Second Quarter SummaryRevenues Increase $1.9 Million.Net Income Rises by $1.6 Million.Major Transmission Main Project Completed.ISELIN, N.J., July 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Middlesex Water Company (“Middlesex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:MSEX) a provider of water and wastewater services, today reported Second Quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.55, as compared to $.49 per share in than the same period in 2019.Second Quarter Results
The Company reported second quarter 2020 consolidated operating revenues of $35.3 million, as compared to $33.4 million in 2019. The $1.9 million increase in operating revenues is largely demand driven from residential and other retail water customers in the Middlesex System in New Jersey and from higher water consumption and customer growth in our Delaware systems.“Throughout the second quarter and in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, our teams remained focused on maintaining our water and wastewater infrastructure and delivering the management and technical expertise that continues to keep high quality water flowing for thousands of customers. In March, we completed construction of our $50 million large diameter supplemental transmission pipeline, a critical infrastructure project for our New Jersey system begun in 2018. We also continue to work with our valued customers financially impacted by COVID-19 by suspending water shutoffs and offering support through flexible payment arrangements in these unprecedented times,” said Middlesex Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis W. Doll.Operation and maintenance expenses for the second quarter of 2020 increased $0.8 million from the same period in 2019. The increase was related to higher variable production costs due to increased customer water consumption, higher employee benefit plan expenses and higher labor costs due to additional talent needed to meet operational and regulatory requirements.Income Tax expense for the second quarter of 2020 decreased $0.7 million from 2019, due to the approved regulatory accounting treatment of tax benefits associated with the adoption of Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) tangible property regulations.Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2020 increased $1.6 million from the same period in 2019. Diluted earnings per share were $0.55 and $0.49 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.Six Month Results
Consolidated operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were $67.0 million, an increase of $3.0 million from the same period in 2019, primarily due to due to increased customer water consumption in our Middlesex and Delaware systems and customer growth in Delaware. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, diluted earnings per share were $0.99 as compared to $0.88 for the same period in 2019.Operation and maintenance expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2020 increased $1.9 million from the same period in 2019 due to higher variable production costs related to increased customer water consumption, higher employee benefit plan expenses and higher labor costs due to additional talent needed to meet operational and regulatory requirements.Income Tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020 decreased $1.8 million from the same period in 2019, primarily due to the approved regulatory accounting treatment of tax benefits associated with the adoption of IRS tangible property regulations.Board Declares DividendAs previously announced in July 2020, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25625 per common share payable on September 1, 2020 to shareholders of record as of August 14, 2020. ABOUT MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
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