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: December 17, 2021

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.)

485C Route 1 South, Suite 400, Iselin, New Jersey 08830

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, No Par Value	MSEX	The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item. 8.01.

Other Events

Announcement that on December 15, 2021, Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ:MSEX) received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for a $27.7 million, or a 33.6% increase in its base water rates. The new rates will be phased in over the next two years with $20.8 million in Phase 1, effective January 1, 2022 and $6.9 million in Phase 2, effective January 1, 2023. The new rates are designed to allow for a 6.35% overall rate of return on invested capital on a rate base of $513.5 million. The authorized return on equity was set at 9.6%. The Company had filed a request for a 37.8% increase in May 2021 seeking recovery of more than $267 million for utility infrastructure projects under its Water For Tomorrow® capital program made since its last rate filing in October 2017 and increased operating expenses since 2017 as well.

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/A. Bruce O’Connor
	A. Bruce O’Connor
	Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
	Chief Financial Officer

Dated: December 17, 2021

SEC Form 8-K filed by Middlesex Water Company