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Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory assets: | $ 129,111 | $ 88,218
Regulatory liabilities: | 2,266 | 4,675
Net Regulatory Assets | 126,845 | 83,543
Less: current regulatory asset, net | 17,308 | 0
Total regulatory assets, net, less current portion | 109,537 | 83,543
Cost of capital memorandum account |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory liabilities: | 2,266 | 2,297
Water supply balancing accounts |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory liabilities: | 0 | 2,378
Income tax temporary differences, net |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory assets: | 8,220 | 8,220
Postretirement pensions and other medical benefits |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory assets: | 62,949 | 62,949
2012 General Rate Case true-up |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory assets: | 46,456 | 0
Pension balancing account |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory assets: | 2,924 | 9,734
Water rate assistance program balancing account |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory assets: | 2,189 | 2,590
Water supply balancing accounts |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory assets: | 1,239 | 0
Other |  |
Regulatory Assets [Line Items] |  |
Regulatory assets: | $ 5,134 | $ 4,725

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- Definition Net Regulatory Asset, Noncurrent + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The net amount of all regulatory assets less all regulatory liabilities as of the end of the period. + References 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 + Details
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- Details
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- Definition The amount for the individual regulatory asset as itemized in a table of regulatory assets as of the end of the period. + References 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 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs of regulated entities that are expected to be recovered through revenue sources within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Such costs are capitalized if they meet both of the following criteria: a. It is probable that future revenue in an amount at least equal to the capitalized cost will result from inclusion of that cost in allowable costs for rate-making purposes. b. Based on available evidence, the future revenue will be provided to permit recovery of the previously incurred cost rather than to provide for expected levels of similar future costs. If the revenue will be provided through an automatic rate-adjustment clause, this criterion requires that the regulator's intent clearly be to permit recovery of the previously incurred cost. + References 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 + Details
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- Definition The amount for the individual regulatory liability as itemized in a table of regulatory liabilities as of the end of the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 405 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6500807&loc=d3e48068-110394 + Details
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