Equity Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan

A summary of compensation costs charged to income, proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments and the tax benefit realized from stock options and similar instruments exercised, that are recorded to additional paid-in capital and common stock, by award type, are presented below for the years ended December 31:

	2012		2011	2010
Compensation costs charged to income:
ESPP	$	104	92	90
Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock	460		559	722
Total compensation costs charged to income	$	564	651	812
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments:
Stock options	$	318	—	180
ESPP	588		525	512
DRSPP	83		39	—
Total proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	$	989	564	692
Excess tax benefits realized from share options exercised and stock issuance:
Stock options	$	61	—	41
Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock	36		7	—
Total excess tax benefits realized from share options exercised and stock issuance	$	97	7	41

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity

As of December 31, 2012, all outstanding options were fully vested. A summary of SJW Corp.’s stock option awards as of December 31, 2012, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2012, is presented below:

	Shares		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Life in Years	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of January 1, 2012	85,526		$	18.24	2.73	$	518
Granted	—		—		—	—
Exercised	(20,982	)	15.18		—	210
Forfeited or expired	—		—		—	—
Outstanding as of December 31, 2012	64,544		$	19.24	1.92	$	490
Options exercisable at December 31, 2012	64,544		$	19.24	1.92	$	490

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock Units Award Activity

A summary of SJW Corp.’s restricted and deferred restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2012, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2012, is presented below:

	Units		Weighted Average Grant- Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of January 1, 2012	247,917		$	16.04
Issued	21,991		$	21.74
Exercised	(28,888	)	$	20.90
Forfeited or expired	(11,998	)	$	17.32
Outstanding as of December 31, 2012	229,022		$	16.65
Shares vested as of December 31, 2012	152,814		$	17.12

Schedule of Nonvested Restricted Stock Units Activity

A summary of the status of SJW Corp.’s nonvested restricted and deferred restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2012, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2012, is presented below:

	Units		Weighted Grant- Date Fair Value
Nonvested as of January 1, 2012	85,268		$	15.95
Granted	21,991		$	21.74
Vested	(19,048	)	$	23.76
Forfeited	(11,998	)	$	17.32
Nonvested as of December 31, 2012	76,213		$	15.45