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Military Privatization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Military Privatization
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on contracts			$ 2,263	$ 3,911				$ 2,263				$ 3,911	$ 2,263
Receivables from the U.S. government:
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts			(764)	(1,041)				(764)				(1,041)	(764)	$ (944)	$ (892)
Pretax income
Increase in pretax operating income				21,955	$ 38,567	$ 41,816	$ 24,738	22,092	$ 39,617	$ 31,774	$ 21,233	$ 127,076	114,716	118,489
Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries
Military Privatization
Period of fixed price contracts to maintain water systems at various military bases												50 years
Revenues recognized net of billings to date
Revenues (costs and estimated earnings) recognized on uncompleted contracts			104,830	78,245				104,830				$ 78,245	104,830
Less: Billings to date			(43,161)	(15,343)				(43,161)				(15,343)	(43,161)
Total			61,669	62,902				61,669				62,902	61,669
Amount included in accompanying balance sheets
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts			63,932	66,813				63,932				66,813	63,932
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts			(2,263)	(3,911)				(2,263)				(3,911)	(2,263)
Total			61,669	62,902				61,669				62,902	61,669
Receivables from the U.S. government:
Billed receivables from the U.S. government			8,467	3,725				8,467				3,725	8,467
Unbilled Contract Receivables, Current			6,691	7,559				6,691				7,559	6,691
Pretax income
Government Contract Receivable			15,158	$ 11,284				$ 15,158				11,284	15,158
American States Utility Services [Member] | Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries
Pretax income
Increase in pretax operating income												$ 21,124	$ 18,916	$ 18,091
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | American States Utility Services [Member] | Military Utility Privatization Subsidiaries
Military Privatization
Revenue Recognition, Retrospective Rate-Setting Systems, Amount			$ 421			$ 1,000
Maximum | Fort Riley [Member]
Military Privatization
Period of Transition to Operate and Maintain Water Systems at New Military Base	12 months	12 months
Minimum [Member] | Fort Riley [Member]
Military Privatization
Period of Transition to Operate and Maintain Water Systems at New Military Base	6 months	6 months

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