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Dividend Limitations (Details) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Dividend limitations |  |  |  |
Common shareholder’s equity | $ 494,297,000 | $ 465,945,000 | $ 506,801,000 | $ 492,404,000
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | 247,065,000 | 220,923,000 |  |
GSWC |  |  |  |
Dividend limitations |  |  |  |
Fixed amount in computing maximum ability to pay dividends | $ 21,000,000.0 |  |  |
Percentage of consolidated net income plus the aggregate net cash proceeds received from capital stock offerings or other instruments convertible into capital stock | 100.00% |  |  |
Amount available to pay dividends under the most restrictive of the Note Agreements | $ 374,800,000 |  |  |
Dividends paid | 25,450,000 | 62,000,000 | 52,000,000 |
Common shareholder’s equity | $ 446,770,000 | 423,730,000 | 435,190,000 | 437,613,000
Ratio of Indebtedness to Net Capital | 0.4680 |  |  |
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) |  | 184,935,000 |  |
GSWC | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Dividend limitations |  |  |  |
Ratio of Indebtedness to Net Capital | 0.6667 |  |  |
AWR |  |  |  |
Dividend limitations |  |  |  |
Common shareholder’s equity | $ 494,297,000 | 465,945,000 |  |
Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |
Dividend limitations |  |  |  |
Dividends paid | 33,800,000 |  | 52,000,000 |
Earnings Reinvested in the Business |  |  |  |
Dividend limitations |  |  |  |
Common shareholder’s equity | 247,065,000 | 220,923,000 | 253,602,000 | 238,443,000
Earnings Reinvested in the Business | GSWC |  |  |  |
Dividend limitations |  |  |  |
Common shareholder’s equity | 206,288,000 | $ 184,935,000 | $ 199,583,000 | $ 203,892,000
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | 206,288,000 |  |  |
Earnings Reinvested in the Business | American States Utility Services [Member] |  |  |  |
Dividend limitations |  |  |  |
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | $ 57,200,000 |  |  |

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