XML 84 R59.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Benefit Plans Narrative (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Pension Plans [Abstract] |  |  |
Market gains (losses) | $ 2,520,000 | $ (1,388,000) |
Document Period End Date | Dec. 31, 2019 |  |
Value of life insurance contracts | $ 3,829,000 |  |
Flexible Spending Plan [Abstract] |  |  |
Annual maximum contribution limit under Health Care Spending Account plan | 2,500 |  |
Annual maximum contribution limit under Dependent Care Spending Account plan | 5,000 |  |
Deferral Plan [Abstract] |  |  |
Employer contributions to deferral plan | $ 2,046,000 | 1,569,000 | $ 1,683,000
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Pension Plans [Abstract] |  |  |
Period for performance standards | 3 years |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Pension Plans [Abstract] |  |  |
Period for performance standards | 5 years |  |
Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan [Member] |  |  |
Pension Plans [Abstract] |  |  |
Projected benefit obligation | $ 41,768,000 | 25,380,000 |
Total investments made to fund SERP | 7,070,000 |  |
Net periodic pension cost | 3,219,000 | 2,905,000 | 2,186,000
Executives and Non-employee Directors [Member] | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] |  |  |
Special Deferral Election Plan and Deferral Election Program [Abstract] |  |  |
Deferrals by executives and non-employee directors | 7,834,000 | $ 4,244,000 | $ 4,528,000
Connecticut Water Service, Inc. [Member] | Executives and Non-employee Directors [Member] | Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, by Type of Compensation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Member] |  |  |
Special Deferral Election Plan and Deferral Election Program [Abstract] |  |  |
Deferrals by executives and non-employee directors | $ 3,801,000 |  |

X
- Definition The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented. If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix: | dei_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Deferral Plan [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_DeferralPlanAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual, Deferral Amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualDeferralAmount
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Defined Benefit Plan, Period for Performance Standards + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_DefinedBenefitPlanPeriodForPerformanceStandards
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Dependent Care Spending Account, Annual Maximum Employee Contribution + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_DependentCareSpendingAccountAnnualMaximumEmployeeContribution
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Flexible Spending Plan [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_FlexibleSpendingPlanAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Health Care Spending Account, Annual Maximum Employee Contribution + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_HealthCareSpendingAccountAnnualMaximumEmployeeContribution
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Pension Plans [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_PensionPlansAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Special Deferral Election Plan and Deferral Election Program [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sjw_SpecialDeferralElectionPlanAndDeferralElectionProgramAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts which could be received based on the terms of the insurance contract upon surrendering life policies owned by the entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118951113&loc=d3e6812-107765 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueOfLifeInsurance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of contributions made by employer into fund established for purposes of making future disbursement to individual in accordance with deferred compensation arrangement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit of defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118257860&loc=d3e4179-114921 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e2709-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of actuarial present value of benefits attributed to service rendered by employee for defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118257860&loc=d3e4179-114921 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(ii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e2709-114920 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of net periodic benefit cost (credit) for defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e2709-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118257860&loc=d3e4179-114921 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_TitleOfIndividualAxis=sjw_ExecutivesAndNonEmployeeDirectorsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualPostretirementBenefitsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis=us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualByTypeOfCompensationPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=sjw_ConnecticutWaterServiceInc.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |