The net amount of all regulatory assets less all regulatory liabilities as of the end of the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 980

-SubTopic 340

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382

Name:	us-gaap_NetRegulatoryAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Regulatory Matters: General Rate Case Memorandum Accounts and Other Regulatory Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014 GSWC	Dec. 31, 2013 GSWC	Mar. 31, 2014 GSWC General rate case memorandum accounts	Dec. 31, 2013 GSWC General rate case memorandum accounts	Mar. 31, 2014 GSWC Other regulatory assets, net	Dec. 31, 2013 GSWC Other regulatory assets, net	Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum GSWC General rate case memorandum accounts	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum GSWC General rate case memorandum accounts	Sep. 30, 2013 Majority GSWC General rate case memorandum accounts
Regulatory matters:
Regulatory assets		$ 119,650,000	$ 122,681,000	$ 12,993,000	$ 15,645,000	$ 22,124,000	$ 25,086,000
Net regulatory assets increase (decrease) due to settlement of rate case	$ 8,900,000
Regulatory asset recovery periods								12 months	24 months	12 months