MSEX Middlesex Water Company

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report: May 8, 2024

 

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New Jersey	0-422	22-1114430
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	File Number)	Identification No.)

 

485C Route 1 South, Suite 400, Iselin, New Jersey 08830

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

732-634-1500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	MSEX	The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

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. ☐

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On May 8, 2024, Middlesex Water Company announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. A copy of the press release announcing these results is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Form 8-K by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number	Description of Document
99.1	Press Release issued by Middlesex Water Company, dated May 8, 2024, announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results.
104	The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

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

 

 

 

	MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
	(Registrant)
	/s/A. Bruce O’Connor
	A. Bruce O’Connor
	Sr. Vice President, Treasurer and
	Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Dated: May 8, 2024

2

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

MIDDLESEX WATER ANNOUNCES

FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

·

First Quarter 2024 Net Income was $10.7 million, as compared to $5.9 million in 2023, an increase of 82.1%

·

First Quarter 2024 Diluted Earnings Per Share were $0.59, as compared to $0.33 in 2023, an increase of 78.8%

·

First Quarter 2024 Revenues were $40.5 million, as compared to $38.2 million in 2023, an increase of 6.2%

·

2024 Capital Investment Plan Delivery on schedule

·

Dividend of $0.325 per share of common stock payable in June

 

 

Iselin, NJ, (May 8, 2024) - Middlesex Water Company (“Middlesex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:MSEX) a provider of water and wastewater services, today reported first quarter financial results.

 

First Quarter 2024 Results

 

Diluted earnings per share were $0.59 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $0.33 for the same period in 2023. Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 rose to $10.7 million from $5.9 million during the same period in 2023. Most of the increase is attributable to the recovery of operating and carrying costs associated with the prior period construction and operation of the water treatment facilities at Middlesex’s Park Avenue Wellfield. As part of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved Middlesex base rate case, which included the impact of the previously disclosed PFOA lawsuit settlement, the NJBPU authorized these operating and carrying costs to be recovered after Middlesex first applied settlement proceeds to the cost of the water treatment facilities at Middlesex’s Park Avenue Wellfield.

 

Quarterly consolidated operating revenues rose $2.4 million to $40.5 million compared to the same period in 2023. Revenues in our Middlesex System increased $1.6 million due to the NJBPU approved base rate increase which took effect March 1, 2024, and higher commercial and industrial customer billings. In our Delaware system, revenues increased $0.8 million due to increased customer connections and heightened customer demand.

 

Operation and maintenance expenses for the first quarter of 2024 increased $0.2 million from the same period in 2023. The increase was largely related to an enhanced water treatment process at the Company’s Park Avenue Plant, increased labor costs, and outside professional support services costs. These costs were offset by the cost recovery described above.

 

Middlesex President and Chief Executive Officer Nadine Leslie said, “We continue to focus on our strategy: infrastructure investments, growth, training, technology to improve service quality and reliability, protect the safety of our employees and customers, enhance efficiencies in our business processes and deliver to our shareholders’ expectations. Our successful New Jersey rate filing, which took effect March 1 in our Middlesex system, provides for recovery of numerous investments made to ensure delivering water services that meets state and federal regulations,” added Ms. Leslie.

 

Board Declares Dividend

We previously announced that our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.325 per common share payable on June 3, 2024, to shareholders of record as of May 15, 2024. Middlesex has paid cash dividends in varying amounts continually since 1912 and has increased its annual dividend rate for fifty-one consecutive years.

 

Virtual Annual Meeting Announced

Middlesex Water will be holding its Annual Meeting virtually online on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. Shareholders may obtain instructions to access the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MSEX2024 and entering the 16-digit control number listed on their Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card.

 

ABOUT MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

 

Established in 1897, Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX) serves as a trusted provider of life-sustaining high quality water service for residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection purposes. The Company and its subsidiaries form the Middlesex family of companies, which collectively serve a population of nearly half a million people in New Jersey and Delaware. We offer a full range of water, wastewater utility and related services including municipal and industrial contract operations and water and wastewater system technical operations and maintenance. We are focused on meeting and balancing the needs of our employees, customers, and shareholders. We invest in our people, our infrastructure, and the communities we serve to support reliable and resilient utility services, economic growth and quality of life.  Information about Middlesex Water’s Investment Plan (Direct Share Purchase and Sale and Dividend Reinvestment Plan) is available at https://shareholder.broadridge.com/middlesexwater/

 

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws reflecting the current beliefs or expectations of Middlesex Water Company “MSEX” or the “Company” regarding its future performance, its financial condition, its strategic plans and cash flows, its results of operations as well as any other statements that do not directly relate to any historical or current facts. These statements reflect the Company’s current views and information currently available.  This information is based on estimates, assumptions and analysis that the Company believes, as of the date hereof, provide a reasonable basis for the information contained herein.  Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “foresees.” Actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from forward-looking statements, and the assumptions on which forward-looking statements are based.  There can be no assurance that the information contained herein is reflective of future performance, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance. Unless otherwise specified, all information contained in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no duty to update or revise the information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Media Contact:

Bernadette Sohler, Vice President – Corporate Affairs

Middlesex Water Company

(732) 638-7549

www.middlesexwater.com

 

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(In thousands except per share amounts)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
Operating Revenues		$	40,524			$	38,156
Operating Expenses:
Operations and Maintenance			20,465				20,257
Depreciation			5,396				5,986
Other Taxes			4,798				4,423
Total Operating Expenses			30,659				30,666
Operating Income			9,865				7,490
Other Income (Expense):
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction			176				813
Other Income (Expense), net			5,189				898
Total Other Income, net			5,365				1,711
Interest Charges			3,269				2,595
Income before Income Taxes			11,961				6,606
Income Taxes			1,279				738
Net Income			10,682				5,868
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements			30				30
Earnings Applicable to Common Stock		$	10,652			$	5,838
Earnings per share of Common Stock:
Basic		$	0.60			$	0.33
Diluted		$	0.59			$	0.33
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic			17,819				17,652
Diluted			17,934				17,767

 

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Cover	May 08, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	May 08, 2024
Entity File Number	0-422
Entity Registrant Name	MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0000066004
Entity Tax Identification Number	22-1114430
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NJ
Entity Address, Address Line One	485C Route 1 South
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 400
Entity Address, City or Town	Iselin
Entity Address, State or Province	NJ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	08830
City Area Code	732
Local Phone Number	634-1500
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	MSEX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

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