Name:	awr_AlternativeRevenueProgram
Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

annual surcharges as percentage of last authorized revenue requirement

No definition available.

Name:	awr_Annualsurchargesaspercentageoflastauthorizedrevenuerequirement
Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the term associated with a fixed-term security.

No definition available.

Name:	awr_InvestmentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the recovery period for under-collection balances greater than 15 percent of adopted annual revenues.

No definition available.

Name:	awr_RecoveryPeriodForUnderCollectionBalancesGreaterThan15PercentOfAdoptedAnnualRevenues
Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the recovery period for under-collection balances that are up to 15 percent of adopted annual revenues.

No definition available.

Name:	awr_RecoveryPeriodForUnderCollectionBalancesThatAreUpTo15PercentOfAdoptedAnnualRevenues
Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents amount billed to customers as surcharges.

No definition available.

Name:	awr_RegulatoryAssetAmountBilledToCustomersAsSurcharges
Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

-- None. No documentation exists for this element. --

No definition available.

Name:	awr_RegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the under-collection balances as a percentage of adopted annual revenues.

No definition available.

Name:	awr_UnderCollectionBalancesAsPercentageOfAdoptedAnnualRevenues
Namespace Prefix:	awr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of deferred revenue as of balance sheet date. Deferred revenue represents collections of cash or other assets related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 605
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 13.A.4(a).Q1 Response)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012821&loc=d3e214044-122780

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 13
-Section A

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the value of other assets that are created when regulatory agencies permits public utilities to defer costs to the balance sheet.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherRegulatoryAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The net amount of all regulatory assets less all regulatory liabilities as of the end of the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 980
-SubTopic 340
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382

Name:	us-gaap_NetRegulatoryAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis=awr_WaterRevenueAdjustmentMechanismNetOfModifiedCostBalancingAccountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis=awr_WaterRevenueAdjustmentMechanismMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: