Equity Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

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:

	2013			2012	2011
Compensation costs charged to income:
ESPP	$	128		104	92
Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock	784			460	559
Total compensation costs charged to income	$	912		564	651
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments:
Stock options	$	198		318	—
ESPP	722			588	525
DRSPP	84			83	39
Total proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	$	1,004		989	564
Excess tax benefits realized from share options exercised and stock issuance:
Stock options	$	(69	)	61	—
Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock	97			36	7
Total excess tax benefits realized from share options exercised and stock issuance	$	28		97	7

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity

As of December 31, 2013, all outstanding options were fully vested. A summary of SJW Corp.'s stock option awards as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:

	Shares		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Life in Years	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding as of January 1, 2013	64,544		$	19.24	1.92	$	490
Granted	—		—		—	—
Exercised	(13,330	)	14.85		—	179
Forfeited or expired	—		—		—	—
Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	51,214		$	20.38	1.16	$	482
Options exercisable at December 31, 2013	51,214		$	20.38	1.16	$	482

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, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:

	Units		Weighted Average Grant- Date Fair Value
Outstanding as of January 1, 2013	229,022		$	16.65
Issued	38,370		$	25.60
Exercised	(38,480	)	$	23.64
Forfeited or expired	(8,548	)	$	23.47
Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	220,364		$	17.67
Shares vested as of December 31, 2013	142,978		$	18.30

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, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:

	Units		Weighted  Average Grant- Date Fair Value
Nonvested as of January 1, 2013	76,213		$	15.45
Granted	38,370		$	25.60
Vested	(28,649	)	$	23.82
Forfeited	(8,548	)	$	23.47
Nonvested as of December 31, 2013	77,386		$	16.49