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Taxes on Income (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Taxes on income
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Deferred tax assets:
Regulatory-liability-related: ITC and excess deferred taxes	1,001,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToITCAndExcessDeferredTaxes	1,049,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToITCAndExcessDeferredTaxes
Regulatory-liability-related: California Corp Franchise Tax	4,328,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToStateFranchiseTax	4,337,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToStateFranchiseTax
Other nonproperty-related	2,395,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsOtherNonproperty	4,125,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsOtherNonproperty
Contributions and advances	8,335,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsContributionsAndAdvances	8,655,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsContributionsAndAdvances
Deferred tax assets	16,059,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross	18,166,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets	(163,232,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	(131,534,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Regulatory-asset-related: depreciation and other	(22,941,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssets	(21,575,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssets
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Related to State Franchise Tax	(4,069,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssetsandLiabilitiesRelatedtoStateFranchiseTax	(2,120,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssetsandLiabilitiesRelatedtoStateFranchiseTax
Other nonproperty-related	(59,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOtherNonproperty	(155,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOtherNonproperty
Balancing and memorandum accounts	(4,071,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesBalancingAndMemorandumAccounts	(6,663,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesBalancingAndMemorandumAccounts
Deferred charges	(5,461,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpense	(6,064,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpense
Deferred tax liabilities	(199,833,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	(168,111,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Accumulated deferred income taxes - net	(183,774,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities	(149,945,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Current
Federal	5,595,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	13,741,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	15,585,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
State	137,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	5,930,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	5,273,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit
Total current tax expense	5,732,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	19,671,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20,858,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred
Federal	24,815,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	14,769,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	13,088,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
State	7,501,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1,343,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1,999,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total deferred tax expense	32,316,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	16,112,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	15,087,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Reconciliations of the effective tax rates to the federal statutory rate
Federal taxes on pretax income at statutory rate	34,687,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	34,464,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	31,533,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Flow-through on removal costs	(643,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationProductionActivities	(2,944,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationProductionActivities	(553,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationProductionActivities
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Investment, Amount	(91,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsInvestment	(91,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsInvestment	(91,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsInvestment
Income tax expense/(benefit)	38,048,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	35,783,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	35,945,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Pretax income from continuing operations	99,106,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	98,469,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	90,093,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Effective income tax rate (as a percent)	38.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	36.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	39.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:	4,781,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	5,111,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	4,957,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Depreciation, Amount	651,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciation	646,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciation	636,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciation
Income Tax Reconciliation Flow Through on Pension Costs	(507,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationFlowThroughOnPensionCosts	612,000awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationFlowThroughOnPensionCosts	10,000awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationFlowThroughOnPensionCosts
Income Tax Reconciliation Cost of Removal	(1,571,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationCostofRemoval	(2,141,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationCostofRemoval	(943,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationCostofRemoval
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Valuation Allowance	0us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwardsValuationAllowance
Income Tax Examination, Penalties Accrued	0us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAccrued
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Other Adjustments, Amount	741,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	126,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	396,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Tax Authorities
Taxes on income
Net interest receivable	504,000us-gaap_InterestReceivable / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember	757,000us-gaap_InterestReceivable / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember	2,838,000us-gaap_InterestReceivable / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember
Recognized interest income	19,000us-gaap_InterestIncomeOther / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember	99,000us-gaap_InterestIncomeOther / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember	473,000us-gaap_InterestIncomeOther / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember
AWR Parent
Reconciliations of the effective tax rates to the federal statutory rate
Income tax expense/(benefit)	(996,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember	(2,262,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember	8,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Pretax income from continuing operations	60,062,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember	60,424,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember	54,156,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Operating Loss Carryforwards	3,600,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
GSWC
Deferred tax assets:
Regulatory-liability-related: ITC and excess deferred taxes	1,001,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToITCAndExcessDeferredTaxes / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,049,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToITCAndExcessDeferredTaxes / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Regulatory-liability-related: California Corp Franchise Tax	4,328,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToStateFranchiseTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	4,337,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToStateFranchiseTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Other nonproperty-related	2,136,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsOtherNonproperty / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	3,292,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsOtherNonproperty / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Contributions and advances	8,335,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsContributionsAndAdvances / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	8,655,000awr_DeferredTaxAssetsContributionsAndAdvances / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Deferred tax assets	15,800,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	17,333,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets	(164,724,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(131,548,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Regulatory-asset-related: depreciation and other	(22,941,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(21,575,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Related to State Franchise Tax	(4,831,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssetsandLiabilitiesRelatedtoStateFranchiseTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(1,749,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRegulatoryAssetsandLiabilitiesRelatedtoStateFranchiseTax / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Other nonproperty-related	(59,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOtherNonproperty / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(155,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOtherNonproperty / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Balancing and memorandum accounts	(4,071,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesBalancingAndMemorandumAccounts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(6,663,000)awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesBalancingAndMemorandumAccounts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Deferred charges	(5,461,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(6,064,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpense / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Deferred tax liabilities	(202,087,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(167,754,000)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Accumulated deferred income taxes - net	(186,287,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(150,421,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Current
Federal	408,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	10,768,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	7,957,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
State	(2,754,000)us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	6,315,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	3,830,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Total current tax expense	(2,346,000)us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	17,083,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	11,787,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Deferred
Federal	24,373,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	14,691,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	12,670,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
State	9,979,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,360,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	2,043,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Total deferred tax expense	34,352,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	16,051,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	14,713,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Reconciliations of the effective tax rates to the federal statutory rate
Federal taxes on pretax income at statutory rate	27,952,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	28,622,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	23,002,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Flow-through on removal costs	(55,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationProductionActivities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(1,316,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationProductionActivities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(553,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationProductionActivities / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Investment, Amount	(91,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsInvestment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(91,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsInvestment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(91,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsInvestment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Income tax expense/(benefit)	32,006,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	33,134,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	26,500,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Pretax income from continuing operations	79,863,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	81,776,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	65,720,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Effective income tax rate (as a percent)	40.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	40.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	40.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:	4,693,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	5,372,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	4,048,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Depreciation, Amount	651,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciation / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	646,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciation / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	636,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciation / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Income Tax Reconciliation Flow Through on Pension Costs	(507,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationFlowThroughOnPensionCosts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	612,000awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationFlowThroughOnPensionCosts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	10,000awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationFlowThroughOnPensionCosts / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Income Tax Reconciliation Cost of Removal	(1,571,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationCostofRemoval / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(2,141,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationCostofRemoval / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	(943,000)awr_IncomeTaxReconciliationCostofRemoval / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Operating Loss Carryforwards	9,300,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Other Adjustments, Amount	934,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,430,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	391,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
GSWC | Tax Authorities
Taxes on income
Net interest receivable	472,000us-gaap_InterestReceivable / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	704,000us-gaap_InterestReceivable / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	2,775,000us-gaap_InterestReceivable / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Recognized interest income	14,000us-gaap_InterestIncomeOther / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	21,000us-gaap_InterestIncomeOther / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	461,000us-gaap_InterestIncomeOther / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = awr_IncomeTaxAuthoritiesMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Tax Year 2013 [Member]
Taxes on income
Deferred Tax Liabilities Related to Repair-And-Maintenance Deductions	22,500,000awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRelatedtoRepairAndMaintenanceDeductions / us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis = us-gaap_TaxYear2013Member
Tax Year 2013 [Member] | US Treasury and Government [Member]
Taxes on income
Other Deductions or Allowable Credits	47,000,000us-gaap_OtherDeductionsOrAllowableCredits / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember / us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis = us-gaap_TaxYear2013Member
Tax Year 2013 [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Taxes on income
Other Deductions or Allowable Credits	107,000,000us-gaap_OtherDeductionsOrAllowableCredits / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember / us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis = us-gaap_TaxYear2013Member
Latest Tax Year [Member]
Taxes on income
Deferred Tax Liabilities Related to Repair-And-Maintenance Deductions	20,300,000awr_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRelatedtoRepairAndMaintenanceDeductions / us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis = us-gaap_LatestTaxYearMember
Other Deductions or Allowable Credits	$ 8,300,000us-gaap_OtherDeductionsOrAllowableCredits / us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis = us-gaap_LatestTaxYearMember

X

- Definition

Represents the amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences derived from contributions and advances.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences derived from other nonproperty.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences derived from regulatory assets and liabilities related to ITC and excess deferred taxes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences derived from regulatory assets and liabilities related to state franchise tax.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from balancing and memorandum accounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from other nonproperty.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Deferred Tax Liabilities, Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Related to State Franchise Tax

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Deferred Tax Liabilities Related to Repair-And-Maintenance Deductions

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to flow-through on Cost of Removal.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to flow-through on pension costs.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The portion of the difference between total income tax expense or benefit as reported in the Income Statement and the expected income tax expense or benefit computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income from continuing operations attributable to Production Activities

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