                         PRESS RELEASE             EXHIBIT 99.1

                   Wire Release - National  Circuit
                For Release at 5:00 P.M. (Pacific Time)
                                                     Page 1 of 1
   August 24, 2004         Richard Balocco        (408) 279-7933
   San Jose, California    V.P. Corporate Communication


    SJW CORP. ANNOUNCES APPROVAL BY CPUC OF INCREASE IN RATES

     SAN JOSE, CA, August 24, 2004, SJW Corp. (AMEX:SJW)
announced that on August 19, 2004, San Jose Water Company
(SJWC), its wholly owned subsidiary, received approval in its
General Rate Case from the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) to increase rates by $11.8 million or 8% in 2004; by
$4.3 million or 2.7% in 2005 and by $4.2 million or 2.6% in 2006.
The rate increases reflect a return on equity (ROE) of 9.90% and
a return on rate base (ROR) of 8.86%, which is within the range
of returns currently authorized by the Commission for California
Class A water utilities.

     In January 2004, the CPUC authorized SJWC an interim rate
increase of 2% pending CPUC consideration of SJWC's General Rate
Case application.  This month's decision permits SJWC to recover
the difference between the interim rates authorized in January
2004 and the new rates set forth above.

     This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements
including but not limited to statements relating to SJW Corp.'s plans,
strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, which are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of SJW Corp. to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements.  SJW Corp. undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.


