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Derivative Instruments (Details) (Purchase power contract, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative instruments
Number of broker quotes received to determine fair value of derivative instrument	1awr_NumberOfBrokerQuotesReceivedToDetermineFairValueOfDerivativeInstrument
GSWC
Changes in the fair value of the derivative
Balance, at beginning of the period	$ 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	$ (3,060)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Unrealized gain (loss) on purchased power contracts	(3,339)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	3,060us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Balance, at end of the period	$ (3,339)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	$ 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CommodityContractMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Minimum | GSWC
Derivative instruments
Derivative, Term of Contract	3 years
Maximum | GSWC
Derivative instruments
Derivative, Term of Contract	5 years

X

- Definition

Represents the number of broker quotes received in order to determine the fair value of the derivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Period the derivative contract is outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized on the income statement for financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

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X

- Details

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X

- Details

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