CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net Income	$ 61,058,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 62,686,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 54,148,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	41,751,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	40,967,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	43,234,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Net gain on sale of property	(55,000)	(2,000)	(68,000)
Provision for doubtful accounts	991,000us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	1,145,000us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	1,710,000us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits	32,316,000	16,112,000	15,087,000
Stock-based compensation expense	2,222,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	2,009,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	1,931,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Impairment and other charges	0awr_AssetImpairmentAndOtherCharges	0awr_AssetImpairmentAndOtherCharges	416,000awr_AssetImpairmentAndOtherCharges
Other - net	55,000us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(438,000)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(35,000)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable - customers	3,979,000	(5,306,000)	(1,773,000)
Unbilled revenue	(3,279,000)	(974,000)	3,233,000
Other accounts receivable	1,029,000	2,503,000	5,416,000
Receivables from the U.S. government	397,000	5,799,000	(5,321,000)
Materials and supplies	970,000	790,000	(2,278,000)
Prepayments and other current assets	(264,000)	1,910,000	(432,000)
Other assets (including other regulatory assets)	27,622,000	12,758,000	(8,430,000)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	6,568,000	(15,192,000)	(3,075,000)
Accounts payable	(1,622,000)	1,815,000	4,300,000
Income taxes receivable/payable	(11,648,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxes	7,329,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxes	4,169,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxes
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	4,884,000	(5,720,000)	(17,673,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Pension and Postretirement Obligations	(2,356,000)	4,396,000	5,954,000
Other liabilities	(1,348,000)	3,124,000	981,000
Net cash provided	163,270,000	135,711,000	101,494,000
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(72,553,000)	(97,379,000)	(68,104,000)
Payments to Acquire Investments	(1,568,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	(1,408,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
Proceeds from sale of property	62,000	12,000	68,000
Net cash used	(74,059,000)	(98,775,000)	(68,036,000)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Shares and Stock Option Exercises	589,000	2,111,000	13,295,000
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(17,180,000)	0	0
Tax benefits from exercise of stock-based awards	533,000	1,026,000	890,000
Receipt of advances for and contributions in aid of construction	7,598,000	12,133,000	9,647,000
Refunds on advances for construction	(3,469,000)	(3,711,000)	(3,614,000)
Retirement or repayments of long-term debt	(21,287,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(3,474,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(8,303,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs	14,846,000	60,000	3,408,000
Net change in notes payable to banks	0	0	(2,000,000)
Dividends paid	(32,111,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(29,360,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(24,130,000)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Other	(968,000)	(981,000)	(480,000)
Net cash provided (used)	(51,449,000)	(22,196,000)	(11,287,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	37,762,000	14,740,000	22,171,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	38,226,000	23,486,000	1,315,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	75,988,000	38,226,000	23,486,000
GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net Income	47,857,000	48,642,000	39,220,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	40,532,000	39,829,000	42,046,000
Net gain on sale of property	0	0	(65,000)
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,054,000	1,056,000	1,668,000
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits	34,352,000	16,051,000	14,713,000
Stock-based compensation expense	1,748,000	1,647,000	1,667,000
Impairment and other charges	0	0	416,000
Other - net	(12,000)	(333,000)	(107,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable - customers	3,979,000	(5,306,000)	(1,773,000)
Unbilled revenue	819,000	(2,405,000)	1,108,000
Other accounts receivable	670,000	3,251,000	1,717,000
Materials and supplies	(932,000)	385,000	(318,000)
Prepayments and other current assets	(289,000)	1,944,000	(452,000)
Other assets (including other regulatory assets)	27,258,000	14,715,000	(8,347,000)
Accounts payable	(1,676,000)	2,916,000	(2,331,000)
Inter-company receivable/payable	219,000	1,790,000	277,000
Income taxes receivable/payable from/to Parent	(19,876,000)	6,738,000	3,472,000
Increase (Decrease) in Pension and Postretirement Obligations	(2,356,000)	4,396,000	5,954,000
Other liabilities	(664,000)	2,854,000	1,035,000
Net cash provided	132,683,000	138,170,000	99,900,000
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(70,888,000)	(96,705,000)	(66,831,000)
Origination of Notes Receivable from Related Parties	(8,300,000)	(18,236,000)	0
Repayment of Notes Receivable from Related Parties	8,800,000	17,736,000	0
Proceeds from sale of property	(1,568,000)	(1,408,000)	65,000
Net cash used	(71,956,000)	(98,613,000)	(66,766,000)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Tax benefits from exercise of stock-based awards	514,000	943,000	895,000
Receipt of advances for and contributions in aid of construction	7,598,000	12,133,000	9,647,000
Refunds on advances for construction	(3,469,000)	(3,711,000)	(3,614,000)
Retirement or repayments of long-term debt	(21,287,000)	(3,474,000)	(8,303,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs	14,846,000	60,000	3,408,000
Net change in inter-company borrowings	0	0	(2,000,000)
Dividends paid	(52,000,000)	(29,400,000)	(10,200,000)
Other	(799,000)	(811,000)	(389,000)
Net cash provided (used)	(54,597,000)	(24,260,000)	(10,556,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	6,130,000	15,297,000	22,578,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	37,875,000	22,578,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$ 44,005,000	$ 37,875,000	$ 22,578,000

This element represents the charge against earnings resulting from the write down of long lived assets to the difference between the carrying value and lower fair value. It also includes other expenses not separately reflected on the income statement for the period.

No definition available.