Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Operating revenue	$ 191,184	$ 184,404	$ 460,115	$ 450,403
Operations:
Water production costs	66,980	70,614	174,297	171,956
Administrative and general	23,765	24,670	72,702	73,106
Other	15,692	17,657	48,072	50,332
Maintenance	4,800	4,575	14,793	12,896
Depreciation and amortization	14,648	14,505	46,788	43,625
Income tax (benefit) expense	19,233	11,165	22,584	19,567
Taxes other than income taxes	5,232	5,414	15,601	16,564
Total operating expenses	150,350	148,600	394,837	388,046
Net operating income	40,834	35,804	65,278	62,357
Other Income and Expenses:
Non-regulated revenue	4,409	3,649	12,163	10,386
Non-regulated expenses, net	(4,812)	(2,825)	(11,184)	(8,482)
Income tax (expense) on other income and expense	169	(330)	(391)	(765)
Net other (loss) income	(234)	494	588	1,139
Interest:
Interest expense	7,221	7,687	21,373	23,527
Less: capitalized interest	(271)	(540)	(851)	(1,619)
Net interest expense	6,950	7,147	20,522	21,908
Net Income	33,650	29,151	45,344	41,588
Consolidating Adjustments
Operations:
Other	(126)	(126)	(378)	(378)
Depreciation and amortization	(27)	(28)	(80)	(84)
Income tax (benefit) expense	287	354	741	1,070
Total operating expenses	134	200	283	608
Net operating income	(134)	(200)	(283)	(608)
Other Income and Expenses:
Non-regulated revenue	(512)	(783)	(1,659)	(2,340)
Income tax (expense) on other income and expense	276	342	708	1,035
Net other (loss) income	(236)	(441)	(951)	(1,305)
Interest:
Interest expense	(385)	(658)	(1,281)	(1,963)
Net interest expense	(385)	(658)	(1,281)	(1,963)
Equity earnings of subsidiaries	(33,499)	(28,838)	(44,803)	(40,916)
Net Income	(33,484)	(28,821)	(44,756)	(40,866)
Parent Company
Operations:
Administrative and general	34		67
Depreciation and amortization	57	14	157	42
Income tax (benefit) expense	(79)	(17)	(184)	(246)
Total operating expenses	12	(3)	40	(204)
Net operating income	(12)	3	(40)	204
Other Income and Expenses:
Non-regulated revenue	448	572	1,365	1,739
Income tax (expense) on other income and expense	(182)	(232)	(556)	(708)
Net other (loss) income	266	340	809	1,031
Interest:
Interest expense	103	30	228	563
Net interest expense	103	30	228	563
Equity earnings of subsidiaries	33,499	28,838	44,803	40,916
Net Income	33,650	29,151	45,344	41,588
Cal Water
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Operating revenue	180,768	174,699	434,857	425,860
Operations:
Water production costs	64,332	67,981	167,214	164,524
Administrative and general	21,282	22,354	65,144	65,423
Other	14,161	15,883	43,186	45,490
Maintenance	4,620	4,382	14,276	12,376
Depreciation and amortization	13,692	13,714	43,607	41,168
Income tax (benefit) expense	18,632	10,721	22,713	19,807
Taxes other than income taxes	4,409	4,680	13,552	14,549
Total operating expenses	141,128	139,715	369,692	363,337
Net operating income	39,640	34,984	65,165	62,523
Other Income and Expenses:
Non-regulated revenue	4,027	3,385	11,264	9,572
Non-regulated expenses, net	(4,538)	(2,515)	(10,286)	(7,308)
Income tax (expense) on other income and expense	207	(355)	(399)	(923)
Net other (loss) income	(304)	515	579	1,341
Interest:
Interest expense	7,030	7,608	20,974	22,966
Less: capitalized interest	(252)	(495)	(790)	(1,279)
Net interest expense	6,778	7,113	20,184	21,687
Net Income	32,558	28,386	45,560	42,177
All Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Operating revenue	10,416	9,705	25,258	24,543
Operations:
Water production costs	2,648	2,633	7,083	7,432
Administrative and general	2,449	2,316	7,491	7,683
Other	1,657	1,900	5,264	5,220
Maintenance	180	193	517	520
Depreciation and amortization	926	805	3,104	2,499
Income tax (benefit) expense	393	107	(686)	(1,064)
Taxes other than income taxes	823	734	2,049	2,015
Total operating expenses	9,076	8,688	24,822	24,305
Net operating income	1,340	1,017	436	238
Other Income and Expenses:
Non-regulated revenue	446	475	1,193	1,415
Non-regulated expenses, net	(274)	(310)	(898)	(1,174)
Income tax (expense) on other income and expense	(132)	(85)	(144)	(169)
Net other (loss) income	40	80	151	72
Interest:
Interest expense	473	707	1,452	1,961
Less: capitalized interest	(19)	(45)	(61)	(340)
Net interest expense	454	662	1,391	1,621
Net Income	$ 926	$ 435	$ (804)	$ (1,311)