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Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Changes in allowance for doubtful accounts
Balance at beginning of year	$ 1,187us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	$ 1,228us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	$ 1,048us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
Provision charged to expense	991awr_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccountsContinuingOperation	1,145awr_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccountsContinuingOperation	1,710awr_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccountsContinuingOperation
Accounts written off, net of recoveries	1,286awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableChargeOffsNetOfRecoveries	1,186awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableChargeOffsNetOfRecoveries	1,530awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableChargeOffsNetOfRecoveries
Balance at end of year	892us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	1,187us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	1,228us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
Components of allowance for doubtful accounts
Allowance for doubtful accounts related to accounts receivable-customer	803awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromCustomer	755awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromCustomer	797awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromCustomer
Allowance for doubtful accounts related to receivable from U.S. government	0awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromUSGovernment	0awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromUSGovernment	8awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromUSGovernment
Allowance for doubtful accounts related to other accounts receivable	89awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToOtherAccountsReceivable	432awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToOtherAccountsReceivable	423awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToOtherAccountsReceivable
Total allowance for doubtful accounts	892us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	1,187us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	1,228us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable
GSWC
Changes in allowance for doubtful accounts
Balance at beginning of year	1,114us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,177us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,005us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Provision charged to expense	1,055awr_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccountsContinuingOperation / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,056awr_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccountsContinuingOperation / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,668awr_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccountsContinuingOperation / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Accounts written off, net of recoveries	1,277awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableChargeOffsNetOfRecoveries / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,119awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableChargeOffsNetOfRecoveries / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,496awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableChargeOffsNetOfRecoveries / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Balance at end of year	892us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,114us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	1,177us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Components of allowance for doubtful accounts
Allowance for doubtful accounts related to accounts receivable-customer	803awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromCustomer / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	755awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromCustomer / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	797awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToReceivableFromCustomer / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Allowance for doubtful accounts related to other accounts receivable	89awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToOtherAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	359awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToOtherAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	380awr_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsRelatedToOtherAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Total allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 892us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	$ 1,114us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember	$ 1,177us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable / dei_LegalEntityAxis = awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember

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- Definition

Represents the amount of direct write-downs of receivables, net of recoveries, charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the provision for doubtful accounts related to other accounts receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents the provision for doubtful accounts related to accounts receivable from customers.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents the provision for doubtful accounts related to receivable from the U.S. government.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	awr_
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- Definition

Amount of the current period expense charged against continuing operations, the offset which is generally to the allowance for doubtful accounts for the purpose of reducing receivables, including notes receivable, to an amount that approximates their net realizable value (the amount expected to be collected).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, a valuation allowance for receivables due a company that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5074-111524



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4)

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

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