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: March 16, 2006



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:

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

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

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

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





Item. 8.01. Other Events

Announcement of Middlesex Water Company 2005 Earnings as set forth in the attached press release.



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: March 16, 2006

2




 
For More Information, Please call:
Bernadette Sohler, Communications Director
(732) 634-1500
  

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY REPORTS 2005 EARNINGS

ISELIN, NEW JERSEY, March 16, 2006 - Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX), a provider of water, wastewater and related services in New Jersey and Delaware, today reported earnings applicable to common stock of $8.2 million, or $0.72 per basic share, for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared with $8.2 million, or $0.74 per basic share, in 2004. On a fully diluted basis, earnings per share was $0.71 for 2005 compared to $0.73 per share in May 2004. Earnings per share decreased by $0.02, due to the full effect of the 700,000 common stock share offering in 2004 and shares issued under the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan during 2005.
 
“The Company received needed rate relief of $4.8 million in annual revenues in 2005 of which $4.3 million was awarded in December. In addition, numerous capital projects were completed in 2005, including installation of a new raw water pipeline, installation of solar electric generation, continued investment in the integrity of our utility infrastructure and the creation of a regulated wastewater business in Delaware,” said Dennis W. Doll, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Furthermore, we devoted considerable effort in 2005 focusing on the fundamental aspects of our business and developing additional plans to contribute to long-term value,” added Doll.
 
2005 Operating Results
 
Consolidated operating revenues grew $3.6 million to $74.6 million, up 5.1% over the same period in 2004. Water sales improved by $3.6 million in the Middlesex system, of which $1.8 million was a result of base rate increases that were granted to Middlesex in May 2004 and December 2005, and $1.8 million was due to increased consumption due to favorable summer weather as compared to the prior year. Customer growth of 9.2% and higher base rates, in Delaware, provided $0.9 million and $1.0 million, respectively, of additional revenues. New unregulated wastewater contracts in Delaware added marginally to revenues.
 
Additional capital investment in utility infrastructure of $25.3 million, together with increased operating costs, contributed to the need for rate relief in regulated businesses. The Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater Companies, subsidiaries in Burlington County, New Jersey, have petitioned the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for base rate increases. A decision is expected during the second quarter of 2006. Tidewater Utilities, Inc., one of the Company’s Delaware subsidiaries, expects to file for rate relief in the second quarter of 2006. In 2005, operation and maintenance expenses increased $2.2 million or 5.4% as compared to the same period in 2004, mostly due to increased payroll and employee benefit costs, production, treatment, and power expenses.


 
Company Pays Quarterly Dividend
 
Middlesex Water paid a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share on the Common Stock on March 1, 2006, to stockholders of record as of February 15, 2006. The Company has paid cash dividends in varying amounts continually since 1912. 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, organized in 1897, is a water utility serving customers in central and southern New Jersey and in the State of Delaware. The Company and its New Jersey subsidiaries -- Pinelands Water Company and Pinelands Wastewater Company -- are subject to the regulations of the Board of Public Utilities of the State of New Jersey. Middlesex Water Company operates the water and wastewater utilities for the City of Perth Amboy through its subsidiary; Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc. Middlesex Water also provides contract operations services and a service line maintenance program through its non-regulated subsidiary, Utility Service Affiliates, Inc. The Company’s regulated Delaware subsidiaries, Tidewater Utilities, Inc., together with Southern Shores Water Company and Tidewater Environmental Services Inc. (TESI), are subject to the regulations of the Public Service Commission in Delaware. TESI was established in 2004 to provide regulated wastewater utility services. White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. operates small water and wastewater systems under contract on a non-regulated basis in Delaware.
 
These companies are also subject to various Federal and State regulatory agencies concerning water, and wastewater effluent, quality standards.
 
For additional information regarding Middlesex Water Company, visit the Company’s web site at www.middlesexwater.com or call (732) 634-1500.
 
 
 
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements” regarding the Company’s results of operations and financial position. Such statements address
future plans, objectives, expectations and events concerning various matters such as capital expenditures, earnings, litigation, growth potential, rates, regulatory matters,
liquidity, capital resources and accounting matters. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. The Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
 

 



MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
               
   
 Years Ended December 31,
  
   
2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
               
Operating Revenues
  
$
74,613,305
  
$
70,991,146
  
$
64,111,214
  
                   
    Operating Expenses:
                    
    Operations  
    
38,635,382
   
36,519,355
   
32,666,099
 
    Maintenance 
    
3,519,914
   
3,464,036
   
3,529,113
 
    Depreciation 
    
6,460,241
   
5,846,191
   
5,362,727
 
    Other Taxes 
    
8,779,325
   
8,228,354
   
7,815,918
 
                     
Total Operating Expenses
    
57,394,862
   
54,057,936
   
49,373,857
 
                     
Operating Income
    
17,218,443
   
16,933,210
   
14,737,357
 
                     
Other Income (Expense):
                    
    Allowance for Funds Used During Construction 
    
547,714
   
606,019
   
315,919
 
    Other Income 
    
219,572
   
221,950
   
131,499
 
    Other Expense 
    
(27,593
)
  
(32,676
)
  
(89,931
)
                     
Total Other Income, net
    
739,693
   
795,293
   
357,487
 
                     
Income before Interest and Income Taxes
    
17,958,136
   
17,728,503
   
15,094,844
 
                     
Interest Charges
    
6,244,671
   
5,468,576
   
5,227,030
 
                     
Income before Income Taxes
    
11,713,465
   
12,259,927
   
9,867,814
 
                     
Income Taxes
    
3,237,324
   
3,814,418
   
3,237,218
 
                     
Net Income
    
8,476,141
   
8,445,509
   
6,630,596
 
         
   
 
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements
    
251,286
   
254,786
   
254,786
 
           
   
 
Earnings Applicable to Common Stock
  
$
8,224,855
  
$
8,190,723
  
$
6,375,810
  
                     
Earnings per share of Common Stock:
                    
    Basic 
  
$
0.72
  
$
0.74
  
$
0.61
  
    Diluted 
  
$
0.71
  
$
0.73
  
$
0.61
  
                     
Average Number of
                
 
    Common Shares Outstanding : 
                
 
    Basic 
    
11,444,785
   
11,079,835
   
10,475,295
 
    Diluted 
    
11,783,925
   
11,422,975
   
10,818,435
 
                     
Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share
 
$
0.673
  
$
0.663
  
$
0.649