MIDDLESEX WATER CO (MSEX) FY 2025 MD&A

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities are largely influenced by four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate increases, effective cost management and customer growth. The effect of those factors on net income is discussed in the Results of Operations section above.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash flows from operating activities increased $3.9 million to $62.6 million. The increase in cash flows from operating activities primarily resulted from the impact of Middlesex’s approved base rate increase effective March 1, 2024, Tidewater's base rate increase effective July 3, 2025, Middlesex's increased DSIC, decreased unbilled revenues and lower federal income tax payments.

Increases in certain operating costs impact our liquidity and capital resources. We continually monitor the need for timely rate case filings to minimize the lag between the time we experience increased operating costs and capital expenditures and the time we receive appropriate rate relief.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash flows used in investing activities increased $26.3 million to $101.0 million due to increased utility plant expenditures in 2025 and Tidewater’s acquisition of the water utility assets of Ocean View.

For further discussion on the Company’s future capital expenditures and expected funding sources, see “Capital Expenditures and Commitments” section below.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash flows from financing activities increased $20.9 million to $38.6 million. The increase in cash flows provided by financing activities is due to higher long-term debt and short-term borrowings, and higher proceeds from the issuance of common stock under Middlesex’s At-the-Market (ATM) equity offering program, partially offset by proceeds received from a litigation settlement in 2024.

For further discussion on the Company’s long-term debt, short-term borrowings and common stock, see “Sources of Liquidity” section below.

Capital Expenditures and Commitments

To fund our capital program, we use internally generated funds, short-term and long-term debt borrowings, proceeds from sales of common stock under the Middlesex Water Company Investment Plan (Investment Plan) and ATM equity offering program, and, when market conditions are favorable, proceeds from sales to the public of our common stock.

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The table below summarizes our estimated capital expenditures for the years 2026-2028.

Our estimated capital expenditures for the items listed above are primarily comprised of the following:

•Distribution/Network System - Includes projects associated with replacement, installation and relocation of water mains and service lines and wastewater collection systems, construction of water storage tanks, installation and replacement of hydrants, meters and meter pits and the RENEW Program. RENEW is our ongoing initiative to replace water mains in the Middlesex System. In connection with RENEW, we expect to spend approximately $12 million each year from 2026 to 2028. Also, we plan to replace a transmission main in Metuchen, New Jersey in our Middlesex System for approximately $8 million in 2027 and 2028. In addition, we expect to invest $2 million in Tidewater distribution system improvements in 2026. Also, we expect to invest $3 million and $9 million in 2027 and 2028, respectively, for elevated storage tanks in our Tidewater System.

•Production System - Includes projects associated with our treatment plants, including approximately $36 million, $119 million and $100 million of expenditures in 2026, 2027 and 2028, respectively to install PFAS treatment at our CJO Plant.

•Information Technology (IT) Systems - Includes additional upgrades of our enterprise resource planning system and hardware and software purchases for other IT systems.

•Other - Includes purchase of transportation equipment, tools, furniture, laboratory equipment, security systems and other general infrastructure needs including improvements to field and inventory management facilities.

The actual amount and timing of capital expenditures is dependent on the need for replacement of existing infrastructure, customer growth, residential new home construction and sales, project scheduling and continued refinement of project scope and costs.

To fund our capital program in 2026, we estimate we will utilize some or all of the following:

•Internally generated funds;

•Short-term borrowings, as needed, through $148 million of available lines of credit with several financial institutions. (see discussion under “Sources of Liquidity-Short-term Borrowings” below);

•Proceeds from the Delaware State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program. SRF programs provide lower cost financing for projects meeting certain water quality and system improvement benchmarks (see discussion under “Sources of Liquidity-Long-term Debt” below);

•Proceeds from other long-term borrowings (see discussion under “Sources of Liquidity-Long-term Debt” below); and

•Proceeds from common stock sales through the ATM equity offering program and Investment Plan and proceeds from sales to the public of our common stock when market conditions are favorable (see discussion under “Sources of Liquidity-Common Stock” below).

Sources of Liquidity

Short-term Borrowings - In February 2026, the Company increased available lines of credit from $148 million to $180 million. The outstanding borrowings under the credit lines at December 31, 2025 were $28.3 million, at a weighted average interest rate of 5.03%.

The weighted average daily amounts of borrowings outstanding under the credit lines and the weighted average interest rates on those amounts were $42.1 million and $38.7 million at 5.42% and 6.33% for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Long-term Debt - Subject to regulatory approval, the Company periodically issues long-term debt to fund investments in utility plant. To the extent possible and fiscally prudent, the Company finances qualifying capital projects under SRF loan programs in New Jersey and Delaware. These government programs provide financing at interest rates typically below rates available in the broader financial markets.

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The Company intends to issue debt securities in a series of transaction offerings over a multi-year period to fund the multi-year capital construction program.

In September 2025, the NJBPU authorized Middlesex to borrow up to $260.0 million during the period January 2026 through December 2028, in one or more negotiated transactions in the form of notes and/or first mortgage bonds through loans from the New Jersey SRF Program, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, private placement and other financial institutions as needed. Middlesex was previously authorized to borrow up to $300.0 million for the period beginning in April 2023 through December 2025.

In October 2025, Middlesex closed on a $30.0 million, 5.99% private placement of First Mortgage Bonds (FMBs) due 2055, designated as Series 2025A. The net proceeds from the sale were used to repay short-term borrowings under the Company’s bank lines of credit and for other general corporate purposes.

In September 2024, Tidewater closed on a $2.2 million Delaware SRF loan with a 0.0% interest rate with an expected maturity date in 2044. This loan is for costs associated with Tidewater’s obligation, as required by federal law and Delaware regulations, to identify and inventory lead service lines throughout Tidewater’s service area. Tidewater has drawn down $1.8 million as of December 31, 2025.

In May 2024, Tidewater closed on four DEPSC-approved Delaware SRF loans totaling $5.6 million, all at interest rates of 2.0% with maturity dates in 2045. These loans are for the construction, relocation, improvement, and/or interconnection of transmission mains and construction of a water treatment facility. In December 2025, Tidewater closed on an additional $1.0 million, 2.0% SRF loan with a maturity date of 2045 related to these projects. Tidewater has drawn down $0.9 million on these loans as of December 31, 2025. Each project has its own construction timetable with the last spending set to occur in 2027.

Separately, Tidewater has two active construction projects funded by Delaware SRF loans totaling $8.3 million with remaining availability of funds for borrowing. These loans are for the construction of a one-million gallon elevated storage tank and construction, relocation, improvement, and interconnection of transmission mains. Tidewater has drawn a total of $7.1 million through December 31, 2025 and expects that the requisitions will continue through the first quarter of 2026.

In December 2025, Southern Shores closed on a $0.4 million Delaware SRF loan with a 0.0% interest rate with a maturity date in 2045. This loan is for costs associated with Southern Shore’s obligation, as required by federal law and Delaware regulations, to identify and inventory lead service lines in its service area.

In February 2026, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater repaid in full $3.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively, of their amortizing secured notes. The interest rates and due dates on both of these notes were 6.17% and 2043, respectively.

Substantially all of the utility plant of the Company is subject to the lien of its mortgage, which includes debt service and capital ratio covenants. As of December 31, 2025, the Company is in compliance with all of its mortgage covenants.

Common Stock - The Company issues shares of its common stock in connection with the Investment Plan, a direct share purchase and dividend reinvestment plan for the Company’s common stock. The Company raised approximately $0.9 million through the issuance of shares under the Investment Plan during 2025.

In September 2025, the NJBPU authorized Middlesex to issue and sell up to 2.5 million shares of its common stock, without par value, during the period January 2026 through December 2028, through one or more traditional underwriting offerings and/or ATM offerings. Middlesex's was previously authorized to issue and sell up to 1.0 million shares of its common stock, without par value for the period beginning in April 2023 through December 2025.

In May 2025, Middlesex entered into an ATM Equity Offering Sales Agreement (Equity Sales Agreement) with BofA Securities, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, pursuant to which Middlesex may offer and sell shares of its common stock, no par value per share, from time to time in “at-the-market” offerings, having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $110.0 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from these sales, after deducting commissions and offering expenses, to fund our capital expenditures, to purchase and maintain plant equipment, as well as for other general corporate purposes. In 2025, Middlesex issued and sold a total of 560,000 shares of common stock, at a weighted average price of $53.54 per share, and received $29.5 million in net proceeds, under the Equity Sales Agreement. As of December 31, 2025, the Company has $80.0 million of aggregate gross sales remaining under the Equity Sales Agreement.

In order to fully fund the ongoing capital investment program and maintain a balanced capital structure required for a regulated water utility, Middlesex may offer for sale additional shares of its common stock. The amount, the timing and the sales method of the common stock is dependent on the timing of the construction expenditures, the level of additional debt financing and financial market conditions. Common stock offerings will occur as needed to maintain a balanced capital structure as we continue on a parallel path with future debt offerings.

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Sales of additional shares of common stock are part of the Company’s comprehensive financing plan to fund its multi-year utility plant infrastructure investment program.

Contractual Obligations

In the course of normal business activities, the Company enters into a variety of contractual obligations and commercial commitments. Some result in direct obligations on the Company’s balance sheet while others are commitments, some firm and some based on uncertainties, which are disclosed in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The table below presents our known contractual obligations for the periods specified as of December 31, 2025.

The table above does not reflect any anticipated cash payments for retirement benefit plan obligations. The effect on the timing and amount of these payments resulting from potential changes in actuarial assumptions and returns on plan assets cannot be estimated. In 2025 the Company contributed $2.0 million to its postretirement benefit plans and expects to contribute approximately $2.0 million in 2026 as well.

We do not currently have, nor have we ever had, any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements, or for other contractually narrow or limited purposes. In addition, we do not engage in trading activities involving non-exchange traded contracts.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The application of accounting policies and standards often requires the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments. The Company regularly evaluates these estimates, assumptions and judgments, including those related to the calculation of pension and other retirement benefits, unbilled revenues, and the recoverability of certain assets, including regulatory assets. The Company bases its estimates, assumptions and judgments on historical experience and current operating environment. Changes in any of the variables that are used for the Company’s estimates, assumptions and judgments may lead to significantly different financial statement results.

Our critical accounting policies and estimates are set forth below.

Regulatory Accounting

We maintain our books and records in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Middlesex and certain of its subsidiaries are subject to regulation in the states in which they operate. Those companies are required to maintain their accounts in accordance with regulatory authorities’ rules and guidelines, which may differ from other authoritative accounting pronouncements. In those instances, the Company follows the guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 980 Regulated Operations (Regulatory Accounting).

In accordance with Regulatory Accounting, costs and obligations are deferred if it is probable that these items will be recognized for rate-making purposes in future rates. Accordingly, we have deferred certain costs and obligations, which will be amortized in the same periods that revenues for these costs are recognized. Any change in the assessment of the probability of rate-making treatment would require us to change the accounting treatment of the deferred item. We have no reason to believe any of the deferred items that are recorded will be treated differently by the regulators in the future.

Revenues

Revenues from our regulated customers, which include amounts billed quarterly or monthly to residential customers and monthly to industrial, commercial, fire-protection and wholesale customers, also include unbilled amounts based upon estimated usage from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the accounting period. While actual usage for

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customers may differ from the estimate, we believe the overall total estimate of consumption and revenue for the fiscal period will not differ materially from actual consumption.

Retirement Benefit Plans

We maintain a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (Pension Plan) which covers all currently active employees hired prior to April 1, 2007. In addition, the Company maintains an unfunded supplemental plan for certain executive officers.

The Company has a retirement benefit plan other than pensions (Other Benefits Plan) for substantially all of its retired employees. Employees hired after March 31, 2007 are not eligible to participate in the Other Benefits Plan. Coverage includes healthcare and life insurance.

The costs for providing retirement benefits are dependent upon numerous factors, including actual plan experience and assumptions of future experience. Future retirement benefit plan obligations and expense will depend on future investment performance, changes in future discount rates and various other demographic factors related to the population participating in the Company’s retirement benefit plans, all of which can change significantly in future years.

The primary assumptions used for determining future retirement benefit plans’ obligations and costs, which are reviewed and revised as needed each year, are as follows:

•Discount Rate - calculated based on market rates for long-term, high-quality corporate bonds specific to the expected duration of our Pension Plan and Other Benefits Plan’s liabilities;

•Compensation Increase - based on management projected future employee compensation increases;

•Long-Term Rate of Return - determined based on expected returns from our asset allocation for our Pension Plan and Other Benefits Plan assets;

•Mortality - The Company utilizes the Society of Actuaries’ mortality table (Pri-2012) (Fully Generational, IRS Adjusted, Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2021); and

•Healthcare Cost Trend Rate - based on management projected future healthcare costs.

The discount rate, compensation increase rate and long-term rate of return used to determine future obligations of our retirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2025 are as follows:

For the 2025 valuation, costs and obligations for our Other Benefits Plan assumed an 8.0% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare benefits in 2026 with the annual rate of increase declining 0.15% per year for 2027-2046, resulting in an annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare benefits of 5.0% by year 2046.

The following is a sensitivity analysis for certain actuarial assumptions used in determining projected benefit obligations (PBO) and expenses for our retirement benefit plans:

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Pension Plan

Other Benefits Plan

Recent Accounting Standards

See Note 1(q) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.