the winter heating months that seeks to offset the risk to the Company’s utility customers from upward market price volatility. These strategies include requirements contracts, spot purchase contracts and underground storage to meet regulated customers’ natural gas requirements that may have fixed or variable pricing. The variable price contracts qualify as derivative instruments; however, because the contract price is the prevailing price at the future transaction date the contract has no determinable fair value. The fixed price contracts and firm commitments to purchase a fixed quantity of gas in the future qualify for the normal purchases and normal sales exception that is allowed for contracts that are probable of delivery in the normal course of business and, as such, are accounted for under the accrual basis and are not recorded at fair value in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Deferred Charges and Other Assets ─ Deferred charges and other assets consist primarily of assets held to compensate employees in the future who participate in the Company’s deferred compensation plan and other costs. Marketable equity securities are carried on the balance sheet at fair market value, and changes in fair value are included in other expense (income). Income Taxes ─ The Company accounts for some income and expense items in different time periods for financial and tax reporting purposes. Deferred income taxes are provided on specific temporary differences between the tax basis of the assets and liabilities, and the amounts at which they are carried in the consolidated financial statements. The income tax effect of temporary differences not currently included in rates is recorded as deferred taxes with an offsetting regulatory asset or liability. These deferred income taxes are based on the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such temporary differences are projected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not to be realized. Investment tax credits are deferred and amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related properties. Judgment is required in evaluating the Company’s Federal and state tax positions. Despite management’s belief that the Company’s tax return positions are fully supportable, the Company establishes reserves when it believes that its tax positions are likely to be challenged and it may not fully prevail in these challenges. The Company’s provision for income taxes includes interest, penalties and reserves for uncertain tax positions. Customers’ Advances for Construction and Contributions in Aid of Construction ─ Utility mains, other utility property or, in some instances, cash advances to reimburse the Company |
