NOTE 5 INCOME TAXES

Deferred income taxes are provided in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740 on all differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts at which they are carried in the consolidated financial statements based on the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such temporary differences are expected to reverse.  The Company’s rate regulated subsidiaries recognize regulatory liabilities, to the extent considered in ratemaking, for deferred taxes provided in excess of the current statutory tax rate and regulatory assets for deferred taxes provided at rates less than the current statutory rate.  Such tax-related regulatory assets and liabilities are reported at the revenue requirement level and amortized to income as the related temporary differences reverse, generally over the lives of the related properties.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company has separate company state net operating loss carry-forwards aggregating approximately $16.5 million. Most of these net operating loss carry-forwards will not expire, with a negligible amount expiring in 2025. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets that may not be realized in the future. The valuation allowance increased to approximately $1,084,000 in 2024 from approximately $906,000 in 2023. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefit of these deferred tax assets, net of the valuation allowance.

Components of Income Tax Expense
     
In thousands
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
Federal income taxes
 
2024
   
2023
   
2022
 
Current
 
$
4,733
   
$
1,946
   
$
2,912
 
Deferred
   
(104
)
   
1,968
     
930
 
Total federal income tax expense
 
$
4,629
   
$
3,914
   
$
3,842
 

 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
State income taxes
 
2024
   
2023
   
2022
 
Current
 
$
2,004
   
$
1,016
   
$
1,373
 
Deferred
   
682
     
1,418
     
663
 
Total state income tax expense
 
$
2,686
   
$
2,434
   
$
2,036
 

Reconciliation of effective tax rate:
 
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
In thousands
 
2024
   
2024
   
2023
   
2023
   
2022
   
2022
 
 
 
Amount
   
Percent
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
Reconciliation of effective tax rate
                                   
Income before federal and state income taxes
 
$
27,709
     
100.0
%
 
$
23,047
     
100.0
%
 
$
23,876
     
100.0
%
 
                                               
Amount computed at statutory rate
   
5,819
     
21.0
%
   
4,840
     
21.0
%
   
5,014
     
21.0
%
Reconciling items
                                               
State income tax-net of federal tax benefit
   
2,094
     
7.6
%
   
1,918
     
8.3
%
   
1,696
     
7.1
%
Regulatory liability adjustment
   
(719
)
   
(2.6
)%
   
(449
)
   
(1.9
)%
   
(450
)
   
(1.9
)%
Other
   
121
     
0.4
%
   
39
     
0.2
%
   
(382
)
   
(1.6
)%
Total income tax expense and effective rate
 
$
7,315
     
26.4
%
 
$
6,348
     
27.6
%
 
$
5,878
     
24.6
%

Deferred income taxes at December 31, 2024 and 2023 were comprised of the following:

   
For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
In thousands
 
2024
   
2023
 
 
           
Deferred tax assets related to:
           
State operating loss carry-forwards
 
$
1,086
   
$
1,037
 
Bad debt allowance
   
96
     
92
 
Stock options
   
31
     
47
 
Tax effect of regulatory liabilities
   
7,408
     
 
Other
   
183
     
48
 
Total deferred tax assets
 
$
8,804
   
$
1,224
 
Less: valuation allowance
   
(1,084
)
   
(906
)
Total deferred tax assets net of valuation allowance
   
7,720
     
318
 
 
               
Deferred tax liabilities related to:
               
Property plant and equipment basis differences
 
$
(57,296
)
 
$
(56,012
)
Bond retirement costs
   
(907
)
   
(982
)
Property taxes
   
(610
)
   
(624
)
Other
   
(1,172
)
   
(1,081
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
 
$
(59,985
)
 
$
(58,699
)
 
               
Net deferred tax liability
 
$
(52,265
)
 
$
(58,381
)


Schedule of Valuation Allowance
 
 
Balance at
Beginning of
Period
 
Additions
Charged to
Costs and
Expenses
 
Deductions
 
Balance at
End of Period
 
In thousands
               
 
               
Classification
               
For the Year Ended December 31, 2024 Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
 
$
906
   
$
190
   
$
12
   
$
1,084
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
 
$
600
   
$
312
   
$
6
   
$
906
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
 
$
546
   
$
54
   
$
   
$
600
 

Under FASB ASC Topic 740, the Company establishes reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management’s judgment as to the sustainability of these positions.  The Company reserved a liability related to the difference in the tax depreciation utilizing the half-year convention rather than the mid-quarter convention for 2022 and 2024.

The following table provides the changes in the Company’s uncertain tax position:

 
For the years ended December 31,
 
In thousands
 
2024
   
2023
 
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
158
   
$
146
 
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year 
   
46
     
 
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years
   
17
     
12
 
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
   
     
 
Lapses in statutes of limitations
   
     
 
Balance at end of year
 
$
221
   
$
158
 
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About Income Taxes Disclosures

The income tax disclosure reveals how much a company actually pays in taxes versus what the statutory rate would predict. Analysts focus on the effective tax rate (ETR) reconciliation, which breaks down every item driving the gap between the 21% federal rate and the company's reported ETR — including R&D credits, foreign rate differentials, and state taxes. Deferred tax assets (DTAs) and their valuation allowances signal management's confidence in future profitability: a rising allowance suggests the company doubts it can use accumulated tax benefits. Uncertain tax benefit (UTB) reserves quantify exposure to IRS challenges on aggressive positions.

Key signals to watch: sudden ETR drops without clear operational reasons, large increases in valuation allowances, growing UTB balances, and significant unremitted foreign earnings. Post-TCJA, pay attention to GILTI and BEAT provisions that affect multinational tax structures. Compare the cash taxes paid (from the cash flow statement) against the income tax provision to gauge earnings quality.