ISELIN, NJ -- (Marketwire) -- 08/02/12 -- Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX) ("Middlesex" or the "Company") today reported operating revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 of $27.4 million, up from $26.1 million for the same period in 2011. Net income increased $0.1 million to $3.7 million. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.23, remaining the same amount as in 2011. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, revenues were $50.9 million, as compared to $50.1 for the same period in 2011, and net income decreased to $5.4 million, from $6.2 million for the same period in 2011.

Second Quarter Operating Results
Operating revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2012 increased $1.3 million or 4.9%, from the same period in 2011, primarily due to increased sales of $0.8 million in our Delaware system, which includes Tidewater Utilities, Inc. ("Tidewater"), primarily due to the 10.49% interim rate increase that went into effect in November 2011 and increased connection fees. Revenues in the Company's Middlesex system in New Jersey increased $0.1 million, reflecting increased commercial, industrial and residential customer demand for water as well as implementation of a purchased water adjustment clause in August 2011. Scheduled increases for our contract operations services led to additional revenue of $0.2 million.

Operation and maintenance expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2012 increased $0.7 million from the same period in 2011. This increase was primarily due to an additional $0.6 million in postretirement benefits plan expenses, primarily due to changes in actuarial assumptions in our retirement plans. Favorable weather conditions, and consequently fewer main breaks, contributed to a decrease in main repair costs of $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2012. Additionally, labor costs decreased $0.2 million, primarily due to higher capitalized payroll and less overtime resulting from fewer main breaks.

Middlesex Water Company Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis W. Doll said, "We welcome increased demand by our customers for water and stand ready to meet peak demands for the remainder of the summer season. In addition, we are pleased with the timely approval by the Delaware Public Service Commission in June 2012 of a $3.9 million increase in base water rates for our Delaware subsidiary Tidewater; and the approval by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in July 2012 for a $8.1 million increase in base rates for Central New Jersey customers of our Middlesex system," added Doll.

Six Month Operating Results
Consolidated operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2012 increased $0.8 million from the same period in 2011. Revenues in our Delaware system increased $1.2 million, primarily due to interim rate increases and increased connection fees. Scheduled increases for our contract operations services led to additional revenue of $0.3 million. Revenues, however, from our Middlesex system customers were down $0.7 million, primarily due to lower demand. Operation and maintenance expenses increased $1.0 million from the same period in 2011. This was primarily attributable to increased employee benefits related costs.

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, basic and diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.35, as compared to $0.40 for the same period in 2011. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased $0.7 million from the same period in 2011.

Company Quarterly Dividend
The Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1850 per share, payable September 3, 2012 to common shareholders as of August 15, 2012. The Company has paid cash dividends in varying amounts continually since 1912 and has increased the dividend for 39 consecutive years. Middlesex Water has a Dividend Reinvestment Plan under which dividends and optional cash payments can be used to purchase additional shares of Common stock.

About Middlesex Water Company
Middlesex Water Company is a provider of water, wastewater and related services, primarily in New Jersey and Delaware. Organized in 1897, the Company provides regulated and unregulated water and wastewater utility services through various subsidiary companies. For additional information regarding Middlesex Water Company, visit the Company's Web site at www.middlesexwater.com or call (732) 634-1500.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our acquisition program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current and projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our 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 our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                          MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                (Unaudited)
                  (In thousands except per share amounts)

                                     Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                          June 30,            June 30,
                                       2012      2011      2012      2011
                                     ========  ========  ========  ========

Operating Revenues                   $ 27,401  $ 26,102  $ 50,947  $ 50,098
                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Operating Expenses:
  Operations and Maintenance           14,765    14,062    29,140    28,093
  Depreciation                          2,582     2,417     5,130     4,829
  Other Taxes                           2,844     2,885     5,590     5,670
                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

    Total Operating Expenses           20,191    19,364    39,860    38,592
                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Operating Income                        7,210     6,738    11,087    11,506
                                     ========  ========  ========  ========

Other Income (Expense):
  Allowance for Funds Used During
   Construction                           137       197       273       391
  Other Income                            125       202       317       359
  Other Expense                           (11)     (111)     (151)     (160)
                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Total Other Income, net                   251       288       439       590
                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Interest Charges                        1,779     1,714     3,133     2,928
                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Income before Income Taxes              5,682     5,312     8,393     9,168
                                     ========  ========  ========  ========

Income Taxes                            1,957     1,687     2,861     2,913
                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Net Income                              3,725     3,625     5,532     6,255

Preferred Stock Dividend
 Requirements                              51        51       103       103
                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Earnings Applicable to Common Stock  $  3,674  $  3,574  $  5,429  $  6,152
                                     ========  ========  ========  ========

Earnings per share of Common Stock:
  Basic                              $   0.23  $   0.23  $   0.35  $   0.40
  Diluted                            $   0.23  $   0.23  $   0.35  $   0.40

Average Number of Common Shares
 Outstanding :
  Basic                                15,716    15,598    15,704    15,587
  Diluted                              15,979    15,861    15,967    15,850

Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share $ 0.1850  $ 0.1825  $ 0.3700  $ 0.3650

Contact:
Bernadette Sohler
Vice President - Corporate Affairs
Middlesex Water Company
1500 Ronson Road
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
www.middlesexwater.com
(732) 638-7549

Source: Middlesex Water Company