Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures [Abstract]
BALANCING AND MEMORANDUM ACCOUNT RECOVERY PROCEDURES	Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures Balancing and memorandum accounts are recognized in revenue by San Jose Water Company when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process. In assessing the probability criteria for balancing and memorandum accounts between rate cases, the Company considers evidence that may exist prior to California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) authorization that would satisfy regulated revenue recognition criteria. Such evidence may include regulatory rules and decisions, past practices, and other facts and circumstances that would indicate that recovery or refund is estimable and probable. When such evidence provides sufficient support for balance recognition, the balances are recorded in the Company’s financial statements. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing accounts, including interest, was a net under-collection of $7,430 and $6,314, respectively. In the general rate case application filed January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company requested authorization to recover $2,599 of this balance, which represented balances accumulated through December 31, 2010, plus interest. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s memorandum-type accounts, including interest, was a net over-collection of $1,437 and $1,486, respectively. In the general rate case application filed January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company requested authorization to refund $650, which represented a portion of the net over-collection accumulated through September 30, 2011, including interest. As of September 30, 2013, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing and memorandum accounts combined, including interest, was a net under-collection of $5,993. The Company met the recognition requirements for certain of its balancing and memorandum accounts and certain amounts subject to balancing and memorandum accounts and recorded revenue and regulatory assets totaling $1,761 and $5,320 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and decreased revenue and regulatory assets $584 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012. All balancing accounts and memorandum-type accounts not included for recovery or refund in the current general rate case will be reviewed by the CPUC in San Jose Water Company’s next general rate case or at the time an individual account reaches a threshold of 2% of authorized revenue, whichever occurs first. On August 27, 2010, SJWTX, Inc. filed a rate case with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”). The filing contained a request for an immediate increase in revenue of 38% and a total increase of 71%. The new rates (38%) became effective on October 27, 2010. On August 21, 2013, the TCEQ issued a decision in SJWTX, Inc.'s rate case that supports a 33% increase in revenue requirement. Since the rates authorized by the TCEQ are less than the interim rates, this resulted in a customer refund of approximately $982 for rate over-collections during the period of interim rates. This amount has been recorded as a regulatory liability and reduction of revenue totaling $36 and $982 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

Balancing and Memorandum Account Recovery Procedures

Balancing and memorandum accounts are recognized in revenue by San Jose Water Company when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process. In assessing the probability criteria for balancing and memorandum accounts between rate cases, the Company considers evidence that may exist prior to California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) authorization that would satisfy regulated revenue recognition criteria. Such evidence may include regulatory rules and decisions, past practices, and other facts and circumstances that would indicate that recovery or refund is estimable and probable. When such evidence provides sufficient support for balance recognition, the balances are recorded in the Company’s financial statements.

As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing accounts, including interest, was a net under-collection of $7,430 and $6,314, respectively. In the general rate case application filed January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company requested authorization to recover $2,599 of this balance, which represented balances accumulated through December 31, 2010, plus interest. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s memorandum-type accounts, including interest, was a net over-collection of $1,437 and $1,486, respectively. In the general rate case application filed January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company requested authorization to refund $650, which represented a portion of the net over-collection accumulated through September 30, 2011, including interest. As of September 30, 2013, the total balance in San Jose Water Company’s balancing and memorandum accounts combined, including interest, was a net under-collection of $5,993.

The Company met the recognition requirements for certain of its balancing and memorandum accounts and certain amounts subject to balancing and memorandum accounts and recorded revenue and regulatory assets totaling $1,761 and $5,320 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and decreased revenue and regulatory assets $584 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012. All balancing accounts and memorandum-type accounts not included for recovery or refund in the current general rate case will be reviewed by the CPUC in San Jose Water Company’s next general rate case or at the time an individual account reaches a threshold of 2% of authorized revenue, whichever occurs first.

On August 27, 2010, SJWTX, Inc. filed a rate case with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”). The filing contained a request for an immediate increase in revenue of 38% and a total increase of 71%. The new rates (38%) became effective on October 27, 2010. On August 21, 2013, the TCEQ issued a decision in SJWTX, Inc.'s rate case that supports a 33% increase in revenue requirement. Since the rates authorized by the TCEQ are less than the interim rates, this resulted in a customer refund of approximately $982 for rate over-collections during the period of interim rates. This amount has been recorded as a regulatory liability and reduction of revenue totaling $36 and $982 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.