Middlesex Water Company Announces First Quarter Results

ISELIN, NJ, May 11 (MARKET WIRE) --
Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX), a provider of water and
wastewater and related services in New Jersey and Delaware, today
announced operating revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 of
$20.6 million, compared to $20.9 million in 2008.

First Quarter Operating Results

Revenues in the company's Middlesex system in New Jersey decreased $0.6
million as a result of lower water consumption across all customer
classes. Water use by general retail metered customers declined by 6.5%.
Water consumption demands by several large industrial customers in New
Jersey dropped due to reduced output from their production processes.
This trend is also reflected in consumption patterns in certain of the
company's commercial customers, which are generally office facilities and
guest facilities. Revenues improved $0.1 million in our Tidewater system
in Delaware due to a combination of customer growth, higher consumption
and higher rates in effect. Revenues from contract operations with the
City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey rose $0.2 million due to scheduled fee
increases.

"Our Middlesex system is seeing evidence of the economic challenges facing
certain commercial and industrial customers as demands for the products
and services they provide have decreased," said Dennis W. Doll, President
and CEO. "The ultimate future impact of recent economic conditions on
these customers is unknown at this time. However, these conditions
highlight a need to accelerate rate case activity in New Jersey to adjust
our regulated revenue requirement across various customer classes. We
continue to be encouraged by customer growth and higher consumption in
our Delaware operations and are prepared to meet the summer water
consumption demands of this growing customer base," added Doll.

Operation and maintenance expenses for the three months ended March 31,
2009 increased $0.9 million or 7.8%, compared to the same period in 2008,
with labor, pension and other benefits costs rising $0.4 million due to
increases in wages and resources necessary to meet the growing needs of
our Delaware service territory. Water production costs were $0.2 million
higher due to increased sales in Delaware and higher costs for purchased
water, electric power and chemicals in New Jersey. During the quarter, we
increased our uncollectible accounts reserve to reflect current economic
conditions, which resulted in additional expense of $0.1 million. Net
income declined by $0.6 million from $2.0 million to $1.4 million. Basic
and diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.10 for the three months
ended March 31, 2009, compared to $0.15 for the same period in 2008.

Board Declares Quarterly Dividend

The Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of
$0.1775 per share, payable June 1, 2009 to common shareholders as of May
15, 2009. 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.

Annual Shareholders Meeting

Middlesex Water will host its annual meeting of shareholders on Wednesday,
May 20, 2009, beginning at 11:00 EDT at its corporate headquarters in
Iselin, NJ.

About Middlesex Water Company

Middlesex Water Company, organized in 1897, is an investor-owned 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 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 provides 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, State and 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.

This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others,
our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our acquisition
program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current and
projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our
environmental compliance. There are important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements including: general economic business
conditions, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost
containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment,
availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives
and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange
Commission.

MIDDLESEX WATER COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2009 2008
-------- --------

Operating Revenues $ 20,583 $ 20,855
-------- --------

Operating Expenses:
Operations 11,855 11,102
Maintenance 1,188 996
Depreciation 2,086 1,931
Other Taxes 2,452 2,479
-------- --------

Total Operating Expenses 17,581 16,508
-------- --------

Operating Income 3,002 4,347
======== ========

Other Income (Expense):
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction 241 103
Other Income 178 241
Other Expense (10) (46)
-------- --------

Total Other Income, net 409 298
-------- --------

Interest Charges 1,392 1,517
-------- --------

Income before Income Taxes 2,019 3,128
======== ========

Income Taxes 658 1,124
-------- --------

Net Income 1,361 2,004

Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements 52 62
-------- --------

Earnings Applicable to Common Stock $ 1,309 $ 1,942
======== ========

Earnings per share of Common Stock:
Basic $ 0.10 $ 0.15
Diluted $ 0.10 $ 0.15

Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic 13,413 13,254
Diluted 13,676 13,585

Cash Dividends Paid per Common Share $ 0.1775 $ 0.1750

Contact:
Bernadette Sohler
Vice President - Corporate Affairs
Middlesex Water Company
1500 Ronson Road
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
(732) 638-7549
www.middlesexwater.com

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