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Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Net Regulatory Assets $ 173,445us-gaap_NetRegulatoryAssets $ 174,863us-gaap_NetRegulatoryAssets
Less: current regulatory asset, net 15,996us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent 16,853us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent
Net regulatory assets, less current portion 157,449us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent 158,010us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
Income tax temporary differences, net    
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Regulatory assets: 6,731us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
6,731us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxChargesMember
Postretirement pensions and other medical benefits    
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Regulatory assets: 115,494us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= sjw_PostretirementPensionsAndOtherMedicalBenefitsMember
115,494us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= sjw_PostretirementPensionsAndOtherMedicalBenefitsMember
Balancing and memorandum accounts, net    
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Regulatory assets: 45,569us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember
47,061us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= sjw_A2012GeneralRateCaseTrueupMember
Other, net    
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]    
Regulatory assets: $ 5,651us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember
$ 5,577us-gaap_RegulatoryAssets
/ us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetAxis
= sjw_OtherRegulatoryAssetsMember