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: January 6, 2012
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.) |
1500 RONSON ROAD, P.O. BOX 1500, ISELIN, NEW JERSEY 08830
(Address of principal executive offices, including 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))
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On January 5, 2012, Middlesex Water Company (the "Company") announced the formation of a joint venture, Ridgewood Green RME, LLC (Ridgewood Green) with Natural Systems Utilities, and the signing of a 20-year public private partnership with the Village of Ridgewood, NJ whereby Ridgewood Green will design, build, own and operate facilities to optimize the production of electricity at Ridgewood’s municipal wastewater treatment plant. A copy of the press release announcing the joint venture 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 January 6, 2012 announcing joint venture formation with Natural Systems Utilities and 20-year public private partnership with the Village of Ridgewood, NJ. |
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/Kenneth J. Quinn | |
| Kenneth J. Quinn | |
| Vice President, General Counsel, | |
| Secretary and Treasurer |
Dated: January 6, 2012
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATURAL SYSTEMS UTILITIES AND MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY ANNOUNCE JOINT VENTURE TO SERVE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, NJ
Hillsborough and Iselin, NJ – January 6, 2012 – Natural Systems Utilities and Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ:MSEX) yesterday announced the formation of a joint venture, Ridgewood Green RME, LLC, (Ridgewood Green) and the signing of a 20-year public-private partnership with the Village of Ridgewood, NJ whereby Ridgewood Green will design, build, own and operate facilities to optimize the production of electricity at Ridgewood’s municipal wastewater treatment plant.
Ridgewood Green will work to optimize the treatment process through the conversion of biogas at the plant to electricity via anaerobic digestion, installation of solar arrays to produce additional electricity and the addition of ultraviolet light for wastewater disinfection. Renewable energy is expected to provide all the electricity required to operate the wastewater treatment plant.
In addition, the joint venture has partnered with Bio-Organic Catalyst, LLC (BOC) to provide a very effective organic product to enhance production of biogas as well as reduce odors and grease build-up at the plant. Further value is expected to be derived from a reduction in the amount of residuals, which are a byproduct of the treatment process that will no longer need to be transported off site. Jay Johnston, Executive Vice President of BOC led the development of the contract with the Village and has demonstrated significant success using the product at the plant over the past three years.
“NSU and Middlesex Water have developed this environmentally-friendly and cost-effective model for Ridgewood with the assistance of several key partners, including Bio-Organic Catalyst, LLC, HydroQual Engineers and Advanced Solar Products,” said Donald Rodgers, NSU President. “Each of our partners brings significant expertise that contributes to the optimization of the performance of the new facilities,” added Rodgers.
“We commend the Village of Ridgewood officials for their foresight in implementing an environmentally progressive and economically self-sufficient initiative,” said Dennis Doll, Middlesex Water Company President and CEO. “This business model capitalizes on the inherent relationship between water, wastewater and renewable energy and provides for an appropriate sharing of environmental and economic value for the benefit of all parties,” added Doll.
About Natural Systems Utilities (NSU)
Natural Systems Utilities has pioneered sustainable water and energy-centric solutions for municipal, industrial and institutional clients for 28 years. Visit www.natsyssolutions.com for additional information.
About Middlesex Water Company
Middlesex Water Company, organized in 1897, provides regulated and unregulated water and wastewater utility services primarily in New Jersey and Delaware through various subsidiary companies. For information about Middlesex Water Company, visit www.middlesexwater.com
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, Middlesex Water Company’s long-term strategy and expectations, the status of its acquisition program, the impact of its acquisitions, the impact of current and projected rate requests and the impact of its capital program on environmental compliance. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives and other factors discussed in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
| Rick Cisterna, Executive Vice President | Bernadette Sohler, Vice President Corporate Affairs |
| Natural Systems Utilities | Middlesex Water Company |
| 2 Clerico Lane, Suite 210 | 1500 Ronson Road |
| Hillsborough, NJ 08844 | Iselin, NJ 08830 |
| 908-359-5129 | 732-638-7549 |
| rcisterna@natsyssolutions.com | bsohler@middlesexwater.com |