Sale of California Water Service Group Stock

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Sale of California Water Service Group Stock [Abstract]

Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]

Sale of California Water Service Group Stock

During the year ended December 31, 2010, SJW Corp. sold 907,392 shares of California Water Service Group for $33,938, before fees of $273. SJW Corp. recognized a gross gain on the sale of the stock of approximately $18,966, tax expense of approximately $7,776, for a net gain of $11,190. The unrealized holding gain associated with the shares sold, that was reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income was $10,784 and was based on the fair value of the stock as of June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2010. No sales of California Water Service Group stock occurred during the same period in 2011.

SJW Corp. classifies its investment in California Water Service Group as available-for-sale. The stock is carried at the quoted market price with the changes in unrealized gain or loss reported, net of tax, as a component of other comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2011, SJW Corp. held 385,120 shares of California Water Service Group. The increase in shares from the prior year was due to a two-for-one stock split during the year of California Water Service Group's common stock. The following table summarizes the fair value of our investment in California Water Service Group as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

	Balance as of December 31, 2011		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Investment in California Water Service Group	$	7,032	$	7,032	—	—
	Balance as of December 31, 2010		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Investment in California Water Service Group	$	7,177	$	7,177	—	—