XML 49 R53.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Commitments Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 agreement | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 1997 | Jun. 30, 2015
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchased water |  | $ 47,280us-gaap_CostOfPurchasedWater | $ 63,225us-gaap_CostOfPurchasedWater | $ 66,106us-gaap_CostOfPurchasedWater |  |
Reduction in delivery schedule |  | 20.00%sjw_ReductioninDeliverySchedulePercent |  |  |  |
Intangible assets |  | 19,333us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross | 18,341us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross |  |  |
Supply Commitment, Remaining Minimum Amount Committed |  | 400us-gaap_PurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted |  |  |  |
Other Commitment, Due in Next Twelve Months |  | 17,100us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths |  |  |  |
Number of water agreements |  | 180sjw_NumberofWaterAgreements |  |  |  |
Collective Bargaining Agreement, Term of Contract | 3 years |  |  |  |  |
Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2014 | 2.00%sjw_CollectiveBargainingAgreementWageIncreasePercentYearOne |  |  |  |  |
Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2015 | 2.00%sjw_CollectiveBargainingAgreementWageIncreasePercentYearTwo |  |  |  |  |
Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2016 | 3.00%sjw_CollectiveBargainingAgreementWageIncreasePercentYearThree |  |  |  |  |
Santa Clara Valley Water District [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Master contract, negotiated term for delivery schedules |  | 3 years |  |  |  |
Water purchased in millions of gallons |  | 17,782,000,000sjw_PurchasedWaterGallons / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember | 22,700,000,000sjw_PurchasedWaterGallons / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember | 22,800,000,000sjw_PurchasedWaterGallons / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember |  |
Purchased water |  | 44,444us-gaap_CostOfPurchasedWater / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember | 52,500us-gaap_CostOfPurchasedWater / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember | 48,800us-gaap_CostOfPurchasedWater / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember |  |
Minimum percent of delivery schedule to be purchased in 2015 |  | 90.00%sjw_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumPercentageRequiredNextTwelveMonths / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember |  |  |  |
Minimum volume of water to be purchased in 2015 |  | 17,863,000,000sjw_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumVolumeRequiredNextTwelveMonths / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember |  |  |  |
Cost of water to be purchased in 2015 |  | 46,434us-gaap_PurchaseObligationDueInNextTwelveMonths / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember |  |  |  |
Current contract water rate |  | 2.6sjw_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentFixedPrice / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember |  |  |  |
Service Agreements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract life of agreement with City of Cupertino |  |  |  |  | 25 years |
Intangible assets |  | 11,069us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_ServiceAgreementsMember |  |  |  |
Concession Fees [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets |  | 6,800us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = sjw_ConcessionFeesMember | 6,800us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = sjw_ConcessionFeesMember |  |  |
SJWTX,Inc. dba Canyon Lake Water Supply Corporation [Member] | Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Minimum Area Required, Next Twelve Months |  | 6,900sjw_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumAcreFeetRequired / dei_LegalEntityAxis = sjw_SubsidiaryOneMember / sjw_MajorSupplierAxis = sjw_GuadalupeBlancoRiverAuthorityMember |  |  |  |
Notice period required for contract adjustment |  | 60 days |  |  |  |
SJW Corp. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of employees |  | 354dei_EntityNumberOfEmployees / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember |  |  |  |
Executive, Administrative or Supervisory Personnel [Member] | SJW Corp. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of employees |  | 122dei_EntityNumberOfEmployees / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = sjw_ExecutiveAdministrativeOrSupervisoryPersonnelMember |  |  |  |
Union Member [Member] | SJW Corp. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of employees |  | 232dei_EntityNumberOfEmployees / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = sjw_UnionMemberMember |  |  |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract life of agreement with City of Cupertino |  | 5 years |  |  |  |
Water property rights commitments |  | 1,000sjw_WaterPropertyRightsCommitments / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember |  |  |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Contract life of agreement with City of Cupertino |  | 70 years |  |  |  |
Water property rights commitments |  | 1,300sjw_WaterPropertyRightsCommitments / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember |  |  |  |
Scenario, Forecast [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 47,500us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember

X
- Definition Number of persons employed by the Entity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dei_EntityNumberOfEmployees
Namespace Prefix: | dei_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Collective Bargaining Agreement, Term of Contract + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_CollectiveBargainingAgreementTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Collective Bargaining Agreement, Wage Increase, Percent, Year One + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_CollectiveBargainingAgreementWageIncreasePercentYearOne
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Collective Bargaining Agreement, Wage Increase, Percent, Year Three + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_CollectiveBargainingAgreementWageIncreasePercentYearThree
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Collective Bargaining Agreement, Wage Increase, Percent, Year Two + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_CollectiveBargainingAgreementWageIncreasePercentYearTwo
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Long-term Purchase Commitment, Fixed Price + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentFixedPrice
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Long-term Purchase Commitment, Minimum Acre Feet Required + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumAcreFeetRequired
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Long-term Purchase Commitment, Minimum Percentage Required, Next Twelve Months + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumPercentageRequiredNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Long-term Purchase Commitment, Minimum Volume Required, Next Twelve Months + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentMinimumVolumeRequiredNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | num:volumeItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Master Contract, Negotiated Term for Delivery Schedules + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_MasterContractNegotiatedTermForDeliverySchedules
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Notice Period Required for Contract Adjustment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_NoticePeriodRequiredForContractAdjustment
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Water Agreements + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_NumberofWaterAgreements
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Purchased Water, Gallons + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_PurchasedWaterGallons
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | num:volumeItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Reduction in Delivery Schedule, Percent + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_ReductioninDeliverySchedulePercent
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Water Property Rights Commitments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_WaterPropertyRightsCommitments
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Cost of water purchased, may include any water related assessment. If water is bought on a unit volume basis, would also be considered as commodity costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CostOfPurchasedWater
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Minimum amount of other commitment maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for commitments not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes commitments explicitly modeled in this taxonomy, including but not limited to, long-term and short-term purchase commitments, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, supply commitments, registration payment arrangements, leases, debt, product warranties, guarantees, environmental remediation obligations, and pensions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherCommitmentDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Minimum amount to be expended to satisfy the terms of arrangements in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services, excluding long-term purchase commitments or unconditional purchase obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 25 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 19 -Article 7 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 17 -Article 9 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a)(19)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Minimum amount of purchase arrangement maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Includes, but not limited to, recorded and unrecorded purchase obligations, long-term purchase commitments, and short-term purchase commitments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PurchaseObligationDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=sjw_SubsidiaryOneMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sjw_MajorSupplierAxis=sjw_SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=sjw_ConcessionFeesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_ServiceAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis=sjw_ExecutiveAdministrativeOrSupervisoryPersonnelMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis=sjw_UnionMemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |