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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Balancing and Memorandum Accounts (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Memorandum Account, Net | $ (1,377)sjw_MemorandumAccountNet | $ (1,896)sjw_MemorandumAccountNet | $ (1,887)sjw_MemorandumAccountNet | $ 5,739sjw_MemorandumAccountNet
Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 341sjw_MemorandumAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction | 869sjw_MemorandumAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction | (2,832)sjw_MemorandumAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction |
Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections) | 178sjw_MemorandumAccountRefundsCollections | (878)sjw_MemorandumAccountRefundsCollections | (4,794)sjw_MemorandumAccountRefundsCollections |
Balancing Account, Net | 48,438sjw_BalancingAccountNet | 9,585sjw_BalancingAccountNet | 5,436sjw_BalancingAccountNet | 0sjw_BalancingAccountNet
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 41,657sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction | 4,149sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction | 5,436sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction |
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (2,804)sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections |
Balancing and memorandum accounts, including interest | 47,061sjw_BalancingAndMemorandumAccountNet | 7,689sjw_BalancingAndMemorandumAccountNet | 3,549sjw_BalancingAndMemorandumAccountNet | 5,739sjw_BalancingAndMemorandumAccountNet
Balancing and Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction), Net | 41,998sjw_BalancingandMemorandumAccountRevenueIncreaseReductionNet | 5,018sjw_BalancingandMemorandumAccountRevenueIncreaseReductionNet | 2,604sjw_BalancingandMemorandumAccountRevenueIncreaseReductionNet |
Balancing and Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections), Net | (2,626)sjw_BalancingandMemorandumAccountRefundsCollections | (878)sjw_BalancingandMemorandumAccountRefundsCollections | (4,794)sjw_BalancingandMemorandumAccountRefundsCollections |
Other Regulatory Assets [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Balancing Account, Net | 1,736sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember | 2,229sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember | 369sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember |
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | (447)sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember | 1,860sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember | 369sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember |
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (46)sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember |
2012 General Rate Case True-up [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Balancing Account, Net | 44,400sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 46,456sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember |
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (2,056)sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember |
Pension Balancing Account [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Balancing Account, Net | 1,412sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember | 9,734sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember | 6,657sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | (7,705)sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember | 3,077sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember | 6,657sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember |
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (617)sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember |
Water supply balancing accounts [Member] |  |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Balancing Account, Net | 890sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember | (2,378)sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember | (1,590)sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember | 0sjw_BalancingAccountNet / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 3,353sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember | (788)sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember | (1,590)sjw_BalancingAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember |
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | $ (85)sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember | $ 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember | $ 0sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections / us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis = sjw_WaterSupplyBalancingAccountsMember |

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- Definition This represents the under-collection or over-collection associated with expense changes and the revenue authorized by the CPUC to offset those expense changes. Pursuant to Section 792.5 of the California Public Utilities Code, a balancing account must be maintained for expense items for which revenue offsets have been authorized. Since the amounts in the balancing accounts must be approved by the CPUC before they can be incorporated into rates, the Company does not recognize balancing accounts in its revenue until CPUC approval occurs. It is typical for the CPUC to incorporate any over-collected and/or under-collected balances in balancing accounts into customer rates at the time rate decisions are made as part of the Company’s general rate case proceedings by assessing temporary surcredits and/or surcharges. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_BalancingAccountNet
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_BalancingAccountRefundsCollections
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Balancing and Memorandum Account, Net + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_BalancingAndMemorandumAccountNet
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Balancing and Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections) + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Balancing and Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction), Net + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition This represents the memorandum accounts that track under-collection or over-collection for approved activities as directed by the CPUC. Rate recovery for these memorandum accounts is generally allowed in the next general rate cases. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_MemorandumAccountNet
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_MemorandumAccountRefundsCollections
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_MemorandumAccountRevenueIncreaseReduction
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis=sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis=sjw_PensionBalancingAccountMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |