Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of a concession fee paid to the City of Cupertino of $6,800 for operating the City of Cupertino municipal water system and other intangibles of $8,761. Other intangibles consists of $7,362 which was paid for service area and water rights related to our subsidiaries in Texas, $1,040 incurred in conjunction with Santa Clara Valley Water District water contracts related to the operation of San Jose Water Company and $359 in other miscellaneous intangibles. All intangible assets are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the legal or estimated economic life of the asset ranging from 5 to 70 years.

Amortization expense for the intangible assets was $340 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, and $335 for the year ended December 31, 2010. Amortization expense for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 is anticipated to be $340 per year.

The costs of intangible assets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows:

	2012		2011
Concession fees	$	6,800	6,800
Other intangibles	8,761		7,932
Intangible assets	15,561		14,732
Less: Accumulated amortization
Concession fees	4,148		3,876
Other intangibles	712		643
Net intangible assets	$	10,701	10,213