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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Balancing and Memorandum Accounts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Memorandum Account, Beginning Balance | $ 8,910 | $ (1,377) | $ (1,896)
Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 18,863 | 21,986 | 341
Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections) | (6,708) | 440 | 178
Memorandum Account, Surcharge Offset | (16,708) | (12,139) | 0
Memorandum Account, Ending Balance | 4,357 | 8,910 | (1,377)
Balancing Account, Beginning Balance | 36,296 | 48,438 | 9,585
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 11,024 | 2,745 | 41,657
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (42,476) | (27,026) | (2,804)
Balancing Account, Surcharge Offset | 16,708 | 12,139 | 0
Balancing Account, Ending Balance | 21,552 | 36,296 | 48,438
Balancing and Memorandum Account, Beginning Balance | 45,206 | 47,061 | 7,689
Balancing and Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction), Net | 29,887 | 24,731 | 41,998
Balancing and Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections), Net | (49,184) | (26,586) | (2,626)
Balancing and Memorandum Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 | 0 | 0
Balancing and Memorandum Account, Ending Balance | 25,909 | 45,206 | 47,061
2014 WCMA [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Memorandum Account, Beginning Balance | 2,944 | 0 |
Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 188 | 2,981 |
Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections) | (3,132) | (37) |
Memorandum Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 | 0 |
Memorandum Account, Ending Balance | 0 | 2,944 | 0
2015 WCMA [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Memorandum Account, Beginning Balance | 5,372 | 0 |
Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 211 | 17,511 |
Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections) | (3,994) | 0 |
Memorandum Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 | (12,139) |
Memorandum Account, Ending Balance | 1,589 | 5,372 | 0
Balancing and Memorandum Account, Surcharge Offset |  | 12,139 |
2016 WCMA [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Memorandum Account, Beginning Balance | 0 |  |
Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 16,708 |  |
Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections) | 0 |  |
Memorandum Account, Surcharge Offset | (16,708) |  |
Memorandum Account, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Water supply balancing accounts [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Balancing Account, Beginning Balance | 2,771 | 890 | (2,378)
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 1,620 | 2,025 | 3,353
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | 799 | (144) | (85)
Balancing Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 | 0 | 0
Balancing Account, Ending Balance | 5,190 | 2,771 | 890
Drought Surcharges [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Balancing Account, Beginning Balance | (359) | 0 |
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 0 | 0 |
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (24,037) | (12,498) |
Balancing Account, Surcharge Offset | 16,708 | 12,139 |
Balancing Account, Ending Balance | (7,688) | (359) | 0
Pension Balancing Account [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Balancing Account, Beginning Balance | (552) | 1,412 | 9,734
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 1,120 | (924) | (7,705)
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (2,577) | (1,040) | (617)
Balancing Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 | 0 | 0
Balancing Account, Ending Balance | (2,009) | (552) | 1,412
2012 General Rate Case True-up [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Balancing Account, Beginning Balance | 33,070 | 44,400 | 0
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 0 | 1,937 | 46,456
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (12,388) | (13,267) | (2,056)
Balancing Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 | 0 | 0
Balancing Account, Ending Balance | 20,682 | 33,070 | 44,400
2015 General Rate Case True-up [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Balancing Account, Beginning Balance | 0 |  |
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 8,767 |  |
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (3,239) |  |
Balancing Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 |  |
Balancing Account, Ending Balance | 5,528 | 0 |
Other Regulatory Assets [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Balancing and Memorandum Accounts [Line Items] |  |  |
Memorandum Account, Beginning Balance | 594 | (1,377) | (1,896)
Memorandum Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | 1,756 | 1,494 | 341
Memorandum Account, Refunds (Collections) | 418 | 477 | 178
Memorandum Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 | 0 | 0
Memorandum Account, Ending Balance | 2,768 | 594 | (1,377)
Balancing Account, Beginning Balance | 1,366 | 1,736 | 2,229
Balancing Account, Revenue Increase (Reduction) | (483) | (293) | (447)
Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) | (1,034) | (77) | (46)
Balancing Account, Surcharge Offset | 0 | 0 | 0
Balancing Account, Ending Balance | $ (151) | $ 1,366 | $ 1,736

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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
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- Definition Balancing Account, Refunds (Collections) + References No definition available. + Details
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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
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