SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
                            WASHINGTON, DC 20549 
   
                                FORM 10-Q 
   
              QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) 
                 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
 
 
                                                Commission File 
For Quarter Ended: March 31, 1997               No. 0-422   
 
 
                         MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
 
 
 INCORPORATED IN NEW JERSEY                     22-1114430 
(State or other jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer 
incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.) 
   
1500 RONSON ROAD, ISELIN, NJ	                    08830 
(Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code) 
   
                                (908) 634-1500   
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 
   
   
     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 and Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months  
(or for such shorter period that this registrant was required to  
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing  
requirements for the past 30 days. 
   
   
                                YES [X]      NO [ ]    
   
   
     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the  
Issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable  
date. 
   
   
Class                                 Outstanding at March 31, 1997 
Common Stock, No Par Value            4,218,332 
   
   
   
   
   
   
                 PART I. - FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
   
                   MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY   
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME   
                   (Unaudited)   
   
   
Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 1996 __________ __________ Operating Revenues $ 9,336,019 $ 9,246,949 __________ __________ Operating Expenses: Operation and Maintenance 4,515,228 4,625,478 Depreciation 755,483 722,020 Taxes,other than Income Taxes 1,391,170 1,384,751 Federal Income Taxes 650,733 546,360 __________ __________ Total Operating Expenses 7,312,614 7,278,609 __________ __________ Utility Operating Income 2,023,405 1,968,340 Other Income-Net 76,632 9,585 __________ __________ Income Before Interest Charges 2,100,037 1,977,925 Interest Charges 818,012 824,662 __________ __________ Net Income 1,282,025 1,153,263 Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements 39,732 39,732 __________ __________ Earnings Applicable to Common Stock $ 1,242,293 $ 1,113,531 __________ __________ Earnings per Share of Common Stock $0.30 $0.27 __________ __________ Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding 4,210,636 4,143,181 Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share $0.28 $0.27 1/2 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ASSETS AND OTHER DEBITS
March 31, December 31, 1997 1996 ___________ ___________ (Unaudited) UTILITY PLANT: Water Production $ 27,473,110 $ 27,378,668 Transmission and Distribution 104,222,620 103,852,969 General 17,155,005 18,156,233 Construction Work in Progress 358,090 319,238 ___________ ___________ TOTAL 149,208,825 149,707,108 Less Accumulated Depreciation 27,925,812 28,462,588 ___________ ___________ UTILITY PLANT-NET 121,283,013 121,244,520 ___________ ___________ NONUTILITY ASSETS-NET 1,672,406 1,774,106 ___________ ___________ CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and Cash Equivalents 4,163,722 4,262,862 Accounts Receivable(net of allowance for doubtful accounts) 3,950,490 4,022,129 Unbilled Revenues 2,176,409 2,175,478 Materials and Supplies(at average cost) 1,051,343 1,034,572 Prepayments and Other Current Assets 395,875 430,000 ___________ ___________ TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 11,737,839 11,925,041 ___________ ___________ DEFERRED CHARGES: Regulatory Assets 7,248,864 7,184,764 Unamortized Debt Expense 2,818,120 2,848,352 Preliminary Survey and Investigation Charges 1,850,460 1,716,884 Other 1,917,458 1,965,855 ___________ ___________ TOTAL DEFERRED CHARGES 13,834,902 13,715,855 ___________ ___________ TOTAL $148,528,160 $148,659,522 ___________ ___________ See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS LIABILITIES AND OTHER CREDITS
March 31, December 31, 1997 1996 ___________ ___________ (Unaudited) CAPITALIZATION(see accompanying statements) $105,158,033 $104,843,071 CURRENT LIABILITIES: Current Portion of Long-term Debt 39,932 39,047 Accounts Payable 919,271 1,686,652 Customer Deposits 383,556 377,702 Taxes Accrued 5,759,313 4,529,185 Interest Accrued 449,623 1,168,242 Other 1,816,900 2,125,683 ___________ ___________ TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 9,368,595 9,926,511 ___________ ___________ DEFERRED CREDITS: Customer Advances for Construction 8,886,203 8,977,081 Accumulated Deferred Investment Tax Credits 2,290,817 2,308,736 Accumulated Deferred Federal Income Taxes 12,292,681 12,088,144 Other 1,774,980 1,715,458 ___________ ___________ TOTAL DEFERRED CREDITS 25,244,681 25,089,419 ___________ ___________ CONTRIBUTIONS IN AID OF CONSTRUCTION 8,756,851 8,800,521 ___________ ___________ TOTAL $148,528,160 $148,659,522 ___________ ___________ See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITALIZATION AND RETAINED EARNINGS
March 31, December 31, 1997 1996 ___________ ___________ (Unaudited) CAPITALIZATION: Common Stock,No Par Value Shares Authorized,6,000,000 Shares Outstanding-1997,4,218,332 1996,4,204,949 $ 30,250,027 $ 29,988,966 Retained Earnings 19,291,069 19,226,847 ___________ ___________ TOTAL COMMON EQUITY 49,541,096 49,215,813 ___________ ___________ Cumulative Preference Stock,No Par Value Shares Authorized,100,000; Shares Outstanding,None Cumulative Preferred Stock,No Par Value, Shares Authorized,69,418 Convertible: Shares Outstanding,$7.00 Series - 14,901 1,564,605 1,564,605 Nonredeemable: Shares Outstanding,$7.00 Series - 1,017 101,700 101,700 Shares Outstanding,$4.75 Series - 10,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 ___________ ___________ TOTAL CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK 2,666,305 2,666,305 ___________ ___________ Long-term Debt: 8.02% Amortizing Secured Note, due December 20,2021 3,490,564 3,500,000 First Mortgage Bonds: 7.25%,Series R,due July 1,2021 6,000,000 6,000,000 5.20%,Series S,due October 1,2022 12,000,000 12,000,000 5.25%,Series T,due October 1,2023 6,500,000 6,500,000 6.40%,Series U,due February 1,2009 15,000,000 15,000,000 5.25%,Series V,due February 1,2029 10,000,000 10,000,000 ___________ ___________ SUBTOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT 52,990,564 53,000,000 Less: Current Portion of Long-term Debt (39,932) (39,047) ___________ ___________ TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT 52,950,632 52,960,953 ___________ ___________ TOTAL CAPITALIZATION $105,158,033 $104,843,071 ___________ ___________
Three Months Ended Year Ended March 31, December 31, 1997 1996 ___________ ___________ (Unaudited) RETAINED EARNINGS: BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD $ 19,226,847 $ 18,822,817 Net Income 1,282,025 5,167,460 ___________ ___________ TOTAL 20,508,872 23,990,277 ___________ ___________ Cash Dividends: Cumulative Preferred Stock 39,732 158,926 Common Stock 1,178,071 4,604,504 ___________ ___________ TOTAL DEDUCTIONS 1,217,803 4,763,430 ___________ ___________ BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD $ 19,291,069 $ 19,226,847 ___________ ___________ See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 1996 ___________ ___________ CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Income $ 1,282,025 $ 1,153,263 Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Depreciation and Amortization 772,408 749,840 Provision for Deferred Income Taxes 204,537 149,491 Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (5,997) (5,895) Changes in Current Assets and Liabilities: Accounts Receivables 71,639 151,819 Materials and Supplies (16,771) 8,167 Accounts Payable (767,381) 133,207 Accrued Income Taxes 1,230,128 1,501,778 Accrued Interest (718,619) (697,749) Unbilled Revenues (931) 14,300 Other-Net (316,164) (59,605) ___________ ___________ NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 1,734,874 3,098,616 ___________ ___________ CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Utility Plant Expenditures (786,755) (744,739) Preliminary Survey and Investigation Charges (133,576) (29,352) Other-Net 183,872 (51,875) ___________ ___________ NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (736,459) (825,966) ___________ ___________ CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Redemption of Long-term Debt (9,436) 0 Deferred Debt Issuance Expenses 0 (116) Temporary Cash Investments-Restricted 3,171 (731) Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock-Net 261,061 285,780 Payment of Preferred Dividends (39,732) (39,732) Payment of Common Dividends (1,178,071) (1,138,586) Customer Advances and Contributions-Net (134,548) 72,520 ___________ ___________ NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES (1,097,555) (820,865) ___________ ___________ NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (99,140) 1,451,785 ___________ ___________ CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 4,262,862 4,900,640 ___________ ___________ CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $ 4,163,722 $ 6,352,425 ___________ ___________ SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION: Cash Paid During the Period for: Interest(net of amounts capitalized) $ 1,510,178 $ 1,487,412 Income Taxes $ 0 $ 25,000 Excludes Allowance for funds Used During Construction. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Organization - Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) is the parent company and sole shareholder of Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Pinelands Water Company, Pinelands Wastewater Company, and Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA). White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tidewater. The financial statements for Middlesex and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (Consolidated Group) are reported on a consolidated basis. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The consolidated notes accompanying the 1996 Form 10-K are applicable to this report and, in the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of March 31, 1997 and the results of operations and its cash flows for the periods ended March 31, 1997 and 1996. Information included in the Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1996 has been derived from the Company's audited financial statements included in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996. Note 2 - Capitalization Common Stock - During the first quarter, 13,383 common shares ($0.2 million) were issued under the Company's Restricted Stock Plan and the Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan. Note 3 - Commitments On March 7, 1997, Middlesex Water Company entered into a contract to acquire Public Water Supply Company, Inc., (Public) a 2,400 customer water system located in Sussex County, Delaware. Under the terms of the contract, Middlesex Water will exchange preferred stock convertible into approximately 135,000 shares of its common stock for 100% of the shares of Public. The acquisition was approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the Delaware Public Service Commission on April 30, 1997 and May 1, 1997, respectively. A closing date for the acquisition has not been determined. MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 COMPARED TO MARCH 31, 1996 Net income for the first quarter rose by $0.1 million or 10% and was partially due to increased revenues from the subsidiaries and decreased operations and maintenance expenses, which included purchase power, water treatment chemicals, and overtime labor. Additionally, there was an increase in Other Income which includes the net benefit from the transfer of Robinson's Branch Reservoir property and associated development rights. Offsetting these positive impacts to net income was an increase of $0.1 million in Federal Income Taxes due to a higher level of taxable income. Capital Resources: The consolidated capital program for 1997, estimated at $17.1 million, includes $5.6 million for routine capital expenditures and $11.5 million for special plant additions. The $5.6 million for routine plant items is comprised of $2.0 million for cleaning and lining, $1.6 million for mains, $0.7 million for service lines, $0.4 million for meters, and $0.9 million for various other items. The $11.5 million for special plant additions consists of $6.4 million for the upgrade of the Carl J. Olsen Water Treatment Plant, $1.9 million for treatment of well supplies, $2.3 million for water systems additions and improvements in Delaware, $0.2 million for the South River Basin regional supply, and $0.7 million for miscellaneous items. Liquidity: To finance the Capital Program, the Company will utilize internally-generated cash and external financing. The Company will initially rely upon short-term borrowings through lines of credit established with three financial institutions. There is $20 million available under these commitments. Capital expenditures of $0.8 million have been incurred in the three months ended March 31, 1997. New Accounting Pronouncement: In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" (SFAS 128). SFAS 128 simplifies the financial accounting and reporting standards for computing and presenting earnings per share (EPS) previously found in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 15, "Earnings Per Share". SFAS 128 is effective for financial statements issued for periods ending after December 15, 1997, including interim periods. Earlier application is not permitted. The company will adopt SFAS 128 in 1997 and believes there will be no impact on the EPS as currently computed. MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings None. Item 2. Changes in Securities None. Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities None. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders None. Item 5. Other Information None. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K Exhibits - 27 Financial Data Schedule Reports on Form 8-K - Filed March 31, 1997 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 by the undersigned thereto duly authorized. MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY (Registrant) /A. Bruce O'Connor/ Date: May 12, 1997 A. Bruce O'Connor Vice President and Controller
 

UT 0000066004 MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY 3-MOS DEC-31-1997 MAR-31-1997 PER-BOOK 121,283,013 1,672,406 11,737,839 13,834,902 0 148,528,160 30,250,027 0 19,291,069 49,541,096 0 2,666,305 52,950,632 0 0 0 39,932 0 0 0 43,330,195 148,528,160 9,336,019 650,733 6,661,881 7,312,614 2,023,405 76,632 2,100,037 818,012 1,282,025 39,732 1,242,293 1,178,071 2,885,250 1,734,874 .30 .30