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Business Segments (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Total utility plant	$ 1,003,520,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	$ 981,477,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	$ 917,791,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Other assets	374,778,000awr_AssetsOtherThanPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	328,706,000awr_AssetsOtherThanPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	363,152,000awr_AssetsOtherThanPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Total Assets	1,378,298,000us-gaap_Assets	1,310,183,000us-gaap_Assets	1,280,943,000us-gaap_Assets
GSWC
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Total utility plant	998,880,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	977,294,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Total Assets	1,282,374,000us-gaap_Assets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,233,381,000us-gaap_Assets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation on transportation equipment	678,000awr_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDepreciationOnTransportationEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	877,000awr_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDepreciationOnTransportationEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,800,000awr_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDepreciationOnTransportationEquipment / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
AWR Parent
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Total utility plant	0us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember	0us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember	0us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Total Assets	517,246,000us-gaap_Assets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember	495,273,000us-gaap_Assets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
American States Utility Services [Member] | American States Utility Services [Member]
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Total utility plant	4,640,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_AmericanStatesUtilityServicesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = awr_ContractedServicesMember	4,183,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_AmericanStatesUtilityServicesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = awr_ContractedServicesMember	4,654,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_AmericanStatesUtilityServicesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = awr_ContractedServicesMember
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments	$ 1,600,000awr_ErrorCorrectionsandPriorPeriodAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_AmericanStatesUtilityServicesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = awr_ContractedServicesMember

X

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets except utility plant that are recognized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of transportation equipment over the assets' useful lives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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- Definition

Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229



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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Publisher SEC

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