SJW (SJW) 10-K 28 Feb 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 14, 2014	Jun. 28, 2013
Entity Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'SJW CORP	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000766829	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	20,202,177	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$408

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Utility plant:	'	'
Land	$10,418	$10,156
Depreciable plant and equipment	1,254,586	1,166,220
Construction in progress	30,846	24,298
Intangible assets	18,341	15,561
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	1,314,191	1,216,235
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	415,453	384,675
Public Utilities, Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	898,738	831,560
Real estate investment	78,477	74,232
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	10,658	9,045
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	67,819	65,187
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	2,299	2,522
Accounts receivable:	'	'
Customers, net of allowances for uncollectible accounts of $170 and $225 in 2013 and 2012, respectively	14,496	12,317
Income tax	1,661	489
Other	476	854
Accrued unbilled utility revenue	17,556	16,284
Long-lived assets held-for-sale	0	7,768
Materials and supplies	1,045	1,088
Prepaid expenses	2,119	1,589
Assets, Current	39,652	42,911
Other assets:	'	'
Investment in California Water Service Group	8,885	7,067
Unamortized debt issuance, broker and reacquisition costs	5,176	5,226
Regulatory assets, net	83,543	130,488
Other	6,173	5,060
Assets, Noncurrent	103,777	147,841
Assets	1,109,986	1,087,499
Shareholders' equity:	'	'
Common stock, $0.521 par value; authorized 36,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 20,169,211 shares in 2013 and 18,670,566 shares in 2012	10,505	9,724
Additional paid-in capital	63,017	26,117
Retained earnings	244,266	236,453
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,387	2,310
Total shareholders' equity	321,175	274,604
Long-term debt, less current portion	334,997	335,598
Capitalization, Long-term Debt and Equity	656,172	610,202
Current liabilities:	'	'
Line of credit	22,400	15,300
Current portion of long-term debt	554	5,392
Accrued groundwater extraction charges and purchased water	7,116	4,755
Purchased power	665	317
Accounts payable	12,587	8,481
Accrued interest	5,369	5,355
Accrued property taxes and other non-income taxes	1,618	1,465
Accrued payroll	3,198	3,069
Other current liabilities	5,688	4,973
Liabilities, Current	59,195	49,107
Deferred income taxes	140,736	147,579
Unamortized investment tax credits	1,375	1,434
Advances for construction	70,043	68,277
Contributions in aid of construction	132,260	128,466
Deferred revenue	1,213	1,137
Postretirement benefit plans	43,496	73,425
Other noncurrent liabilities	5,496	7,872
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Liabilities and Equity	$1,109,986	$1,087,499

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Allowance for uncollectible accounts	$170	$225
Capitalization:	'	'
Common stock, par value	$0.52	$0.52
Common stock, shares authorized	36,000,000	36,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	20,169,211	18,670,566
Common stock, shares outstanding	20,169,211	18,670,566

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'
Operating revenue	$276,869	$261,547	$238,955
Production Expenses:	'	'	'
Purchased water	63,225	66,106	54,317
Power	7,619	5,796	5,394
Groundwater extraction charges	37,927	23,940	20,997
Other production expenses	12,073	11,445	11,345
Total production expenses	120,844	107,287	92,053
Administrative and general	43,714	42,812	39,136
Maintenance	13,548	13,350	13,261
Property taxes and other non-income taxes	10,317	9,703	8,921
Depreciation and amortization	35,039	33,098	31,193
Total operating expense	223,462	206,250	184,564
Operating income	53,407	55,297	54,391
Other (expense) income:	'	'	'
Interest on long-term debt	-18,667	-18,662	-17,799
Mortgage and other interest expense	-1,255	-1,523	-1,876
Gain on sale of real estate investment	1,063	910	0
Dividend income	246	243	238
Other, net	1,725	1,595	490
Income before income taxes	36,519	37,860	35,444
Provision for income taxes	14,135	15,542	14,566
Net income	22,384	22,318	20,878
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'
Unrealized income (loss) on investment, net of taxes of $741 in 2013, $0 in 2012 and ($59) in 2011	1,077	36	-85
Comprehensive income	$23,461	$22,354	$20,793
Earnings per share	'	'	'
bBasic (in dollars per share)	$1.13	$1.20	$1.12
bDiluted (in dollars per share)	$1.12	$1.18	$1.11
Weighted average shares outstanding	'	'	'
bBasic	19,774,589	18,635,206	18,581,762
bDiluted	19,971,236	18,839,231	18,794,066

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrealized loss on investment, tax	$741	$0	($59)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cha

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2010	$255,032	$9,662	$23,443	$219,568	$2,359
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	'	18,551,540	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	20,878	0	0	20,878	0
Unrealized loss on investment, net of tax effect	-85	0	0	0	-85
Share-based compensation	522	0	651	-129	0
Exercise of stock options and similar instruments, value	-84	7	-91	0	0
Exercise of stock options and similar instruments, shares	'	13,896	'	'	'
Employee stock purchase plan, value	525	14	511	0	0
Dividends	-12,823	0	0	-12,823	0
Employee stock purchase plan, shares	25,712	25,712	'	'	'
Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, value	39	1	38	0	0
Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, shares	'	1,679	'	'	'
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	264,004	9,684	24,552	227,494	2,274
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	'	18,592,827	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	22,318	0	0	22,318	0
Unrealized loss on investment, net of tax effect	36	0	0	0	36
Share-based compensation	436	0	564	-128	0
Exercise of stock options and similar instruments, value	370	23	347	0	0
Exercise of stock options and similar instruments, shares	'	44,784	'	'	'
Employee stock purchase plan, value	588	15	573	0	0
Dividends	-13,231	0	0	-13,231	0
Employee stock purchase plan, shares	29,468	29,468	'	'	'
Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, value	83	2	81	0	0
Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, shares	'	3,487	'	'	'
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	274,604	9,724	26,117	236,453	2,310
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	18,670,566	18,670,566	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	22,384	0	0	22,384	0
Unrealized loss on investment, net of tax effect	1,077	0	0	0	1,077
Share-based compensation	784	0	912	-128	0
Exercise of stock options and similar instruments, value	69	23	46	0	0
Exercise of stock options and similar instruments, shares	'	43,665	'	'	'
Employee stock purchase plan, value	722	16	706	0	0
Dividends	-14,443	0	0	-14,443	0
Employee stock purchase plan, shares	30,869	30,869	'	'	'
Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, value	84	2	82	0	0
Common stock issued, shares	'	1,421,000	'	'	'
Common stock issued	35,894	740	35,154	0	0
Dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, shares	'	3,111	'	'	'
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2013	$321,175	$10,505	$63,017	$244,266	$3,387
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	20,169,211	20,169,211	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cha1

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrealized loss on investment, tax	$741	$0	($59)
Dividends paid, per share	$0.73	$0.71	$0.69

Consolidated_Statement_of_Cash

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating activities:	'	'	'
Net income	$22,384	$22,318	$20,878
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	36,595	34,629	32,709
Deferred income taxes	11,567	12,235	16,458
Share-based compensation	912	564	651
Gain on sale of real estate investment	-1,063	-910	0
Loss on sale of utility property	0	0	23
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'	'
Accounts receivable and accrued unbilled utility revenue	-3,073	-800	-2,470
Accounts payable, purchased power and other current liabilities	-21	933	-133
Accrued groundwater extraction charges and purchased water	2,361	-1,034	1,430
Tax receivable and accrued taxes	-1,112	5,093	-1,102
Other current asset and liabilities related to balancing and memorandum accounts	388	5,740	-5,740
Postretirement benefits	127	77	-37
Regulatory asset related to balancing and memorandum accounts	-3,645	-3,550	0
Other noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities	-884	-1,503	1,855
Other changes, net	-1,111	575	-318
Net cash provided by operating activities	63,425	74,367	64,204
Investing activities:	'	'	'
Company-funded	-82,720	-101,458	-62,439
Contributions in aid of construction	-11,605	-4,376	-7,311
Additions to real estate investment	-4,232	-678	-156
Payments for business/asset acquisition and water rights	-3,349	-2,280	-4,040
Cost to retire utility plant, net of salvage	-2,695	-922	-1,816
Proceeds from sale of real estate investment	8,831	5,517	0
Proceeds from sale of utility property	0	0	43
Net cash used in investing activities	-95,770	-104,197	-75,719
Financing activities:	'	'	'
Borrowings from line of credit	48,600	16,300	17,600
Repayments of line of credit	-41,500	-1,000	-21,600
Long-term borrowings	0	0	50,000
Repayments of long-term borrowings	-5,439	-3,696	-1,094
Debt issuance costs	-19	-33	-87
Dividends paid	-14,443	-13,231	-12,823
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	35,894	0	0
Exercise of stock options and similar instruments	1,004	989	564
Tax benefits realized from share options exercised	28	97	7
Receipts of advances and contributions in aid of construction	10,293	8,407	6,149
Refunds of advances for construction	-2,296	-2,215	-2,197
Net cash provided by financing activities	32,122	5,618	36,519
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-223	-24,212	25,004
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	2,299	2,522	26,734
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	2,522	26,734	1,730
Cash paid (received) during the year for:	'	'	'
Interest	20,886	21,206	20,307
Income Taxes Paid, Net	4,186	-1,445	-2,930
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:	'	'	'
Increase in accrued payables for construction costs capitalized	4,588	355	1,971
Utility property installed by developers	2,162	4,073	567
Obligations relieved related to acquisition of certain water service assets	$0	$0	($726)

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SJW Corp., its wholly owned subsidiaries, and two variable interest entities in which two SJW Corp. subsidiaries are the primary beneficiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
	SJW Corp.'s principal subsidiary, San Jose Water Company, is a regulated California water utility providing water service to approximately one million people in the greater metropolitan San Jose area. San Jose Water Company's accounting policies comply with the applicable uniform system of accounts prescribed by the CPUC and conform to generally accepted accounting principles for rate-regulated public utilities. Approximately 90% of San Jose Water Company's revenues are derived from the sale of water to residential and business customers.
	SJWTX, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Corp., is incorporated in the State of Texas and is doing business as Canyon Lake Water Service Company (“CLWSC”). CLWSC is a public utility in the business of providing water service to approximately 36,000 people. CLWSC's service area comprises more than 240 square miles in western Comal County and southern Blanco County in the growing region between San Antonio and Austin, Texas. SJWTX, Inc. has a 25% interest in Acequia Water Supply Corporation. Acequia has been determined to be a variable interest entity within the scope of ASC Topic 810 with SJWTX, Inc. as the primary beneficiary. As a result, Acequia has been consolidated with SJWTX, Inc.
	SJW Land Company owns commercial properties, several undeveloped real estate properties, and warehouse properties in the states of California, Arizona, Texas and Tennessee and holds a 70% limited partnership interest in 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. has been determined to be a variable interest entity within the scope of ASC Topic 810 with SJW Land Company as the primary beneficiary. As a result, 444 West Santa Clara Street L.P. has been consolidated with SJW Land Company (see Note 9).
	Texas Water Alliance Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Corp., is undertaking activities that are necessary to develop a water supply project in Texas. In connection with the project, TWA applied for groundwater production and transportation permits to meet the future water needs in the Canyon Lake Water Service Company's service area and to the central Texas hill country communities and utilities adjacent to this area. In January of 2013, TWA's permits were approved unanimously by the groundwater district in Gonzales County.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	Utility Plant
	The cost of additions, replacements and betterments to utility plant is capitalized. The amount of interest capitalized in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $905, $913 and $699, respectively. Construction in progress was $30,846 and $24,298 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	The major components of depreciable plant and equipment as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		2013			2012
	Equipment	$	226,557		214,670
	Transmission and distribution	967,031			892,957
	Office buildings and other structures	60,998			58,593
	Total depreciable plant and equipment	$	1,254,586		1,166,220
	Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated service lives of the assets, ranging from 5 to 75 years. The estimated service lives of depreciable plant and equipment are as follows:
		Useful Lives
	Equipment	5 to 35 years
	Transmission and distribution plant	35 to 75 years
	Office buildings and other structures	7 to 50 years
	For the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, depreciation expense as a percent of the beginning of the year balance of depreciable plant was approximately 3.4%, 3.5% and 3.5%, respectively. A portion of depreciation expense is allocated to administrative and general expense. For the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, the amounts allocated to administrative and general expense were $1,556, $1,531 and $1,516, respectively. Depreciation expense for utility plant for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $32,616, $31,005 and $29,141, respectively. The cost of utility plant retired, including retirement costs (less salvage), is charged to accumulated depreciation and no gain or loss is recognized.
	Utility Plant Intangible Assets
	All intangible assets are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the legal or estimated economic life of the asset, ranging from 5 to 70 years (see Note 6).
	Real Estate Investments
	Real estate investments are recorded at cost and consist primarily of land and buildings. Net gains and losses from the sale of real estate investments are recorded as a component of other (expense) income in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Nonutility property in Water Utility Services is also classified in real estate investments and not separately disclosed on the balance sheet based on the immateriality of the amount. Nonutility property is property that is neither used nor useful in providing water utility services to customers and is excluded from the rate base for rate-setting purposes. San Jose Water Company recognizes gain/loss on disposition of nonutility property in accordance with CPUC Code Section 790, whereby the net proceeds are reinvested back into property that is useful in providing water utility services to customers. There is no depreciation associated with nonutility property as it is all land. The major components of real estate investments as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		2013			2012
	Land	$	18,892		18,892
	Buildings and improvements	59,256			55,011
	Intangibles	329			329
	Total real estate investment	$	78,477		74,232
	Depreciation on real estate investments is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from 5 to 39 years.
	On February 1, 2013, SJW Land Company sold its warehouse building located in Windsor, Connecticut for $9,200. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of real estate investment of $1,063, after selling expenses of $369. The following represents the major components of the Connecticut warehouse building recorded in long-lived assets held-for-sale on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2012.
		31-Dec-12
	Land	$	1,200
	Buildings and improvements	8,684
	Subtotal	9,884
	Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,116
	Total	$	7,768
	Gross land, buildings and improvements of $77,082 and $72,838 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, represent assets that are leased or available for lease. Land, building and improvements as of December 31, 2012 excludes the Connecticut warehouse building as it has been reclassified as held-for-sale. The following schedule shows the future minimum rental payments to be received from third parties under operating leases that have remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2013:
	Year ending December 31:	Rental Revenue
	2014	$	5,497
	2015	5,616
	2016	5,786
	2017	5,883
	2018	5,061
	Thereafter	31,817
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	In accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 360—“Property, Plant and Equipment,” the long-lived assets of SJW Corp. are reviewed for impairment when changes in circumstances or events require adjustments to the carrying values of the assets. When such changes in circumstances or events occur, the Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through the undiscounted expected future cash flows. To the extent an impairment exists, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value with a corresponding charge to operations in the period in which the impairment is identified. Long-lived assets consist primarily of utility plant in service, real estate investments, intangible assets, and regulatory assets. In addition, the Company tests unamortized intangible assets, which primarily relate to water rights, at least annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that this asset may be impaired. The Company first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test. In assessing the qualitative factors, the Company considers the impact of these key factors: change in industry and competitive environment, financial performance, and other relevant Company-specific events. If the Company determines that as a result of the qualitative assessment it is more likely than not (> 50% likelihood) that the fair value is less than carrying amount, then a quantitative test is performed. No impairments occurred during 2013 or 2012.
	Financial Instruments
	The following instruments are not measured at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheets but require disclosure of fair values: cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The estimated fair value of such instruments approximates their carrying value as reported on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of such financial instruments are determined using the income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. The fair value of these instruments would be categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, with the exception of cash and cash equivalents, which would be categorized as Level 1. The fair value of long-term debt is discussed in Note 4, pension plan assets in Note 10 and investment in California Water Service Group in Note 13.
	Investment in California Water Service Group
	SJW Corp.'s investment in California Water Service Group is accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 320—“Investments—Debt and Equity Securities,” as an available-for-sale marketable security. The investment is recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at its quoted market price with the change in unrealized gain or loss reported, net of tax, as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) (see Note 13).
	Regulatory Assets and Liabilities
	Generally accepted accounting principles for water utilities include the recognition of regulatory assets and liabilities as permitted by ASC Topic 980. In accordance with ASC Topic 980, Water Utility Services, to the extent applicable, records deferred costs and credits on the balance sheet as regulatory assets and liabilities when it is probable that these costs and credits will be recognized in the ratemaking process in a period different from when the costs and credits are incurred. Accounting for such costs and credits is based on management's judgment and prior historical ratemaking practices, and it occurs when management determines that it is probable that these costs and credits will be recognized in the future revenue of Water Utility Services through the ratemaking process. The regulatory assets and liabilities recorded by Water Utility Services, in particular, San Jose Water Company, primarily relate to the recognition of deferred income taxes for ratemaking versus tax accounting purposes, balancing and memorandum accounts, postretirement pension benefits, medical costs, accrued benefits for vacation and asset retirement obligations that have not been passed through in rates. The Company adjusts the related asset and liabilities for these items through its regulatory asset and liability accounts at year-end, except for certain postretirement benefit costs and balancing and memorandum accounts which are adjusted monthly. The Company expects to recover regulatory assets related to plant depreciation income tax temporary differences over the average lives of the plant assets of between 5 to 75 years.
	Rate-regulated enterprises are required to charge a regulatory asset to earnings if and when that asset no longer meets the criteria for being recorded as a regulatory asset. San Jose Water Company continually evaluates the recoverability of regulatory assets by assessing whether the amortization of the balance over the remaining life can be recovered through expected and undiscounted future cash flows.
	Regulatory liabilities reflect balancing and memorandum accounts, temporary differences provided at higher than the current tax rate for utility plant which will flow through to future ratepayers, and unamortized investment tax credits.
	Regulatory assets and liabilities are comprised of the following as of December 31:
		2013			2012
	Regulatory assets:
	Income tax temporary differences, net	$	8,220		8,146
	Postretirement pensions and other medical benefits	62,949			113,633
	Pension balancing account	9,734			6,671
Water rate assistance program balancing account	2,590			776
Other	4,725			5,151
Total regulatory assets	$	88,218		134,377
Regulatory liabilities:
Cost of capital memorandum account	$	2,297		2,295
Water supply balancing accounts	2,378			1,594
Total regulatory liabilities	$	4,675		3,889
Net regulatory assets included in Consolidated Balance Sheets	$	83,543		130,488
Regulatory Rate Filings
On January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company filed a general rate case application requesting rate increases of $47,400, or 21.51% in 2013, $13,000, or 4.87% in 2014 and $34,800, or 12.59% in 2015. This general rate case filing also includes: (1) recovery of the under-collected balance of $2,599 in the balancing account, (2) disbursement of the over-collected balance of $650 accrued in various memorandum accounts and (3) implementation of a full revenue decoupling Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (“WRAM”) and associated Modified Cost Balancing Account (“MCBA”). The WRAM de-couples San Jose Water Company's revenue requirement from ratepayer usage. Under the WRAM, San Jose Water Company would recover the full quantity revenue amounts authorized by the CPUC by using advice letter filings for any unbilled quantity revenue amounts or refunds for over-collection, regardless of customer usage volumes. A MCBA similarly provides for recovery/refund for changes in water supply mix from amounts authorized by the CPUC. A general rate case is scheduled to be a year-long proceeding before the CPUC that involves a discovery phase led by the CPUC's Division of Ratepayer Advocates and customer intervenors that are assigned party status, settlement meetings, as well as possible evidentiary hearings. Parties to the proceeding filed opening briefs on July 20, 2012 and reply briefs on August 7, 2012. On September 26, 2012, San Jose Water Company filed a motion for interim rate relief so that if a decision was not reached by the end of 2012, San Jose Water Company would be allowed to adopt interim rates, effective January 1, 2013, until a decision is adopted. To date, a decision has not been adopted and interim rates are currently in effect. Interim rates were set equal to fiscal year-end 2012 rates. Differences between interim rates and approved rates are tracked in a memorandum account and will be submitted for recovery or refund. A decision on this application is expected in the second quarter of 2014.
On October 3, 2013, CLWSC filed a rate case with the TCEQ. The filing contained a requested rate increase of 23.1%, or $2,400. With the exception of customers served within the City of Bulverde, the new rates became effective on December 2, 2013. Prior to approval by the TCEQ, such rates are subject to adjustment and refund. The Company has recognized the increase in accordance with ASC Topic 980 which provides that a regulated entity is permitted to bill requested rate increases before the regulator has ruled on the request. If information becomes available that indicates it is probable that any of the 23.1% rate increase will need to be refunded and the amount of refund can be reasonably estimated, a loss contingency shall be accrued. CLWSC has determined at this time that it is not probable that any of the rate increase will need to be refunded. Customers have 150 days from filing to protest the application. Management does not anticipate that the final TCEQ decision will materially affect the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the effect of temporary differences between financial and tax reporting. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using current tax rates in effect. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.
To the extent permitted by the CPUC, investment tax credits resulting from utility plant additions are deferred and amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related property.
Advances for Construction and Contributions in Aid of Construction
In California, advances for construction received after 1981 are refunded ratably over 40 years. Estimated refunds for the next five years and thereafter are shown below:
	Estimated Refunds
2014	$	2,402
2015	2,403
2016	2,402
2017	2,402
2018	2,402
Thereafter	58,032
Contributions in aid of construction represent funds received from developers that are not refundable under applicable regulations. Depreciation applicable to utility plant constructed with these contributions is charged to contributions in aid of construction.
Customer advances and contributions in aid of construction received subsequent to 1986 and prior to June 12, 1996 generally must be included in federal taxable income. Taxes paid relating to advances and contributions are recorded as deferred tax assets for financial reporting purposes and are amortized over 40 years for advances, and over the tax depreciable life of the related asset for contributions. Receipts subsequent to June 12, 1996 are generally exempt from federal taxable income, unless specifically prescribed under treasury regulations.
Advances and contributions received subsequent to 1991 and prior to 1997 are included in California state taxable income.
Asset Retirement Obligation
SJW Corp.'s asset retirement obligation is recorded as a liability included in other non-current liabilities. It reflects principally the retirement costs of wells and other anticipated clean-up costs, which by law, must be remediated upon retirement. Retirement costs have historically been recovered through rates at the time of retirement. As a result, the liability is offset by a regulatory asset. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the asset retirement obligation is as follows:
	2013			2012
Retirement obligation	$	4,612		4,650
Discount rate	6		%	6	%
Present value, recorded as a liability	1,733			1,807
Deferred tax	1,192			1,242
Regulatory asset	$	2,925		3,049
Revenue
SJW Corp. recognizes its regulated and nonregulated revenue when services have been rendered, in accordance with ASC Topic 605.
Metered revenue of Water Utility Services includes billing to customers based on meter readings plus an estimate of water used between the customers' last meter reading and the end of the accounting period. Water Utility Services read the majority of its customers' meters on a bi-monthly basis and records its revenue based on its meter reading results. Unbilled revenue from the last meter reading date to the end of the accounting period is estimated based on the most recent usage patterns, production records and the effective tariff rates. Actual results could differ from those estimates, which may result in an adjustment to the operating revenue in the period which the revision to Water Utility Services' estimates is determined. San Jose Water Company also recognizes balancing and memorandum accounts in its revenue when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process.
Revenues also include a surcharge collected from regulated customers that is paid to the CPUC. This surcharge is recorded both in operating revenues and administrative and general expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the surcharge was $3,741, $3,862 and $3,272, respectively.
Revenue from San Jose Water Company's nonregulated utility operations, maintenance agreements or antenna leases are recognized when services have been rendered. Nonregulated operating revenue in 2013, 2012 and 2011 includes $5,882, $5,523 and $4,935, respectively, from the operation of the City of Cupertino municipal water system. Revenue from SJW Land Company properties is recognized ratably over the term of the leases.
Balancing and Memorandum Accounts
For California, the CPUC has established a balancing account mechanism for the purpose of tracking the under-collection or over-collection associated with expense changes and the revenue authorized by the CPUC to offset those expense changes. The Company also maintains memorandum accounts to track revenue impacts due to catastrophic events, unforeseen water quality expenses related to new federal and state water quality standards, energy efficiency, cost of capital, any revenue requirement impact of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, and other approved activities or as directed by the CPUC. As of December 31, 2013, the total balance in San Jose Water Company's balancing and memorandum accounts, including interest, was a net under-collection of $8,167.
Balancing and memorandum accounts are recognized in revenue by San Jose Water Company when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process. In assessing the probability criteria for balancing and memorandum accounts between general rate cases, the Company considers evidence that may exist prior to CPUC authorization that would satisfy ASC Topic 980, subtopic 340-25 recognition criteria. Such evidence may include regulatory rules and decisions, past practices, and other facts and circumstances that would indicate that recovery or refund is probable. When such evidence provides sufficient support for balance recognition, the balances are recorded in the Company's financial statements.
The Company met the recognition requirements for certain of its balancing and memorandum accounts and certain amounts subject to balancing and memorandum accounts and recorded revenue and regulatory assets totaling $5,019 and $2,604 during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. All balancing and memorandum-type accounts not included for recovery or refund in the current general rate case will be reviewed by the CPUC in San Jose Water Company's next general rate case or at the time an individual account reaches a threshold of 2% of authorized revenue, whichever occurs first.
On August 27, 2010, SJWTX, Inc. filed a rate case with the TCEQ. The filing contained a request for an immediate increase in revenue of 38% and a total increase of 71%. The new rates (38%) became effective on October 27, 2010. On August 21, 2013, the TCEQ issued a decision in SJWTX, Inc.'s rate case that authorized a 33% increase in revenue requirement. Since the rates authorized by the TCEQ are less than the interim rates, this resulted in a customer refund of approximately $982 for rate over-collections during the period of interim rates. This amount has been recorded as a regulatory liability and reduction of revenue during the year ended December 31, 2013.
Share-Based Payment
SJW Corp. utilizes the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires the use of subjective assumptions, to compute the fair value of options at the grant date, and the basis for the share-based compensation for financial reporting purposes. In addition, SJW Corp. estimates forfeitures for share-based awards that are not expected to vest.
SJW Corp. utilizes the Monte Carlo valuation model, which requires the use of subjective assumptions, to compute the fair value of market performance-vesting restricted stock units.
The compensation cost charged to income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.
Maintenance Expense
Planned major maintenance projects are charged to expense as incurred.
Earnings per Share
Basic earnings per share is calculated using income available to common shareholders, divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. The two-class method in computing basic earnings per share is not used because the number of participating securities as defined in FASB ASC Topic 260—“Earnings Per Share” is not significant. (The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security.) Diluted earnings per share is calculated using income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock including both shares outstanding and shares potentially issuable in connection with stock options, deferred restricted common stock awards under SJW Corp.'s Long-Term Incentive Plan and shares potentially issuable under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Restricted common stock units and stock options of 3,071, 6,557 and 4,243 as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were excluded from the dilutive earnings per share calculation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Capitalization

Capitalization	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
CAPITALIZATION	'
	Capitalization
	SJW Corp. is authorized to issue 36,000,000 shares of common stock of $0.521 par value per share. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 20,169,211 and 18,670,566, respectively, shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.
	At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 176,407 shares of preferred stock of $25 par value per share were authorized and none were outstanding.
	Sale of Stock
	On March 28, 2013, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, as the representative of several underwriters (the “Underwriters”), which provided for the issuance and sale in an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters of 1,321,000 shares of the Company's common stock with a par value $0.521 per share of the Company's common stock. The shares were sold at a public offering price of $26.50 per share, and were purchased by the Underwriters at a price of $25.44 per share. The Company also granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 198,150 additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. On April 25, 2013, the Underwriters exercised the overallotment option to purchase an additional 100,000 shares of common stock.
	The Offering and overallotment option closed on April 3, 2013 and April 29, 2013, respectively. The net proceeds received from the Offering and the exercise of the overallotment option were $35,894, after deducting the Underwriters' discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The net proceeds were used to pay down amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2013 under the Company's bank lines of credit, as well as to fund the construction programs of the Water Utility Services operations and for other general corporate purposes.

Lines_of_Credit

Lines of Credit	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]	'
LINES OF CREDIT	'
	Lines of Credit
	On January 11, 2013, SJW Corp., SJW Land Company, San Jose Water Company and Wells Fargo amended their respective credit agreements dated March 1, 2012, to clarify defined terms in the funded debt and interest coverage ratio covenants.
	As of December 31, 2013, SJW Corp. and its subsidiaries had unsecured bank lines of credit, allowing aggregate short-term borrowings of up to $90,000, of which $15,000 was available to SJW Corp. and SJW Land Company under a single line of credit and $75,000 was available to San Jose Water Company under another line of credit. San Jose Water Company has issued two standby letters of credit with a commercial bank in the amount of $3,000 in support of its SDWSRF loans which were funded in 2005 and 2008. The letters of credit automatically renew for one year each December unless the issuing bank elects not to renew it, and the amount of coverage can be reduced as the loan principal balance decreases. As of December 31, 2013, $3,000 under the San Jose Water Company line of credit is set aside in the form of letters of credit for its SDWSRF loans. The lines of credit bear interest at variable rates, and will expire on September 1, 2014. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, SJW Corp. has an outstanding balance on the lines of credit of $22,400 and $15,300, respectively. Cost of borrowing on the lines of credit averaged 1.29% and 1.44% as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	SJW Corp., on a consolidated basis, and San Jose Water Company have the following affirmative covenants on their unsecured bank lines of credit: (1) the funded debt cannot exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-calendar-month period cannot be less than 175% of interest charges. As of December 31, 2013, SJW Corp. and San Jose Water Company, respectively, were in compliance with the unsecured bank line of credit affirmative covenants.

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-term Debt	'
	Long-Term Debt
	Long-term debt as of December 31 was as follows:
	Description	Due Date	2013		2012
	Senior notes, San Jose Water Company:
	Series A 8.58%	2022	$	20,000	20,000
	Series B 7.37%	2024	30,000		30,000
	Series C 9.45%	2020	10,000		10,000
	Series D 7.15%	2026	15,000		15,000
	Series E 6.81%	2028	15,000		15,000
	Series F 7.20%	2031	20,000		20,000
	Series G 5.93%	2033	20,000		20,000
	Series H 5.71%	2037	20,000		20,000
	Series I 5.93%	2037	20,000		20,000
	Series J 6.54%	2024	10,000		10,000
	Series K 6.75%	2039	20,000		20,000
	SJWTX, Inc. Series A 6.27%	2036	15,000		15,000
	SJW Corp. Series A 4.35%	2021	50,000		50,000
	Total senior notes		$	265,000	265,000
	Mortgage loans 5.61% - 6.09%	2013	—		4,867
		2016	3,215		3,314
		2017	12,142		12,375
	444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. 5.68% (non-recourse to SJW Land Company)	2021	3,053		3,153
	California Pollution Control Financing Authority Revenue Bonds 5.10%, San Jose Water Company	2040	50,000		50,000
	SDWSRF loans 2.39% and 2.60%, San Jose Water Company	2027	2,141		2,281
	Total debt		$	335,551	340,990
	Less: current portion		554		5,392
	Total long-term debt, less current portion		$	334,997	335,598
	Senior notes held by institutional investors are unsecured obligations of San Jose Water Company and SJWTX, Inc. and require interest-only payments until maturity. To minimize issuance costs, all of the companies' debt has historically been placed privately.
	The senior note agreements of San Jose Water Company generally have terms and conditions that restrict the Company from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-calendar-month period would be less than 175% of interest charges. As of December 31, 2013, San Jose Water Company was not restricted from issuing future indebtedness as a result of these terms and conditions.
	The senior note agreement of SJWTX, Inc. has terms and conditions that restrict SJWTX, Inc. from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-calendar-month period would be less than 175% of interest charges. In addition, SJW Corp. is a guarantor of SJWTX, Inc.'s senior note which has terms and conditions that restrict SJW Corp. from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded consolidated debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) the minimum net worth of SJW Corp. becomes less than $125,000 plus 30% of Water Utility Services cumulative net income, since December 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2013, SJWTX, Inc. and SJW Corp. were not restricted from issuing future indebtedness as a result of these terms and conditions.
	The senior note agreement of SJW Corp. has terms and conditions that restrict SJW Corp. from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded consolidated debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) the minimum net worth of SJW Corp. becomes less than $175,000 plus 30% of Water Utility Services cumulative net income, since June 30, 2011. As of December 31, 2013, SJW Corp. was not restricted from issuing future indebtedness as a result of these terms and conditions.
	The mortgage loans, which are the obligations of SJW Land Company, are due in 2016 and 2017. These loans amortize over 25 years, are secured by two leased properties and carry a fixed interest rate with 120 monthly principal and interest payments. The loan agreements generally restrict the Company from prepayment in the first three years and require submission of periodic financial reports as part of the loan covenants. An amortization schedule of the mortgage loans is as follows:
		Amortization Schedule
	Year	Total Payment		Interest	Principal
	2014	1,229		877	352
	2015	1,229		856	373
	2016	4,034		762	3,272
	2017	11,470		110	11,360
	444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P., in which SJW Land Company owns a 70% limited partnership interest, has a mortgage loan in the outstanding amount of $3,053 as of December 31, 2013. The mortgage loan is due in 2021 and is amortized over 20 years with an interest rate of 5.68%. The mortgage loan is secured by the partnership's real property and is non-recourse to SJW Land Company. An amortization schedule of the mortgage loan with 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. is as follows:
		Amortization Schedule
	Year	Total Payment		Interest	Principal
	2014	276		170	106
	2015	276		164	112
	2016	276		157	119
	2017	276		150	126
	2018	276		143	133
	Thereafter	2,761		304	2,457
	San Jose Water Company has outstanding $50,000 in California Pollution Control Financing Authority revenue bonds as of December 31, 2013. The loan agreement for the revenue bonds contains affirmative and negative covenants customary for a loan agreement relating to revenue bonds, including, among other things, complying with certain disclosure obligations and covenants relating to the tax exempt status of the interest on the bonds and limitations and prohibitions relating to the transfer of the projects funded by the loan proceeds and the assignment of the loan agreement. As of December 31, 2013, San Jose Water Company was in compliance with all such covenants.
	San Jose Water Company has two loans from the SDWSRF at a rate of 2.39% and 2.60%. The outstanding loan balances as of December 31, 2013 is $2,141. San Jose Water Company issued standby letters of credit with a commercial bank in the amount of $3,000 in support of these loans. The letters of credit automatically renew for one year each December unless the issuing bank elects not to renew it. The amount of coverage can be reduced as the principal balances decrease. An amortization schedule of the SDWSRF loans is as follows:
		Amortization Schedule
	Year	Total Payment		Interest	Principal
	2014	133		37	96
	2015	196		49	147
	2016	195		45	150
	2017	196		42	154
	2018	195		38	157
	Thereafter	1,592		155	1,437
	The fair value of long-term debt as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $395,684 and $455,042, respectively, and was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis, based on the current rates for similar financial instruments of the same duration and creditworthiness of the Company. The fair value of long-term debt would be categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The components of income tax expense were:
		2013			2012		2011
	Current:
	Federal	$	(525	)	—		(4,894	)
	State	3,093			3,305		3,002
	Deferred:
	Federal	11,743			12,114		16,560
	State	(176		)	123		(102	)
		$	14,135		15,542		14,566
	The following table reconciles income tax expense to the amount computed by applying the federal statutory rate to income before income taxes of $36,519, $37,860 and $35,444 in 2013, 2012 and 2011:
		2013			2012		2011
	“Expected” federal income tax	$	12,782		13,251		12,405
	Increase (decrease) in taxes attributable to:
	State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	1,836			2,108		1,934
	Dividend received deduction	(60		)	(59	)	(58	)
	Uncertain tax positions	(650		)	82		17
	Other items, net	227			160		268
		$	14,135		15,542		14,566
	The components of the net deferred tax liability as of December 31 was as follows:
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Advances and contributions	$	15,598		15,214
	Unamortized investment tax credit	741			773
	Pensions and postretirement benefits	4,405			4,565
	California franchise tax	1,107			1,193
	Net operating loss	5,814			6,439
	Other	1,596			1,505
	Total deferred tax assets	$	29,261		29,689
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Utility plant	$	125,706		110,983
	Pension and postretirement benefits	25,649			46,315
	Investment in stock	3,228			2,487
	Deferred gain and other-property related	13,107			14,440
	Debt reacquisition costs	496			545
	Other	1,811			2,498
	Total deferred tax liabilities	$	169,997		177,268
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	140,736		147,579
	Management evaluates the realizability of our deferred tax assets based on all available evidence, both positive and negative. The realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income during periods in which the deferred tax assets are expected to reverse. Based on all available evidence, management believes it is more likely than not that SJW Corp. will realize the benefits of these deferred tax assets.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company has a federal net operating loss carry forward of $16,610, which will expire in fiscal year 2031. This amount differs from the amount reported on the consolidated tax returns of $18,234 due to the adoption of ASU 2013-11 which provided explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists that can be utilized to offset unrecognized tax benefits.
	The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits, before the impact of deductions for state taxes, excluding interest and penalties was $565 and $2,130 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The amount of tax benefits, net of any federal benefits for state taxes and inclusive of interest that would impact the effective rate, if recognized, is approximately $13 and $109 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	2,316
	Increase related to tax positions taken during a prior year, including interest	139
	Reductions related to tax positions taken in a prior year, including interest	(1,920		)
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	535
	SJW Corp.'s policy is to classify interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits, if any, in tax expense. Accrued interest expense, net of the benefit of tax deductions which would be available on the payment of such interest, is approximately $13 as of December 31, 2013. SJW Corp. has not accrued any penalties for unrecognized tax benefits. The amount of interest recognized in 2013 was a benefit of $171.
	SJW Corp. does not foresee material changes to its gross uncertain tax liability due to the lapse of the statute of limitations within the next 12 months following December 31, 2013.
	The income tax examination by the Internal Revenue Service, which commenced on October 1, 2011 for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, was completed with no adjustments or changes on August 5, 2013. The Company is no longer subject to tax examination for fiscal years prior to 2012 for federal purposes and 2009 for state purposes.
	SJW Corp. files U.S. federal income tax returns and income tax returns in various states. The open tax years for the jurisdictions in which SJW Corp. files are as follows:
	Jurisdiction	Years Open
	Federal	2012
	California	2009 - 2012
	Arizona	2009 - 2012
	Connecticut	2010 - 2012
	Florida	2010 - 2012
	Tennessee	2010 - 2012
	Texas	2009 - 2012

Intangible_Assets

Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
INTANGIBLE ASSETS	'
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets consist of a concession fee paid to the City of Cupertino of $6,800 for operating the City of Cupertino municipal water system and other intangibles of $11,541. Other intangibles consists of $10,077 which was paid for service area and water rights related to our subsidiaries in Texas, $1,040 incurred in conjunction with Santa Clara Valley Water District water contracts related to the operation of San Jose Water Company and $424 in other miscellaneous intangibles. All intangible assets are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the legal or estimated economic life of the asset ranging from 5 to 70 years.
	Amortization expense for the intangible assets was $354 for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $340 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011. Amortization expense for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 is anticipated to be $354 per year.
	The costs of intangible assets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		2013		2012
	Concession fees	$	6,800	6,800
	Other intangibles	11,541		8,761
	Intangible assets	18,341		15,561
	Less: Accumulated amortization
	Concession fees	4,420		4,148
	Other intangibles	765		712
	Net intangible assets	$	13,156	10,701

Commitments

Commitments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments Disclosure	'
	Commitments
	San Jose Water Company purchases water from SCVWD under terms of a master contract expiring in 2051. Delivery schedules for purchased water are based on a contract year beginning July 1, and are negotiated every three years under terms of the master contract with SCVWD. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, San Jose Water Company purchased from SCVWD 22,700 million gallons ($52,500), 22,800 million gallons ($48,800) and 21,900 million gallons ($43,500), respectively, of contract water. Based on current prices and estimated deliveries, San Jose Water Company is committed to purchase from SCVWD a minimum of 90% of the delivery schedule, or 21,000 million gallons ($50,300) of water at the current contract water rate of $2.4 per million gallons in the year ending December 31, 2014. Additionally, San Jose Water Company purchases non-contract water from SCVWD on an “as needed” basis if the water supply is available.
	In 1997, San Jose Water Company entered into a 25-year contract agreement with the City of Cupertino to operate the City's municipal water system. San Jose Water Company paid a one-time, up-front concession fee of $6,800 to the City of Cupertino which is amortized over the contract term. Under the terms of the contract agreement, San Jose Water Company assumed responsibility for all maintenance, operating and capital costs, while receiving all payments for water service. Water service rates are subject to approval by the Cupertino City Council.
	CLWSC has long-term contracts with the GBRA. The terms of the agreements expire in 2040, 2044 and 2050. The agreements, which are take-or-pay contracts, provide CLWSC with 6,700 acre-feet per year of water supply from Canyon Lake and other sources. The water rate may be adjusted by GBRA at any time, provided they give CLWSC a 60-day written notice on the proposed adjustment.
	TWA has entered into approximately 180 water rights agreements with property owners for certain real property rights for the development, production, transportation and use of groundwater in and under their property. In accordance with the water rights agreements, TWA is committed to pay between $819 and $1,300 from 2014 to 2019. TWA may terminate the water rights agreements at any time during the pre-production phase, upon two years prior written notice.
	As of December 31, 2013, San Jose Water Company had 340 employees, of whom 107 were executive, administrative or supervisory personnel, and of whom 233 were members of unions. In November 2013, San Jose Water Company reached a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Utility Workers of America, representing the majority of all employees, and the International Union of Operating Engineers, representing certain employees in the engineering department, covering the period from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016. The agreements include a 2% wage increase in 2014, 2% in 2015 and 3% in 2016 for union workers as well as increases in medical co-pays and employee cost-sharing.

Contingencies

Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]	'
Contingencies	'
	Contingencies
	SJW Corp. is subject to ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. There are no pending legal proceedings to which SJW Corp. or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of its properties is the subject, that are expected to have a material effect on SJW Corp.'s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Partnership_Interest

Partnership Interest	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'
Partnership Interest	'
	Partnership Interest
	In September 1999, SJW Land Company formed 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P., a limited partnership, with a real estate development firm whereby SJW Land Company contributed real property in exchange for a 70% limited partnership interest. A commercial building was constructed on the partnership property and is leased to an unrelated international real estate firm under a long-term lease expiring in August 2019.
	The consolidated financial statements of SJW Corp. at December 31, 2013 and 2012 include the operating results of 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Results of operations and balances of the non-controlling interest are not material to the consolidated financial statements.

Benefit_Plans

Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure	'
	Benefit Plans
	Pension Plans
	San Jose Water Company sponsors a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”) for its eligible employees. Employees hired before March 31, 2008 are entitled to receive retirement benefits using a formula based on the employee's three highest years of compensation (whether or not consecutive). For employees hired on or after March 31, 2008, benefits are determined using a cash balance formula based upon compensation credits and interest credits for each employee.
	The Pension Plan is administered by a committee that is composed of an equal number of Company and union representatives (the “Committee”). The Committee has retained an investment consultant, presently Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, to assist it with, among other things, asset allocation strategy, investment policy advice, performance monitoring, and investment manager due diligence. Individual investment decisions have been delegated by the Committee to the investment managers who are monitored by the investment consultant. Investment guidelines provided in the Investment Policy Statement require that at least 25% of plan assets be invested in fixed income securities. As of December 31, 2013, the plan assets consist of approximately 38% bonds, 9% cash equivalents, and 53% equities. Furthermore, equities are to be diversified by industry groups and selected to achieve a balance of long-term growth and income combined with a goal of long-term preservation of capital. Except as provided for in the prospectus of any co-mingled investments, investment managers may not invest in commodities and futures contracts, private placements, options, letter stock, speculative securities, nor may they hold more than 5% of assets of any one private corporation. Except as provided for in the prospectus of any co-mingled investments, fixed income assets may only be invested in bonds, commercial paper, and money market funds with acceptable ratings by Moody's or Standard & Poor's as defined by the Investment Policy Statement. The investment managers performance is reviewed regularly by the investment consultant who provides quarterly reports to the Committee for review.
	Plan assets are marked to market at each measurement date, resulting in unrealized actuarial gains or losses. Unrealized actuarial gains and losses on pension assets are amortized over the expected future working lifetime of participants of 12.24 years for actuarial expense calculation purposes. Market gains in 2012 decreased pension expense by approximately $334 in 2013 and market losses in 2011 increased pension expense by approximately $649 in 2012.
	Since the Pension Plan's inception in 1984, the plan has achieved an 11.2% return on its investments while the applicable benchmark was 10.4% for the same period. The applicable benchmark is a weighted-average of returns for those benchmarks shown in the table below. For the 2013 fiscal year, the investment managers, following the required investment guidelines, achieved a 14.7% return on their investments, while the applicable benchmark was 11.9% for the same period.
	Generally, it is expected of the investment managers that the performance of the assets held in the Pension Plan, computed on a total annual rate of return basis, should meet or exceed specific performance standards over a three-to-five-year period and/or full market cycle. These standards include specific absolute and risk-adjusted performance standards over a three-to-five-year period and/or full market cycle.
	San Jose Water Company calculates the market-related value of the defined benefit pension plan assets, which is defined under FASB ASC Topic 715—“Compensation—Retirement Benefits” as a balance used to calculate the expected return on plan assets, using fair value. Fair value for San Jose Water Company is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and significant observable inputs.
	Officers hired before March 31, 2008 are eligible to receive additional retirement benefits under San Jose Water Company's Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan, and officers hired on or after March 31, 2008 are eligible to receive additional retirement benefits under San Jose Water Company's Cash Balance Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan. Both of the plans are non-qualified plans in which only officers and other designated members of management may participate. The annual cost of the plans has been included in the determination of the net periodic benefit cost shown below. The plans, which are unfunded, had a projected benefit obligation of $12,637 and $13,130 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and net periodic pension cost of $1,248, $1,386 and $1,241 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Other Postretirement Benefits
	In addition to providing pension and savings benefits, San Jose Water Company provides health care and life insurance benefits for retired employees under the Social Welfare Plan. The plan is a flat dollar plan which is unaffected by variations in health care costs.
	Flexible Spending Plan
	Effective February 1, 2004, San Jose Water Company established a Flexible Spending Account for its employees for the purpose of providing eligible employees with the opportunity to choose from among the fringe benefits available under the plan. The flexible spending plan is intended to qualify as a cafeteria plan under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code Section 125. The flexible spending plan allows employees to save pre-tax income in a Health Care Spending Account (“HCSA”) and/or a Dependent Care Spending Account (“DCSA”) to help defray the cost of out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses. The annual maximum limit under the HCSA and DCSA plans is $2.5 and $5, respectively.
	Deferral Plan
	San Jose Water Company sponsors a salary deferral plan that allows employees to defer and contribute a portion of their earnings to the plan. Contributions, not to exceed set limits, are matched by San Jose Water Company. San Jose Water Company contributions were $1,087, $1,044 and $1,001 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Special Deferral Election Plan and Deferral Election Program
	SJW Corp. maintains a Special Deferral Election Plan allowing certain executives and a Deferral Election Program allowing non-employee directors to defer a portion of their earnings each year and to realize an investment return on those funds during the deferral period. Executives and non-employee directors have to make an election on the distribution and payment method of the deferrals before services are rendered. Executives and non-employee directors had deferred $2,567, $2,501 and $2,306 under the plan as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Assumptions Utilized on Actuarial Calculations
	Net periodic cost for the defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits was calculated using the following weighted-average assumptions:
		Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
		2013		2012		2011		2013		2012		2011
		%		%		%		%		%		%
	Discount rate	3.92		4.34		5.48		3.8		4.25		5.4
	Expected return on plan assets	7		7		7		7		7		7
	Rate of compensation increase	4		4		4		N/A		N/A		N/A
	The expected rate of return on plan assets was determined based on a review of historical returns, both for the Pension Plan and for medium- to large-sized defined benefit pension funds with similar asset allocations. This review generated separate expected returns for each asset class. These expected future returns were then blended based on the Pension Plan's target asset allocation.
	Benefit obligations for the defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits were calculated using the following weighted-average assumptions as of December 31:
		Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
		2013		2012		2013		2012
		%		%		%		%
	Discount rate	4.82		3.92		4.7		3.8
	Rate of compensation increase	4		4		N/A		N/A
	San Jose Water Company utilized each plan's projected benefit stream in conjunction with the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve in determining the discount rate used in calculating the pension and other postretirement benefits liabilities at the measurement date.
	Net Periodic Pension Costs
	Net periodic costs for the defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
		Pension Benefits										Other Benefits
		2013				2012			2011			2013			2012		2011
	Components of net periodic benefit cost
	Service cost	$	4,594			4,288			3,516			$	361		339		273
	Interest cost	5,393				5,349			5,313			508			452		467
	Expected return on assets	(5,289		)		(4,442	)		(4,289	)		(230		)	(151	)	(129	)
	Amortization of transition obligation	—				—			—			—			1		57
	Amortization of prior service cost	394				414			450			197			197		197
	Recognized actuarial loss	4,052				3,857			2,147			189			195		96
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	9,144			9,466			7,137			$	1,025		1,033		961
	Reconciliation of Funded Status
	For the defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation and the accumulated benefit obligation, respectively. The actuarial present value of benefit obligations and the funded status of San Jose Water Company's defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as of December 31 were as follows:
		Pension Benefits							Other Benefits
		2013				2012			2013				2012
	Change in benefit obligation
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	140,999			123,904			$	12,243			10,796
	Service cost	4,594				4,288			361				339
	Interest cost	5,393				5,349			508				452
	Actuarial (gain)/loss	(18,082		)		11,090			(1,829		)		994
	Benefits paid	(4,205		)		(3,632	)		(307		)		(338	)
	Benefit obligation at end of year	$	128,699			140,999			$	10,976			12,243
	Change in plan assets
	Fair value of assets at beginning of year	$	75,542			62,763			$	3,478			2,321
	Actual return on plan assets	10,478				6,645			325				838
	Employer contributions	9,543				9,766			445				596
	Benefits paid	(4,205		)		(3,632	)		(253		)		(277	)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year	91,358				75,542			3,995				3,478
	Funded status at end of year	$	(37,341	)		(65,457	)		$	(6,981	)		(8,765	)
The amounts recognized on the balance sheet as of December 31 were as follows:
	Pension Benefits							Other Benefits
	2013				2012			2013				2012
Current liabilities	$	757			737			$	68			60
Noncurrent liabilities	36,584				64,720			6,913				8,705
	$	37,341			65,457			$	6,981			8,765
San Jose Water Company recorded a regulatory asset, including a gross-up for taxes, on the projected benefit obligation of the postretirement benefit plans as follows:
	2013				2012
Funded status of obligation	$	44,322			74,222
Accrued benefit cost	(7,030		)		(6,904	)
Amount to be recovered in future rates	37,292				67,318
Tax gross-up	25,657				46,315
Regulatory asset	$	62,949			113,633
The estimated amortization for the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:
	Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
Amortization of prior service cost	$	376			198
Amortization of loss	1,757				57
Total	$	2,133			255
Plan Assets
Plan assets for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
	Pension Benefits							Other Benefits
	2013				2012			2013				2012
Fair value of assets at end of year:
Debt securities	$	34,464			33,922			$	1,427			1,168
	38		%		45	%		36		%		33	%
Equity securities	48,442				35,352			1,893				1,522
	53		%		47	%		47		%		44	%
Cash and equivalents	8,452				6,268			675				788
	9		%		8	%		17		%		23	%
Total	$	91,358			75,542			$	3,995			3,478
The following tables summarize the fair values of plan assets by major categories as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
							Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
Asset Category	Benchmark		Total				Quoted				Significant			Significant
							Prices in				Observable			Unobservable
							Active				Inputs			Inputs
							Markets for				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
							Identical
							Assets
							(Level 1)
Cash and cash equivalents			$	9,127			$	9,127			$	—		$	—
Actively Managed (a):
All Cap Equity	Russell 3000 Value		283				266				17			—
U.S. Large Cap Equity	Russell 1000, Russell 1000 Growth, Russell 1000 Value		32,286				32,286				—			—
U.S. Mid Cap Equity	Russell Mid Cap,		5,551				5,551				—			—
	Russell Mid Cap Growth, Russell Mid Cap Value
U.S. Small Cap Equity	Russell 2000, Russell 2000 Growth, Russell 2000 Value		3,236				3,236				—			—
Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity	MSCI EAFE		5,066				5,066				—			—
REIT	NAREIT—Equity REIT's		3,913				—				3,913			—
Fixed Income (b)	(b)		35,891				—				35,891			—
Total			$	95,353			$	55,532			$	39,821		$	—
___________________________________
The Plan has a current target allocation of 55% invested in a diversified array of equity securities to provide long-term capital appreciation and 45% invested in a diversified array of fixed income securities to provide preservation of capital plus generation of income.
(a)	Actively managed portfolio of securities with the goal to exceed the stated benchmark performance.
(b)	Actively managed portfolio of fixed income securities with the goal to exceed the Barclays 1-5 Year Government/Credit, Barclays Intermediate Government/Credit, and Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Fixed Rate.
							Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012
Asset Category	Benchmark		Total				Quoted				Significant			Significant
							Prices in				Observable			Unobservable
							Active				Inputs			Inputs
							Markets for				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
							Identical
							Assets
							(Level 1)
Cash and cash equivalents			$	7,056			$	7,056			$	—		$	—
Actively Managed (a):
U.S. Large Cap Equity	Russell 1000, Russell 1000		22,749				22,749				—			—
	Growth, Russell 1000 Value
U.S. Mid Cap Equity	Russell Mid Cap,		3,989				3,989				—			—
	Russell Mid Cap Growth, Russell Mid Cap Value
U.S. Small Cap Equity	Russell 2000, Russell 2000 Growth, Russell 2000 Value		2,174				2,174				—			—
Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity	MSCI EAFE		4,169				4,169				—			—
REIT	NAREIT—Equity REIT's		3,792				—				3,792			—
Fixed Income (b)	(b)		35,091				—				35,091			—
Total			$	79,020			$	40,137			$	38,883		$	—
___________________________________
The Plan has a current target allocation of 55% invested in a diversified array of equity securities to provide long-term capital appreciation and 45% invested in a diversified array of fixed income securities to provide preservation of capital plus generation of income.
(a)	Actively managed portfolio of securities with the goal to exceed the stated benchmark performance.
(b)	Actively managed portfolio of fixed income securities with the goal to exceed the Barclays 1-5 Year Government/Credit, Barclays Intermediate Government/Credit, and Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Fixed Rate.
In 2014, San Jose Water Company expects to make required and discretionary cash contributions of up to $7,123 to the pension plan and other post retirement benefit plan.
Benefits expected to be paid in the next five years and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter are:
	Pension Plan				Other Postretirement
					Benefit Plan
2014	$	4,715			$	438
2015	5,013				475
2016	5,380				509
2017	5,726				539
2018	6,074				577
2019 - 2023	36,555				3,287

Equity_Plans

Equity Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Equity Plans	'
	Equity Plans
	Common Stock
	SJW Corp. has a Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which has 1,800,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance. The Plan was initially adopted by the Board of Directors on March 6, 2002. The Plan was subsequently amended, and the amended and restated Plan was adopted by the Board on January 30, 2013 and became effective on April 24, 2013. The Plan allows SJW Corp. to provide employees, non-employee Board members or the board of directors of any parent or subsidiary, consultants, and other independent advisors who provide services to the Company or any parent or subsidiary the opportunity to acquire an equity interest in SJW Corp.
	A participant in the Plan generally may not receive Plan awards covering an aggregate of more than 600,000 shares of common stock in any calendar year. Additionally, awards granted under the Plan may be conditioned upon the attainment of specified Company performance goals. The types of awards included in the Plan are restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance shares, or other share-based awards. In addition, shares are issued to employees under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). SJW Corp. also has a Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (“DRSPP”) which allows eligible participants to buy shares and reinvest cash dividends in SJW Corp. common stock.
	As of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, 341,941, 287,534 and 235,473 shares have been issued pursuant to the Plan, and 307,919, 327,093 and 363,700 shares are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, restricted stock units, and deferred restricted stock units for the years ended 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The remaining shares available for issuance under the Plan are 1,150,167, 1,185,373 and 1,200,827 for the years ended 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The compensation costs charged to income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. A summary of compensation costs charged to income, proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments and the tax benefit realized from stock options and similar instruments exercised, that are recorded to additional paid-in capital and common stock, by award type, are presented below for the years ended December 31:
		2013				2012	2011
	Compensation costs charged to income:
	ESPP	$	128			104	92
	Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock	784				460	559
	Total compensation costs charged to income	$	912			564	651
	Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments:
	Stock options	$	198			318	—
	ESPP	722				588	525
	DRSPP	84				83	39
	Total proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	$	1,004			989	564
	Excess tax benefits realized from share options exercised and stock issuance:
	Stock options	$	(69	)		61	—
	Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock	97				36	7
	Total excess tax benefits realized from share options exercised and stock issuance	$	28			97	7
	Stock Options
	SJW Corp. applies FASB ASC Topic 718—“Compensation—Stock Compensation,” for all existing and new share-based compensation plans. To estimate the fair value of options at grant date as the basis for the share-based compensation awards, SJW Corp. utilizes the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires the use of subjective assumptions. Further, as required under ASC Topic 718, SJW Corp. estimates forfeitures for the share-based awards that are not expected to vest. Changes in these inputs and assumptions can affect the measure of estimated fair value of our share-based compensation and the amount and timing of expense recognition.
	Awards in the form of stock options under the Plan allow executives to purchase common shares at a specified price. Options are granted at an exercise price that is not less than the per share market price on the date of the grant. Options vest at a 25% rate on each annual date over four years and have a contractual term of 10 years.
	As of December 31, 2013, all outstanding options were fully vested. A summary of SJW Corp.'s stock option awards as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:
		Shares			Weighted-		Weighted	Aggregate
					Average Exercise		Average	Intrinsic
					Price		Remaining	Value
							Life in Years
	Outstanding as of January 1, 2013	64,544			$	19.24	1.92	$	490
	Granted	—			—		—	—
	Exercised	(13,330	)		14.85		—	179
	Forfeited or expired	—			—		—	—
	Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	51,214			$	20.38	1.16	$	482
	Options exercisable at December 31, 2013	51,214			$	20.38	1.16	$	482
	The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, was $179, $210, and $0, respectively.
	As of December 31, 2013, there are no unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options.
	Restricted Stock and Deferred Restricted Stock
	In October 2013, the Board of Directors approved adoption under the Plan of a Formulaic Equity Award Program for non-employee Board members. Under this program, at the close of business on the date of each annual shareholder meeting, beginning with the 2014 annual shareholder meeting, each individual who is elected or re-elected to serve as a non-employee Board member will automatically be granted restricted stock units covering that number of shares of common stock determined by dividing $35 by the fair market value per share on such date. Each restricted unit awarded shall entitle the non-employee Board member to one share of common stock on the applicable vesting date of that unit. Each restricted stock unit award shall vest in full upon the non-employee Board member's continuation in Board service through the day immediately preceding the date of the first annual shareholder meeting following the annual shareholder meeting at which that restricted stock unit award was made, subject to accelerated vesting under certain prescribed circumstances.
	Under SJW Corp.'s Amended and Restated Deferred Restricted Stock Program (the “Deferred Restricted Stock Program”), SJW Corp. granted deferred restricted stock units to non-employee Board members. This program was amended effective January 1, 2008. As a result of that amendment, no new awards of deferred restricted stock units will be made under the Deferred Restricted Stock Program with respect to Board service after December 31, 2007.
	A summary of SJW Corp.'s restricted and deferred restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:
		Units			Weighted
					Average Grant-
					Date Fair Value
	Outstanding as of January 1, 2013	229,022			$	16.65
	Issued	38,370			$	25.6
	Exercised	(38,480	)		$	23.64
	Forfeited or expired	(8,548	)		$	23.47
	Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	220,364			$	17.67
	Shares vested as of December 31, 2013	142,978			$	18.3
	A summary of the status of SJW Corp.'s nonvested restricted and deferred restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:
		Units			Weighted  Average Grant-
					Date Fair Value
	Nonvested as of January 1, 2013	76,213			$	15.45
	Granted	38,370			$	25.6
	Vested	(28,649	)		$	23.82
	Forfeited	(8,548	)		$	23.47
	Nonvested as of December 31, 2013	77,386			$	16.49
	As of December 31, 2013, the total unrecognized compensation costs related to restricted and deferred restricted stock plans amounted to $618. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.22 years.
	Dividend Equivalent Rights
	Under the Plan, certain holders of options, restricted stock and deferred restricted stock awards may have the right to receive dividend equivalent rights (“DERs”) each time a dividend is paid on common stock after the grant date. Stock compensation on DERs is recognized as a liability and recorded against retained earnings on the date dividends are issued.
	The Deferred Restricted Stock and Deferral Election Programs for non-employee Board members were amended effective January 1, 2008, to allow the DERs' with respect to the deferred shares to remain in effect only through December 31, 2017. Accordingly, the last DERs' conversion into deferred restricted stock units will occur on the first business day in January 2018. Previously, no such time limitation was placed in the Deferred Restricted Stock and Deferral Election Program.
	As of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, a cumulative of 61,733, 56,349 and 50,888 dividend equivalent rights were converted, since inception, to deferred restricted stock awards, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, $128, $128 and $129 related to dividend equivalent rights were recorded against retained earnings and were accrued as a liability.
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of SJW Corp.'s common stock at 85% of the fair value of shares on the purchase date. Under the ESPP, employees can designate up to a maximum of 10% of their base compensation for the purchase of shares of common stock, subject to certain restrictions. A total of 270,400 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the ESPP.
Since its inception, there have been fifteen purchase intervals. As of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, a total of 30,869, 29,468 and 25,712 shares, respectively, have been issued under the ESPP. The ESPP has no look-back provisions. As of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, cash received from employees towards the ESPP amounted to $796, $627 and $548, respectively.
After considering estimated employee terminations or withdrawals from the plan before the purchase date, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, SJW Corp.'s recorded expenses were $140, $110 and $96 related to the ESPP.
The total unrecognized compensation costs related to the semi-annual offering period that ends January 31, 2014 for the ESPP is approximately $65. This cost is expected to be recognized during the first quarter of 2014.
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan
SJW Corp. adopted the DRSPP effective April 19, 2011. The DRSPP offers shareholders the ability to reinvest cash dividends in SJW Corp. common stock and also purchase additional shares of SJW Corp. common stock. A total of 3,000,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the DRSPP. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, 3,111, 3,487 and 1,679 shares, respectively, have been issued under the DRSPP.

Segment_and_Nonregulated_Busin

Segment and Nonregulated Businesses Reporting	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure	'
	Segment and Nonregulated Businesses Reporting
	SJW Corp. is a holding company with four subsidiaries: (i) San Jose Water Company, a water utility operation with both regulated and nonregulated businesses, (ii) SJW Land Company and its consolidated variable interest entity, 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P., operate commercial building rentals, (iii) SJWTX, Inc. which is doing business as Canyon Lake Water Service Company, a regulated water utility located in Canyon Lake, Texas, and its consolidated nonregulated variable interest entity, Acequia Water Supply Corporation, and (iv) Texas Water Alliance Limited, a nonregulated water utility operation which is undertaking activities that are necessary to develop a water supply project in Texas. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 280—“Segment Reporting,” SJW Corp. has determined that it has two reportable business segments. The first segment is that of providing water utility and utility-related services to its customers through SJW Corp.'s subsidiaries, San Jose Water Company, Canyon Lake Water Service Company and Texas Water Alliance, together referred to as “Water Utility Services”. The second segment is property management and investment activity conducted by SJW Land Company, referred to as “Real Estate Services.”
	SJW Corp.'s reportable segments have been determined based on information used by the chief operating decision maker. SJW Corp.'s chief operating decision maker is its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The CEO reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis that is accompanied by disaggregated information about operating revenue, net income and total assets, by subsidiaries.
	The tables below set forth information relating to SJW Corp.'s reportable segments and distribution of regulated and nonregulated business activities within the reportable segments. Certain allocated assets, revenue and expenses have been included in the reportable segment amounts. Other business activity of SJW Corp. not included in the reportable segments is included in the “All Other” category.
		For year ended December 31, 2013
		Water Utility Services			Real		All Other (1)		SJW Corp.
					Estate
					Services
		Regulated	Non		Non		Non		Regulated	Non		Total
			regulated		regulated		regulated			regulated
	Operating revenue	264,782	5,882		6,205		—		264,782	12,087		276,869
	Operating expense	212,761	5,683		4,000		1,018		212,761	10,701		223,462
	Operating income (loss)	52,021	199		2,205		(1,018	)	52,021	1,386		53,407
	Net income (loss)	23,273	(208	)	920		(1,601	)	23,273	(889	)	22,384
	Depreciation and amortization	33,067	360		1,612		—		33,067	1,972		35,039
	Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense	16,616	—		1,120		2,186		16,616	3,306		19,922
	Income tax expense (benefit) in net income	14,446	124		768		(1,203	)	14,446	(311	)	14,135
	Assets	1,013,229	16,163		71,779		8,815		1,013,229	96,757		1,109,986
		For year ended December 31, 2012
		Water Utility Services			Real		All Other (1)		SJW Corp.
					Estate
					Services
		Regulated	Non		Non		Non		Regulated	Non		Total
			regulated		regulated		regulated			regulated
	Operating revenue	251,032	5,523		4,992		—		251,032	10,515		261,547
	Operating expense	197,893	4,043		3,379		935		197,893	8,357		206,250
	Operating income (loss)	53,139	1,480		1,613		(935	)	53,139	2,158		55,297
	Net income (loss)	22,811	707		244		(1,444	)	22,811	(493	)	22,318
	Depreciation and amortization	31,085	360		1,653		—		31,085	2,013		33,098
	Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense	16,499	—		1,511		2,175		16,499	3,686		20,185
	Income tax expense (benefit) in net income	15,678	581		374		(1,091	)	15,678	(136	)	15,542
	Assets	991,866	13,245		74,903		7,485		991,866	95,633		1,087,499
		For year ended December 31, 2011
		Water Utility Services			Real		All Other (1)		SJW Corp.
					Estate
					Services
		Regulated	Non		Non		Non		Regulated	Non		Total
			regulated		regulated		regulated			regulated
	Operating revenue	229,411	4,935		4,609		—		229,411	9,544		238,955
	Operating expense	175,812	3,481		3,240		2,031		175,812	8,752		184,564
	Operating income (loss)	53,599	1,454		1,369		(2,031	)	53,599	792		54,391
	Net income (loss)	21,970	765		(407	)	(1,450	)	21,970	(1,092	)	20,878
	Depreciation and amortization	29,136	360		1,697		—		29,136	2,057		31,193
	Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense	16,741	—		1,833		1,101		16,741	2,934		19,675
	Income tax expense (benefit) in net income	15,387	571		(296	)	(1,096	)	15,387	(821	)	14,566
	Assets	917,580	11,668		80,097		29,465		917,580	121,230		1,038,810
	____________________
	(1)    The “All Other” category includes the accounts of SJW Corp. on a stand-alone basis.

California_Water_Service_Group

California Water Service Group Stock	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
California Water Service Group Stock	'
	California Water Service Group Stock
	SJW Corp. classifies its investment in California Water Service Group as available-for-sale. The stock is carried at the quoted market price with the changes in unrealized gain or loss reported, net of tax, as a component of other comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2013, SJW Corp. held 385,120 shares of California Water Service Group. The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company's investment in California Water Service Group as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		Balance as of		Quoted		Significant	Significant
		December 31, 2013		Prices in		Observable	Unobservable
				Active		Inputs	Inputs
				Markets for		(Level 2)	(Level 3)
				Identical
				Assets
				(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Investment in California Water Service Group	$	8,885	$	8,885	—	—
		Balance as of		Quoted		Significant	Significant
		December 31, 2012		Prices in		Observable	Unobservable
				Active		Inputs	Inputs
				Markets for		(Level 2)	(Level 3)
				Identical
				Assets
				(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Investment in California Water Service Group	$	7,067	$	7,067	—	—

Sale_of_Stock_Notes

Sale of Stock (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Sale of Stock	'
	Capitalization
	SJW Corp. is authorized to issue 36,000,000 shares of common stock of $0.521 par value per share. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 20,169,211 and 18,670,566, respectively, shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.
	At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 176,407 shares of preferred stock of $25 par value per share were authorized and none were outstanding.
	Sale of Stock
	On March 28, 2013, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, as the representative of several underwriters (the “Underwriters”), which provided for the issuance and sale in an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters of 1,321,000 shares of the Company's common stock with a par value $0.521 per share of the Company's common stock. The shares were sold at a public offering price of $26.50 per share, and were purchased by the Underwriters at a price of $25.44 per share. The Company also granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 198,150 additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. On April 25, 2013, the Underwriters exercised the overallotment option to purchase an additional 100,000 shares of common stock.
	The Offering and overallotment option closed on April 3, 2013 and April 29, 2013, respectively. The net proceeds received from the Offering and the exercise of the overallotment option were $35,894, after deducting the Underwriters' discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The net proceeds were used to pay down amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2013 under the Company's bank lines of credit, as well as to fund the construction programs of the Water Utility Services operations and for other general corporate purposes.

Subsequent_Events_Notes

Subsequent Events (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events	'
	Subsequent Events
	On January 24, 2014, San Jose Water Company entered into a note agreement with John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.) and its affiliate (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which San Jose Water Company agreed to sell an aggregate principal amount of $50,000 of its 5.14% senior note, Series L to the Purchaser. The senior note is an unsecured obligation of San Jose Water Company, due on the date that is the 30th anniversary of the issuance of the senior note. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, commencing March 1, 2015. The closing date is August 5, 2014, or such later date as the parties may mutually agree, but no later than October 3, 2014. San Jose Water Company's unsecured senior note agreement has terms and conditions that restrict San Jose Water Company from issuing additional funded debt if: (1) the funded debt would exceed 66-2/3% of total capitalization, and (2) net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-calendar-month period would be less than 175% of interest charges.

Unaudited_Quarterly_Financial_

Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Information	'
	Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data
	Summarized quarterly financial data is as follows:
		2013 Quarter Ended
		March		June	September	December
	Operating revenue	$	50,139	74,230	85,238	67,262
	Operating income	5,773		16,937	19,346	11,351
	Net income	1,317		7,440	8,950	4,677
	Comprehensive income	1,671		7,351	9,135	5,304
	Earnings per share:
	—Basic	0.07		0.37	0.44	0.23
	—Diluted	0.07		0.37	0.44	0.23
	Market price range of stock:
	—High	28.09		27.66	28.52	30.03
	—Low	25.7		24.58	25.62	26.4
	Dividend per share	0.18		0.18	0.18	0.18
		2012 Quarter Ended
		March		June	September	December
	Operating revenue	$	51,149	65,575	82,374	62,449
	Operating income	6,725		13,585	20,877	14,110
	Net income	1,109		5,201	10,084	5,924
	Comprehensive income	1,098		5,260	10,125	5,871
	Earnings per share:
	—Basic	0.06		0.28	0.54	0.32
	—Diluted	0.06		0.28	0.53	0.31
	Market price range of stock:
	—High	24.91		24.34	25.64	26.62
	—Low	22.96		22.81	22.95	22.69
	Dividend per share	0.18		0.18	0.18	0.18

VALUATION_AND_QUALIFYING_ACCOU

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure	'
	VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
	Years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011
	(in thousands)
	Description	2013			2012		2011
	Allowance for doubtful accounts:
	Balance, beginning of period	$	225		225		235
	Charged to expense	442			449		327
	Accounts written off	(620		)	(526	)	(422	)
	Recoveries of accounts written off	123			77		85
	Balance, end of period	$	170		225		225
	Reserve for litigation and claims:
	Balance, beginning of period	$	281		240		449
	Charged to expense	220			118		121
	Revision to accrual, due to settlements	(105		)	(38	)	(182	)
	Payments	(260		)	(39	)	(148	)
	Balance, end of period	$	136		281		240

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Consolidation Policy	'
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SJW Corp., its wholly owned subsidiaries, and two variable interest entities in which two SJW Corp. subsidiaries are the primary beneficiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates Policy	'
	The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Utility Plant Policy	'
	The cost of additions, replacements and betterments to utility plant is capitalized. The amount of interest capitalized in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $905, $913 and $699, respectively. Construction in progress was $30,846 and $24,298 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	The major components of depreciable plant and equipment as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		2013		2012
	Equipment	$	226,557	214,670
	Transmission and distribution	967,031		892,957
	Office buildings and other structures	60,998		58,593
	Total depreciable plant and equipment	$	1,254,586	1,166,220
	Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated service lives of the assets, ranging from 5 to 75 years. The estimated service lives of depreciable plant and equipment are as follows:
		Useful Lives
	Equipment	5 to 35 years
	Transmission and distribution plant	35 to 75 years
	Office buildings and other structures	7 to 50 years
	For the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, depreciation expense as a percent of the beginning of the year balance of depreciable plant was approximately 3.4%, 3.5% and 3.5%, respectively. A portion of depreciation expense is allocated to administrative and general expense. For the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, the amounts allocated to administrative and general expense were $1,556, $1,531 and $1,516, respectively. Depreciation expense for utility plant for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $32,616, $31,005 and $29,141, respectively. The cost of utility plant retired, including retirement costs (less salvage), is charged to accumulated depreciation and no gain or loss is recognized.
Utility Plant Intangible Assets Policy	'
	All intangible assets are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the legal or estimated economic life of the asset, ranging from 5 to 70 years (see Note 6).
Real Estate Investments Policy	'
	Real estate investments are recorded at cost and consist primarily of land and buildings. Net gains and losses from the sale of real estate investments are recorded as a component of other (expense) income in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Nonutility property in Water Utility Services is also classified in real estate investments and not separately disclosed on the balance sheet based on the immateriality of the amount. Nonutility property is property that is neither used nor useful in providing water utility services to customers and is excluded from the rate base for rate-setting purposes. San Jose Water Company recognizes gain/loss on disposition of nonutility property in accordance with CPUC Code Section 790, whereby the net proceeds are reinvested back into property that is useful in providing water utility services to customers. There is no depreciation associated with nonutility property as it is all land.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Policy	'
	In accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 360—“Property, Plant and Equipment,” the long-lived assets of SJW Corp. are reviewed for impairment when changes in circumstances or events require adjustments to the carrying values of the assets. When such changes in circumstances or events occur, the Company assesses recoverability by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through the undiscounted expected future cash flows. To the extent an impairment exists, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value with a corresponding charge to operations in the period in which the impairment is identified. Long-lived assets consist primarily of utility plant in service, real estate investments, intangible assets, and regulatory assets. In addition, the Company tests unamortized intangible assets, which primarily relate to water rights, at least annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that this asset may be impaired.
Financial Instruments Policy	'
	The following instruments are not measured at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheets but require disclosure of fair values: cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The estimated fair value of such instruments approximates their carrying value as reported on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of such financial instruments are determined using the income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows. The fair value of these instruments would be categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, with the exception of cash and cash equivalents, which would be categorized as Level 1.
Investment in Caifornia Water Service Group Policy	'
	SJW Corp.'s investment in California Water Service Group is accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 320—“Investments—Debt and Equity Securities,” as an available-for-sale marketable security. The investment is recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at its quoted market price with the change in unrealized gain or loss reported, net of tax, as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) (see Note 13).
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Policy	'
	Generally accepted accounting principles for water utilities include the recognition of regulatory assets and liabilities as permitted by ASC Topic 980. In accordance with ASC Topic 980, Water Utility Services, to the extent applicable, records deferred costs and credits on the balance sheet as regulatory assets and liabilities when it is probable that these costs and credits will be recognized in the ratemaking process in a period different from when the costs and credits are incurred. Accounting for such costs and credits is based on management's judgment and prior historical ratemaking practices, and it occurs when management determines that it is probable that these costs and credits will be recognized in the future revenue of Water Utility Services through the ratemaking process. The regulatory assets and liabilities recorded by Water Utility Services, in particular, San Jose Water Company, primarily relate to the recognition of deferred income taxes for ratemaking versus tax accounting purposes, balancing and memorandum accounts, postretirement pension benefits, medical costs, accrued benefits for vacation and asset retirement obligations that have not been passed through in rates. The Company adjusts the related asset and liabilities for these items through its regulatory asset and liability accounts at year-end, except for certain postretirement benefit costs and balancing and memorandum accounts which are adjusted monthly. The Company expects to recover regulatory assets related to plant depreciation income tax temporary differences over the average lives of the plant assets of between 5 to 75 years.
	Rate-regulated enterprises are required to charge a regulatory asset to earnings if and when that asset no longer meets the criteria for being recorded as a regulatory asset. San Jose Water Company continually evaluates the recoverability of regulatory assets by assessing whether the amortization of the balance over the remaining life can be recovered through expected and undiscounted future cash flows.
	Regulatory liabilities reflect balancing and memorandum accounts, temporary differences provided at higher than the current tax rate for utility plant which will flow through to future ratepayers, and unamortized investment tax credits.
Regulatory Rate Filings Policy	'
	On January 3, 2012, San Jose Water Company filed a general rate case application requesting rate increases of $47,400, or 21.51% in 2013, $13,000, or 4.87% in 2014 and $34,800, or 12.59% in 2015. This general rate case filing also includes: (1) recovery of the under-collected balance of $2,599 in the balancing account, (2) disbursement of the over-collected balance of $650 accrued in various memorandum accounts and (3) implementation of a full revenue decoupling Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism (“WRAM”) and associated Modified Cost Balancing Account (“MCBA”). The WRAM de-couples San Jose Water Company's revenue requirement from ratepayer usage. Under the WRAM, San Jose Water Company would recover the full quantity revenue amounts authorized by the CPUC by using advice letter filings for any unbilled quantity revenue amounts or refunds for over-collection, regardless of customer usage volumes. A MCBA similarly provides for recovery/refund for changes in water supply mix from amounts authorized by the CPUC. A general rate case is scheduled to be a year-long proceeding before the CPUC that involves a discovery phase led by the CPUC's Division of Ratepayer Advocates and customer intervenors that are assigned party status, settlement meetings, as well as possible evidentiary hearings. Parties to the proceeding filed opening briefs on July 20, 2012 and reply briefs on August 7, 2012. On September 26, 2012, San Jose Water Company filed a motion for interim rate relief so that if a decision was not reached by the end of 2012, San Jose Water Company would be allowed to adopt interim rates, effective January 1, 2013, until a decision is adopted. To date, a decision has not been adopted and interim rates are currently in effect. Interim rates were set equal to fiscal year-end 2012 rates. Differences between interim rates and approved rates are tracked in a memorandum account and will be submitted for recovery or refund. A decision on this application is expected in the second quarter of 2014.
	On October 3, 2013, CLWSC filed a rate case with the TCEQ. The filing contained a requested rate increase of 23.1%, or $2,400. With the exception of customers served within the City of Bulverde, the new rates became effective on December 2, 2013. Prior to approval by the TCEQ, such rates are subject to adjustment and refund. The Company has recognized the increase in accordance with ASC Topic 980 which provides that a regulated entity is permitted to bill requested rate increases before the regulator has ruled on the request. If information becomes available that indicates it is probable that any of the 23.1% rate increase will need to be refunded and the amount of refund can be reasonably estimated, a loss contingency shall be accrued. CLWSC has determined at this time that it is not probable that any of the rate increase will need to be refunded. Customers have 150 days from filing to protest the application. Management does not anticipate that the final TCEQ decision will materially affect the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Income Tax Policy	'
	Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the effect of temporary differences between financial and tax reporting. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using current tax rates in effect. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.
Regulatory Income Taxes Policy	'
	To the extent permitted by the CPUC, investment tax credits resulting from utility plant additions are deferred and amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related property.
Advances for Construction and Contributions in Aid of Construction Policy	'
	In California, advances for construction received after 1981 are refunded ratably over 40 years.
	Contributions in aid of construction represent funds received from developers that are not refundable under applicable regulations. Depreciation applicable to utility plant constructed with these contributions is charged to contributions in aid of construction.
	Customer advances and contributions in aid of construction received subsequent to 1986 and prior to June 12, 1996 generally must be included in federal taxable income. Taxes paid relating to advances and contributions are recorded as deferred tax assets for financial reporting purposes and are amortized over 40 years for advances, and over the tax depreciable life of the related asset for contributions. Receipts subsequent to June 12, 1996 are generally exempt from federal taxable income, unless specifically prescribed under treasury regulations.
	Advances and contributions received subsequent to 1991 and prior to 1997 are included in California state taxable income.
Asset Retirement Obligations Policy	'
	SJW Corp.'s asset retirement obligation is recorded as a liability included in other non-current liabilities. It reflects principally the retirement costs of wells and other anticipated clean-up costs, which by law, must be remediated upon retirement. Retirement costs have historically been recovered through rates at the time of retirement. As a result, the liability is offset by a regulatory asset.
Revenue Recognition Policy	'
	SJW Corp. recognizes its regulated and nonregulated revenue when services have been rendered, in accordance with ASC Topic 605.
	Metered revenue of Water Utility Services includes billing to customers based on meter readings plus an estimate of water used between the customers' last meter reading and the end of the accounting period. Water Utility Services read the majority of its customers' meters on a bi-monthly basis and records its revenue based on its meter reading results. Unbilled revenue from the last meter reading date to the end of the accounting period is estimated based on the most recent usage patterns, production records and the effective tariff rates. Actual results could differ from those estimates, which may result in an adjustment to the operating revenue in the period which the revision to Water Utility Services' estimates is determined. San Jose Water Company also recognizes balancing and memorandum accounts in its revenue when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process.
	Revenues also include a surcharge collected from regulated customers that is paid to the CPUC. This surcharge is recorded both in operating revenues and administrative and general expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the surcharge was $3,741, $3,862 and $3,272, respectively.
	Revenue from San Jose Water Company's nonregulated utility operations, maintenance agreements or antenna leases are recognized when services have been rendered. Nonregulated operating revenue in 2013, 2012 and 2011 includes $5,882, $5,523 and $4,935, respectively, from the operation of the City of Cupertino municipal water system. Revenue from SJW Land Company properties is recognized ratably over the term of the leases.
Balancing and Memorandum Accounts Policy	'
	For California, the CPUC has established a balancing account mechanism for the purpose of tracking the under-collection or over-collection associated with expense changes and the revenue authorized by the CPUC to offset those expense changes. The Company also maintains memorandum accounts to track revenue impacts due to catastrophic events, unforeseen water quality expenses related to new federal and state water quality standards, energy efficiency, cost of capital, any revenue requirement impact of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, and other approved activities or as directed by the CPUC. As of December 31, 2013, the total balance in San Jose Water Company's balancing and memorandum accounts, including interest, was a net under-collection of $8,167.
	Balancing and memorandum accounts are recognized in revenue by San Jose Water Company when it is probable that future recovery of previously incurred costs or future refunds that are to be credited to customers will occur through the ratemaking process. In assessing the probability criteria for balancing and memorandum accounts between general rate cases, the Company considers evidence that may exist prior to CPUC authorization that would satisfy ASC Topic 980, subtopic 340-25 recognition criteria. Such evidence may include regulatory rules and decisions, past practices, and other facts and circumstances that would indicate that recovery or refund is probable. When such evidence provides sufficient support for balance recognition, the balances are recorded in the Company's financial statements.
Share-based Payment Policy	'
	SJW Corp. utilizes the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires the use of subjective assumptions, to compute the fair value of options at the grant date, and the basis for the share-based compensation for financial reporting purposes. In addition, SJW Corp. estimates forfeitures for share-based awards that are not expected to vest.
	SJW Corp. utilizes the Monte Carlo valuation model, which requires the use of subjective assumptions, to compute the fair value of market performance-vesting restricted stock units.
	The compensation cost charged to income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.
Maintenance Expense Policy	'
	Planned major maintenance projects are charged to expense as incurred.
Earnings Per Share Policy	'
	Basic earnings per share is calculated using income available to common shareholders, divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. The two-class method in computing basic earnings per share is not used because the number of participating securities as defined in FASB ASC Topic 260—“Earnings Per Share” is not significant. (The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security.) Diluted earnings per share is calculated using income available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock including both shares outstanding and shares potentially issuable in connection with stock options, deferred restricted common stock awards under SJW Corp.'s Long-Term Incentive Plan and shares potentially issuable under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	The major components of depreciable plant and equipment as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		2013			2012
	Equipment	$	226,557		214,670
	Transmission and distribution	967,031			892,957
	Office buildings and other structures	60,998			58,593
	Total depreciable plant and equipment	$	1,254,586		1,166,220
	Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated service lives of the assets, ranging from 5 to 75 years. The estimated service lives of depreciable plant and equipment are as follows:
		Useful Lives
	Equipment	5 to 35 years
	Transmission and distribution plant	35 to 75 years
	Office buildings and other structures	7 to 50 years
Schedule of Real Estate Investments	'
	The major components of real estate investments as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		2013			2012
	Land	$	18,892		18,892
	Buildings and improvements	59,256			55,011
	Intangibles	329			329
	Total real estate investment	$	78,477		74,232
Disclosure of Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale	'
	The following represents the major components of the Connecticut warehouse building recorded in long-lived assets held-for-sale on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2012.
		31-Dec-12
	Land	$	1,200
	Buildings and improvements	8,684
	Subtotal	9,884
	Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,116
	Total	$	7,768
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	'
	The following schedule shows the future minimum rental payments to be received from third parties under operating leases that have remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2013:
	Year ending December 31:	Rental Revenue
	2014	$	5,497
	2015	5,616
	2016	5,786
	2017	5,883
	2018	5,061
	Thereafter	31,817
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities	'
	Regulatory assets and liabilities are comprised of the following as of December 31:
		2013			2012
	Regulatory assets:
	Income tax temporary differences, net	$	8,220		8,146
	Postretirement pensions and other medical benefits	62,949			113,633
	Pension balancing account	9,734			6,671
	Water rate assistance program balancing account	2,590			776
	Other	4,725			5,151
	Total regulatory assets	$	88,218		134,377
	Regulatory liabilities:
	Cost of capital memorandum account	$	2,297		2,295
	Water supply balancing accounts	2,378			1,594
	Total regulatory liabilities	$	4,675		3,889
	Net regulatory assets included in Consolidated Balance Sheets	$	83,543		130,488
Schedule of Estimated Refunds of Advances for Construction and Contributions in Aid of Construction	'
	Estimated refunds for the next five years and thereafter are shown below:
		Estimated Refunds
	2014	$	2,402
	2015	2,403
	2016	2,402
	2017	2,402
	2018	2,402
	Thereafter	58,032
Schedule of Asset Retirement Obligations	'
	For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the asset retirement obligation is as follows:
		2013			2012
	Retirement obligation	$	4,612		4,650
	Discount rate	6		%	6	%
	Present value, recorded as a liability	1,733			1,807
	Deferred tax	1,192			1,242
	Regulatory asset	$	2,925		3,049

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments	'
	Long-term debt as of December 31 was as follows:
	Description	Due Date	2013		2012
	Senior notes, San Jose Water Company:
	Series A 8.58%	2022	$	20,000	20,000
	Series B 7.37%	2024	30,000		30,000
	Series C 9.45%	2020	10,000		10,000
	Series D 7.15%	2026	15,000		15,000
	Series E 6.81%	2028	15,000		15,000
	Series F 7.20%	2031	20,000		20,000
	Series G 5.93%	2033	20,000		20,000
	Series H 5.71%	2037	20,000		20,000
	Series I 5.93%	2037	20,000		20,000
	Series J 6.54%	2024	10,000		10,000
	Series K 6.75%	2039	20,000		20,000
	SJWTX, Inc. Series A 6.27%	2036	15,000		15,000
	SJW Corp. Series A 4.35%	2021	50,000		50,000
	Total senior notes		$	265,000	265,000
	Mortgage loans 5.61% - 6.09%	2013	—		4,867
		2016	3,215		3,314
		2017	12,142		12,375
	444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. 5.68% (non-recourse to SJW Land Company)	2021	3,053		3,153
	California Pollution Control Financing Authority Revenue Bonds 5.10%, San Jose Water Company	2040	50,000		50,000
	SDWSRF loans 2.39% and 2.60%, San Jose Water Company	2027	2,141		2,281
	Total debt		$	335,551	340,990
	Less: current portion		554		5,392
	Total long-term debt, less current portion		$	334,997	335,598
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	'
	The amount of coverage can be reduced as the principal balances decrease. An amortization schedule of the SDWSRF loans is as follows:
		Amortization Schedule
	Year	Total Payment		Interest	Principal
	2014	133		37	96
	2015	196		49	147
	2016	195		45	150
	2017	196		42	154
	2018	195		38	157
	Thereafter	1,592		155	1,437
Mortgages [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	'
	An amortization schedule of the mortgage loans is as follows:
		Amortization Schedule
	Year	Total Payment		Interest	Principal
	2014	1,229		877	352
	2015	1,229		856	373
	2016	4,034		762	3,272
	2017	11,470		110	11,360
	An amortization schedule of the mortgage loan with 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. is as follows:
		Amortization Schedule
	Year	Total Payment		Interest	Principal
	2014	276		170	106
	2015	276		164	112
	2016	276		157	119
	2017	276		150	126
	2018	276		143	133
	Thereafter	2,761		304	2,457

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	'
	The components of income tax expense were:
		2013			2012		2011
	Current:
	Federal	$	(525	)	—		(4,894	)
	State	3,093			3,305		3,002
	Deferred:
	Federal	11,743			12,114		16,560
	State	(176		)	123		(102	)
		$	14,135		15,542		14,566
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	'
	The following table reconciles income tax expense to the amount computed by applying the federal statutory rate to income before income taxes of $36,519, $37,860 and $35,444 in 2013, 2012 and 2011:
		2013			2012		2011
	“Expected” federal income tax	$	12,782		13,251		12,405
	Increase (decrease) in taxes attributable to:
	State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	1,836			2,108		1,934
	Dividend received deduction	(60		)	(59	)	(58	)
	Uncertain tax positions	(650		)	82		17
	Other items, net	227			160		268
		$	14,135		15,542		14,566
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	'
	The components of the net deferred tax liability as of December 31 was as follows:
		2013			2012
	Deferred tax assets:
	Advances and contributions	$	15,598		15,214
	Unamortized investment tax credit	741			773
	Pensions and postretirement benefits	4,405			4,565
	California franchise tax	1,107			1,193
	Net operating loss	5,814			6,439
	Other	1,596			1,505
	Total deferred tax assets	$	29,261		29,689
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Utility plant	$	125,706		110,983
	Pension and postretirement benefits	25,649			46,315
	Investment in stock	3,228			2,487
	Deferred gain and other-property related	13,107			14,440
	Debt reacquisition costs	496			545
	Other	1,811			2,498
	Total deferred tax liabilities	$	169,997		177,268
	Net deferred tax liabilities	$	140,736		147,579
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward	'
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	2,316
	Increase related to tax positions taken during a prior year, including interest	139
	Reductions related to tax positions taken in a prior year, including interest	(1,920		)
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	535
Summary of Income Tax Examinations	'
	SJW Corp. files U.S. federal income tax returns and income tax returns in various states. The open tax years for the jurisdictions in which SJW Corp. files are as follows:
	Jurisdiction	Years Open
	Federal	2012
	California	2009 - 2012
	Arizona	2009 - 2012
	Connecticut	2010 - 2012
	Florida	2010 - 2012
	Tennessee	2010 - 2012
	Texas	2009 - 2012

Intangible_Assets_Tables

Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finitie-Lived Intangible Assets	'
	The costs of intangible assets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		2013		2012
	Concession fees	$	6,800	6,800
	Other intangibles	11,541		8,761
	Intangible assets	18,341		15,561
	Less: Accumulated amortization
	Concession fees	4,420		4,148
	Other intangibles	765		712
	Net intangible assets	$	13,156	10,701

Benefit_Plans_Tables

Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Assumptions Used	'
	Benefit obligations for the defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits were calculated using the following weighted-average assumptions as of December 31:
		Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
		2013		2012		2013		2012
		%		%		%		%
	Discount rate	4.82		3.92		4.7		3.8
	Rate of compensation increase	4		4		N/A		N/A
	Net periodic cost for the defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits was calculated using the following weighted-average assumptions:
		Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
		2013		2012		2011		2013		2012		2011
		%		%		%		%		%		%
	Discount rate	3.92		4.34		5.48		3.8		4.25		5.4
	Expected return on plan assets	7		7		7		7		7		7
	Rate of compensation increase	4		4		4		N/A		N/A		N/A
Schedule of Net Benefit Costs	'
	Net periodic costs for the defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
		Pension Benefits										Other Benefits
		2013				2012			2011			2013			2012		2011
	Components of net periodic benefit cost
	Service cost	$	4,594			4,288			3,516			$	361		339		273
	Interest cost	5,393				5,349			5,313			508			452		467
	Expected return on assets	(5,289		)		(4,442	)		(4,289	)		(230		)	(151	)	(129	)
	Amortization of transition obligation	—				—			—			—			1		57
	Amortization of prior service cost	394				414			450			197			197		197
	Recognized actuarial loss	4,052				3,857			2,147			189			195		96
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	9,144			9,466			7,137			$	1,025		1,033		961
Schedule of Net Funded Status	'
	The actuarial present value of benefit obligations and the funded status of San Jose Water Company's defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as of December 31 were as follows:
		Pension Benefits							Other Benefits
		2013				2012			2013				2012
	Change in benefit obligation
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	140,999			123,904			$	12,243			10,796
	Service cost	4,594				4,288			361				339
	Interest cost	5,393				5,349			508				452
	Actuarial (gain)/loss	(18,082		)		11,090			(1,829		)		994
	Benefits paid	(4,205		)		(3,632	)		(307		)		(338	)
	Benefit obligation at end of year	$	128,699			140,999			$	10,976			12,243
	Change in plan assets
	Fair value of assets at beginning of year	$	75,542			62,763			$	3,478			2,321
	Actual return on plan assets	10,478				6,645			325				838
	Employer contributions	9,543				9,766			445				596
	Benefits paid	(4,205		)		(3,632	)		(253		)		(277	)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year	91,358				75,542			3,995				3,478
	Funded status at end of year	$	(37,341	)		(65,457	)		$	(6,981	)		(8,765	)
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	'
	The amounts recognized on the balance sheet as of December 31 were as follows:
		Pension Benefits							Other Benefits
		2013				2012			2013				2012
	Current liabilities	$	757			737			$	68			60
	Noncurrent liabilities	36,584				64,720			6,913				8,705
		$	37,341			65,457			$	6,981			8,765
Schedule of Regulatory Asset Recorded on the Projected Benefit Obligation of the Postretirement Benefit Plans	'
	San Jose Water Company recorded a regulatory asset, including a gross-up for taxes, on the projected benefit obligation of the postretirement benefit plans as follows:
		2013				2012
	Funded status of obligation	$	44,322			74,222
	Accrued benefit cost	(7,030		)		(6,904	)
	Amount to be recovered in future rates	37,292				67,318
	Tax gross-up	25,657				46,315
	Regulatory asset	$	62,949			113,633
Schedule of Estimated Amortization	'
	The estimated amortization for the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:
		Pension Benefits				Other Benefits
	Amortization of prior service cost	$	376			198
	Amortization of loss	1,757				57
	Total	$	2,133			255
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets	'
	Plan assets for the years ended December 31 were as follows:
		Pension Benefits							Other Benefits
		2013				2012			2013				2012
	Fair value of assets at end of year:
	Debt securities	$	34,464			33,922			$	1,427			1,168
		38		%		45	%		36		%		33	%
	Equity securities	48,442				35,352			1,893				1,522
		53		%		47	%		47		%		44	%
	Cash and equivalents	8,452				6,268			675				788
		9		%		8	%		17		%		23	%
	Total	$	91,358			75,542			$	3,995			3,478
	The following tables summarize the fair values of plan assets by major categories as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
								Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2013
	Asset Category	Benchmark		Total				Quoted				Significant			Significant
								Prices in				Observable			Unobservable
								Active				Inputs			Inputs
								Markets for				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
								Identical
								Assets
								(Level 1)
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	9,127			$	9,127			$	—		$	—
	Actively Managed (a):
	All Cap Equity	Russell 3000 Value		283				266				17			—
	U.S. Large Cap Equity	Russell 1000, Russell 1000 Growth, Russell 1000 Value		32,286				32,286				—			—
	U.S. Mid Cap Equity	Russell Mid Cap,		5,551				5,551				—			—
		Russell Mid Cap Growth, Russell Mid Cap Value
	U.S. Small Cap Equity	Russell 2000, Russell 2000 Growth, Russell 2000 Value		3,236				3,236				—			—
	Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity	MSCI EAFE		5,066				5,066				—			—
	REIT	NAREIT—Equity REIT's		3,913				—				3,913			—
	Fixed Income (b)	(b)		35,891				—				35,891			—
	Total			$	95,353			$	55,532			$	39,821		$	—
	___________________________________
	The Plan has a current target allocation of 55% invested in a diversified array of equity securities to provide long-term capital appreciation and 45% invested in a diversified array of fixed income securities to provide preservation of capital plus generation of income.
	(a)	Actively managed portfolio of securities with the goal to exceed the stated benchmark performance.
	(b)	Actively managed portfolio of fixed income securities with the goal to exceed the Barclays 1-5 Year Government/Credit, Barclays Intermediate Government/Credit, and Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Fixed Rate.
								Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2012
	Asset Category	Benchmark		Total				Quoted				Significant			Significant
								Prices in				Observable			Unobservable
								Active				Inputs			Inputs
								Markets for				(Level 2)			(Level 3)
								Identical
								Assets
								(Level 1)
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	7,056			$	7,056			$	—		$	—
	Actively Managed (a):
	U.S. Large Cap Equity	Russell 1000, Russell 1000		22,749				22,749				—			—
		Growth, Russell 1000 Value
	U.S. Mid Cap Equity	Russell Mid Cap,		3,989				3,989				—			—
		Russell Mid Cap Growth, Russell Mid Cap Value
	U.S. Small Cap Equity	Russell 2000, Russell 2000 Growth, Russell 2000 Value		2,174				2,174				—			—
	Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity	MSCI EAFE		4,169				4,169				—			—
	REIT	NAREIT—Equity REIT's		3,792				—				3,792			—
	Fixed Income (b)	(b)		35,091				—				35,091			—
	Total			$	79,020			$	40,137			$	38,883		$	—
	___________________________________
	The Plan has a current target allocation of 55% invested in a diversified array of equity securities to provide long-term capital appreciation and 45% invested in a diversified array of fixed income securities to provide preservation of capital plus generation of income.
	(a)	Actively managed portfolio of securities with the goal to exceed the stated benchmark performance.
	(b)	Actively managed portfolio of fixed income securities with the goal to exceed the Barclays 1-5 Year Government/Credit, Barclays Intermediate Government/Credit, and Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Fixed Rate.
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments	'
	Benefits expected to be paid in the next five years and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter are:
		Pension Plan				Other Postretirement
						Benefit Plan
	2014	$	4,715			$	438
	2015	5,013				475
	2016	5,380				509
	2017	5,726				539
	2018	6,074				577
	2019 - 2023	36,555				3,287

Equity_Plans_Tables

Equity Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan	'
	A summary of compensation costs charged to income, proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments and the tax benefit realized from stock options and similar instruments exercised, that are recorded to additional paid-in capital and common stock, by award type, are presented below for the years ended December 31:
		2013				2012	2011
	Compensation costs charged to income:
	ESPP	$	128			104	92
	Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock	784				460	559
	Total compensation costs charged to income	$	912			564	651
	Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments:
	Stock options	$	198			318	—
	ESPP	722				588	525
	DRSPP	84				83	39
	Total proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	$	1,004			989	564
	Excess tax benefits realized from share options exercised and stock issuance:
	Stock options	$	(69	)		61	—
	Restricted stock and deferred restricted stock	97				36	7
	Total excess tax benefits realized from share options exercised and stock issuance	$	28			97	7
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity	'
	As of December 31, 2013, all outstanding options were fully vested. A summary of SJW Corp.'s stock option awards as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:
		Shares			Weighted-		Weighted	Aggregate
					Average Exercise		Average	Intrinsic
					Price		Remaining	Value
							Life in Years
	Outstanding as of January 1, 2013	64,544			$	19.24	1.92	$	490
	Granted	—			—		—	—
	Exercised	(13,330	)		14.85		—	179
	Forfeited or expired	—			—		—	—
	Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	51,214			$	20.38	1.16	$	482
	Options exercisable at December 31, 2013	51,214			$	20.38	1.16	$	482
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock Units Award Activity	'
	A summary of SJW Corp.'s restricted and deferred restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:
		Units			Weighted
					Average Grant-
					Date Fair Value
	Outstanding as of January 1, 2013	229,022			$	16.65
	Issued	38,370			$	25.6
	Exercised	(38,480	)		$	23.64
	Forfeited or expired	(8,548	)		$	23.47
	Outstanding as of December 31, 2013	220,364			$	17.67
	Shares vested as of December 31, 2013	142,978			$	18.3
Schedule of Nonvested Restricted Stock Units Activity	'
	A summary of the status of SJW Corp.'s nonvested restricted and deferred restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:
		Units			Weighted  Average Grant-
					Date Fair Value
	Nonvested as of January 1, 2013	76,213			$	15.45
	Granted	38,370			$	25.6
	Vested	(28,649	)		$	23.82
	Forfeited	(8,548	)		$	23.47
	Nonvested as of December 31, 2013	77,386			$	16.49

Segment_and_Nonregulated_Busin1

Segment and Nonregulated Businesses Reporting (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment	'
	The tables below set forth information relating to SJW Corp.'s reportable segments and distribution of regulated and nonregulated business activities within the reportable segments. Certain allocated assets, revenue and expenses have been included in the reportable segment amounts. Other business activity of SJW Corp. not included in the reportable segments is included in the “All Other” category.
		For year ended December 31, 2013
		Water Utility Services			Real		All Other (1)		SJW Corp.
					Estate
					Services
		Regulated	Non		Non		Non		Regulated	Non		Total
			regulated		regulated		regulated			regulated
	Operating revenue	264,782	5,882		6,205		—		264,782	12,087		276,869
	Operating expense	212,761	5,683		4,000		1,018		212,761	10,701		223,462
	Operating income (loss)	52,021	199		2,205		(1,018	)	52,021	1,386		53,407
	Net income (loss)	23,273	(208	)	920		(1,601	)	23,273	(889	)	22,384
	Depreciation and amortization	33,067	360		1,612		—		33,067	1,972		35,039
	Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense	16,616	—		1,120		2,186		16,616	3,306		19,922
	Income tax expense (benefit) in net income	14,446	124		768		(1,203	)	14,446	(311	)	14,135
	Assets	1,013,229	16,163		71,779		8,815		1,013,229	96,757		1,109,986
		For year ended December 31, 2012
		Water Utility Services			Real		All Other (1)		SJW Corp.
					Estate
					Services
		Regulated	Non		Non		Non		Regulated	Non		Total
			regulated		regulated		regulated			regulated
	Operating revenue	251,032	5,523		4,992		—		251,032	10,515		261,547
	Operating expense	197,893	4,043		3,379		935		197,893	8,357		206,250
	Operating income (loss)	53,139	1,480		1,613		(935	)	53,139	2,158		55,297
	Net income (loss)	22,811	707		244		(1,444	)	22,811	(493	)	22,318
	Depreciation and amortization	31,085	360		1,653		—		31,085	2,013		33,098
	Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense	16,499	—		1,511		2,175		16,499	3,686		20,185
	Income tax expense (benefit) in net income	15,678	581		374		(1,091	)	15,678	(136	)	15,542
	Assets	991,866	13,245		74,903		7,485		991,866	95,633		1,087,499
		For year ended December 31, 2011
		Water Utility Services			Real		All Other (1)		SJW Corp.
					Estate
					Services
		Regulated	Non		Non		Non		Regulated	Non		Total
			regulated		regulated		regulated			regulated
	Operating revenue	229,411	4,935		4,609		—		229,411	9,544		238,955
	Operating expense	175,812	3,481		3,240		2,031		175,812	8,752		184,564
	Operating income (loss)	53,599	1,454		1,369		(2,031	)	53,599	792		54,391
	Net income (loss)	21,970	765		(407	)	(1,450	)	21,970	(1,092	)	20,878
	Depreciation and amortization	29,136	360		1,697		—		29,136	2,057		31,193
	Senior note, mortgage and other interest expense	16,741	—		1,833		1,101		16,741	2,934		19,675
	Income tax expense (benefit) in net income	15,387	571		(296	)	(1,096	)	15,387	(821	)	14,566
	Assets	917,580	11,668		80,097		29,465		917,580	121,230		1,038,810
	____________________
	(1)    The “All Other” category includes the accounts of SJW Corp. on a stand-alone basis.

California_Water_Service_Group1

California Water Service Group Stock (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company's investment in California Water Service Group as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		Balance as of		Quoted		Significant	Significant
		December 31, 2013		Prices in		Observable	Unobservable
				Active		Inputs	Inputs
				Markets for		(Level 2)	(Level 3)
				Identical
				Assets
				(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Investment in California Water Service Group	$	8,885	$	8,885	—	—
		Balance as of		Quoted		Significant	Significant
		December 31, 2012		Prices in		Observable	Unobservable
				Active		Inputs	Inputs
				Markets for		(Level 2)	(Level 3)
				Identical
				Assets
				(Level 1)
	Assets:
	Investment in California Water Service Group	$	7,067	$	7,067	—	—

Unaudited_Quarterly_Financial_1

Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information	'
	Summarized quarterly financial data is as follows:
		2013 Quarter Ended
		March		June	September	December
	Operating revenue	$	50,139	74,230	85,238	67,262
	Operating income	5,773		16,937	19,346	11,351
	Net income	1,317		7,440	8,950	4,677
	Comprehensive income	1,671		7,351	9,135	5,304
	Earnings per share:
	—Basic	0.07		0.37	0.44	0.23
	—Diluted	0.07		0.37	0.44	0.23
	Market price range of stock:
	—High	28.09		27.66	28.52	30.03
	—Low	25.7		24.58	25.62	26.4
	Dividend per share	0.18		0.18	0.18	0.18
		2012 Quarter Ended
		March		June	September	December
	Operating revenue	$	51,149	65,575	82,374	62,449
	Operating income	6,725		13,585	20,877	14,110
	Net income	1,109		5,201	10,084	5,924
	Comprehensive income	1,098		5,260	10,125	5,871
	Earnings per share:
	—Basic	0.06		0.28	0.54	0.32
	—Diluted	0.06		0.28	0.53	0.31
	Market price range of stock:
	—High	24.91		24.34	25.64	26.62
	—Low	22.96		22.81	22.95	22.69
	Dividend per share	0.18		0.18	0.18	0.18

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 03, 2013
Public Utilities General Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Regulatory rate filings, requested rate increase, authorized revenue	'	$2,400
Customer filing protest period	'150 days	'
Acequia Water Supply Corporation [Member]	'	'
Public Utilities General Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Ownership percentage in Acequia Water Supply Corporation	25.00%	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'
Public Utilities General Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Service area in square miles	240	'
Sales [Member] | Product Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'
Public Utilities General Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of revenue derived from sales of water to business and residential customers	90.00%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member]	'	'
Public Utilities General Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Number of people served	1,000,000	'
SJWTX,Inc. dba Canyon Lake Water Supply Corporation [Member]	'	'
Public Utilities General Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Number of people served	36,000	'
444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. [Member]	'	'
Public Utilities General Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'
Limited partership interest percentage	70.00%	'

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Utility Plant) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			34 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Aug. 21, 2013	Oct. 27, 2010
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Immediate increase requested, percentage	'	'	'	'	38.00%
Total increase requested, percentage	'	'	'	'	71.00%
Regulatory Rate Filings, Increase, Percent of Authorized Revenue Approved	'	'	'	33.00%	'
Capitalized interest costs	$905	$913	$699	'	'
Construction in progress	30,846	24,298	'	'	'
Major components of depreciable plant and equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Equipment	226,557	214,670	'	'	'
Transmission and distribution	967,031	892,957	'	'	'
Office buildings and other structures	60,998	58,593	'	'	'
Total depreciable plant and equipment	1,254,586	1,166,220	'	'	'
Estimated Useful Lives of Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation expense as percentage of beginning of year balance of depreciable plant	3.40%	3.50%	3.50%	'	'
Customer Refund for Over Rate Collections	'	'	'	982	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated Useful Lives of Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated service lives of assets	'5 years	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful life of equipment	'5 years	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful life of transmission and distribution plant	'35 years	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives of office buildings and other structures	'7 years	'	'	'	'
Useful life of intangible assets	'5 years	'	'	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated Useful Lives of Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated service lives of assets	'75 years	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful life of equipment	'35 years	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful life of transmission and distribution plant	'75 years	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful lives of office buildings and other structures	'50 years	'	'	'	'
Useful life of intangible assets	'70 years	'	'	'	'
General and Administrative Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation	1,556	1,531	1,516	'	'
Water Plant [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Public Utility, Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation	$32,616	$31,005	$29,141	'	'

Summary_of_Significant_Account5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Real Estate Investments) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 01, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
				Connecticut Warehouse [Member]	Land [Member]	Land, Buildings and Improvements [Member]	Building and Building Improvements [Member]	Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]	Land and Building [Member]	Land and Building [Member]
Components of Real Estate Investments [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Land	$18,892	$18,892	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Buildings and improvements	59,256	55,011	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Intangibles	329	329	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total real estate investment	78,477	74,232	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated useful life	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'5 years	'39 years	'	'
Sale of warehouse building	'	'	'	9,200	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on sale of real estate investment	1,063	910	0	1,063	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Selling expense	'	'	'	369	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-lived assets held for sale, gross	'	'	'	'	1,200	9,884	8,684	'	'	'	'
Accumulated depreciation, long-lived assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,116	'	'	'	'
Long-lived assets held-for-sale	0	7,768	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets Leased or Available for Lease [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets leased or available for lease	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	77,082	72,838
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2013	5,497	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2014	5,616	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2015	5,786	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2016	5,883	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
2017	5,061	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Thereafter	$31,817	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Summary_of_Significant_Account6

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Regulatory Rate Filings) (Details) (USD $)

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jan. 03, 2012

Oct. 27, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Oct. 03, 2013

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Cost of capital memorandum account [Member]

Cost of capital memorandum account [Member]

Water supply balancing accounts [Member]

Water supply balancing accounts [Member]

Income tax temporary differences [Member]

Income tax temporary differences [Member]

Postretirement pensions and other medical benefits [Member]

Postretirement pensions and other medical benefits [Member]

Pension balancing account [Member]

Pension balancing account [Member]

Water rate assistance program balancing account [Member]

Water rate assistance program balancing account [Member]

Other [Member]

Other [Member]

SJWTX,Inc. dba Canyon Lake Water Supply Corporation [Member]

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Regulatory assets

$88,218

$134,377

'

'

'

'

'

'

$8,220

$8,146

$62,949

$113,633

$9,734

$6,671

$2,590

$776

$4,725

$5,151

'

Regulatory liabilities

4,675

3,889

'

'

2,297

2,295

2,378

1,594

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net Regulatory Assets

83,543

130,488

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Requested rate increase for 2013

'

'

47,400

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Requested rate increase for 2013 as percentage of total revenue at time of request

'

'

21.51%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Requested rate increase for 2014

'

'

13,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Requested rate increase for 2014 as percentage of total revenue at time of request

'

'

4.87%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Requested rate increase for 2015

'

'

34,800

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Requested rate increase for 2015 as percentage of total revenue at time of request

'

'

12.59%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Regulatory Rate Filings, Requested Recovery of Under-Collected Balance Accounts

'

'

2,599

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount of net over-collection requested to be refunded to customers

'

'

$650

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Immediate increase requested, percentage

'

'

'

38.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total increase requested, percentage

'

'

'

71.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

23.10%

Summary_of_Significant_Account7

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Advances for Construction and Contributions in Aid of Construction) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'
Refund period for advances for construction received after 1981	'40 years
Estimated Refunds of Advances for Construction [Abstract]	'
2013	$2,402
2014	2,403
2015	2,402
2016	2,402
2017	2,402
Thereafter	$58,032
Amortization period for taxes paid relating to advances and contributions	'40 years

Summary_of_Significant_Account8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Asset Retirement Obligation) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'	'
Retirement obligation	$4,612	$4,650
Discount rate	6.00%	6.00%
Present value, recorded as a liability	1,733	1,807
Deferred tax	1,192	1,242
Regulatory asset	$2,925	$3,049

Summary_of_Significant_Account9

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Revenue, Balancing and Memorandum Accounts) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			34 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Aug. 21, 2013	Oct. 27, 2010
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Regulated operating revenue, water surcharge	$3,741	$3,862	$3,272	'	'
Balancing and memorandum accounts, including interest	8,167	'	'	'	'
Balancing and memorandum accounts, revenue and regulatory assets	5,019	2,604	'	'	'
Immediate increase requested, percentage	'	'	'	'	38.00%
Total increase requested, percentage	'	'	'	'	71.00%
Regulatory Rate Filings, Increase, Percent of Authorized Revenue Approved	'	'	'	33.00%	'
Customer Refund for Over Rate Collections	'	'	'	982	'
San Jose Water Company [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Nonregulated operating revenue	$5,882	$5,523	$4,935	'	'

Recovered_Sheet1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Earnings per Share) (Details) (Restricted Stock and Stock Options [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restricted Stock and Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive restricted common stock units excluded from computation of earnings per share	3,071	6,557	4,243

Capitalization_Narrative_Detai

Capitalization Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]	'	'
Common stock, shares authorized	36,000,000	36,000,000
Common stock, par value	$0.52	$0.52
Common stock, shares issued	20,169,211	18,670,566
Common stock, shares outstanding	20,169,211	18,670,566
Preferred stock, shares authorized	176,407	176,407
Preferred stock, par value	$25	$25
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0

Lines_of_Credit_Narrative_Deta

Lines of Credit Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 01, 2012	Mar. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
	Unsecured Debt [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
	Wells Fargo [Member]		SJW Corp. [Member]	SJW Corp. [Member]	Wells Fargo [Member]	Wells Fargo [Member]	San Jose Water Company [Member]
	SJW Corp. [Member]				SJW Corp., SJW Land Company [Member]	San Jose Water Company [Member]	standy_letter_of_credit
Ratio of indebtedness to total capital	0.666	'	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate amount of unsecured revolving credit facility	'	$90,000,000	'	'	$15,000,000	$75,000,000	$3,000,000
Number of standby letters of credit	'	'	'	'	'	'	2
Automatic renewal term of standby letters of credit	'	'	'	'	'	'	'1 year
Aggregate outstanding balance on lines of credit	'	'	$22,400,000	$15,300,000	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End	'	'	1.29%	1.44%	'	'	'
Debt covenant interest charge maximum to net Income available to stockholders	1.75	'	'	'	'	'	'

LongTerm_Debt_Longterm_Debt_Sc

Long-Term Debt Long-term Debt Schedule (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$335,551	$340,990
Less: Current portion	554	5,392
Total long-term debt, less current portion	334,997	335,598
Senior Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	265,000	265,000
Mortgages [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rates	5.61%	'
Mortgages [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rates	6.09%	'
Mortgages [Member] | Mortgage loans due 2013 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	0	4,867
Mortgages [Member] | Mortgage loans due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	3,215	3,314
Mortgages [Member] | Mortgage loans due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	12,142	12,375
Mortgages [Member] | 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	3,053	3,153
Stated interest rates	5.68%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series A [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	20,000	20,000
Stated interest rates	8.58%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series B [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	30,000	30,000
Stated interest rates	7.37%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series C [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	10,000	10,000
Stated interest rates	9.45%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series D [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	15,000	15,000
Stated interest rates	7.15%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series E [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	15,000	15,000
Stated interest rates	6.81%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series F [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	20,000	20,000
Stated interest rates	7.20%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series G [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	20,000	20,000
Stated interest rates	5.93%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series H [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	20,000	20,000
Stated interest rates	5.71%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series I [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	20,000	20,000
Stated interest rates	5.93%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series J [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	10,000	10,000
Stated interest rates	6.54%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series K [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	20,000	20,000
Stated interest rates	6.75%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Bonds [Member] | California Pollution Control Financing Authority Revenue Bonds [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	50,000	50,000
Stated interest rates	5.10%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | SDWSRF loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	2,141	2,281
San Jose Water Company [Member] | SDWSRF loans [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rates	2.39%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | SDWSRF loans [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rates	2.60%	'
SJWTX,Inc. dba Canyon Lake Water Supply Corporation [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series A [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	15,000	15,000
Stated interest rates	6.27%	'
SJW Corp. [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series A [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$50,000	$50,000
Stated interest rates	4.35%	'

LongTerm_Debt_Narrative_Detail

Long-Term Debt Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
	Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	San Jose Water Company [Member]	SJWTX,Inc. dba Canyon Lake Water Supply Corporation [Member]	SJW Corp. [Member]	SJW Corp. [Member]	SJW Corp. [Member]
			Senior Notes [Member]	Senior Notes [Member]	Senior Notes [Member]	Senior Notes [Member]	Senior Notes [Member]
				Series A [Member]	Series A [Member]	Series A [Member]	Series A [Member]
						Financial Guarantee [Member]	Financial Guarantee [Member]
							Minimum [Member]
Ratio of indebtedness to total capital	'	'	0.6666	0.6666	0.6666	0.6666	'
Ratio of net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-month calendar period to interest charges	'	'	1.75	1.75	'	'	'
Minimum net worth required for compliance	'	'	'	'	$175,000,000	'	$125,000,000
Cumulative net income, percentage included in net worth for compliance	'	'	'	'	30.00%	'	30.00%
Fair value of long-term debt	$395,684,000	$455,042,000	'	'	'	'	'

LongTerm_Debt_Debt_Maturity_Sc

Long-Term Debt Debt Maturity Schedule (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$335,551,000	$340,990,000
Mortgages [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Loan amortization period	'25 years	'
Number of monthly principal and interest payments	120	'
Fiscal Year Amortization Schedule [Abstract]	'	'
Total payment, 2013	1,229,000	'
Total payment, 2014	1,229,000	'
Total payment, 2015	4,034,000	'
Total payment, 2016	11,470,000	'
Interest, 2013	877,000	'
Interest, 2014	856,000	'
Interest, 2015	762,000	'
Interest, 2016	110,000	'
Principal, 2013	352,000	'
Principal, 2014	373,000	'
Principal, 2015	3,272,000	'
Principal, 2016	11,360,000	'
Mortgages [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rates	5.61%	'
Mortgages [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rates	6.09%	'
Mortgages [Member] | 444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Loan amortization period	'20 years	'
Long-term debt	3,053,000	3,153,000
Stated interest rates	5.68%	'
Fiscal Year Amortization Schedule [Abstract]	'	'
Total payment, 2013	276,000	'
Total payment, 2014	276,000	'
Total payment, 2015	276,000	'
Total payment, 2016	276,000	'
Total payment, 2017	276,000	'
Total payment, thereafter	2,761,000	'
Interest, 2013	170,000	'
Interest, 2014	164,000	'
Interest, 2015	157,000	'
Interest, 2016	150,000	'
Interest, 2017	143,000	'
Interest, thereafter	304,000	'
Principal, 2013	106,000	'
Principal, 2014	112,000	'
Principal, 2015	119,000	'
Principal, 2016	126,000	'
Principal, 2017	133,000	'
Principal, thereafter	2,457,000	'
444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Limited partership interest percentage	70.00%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Standby letters of credit	3,000,000	'
Fiscal Year Amortization Schedule [Abstract]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Renewal Term	'1 year	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | Bonds [Member] | California Pollution Control Financing Authority Revenue Bonds [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	50,000,000	50,000,000
Stated interest rates	5.10%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | SDWSRF loans [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	2,141,000	2,281,000
Fiscal Year Amortization Schedule [Abstract]	'	'
Total payment, 2013	133,000	'
Total payment, 2014	196,000	'
Total payment, 2015	195,000	'
Total payment, 2016	196,000	'
Total payment, 2017	195,000	'
Total payment, thereafter	1,592,000	'
Interest, 2013	37,000	'
Interest, 2014	49,000	'
Interest, 2015	45,000	'
Interest, 2016	42,000	'
Interest, 2017	38,000	'
Interest, thereafter	155,000	'
Principal, 2013	96,000	'
Principal, 2014	147,000	'
Principal, 2015	150,000	'
Principal, 2016	154,000	'
Principal, 2017	157,000	'
Principal, thereafter	$1,437,000	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | SDWSRF loans [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rates	2.39%	'
San Jose Water Company [Member] | SDWSRF loans [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Stated interest rates	2.60%	'

Income_Taxes_Components_of_Inc

Income Taxes Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current:	'	'	'
Federal	($525)	$0	($4,894)
State	3,093	3,305	3,002
Deferred:	'	'	'
Federal	11,743	12,114	16,560
State	-176	123	-102
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$14,135	$15,542	$14,566

Income_Taxes_Federal_Statutory

Income Taxes Federal Statutory Rate Reconciliation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income before income taxes	$36,519	$37,860	$35,444
Income Tax Statutory Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]	'	'	'
bExpectedb federal income tax	12,782	13,251	12,405
Increase (decrease) in taxes attributable to:	'	'	'
State taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	1,836	2,108	1,934
Dividend received deduction	-60	-59	-58
Uncertain tax positions	-650	82	17
Other items, net	227	160	268
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$14,135	$15,542	$14,566

Income_Taxes_Components_of_Def

Income Taxes Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Advances and Contributions	$15,598	$15,214
Deferred tax assets:	'	'
Unamortized investment tax credit	741	773
Pensions and postretirement benefits	4,405	4,565
California franchise tax	1,107	1,193
Net operating loss	5,814	6,439
Other	1,596	1,505
Total deferred tax assets	29,261	29,689
Deferred tax liabilities:	'	'
Utility plant	125,706	110,983
Pension and postretirement benefits	25,649	46,315
Investment in stock	3,228	2,487
Deferred gain and other-property related	13,107	14,440
Debt reacquisition costs	496	545
Other	1,811	2,498
Total deferred tax liabilities	169,997	177,268
Net deferred tax liabilities	140,736	147,579
Federal	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities:	'	'
Net operating loss carryforward	16,610	'
Operating loss carryforward as reported on tax return	$18,234	'

Income_Taxes_Unrecognized_Tax_

Income Taxes Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits before impact of deductions for state taxes, excluding interest and penalties	$565	$2,130
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate	13	109
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance at December 31, 2012	2,316	'
Increase related to tax positions taken during a prior year, including interest	139	'
Reductions related to tax positions taken in a prior year, including interest	-1,920	'
Balance at December 31, 2013	535	'
Accrued interest expense net of the benefit of tax deductions	13	'
Cumulative reduction in unrecognized tax benefits, due to lapsing of statutes of limitations	$171	'

Income_Taxes_Tax_Years_Under_E

Income Taxes Tax Years Under Examination (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum [Member] | Federal	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'
Minimum [Member] | California	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2009
Minimum [Member] | Arizona	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2009
Minimum [Member] | Connecticut	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2010
Minimum [Member] | Florida	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2010
Minimum [Member] | Tennessee	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2010
Minimum [Member] | Texas	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2009
Maximum [Member] | Federal	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2012
Maximum [Member] | California	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2012
Maximum [Member] | Arizona	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2012
Maximum [Member] | Connecticut	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2012
Maximum [Member] | Florida	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2012
Maximum [Member] | Tennessee	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2012
Maximum [Member] | Texas	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Open Tax Year	'2012

Intangible_Assets_Narrative_De

Intangible Assets Narrative (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 1997

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Concession Fees [Member]

Concession Fees [Member]

Other Intangible Assets [Member]

Other Intangible Assets [Member]

Service Agreements [Member]

Service Agreements [Member]

Contractual Rights [Member]

Other Miscellaneous Intangibles [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Intangible assets

$18,341

$15,561

'

$6,800

$6,800

$11,541

$8,761

'

$10,077

$1,040

$424

'

'

Accumulated amortization of intangible assets

'

'

'

4,420

4,148

765

712

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net intangible assets

13,156

10,701

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Useful life of intangible assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'25 years

'

'

'

'5 years

'70 years

Amortization of Intangible Assets

354

340

340

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Amortization of Intangible Assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2013

354

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2014

354

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2015

354

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2016

354

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2017

$354

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Commitments_Narrative_Details

Commitments Narrative (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Nov. 14, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 1997

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

agreement

Santa Clara Valley Water District [Member]

Santa Clara Valley Water District [Member]

Santa Clara Valley Water District [Member]

Service Agreements [Member]

Service Agreements [Member]

Concession Fees [Member]

Concession Fees [Member]

SJWTX,Inc. dba Canyon Lake Water Supply Corporation [Member]

SJW Corp. [Member]

Executive, Administrative or Supervisory Personnel [Member]

Union Member [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

gal

gal

gal

Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority [Member]

employee

SJW Corp. [Member]

SJW Corp. [Member]

acre_foot

employee

employee

Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Master contract, negotiated term for delivery schedules

'

'

'

'

'3 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Water purchased in millions of gallons

'

'

'

'

22,700,000,000

22,800,000,000

21,900,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Purchased water

'

$63,225

$66,106

$54,317

$52,500

$48,800

$43,500

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Minimum percent of delivery schedule to be purchased in 2013

'

'

'

'

90.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Minimum volume of water to be purchased in 2013

'

'

'

'

21,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cost of water to be purchased in 2013

'

'

'

'

50,300

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Current contract water rate

'

'

'

'

2.4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Contrasct life of agreement with City of Cupertino

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'25 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'70 years

Concession fee with City of Cupertino

'

18,341

15,561

'

'

'

'

'

10,077

6,800

6,800

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term Purchase Commitment, Minimum Area Required, Next Twelve Months

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,700

'

'

'

'

'

Notice period required for contract adjustment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'60 days

'

'

'

'

'

Number of water agreements

'

180

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Water property rights commitments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$819

$1,300

Number of employees

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

340

107

233

'

'

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Term of Contract

'3 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2011

2.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2012

2.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2013

3.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Partnership_Interest_Narrative

Partnership Interest Narrative (Details) (444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
444 West Santa Clara Street, L.P. [Member]	'
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]	'
Limited partership interest percentage	70.00%

Benefit_Plans_Narrative_Detail

Benefit Plans Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	Y
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Number of compensation years included in benefit calculation	3	'	'
Expected future working lifetime of participants	'12 years 2 months 27 days	'	'
Market gains (losses)	($334,000)	$649,000	'
Return on investments since plan inception, percent	11.20%	'	'
Investments benchmark since inception, percent	10.40%	'	'
Return on investments for 2012, percent	14.70%	'	'
Investments benchmark for 2012, percent	11.90%	'	'
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	1,087,000	1,044,000	1,001,000
Fixed Income Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Minimum	25.00%	'	'
Bonds [Member]	'	'	'
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Actual plan asset allocations	38.00%	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	'	'	'
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Actual plan asset allocations	9.00%	'	'
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Actual plan asset allocations	53.00%	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Period for performance standards	'3 years	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Period for performance standards	'5 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] | Private Corporation Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Maximum	5.00%	'	'
Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Pension Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'
Projected benefit obligation	12,637,000	13,130,000	'
Net periodic pension cost	1,248,000	1,386,000	1,241,000
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	$2,567,000	$2,501,000	$2,306,000

Benefit_Plans_Actuarial_Calcul

Benefit Plans Actuarial Calculation Assumptions (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net periodic benefit cost, discount rate	3.92%	4.34%	5.48%
Net periodic benefit cost, expected return on plan assets	7.00%	7.00%	7.00%
Net periodic benefit cost, rate of compensation increase	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Benefit obligations, discount rate	4.82%	3.92%	'
Benefit obligations, rate of compensation increase	4.00%	4.00%	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net periodic benefit cost, discount rate	3.80%	4.25%	5.40%
Net periodic benefit cost, expected return on plan assets	7.00%	7.00%	7.00%
Benefit obligations, discount rate	4.70%	3.80%	'

Benefit_Plans_Net_Periodic_Ben

Benefit Plans Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Service cost	$4,594	$4,288	$3,516
Interest cost	5,393	5,349	5,313
Expected return on assets	-5,289	-4,442	-4,289
Amortization of transition obligation	0	0	0
Amortization of prior service cost	394	414	450
Recognized actuarial loss	4,052	3,857	2,147
Net periodic pension cost	9,144	9,466	7,137
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Service cost	361	339	273
Interest cost	508	452	467
Expected return on assets	-230	-151	-129
Amortization of transition obligation	0	1	57
Amortization of prior service cost	197	197	197
Recognized actuarial loss	189	195	96
Net periodic pension cost	$1,025	$1,033	$961

Benefit_Plans_Reconciliation_o

Benefit Plans Reconciliation of Funded Status (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Fair value of assets at end of year	$95,353	$79,020	'
Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	140,999	123,904	'
Service cost	4,594	4,288	3,516
Interest cost	5,393	5,349	5,313
Actuarial loss	-18,082	11,090	'
Benefits paid	-4,205	-3,632	'
Benefit obligation at end of year	128,699	140,999	123,904
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	75,542	62,763	'
Actual return on plan assets	10,478	6,645	'
Employer contributions	9,543	9,766	'
Benefits paid	-4,205	-3,632	'
Fair value of assets at end of year	91,358	75,542	62,763
Funded status at end of year	-37,341	-65,457	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	12,243	10,796	'
Service cost	361	339	273
Interest cost	508	452	467
Actuarial loss	-1,829	994	'
Benefits paid	-307	-338	'
Benefit obligation at end of year	10,976	12,243	10,796
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	3,478	2,321	'
Actual return on plan assets	325	838	'
Employer contributions	445	596	'
Benefits paid	-253	-277	'
Fair value of assets at end of year	3,995	3,478	2,321
Funded status at end of year	($6,981)	($8,765)	'

Benefit_Plans_Amounts_Recogniz

Benefit Plans Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Noncurrent liabilities	$43,496	$73,425
Pension Plan [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Current liabilities	757	737
Noncurrent liabilities	36,584	64,720
Liabilities	37,341	65,457
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Current liabilities	68	60
Noncurrent liabilities	6,913	8,705
Liabilities	$6,981	$8,765

Benefit_Plans_Regulatory_Asset

Benefit Plans Regulatory Asset (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Regulatory asset	$88,218	$134,377
Postretirement pensions and other medical benefits [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Funded status of obligation	44,322	74,222
Accrued benefit cost	-7,030	-6,904
Amount to be recovered in future rates	37,292	67,318
Tax gross-up	25,657	46,315
Regulatory asset	$62,949	$113,633

Benefit_Plans_Amortization_Det

Benefit Plans Amortization (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Plan [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Amortization of prior service cost	$376
Amortization of loss	1,757
Total	2,133
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Amortization of prior service cost	198
Amortization of loss	57
Total	$255

Benefit_Plans_Plan_Assets_Deta

Benefit Plans Plan Assets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	$95,353	$79,020	'
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Actual plan asset allocations as a percent of toal plan assets	53.00%	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	9,127	7,056	'
Actual plan asset allocations as a percent of toal plan assets	9.00%	'	'
Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	91,358	75,542	62,763
Pension Plan [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	34,464	33,922	'
Actual plan asset allocations as a percent of toal plan assets	38.00%	45.00%	'
Pension Plan [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	48,442	35,352	'
Actual plan asset allocations as a percent of toal plan assets	53.00%	47.00%	'
Pension Plan [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	8,452	6,268	'
Actual plan asset allocations as a percent of toal plan assets	9.00%	8.00%	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	3,995	3,478	2,321
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,427	1,168	'
Actual plan asset allocations as a percent of toal plan assets	36.00%	33.00%	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	1,893	1,522	'
Actual plan asset allocations as a percent of toal plan assets	47.00%	44.00%	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of plan assets	$675	$788	'
Actual plan asset allocations as a percent of toal plan assets	17.00%	23.00%	'

Benefit_Plans_Fair_Value_of_Pl

Benefit Plans Fair Value of Plan Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	95,353		79,020
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	55,532		40,137
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	39,821		38,883
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	9,127		7,056
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	9,127		7,056
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0		0
Fixed Income Funds [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	35,891	[1]	35,091	[1]
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[1]	0	[1]
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	35,891	[1]	35,091	[1]
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[1]	0	[1]
Equity Securities [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Target plan asset allocations	55.00%		55.00%
Fixed Income Securities [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Target plan asset allocations	45.00%		45.00%
All Cap Equity Fund [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	283	[2]	'
All Cap Equity Fund [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	266	[2]	'
All Cap Equity Fund [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	17	[2]	'
All Cap Equity Fund [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	'
U.S. Large Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	32,286	[2]	22,749	[2]
U.S. Large Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	32,286	[2]	22,749	[2]
U.S. Large Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
U.S. Large Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
U.S. Mid Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	5,551	[2]	3,989	[2]
U.S. Mid Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	5,551	[2]	3,989	[2]
U.S. Mid Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
U.S. Mid Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
U.S. Small Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	3,236	[2]	2,174	[2]
U.S. Small Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	3,236	[2]	2,174	[2]
U.S. Small Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
U.S. Small Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	5,066	[2]	4,169	[2]
Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	5,066	[2]	4,169	[2]
Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
Non-U.S. Large Cap Equity [Member] | Actively Managed Investments [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
REIT [Member] | Passive Index Fund ETFs [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	3,913	[2]	3,792	[2]
REIT [Member] | Passive Index Fund ETFs [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
REIT [Member] | Passive Index Fund ETFs [Member] | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	3,913	[2]	3,792	[2]
REIT [Member] | Passive Index Fund ETFs [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Fair value of plan assets	0	[2]	0	[2]
[1]	Actively managed portfolio of fixed income securities with the goal to exceed the Barclays 1-5 Year Government/Credit, Barclays Intermediate Government/Credit, and Merrill Lynch Preferred Stock Fixed Rate.
[2]	Actively managed portfolio of securities with the goal to exceed the stated benchmark performance.

Benefit_Plans_Benefits_Expecte

Benefit Plans Benefits Expected to be Paid in Next Five Years (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Plan [Member]	'
Expected Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]	'
2013	$4,715
2014	5,013
2015	5,380
2016	5,726
2017	6,074
2018 - 2022	36,555
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]	'
Expected Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]	'
2013	438
2014	475
2015	509
2016	539
2017	577
2018 - 2022	3,287
Maximum [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Estimated required and discretionary employer cash contributions in 2013	$7,123

Equity_Plans_Equity_Plans_Deta

Equity Plans Equity Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	purchase_interval
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Compensation costs charged to income	$912	$564	$651
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	1,004	989	564
Tax benefits realized from share options exercised	28	97	7
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Number of purchases intervals under the plan since inception	15	'	'
Shares issued during the period under the plan	30,869	29,468	25,712
Cash received from employees toward purchases under the plan	796	627	548
Restricted Stock and Deferred Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Compensation costs charged to income	784	460	559
Tax benefits realized from share options exercised	97	36	7
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	618	'	'
Deferred Restricted Stock Awards [Member]	'	'	'
Dividend Equivalent Rights [Abstract]	'	'	'
Cumulative dividend equivalent rights converted to deferred restricted stock awards	61,733	56,349	50,888
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	198	318	0
Tax benefits realized from share options exercised	-69	61	0
Dividend Equivalent Rights [Member]	'	'	'
Dividend Equivalent Rights [Abstract]	'	'	'
Liability for dividend equivalent rights	128	128	129
Incentive Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of shares reserved for issuance under the plan	1,800,000	'	'
Maximum number of shares per employee	600,000	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shares Issued Pursuant To The Plan	341,941	287,534	235,473
Shares issuable under the plan upon exercise of outstanding awards	307,919	327,093	363,700
Number of shares available for grant	1,150,167	1,185,373	1,200,827
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of shares reserved for issuance under the plan	3,000,000	'	'
Shares issued under the plan	3,111	3,487	1,679
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	84	83	39
Employee Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of shares reserved for issuance under the plan	270,400	'	'
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Compensation costs charged to income	128	104	92
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	722	588	525
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Purchase price of common stock to employees under the plan, percent	85.00%	'	'
Maximum amount of base salary employees can designate for share purchase under the plan	10.00%	'	'
Expenses recorded under the plan	140	110	96
Unrecognized compensation cost	$65	'	'

Equity_Plans_Stock_Option_Acti

Equity Plans Stock Option Activity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding Shares as of January 1, 2012	64,544	'	'
Exercised, shares	-13,330	'	'
Outstanding Shares as of December 31, 2012	51,214	64,544	'
Options exercisable at December 31, 2012, shares	51,214	'	'
Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Outstanding as of January 1, 2012, wtd avg exercise price	$19.24	'	'
Exercised, wtd avg exercise price	$14.85	'	'
Outstanding as of December 31, 2012, wtd avg exercise price	$20.38	$19.24	'
Options exercisable at December 31, 2012, wtd avg exercise price	$20.38	'	'
Weighted average remaining contractual term of options outstanding	'1 year 1 month 28 days	'1 year 11 months 1 day	'
Options exercisable at December 31, 2012, wtd avg remaining contractual term	'1 year 1 month 28 days	'	'
Options outstanding, intrinsic value	$482	$490	'
Option exercises in period, total intrinsic value	179	210	0
Options exercisable at December 31, 2012, intrinsic value	$482	'	'
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Option award vesting period	'4 years	'	'
Option award exercise period	'10 years	'	'
Employee Stock Option [Member] | Annual [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Annual option vesting percentage	25.00%	'	'

Equity_Plans_Restricted_Stock_

Equity Plans Restricted Stock and Deferred Restricted Stock Activity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restricted Stock and Deferred Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Restricted and Deferred Restricted Stock Awards Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'
Outstanding as of January 1, 2012, units	229,022
Issued, units	38,370
Exercised, units	-38,480
Forfeited or expired	-8,548
Outstanding as of December 31, 2012, units	220,364
Shares vested as of December 31, 2012, shares	142,978
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward] [Roll Forward]	'
Outstanding as of January 1, 2012, wtd avg grant date fair value	$16.65
Issued, wtd avg grant date fair value	$25.60
Exercised, wtd avg grant date fair value	$23.64
Forfeited or expired, wtd avg grant date fair value	$23.47
Outstanding as od December 31, 2012, wtd avg grant date fair value	$17.67
Shares vested as of December 31, 2012, wtd avg grant date fair value	$18.30
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]	'
Nonvested as of January 1, 2012, units	76,213
Granted, units	38,370
Vested, units	-28,649
Forfeited, units	-8,548
Nonvested as of December 31, 2012, units	77,386
Restricted and Deferred Restricted Stock Awards, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward]	'
Nonvested as of January 1, 2012, wtd avg grant date fair value	$15.45
Granted, wtd avg grant date fair value	$25.60
Vested, wtd avg grant date fair value	$23.82
Forfeited, wtd avg grant date fair value	$23.47
Nonvested as of December 31, 2012, wtd avg grant date fair value	$16.49
Unrecognized compensation cost	$618,000
Period for recognition of compensation cost	'1 year 2 months 19 days
Formulaic Equity Award Program [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Fair market value division amount	$35

Segment_and_Nonregulated_Busin2

Segment and Nonregulated Business Reporting (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

reportable_segment

subsidiaries

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of Subsidiaries

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4

'

'

Operating revenue

$67,262

$85,238

$74,230

$50,139

$62,449

$82,374

$65,575

$51,149

$276,869

$261,547

$238,955

Utilities Operating Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

223,462

206,250

184,564

Operating Income (Loss)

11,351

19,346

16,937

5,773

14,110

20,877

13,585

6,725

53,407

55,297

54,391

Net income

4,677

8,950

7,440

1,317

5,924

10,084

5,201

1,109

22,384

22,318

20,878

Depreciation and amortization

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35,039

33,098

31,193

Provision for income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

14,135

15,542

14,566

Assets

1,109,986

'

'

'

1,087,499

'

'

'

1,109,986

1,087,499

'

Number of Reportable Segments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

SJW Corp. [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

276,869

261,547

238,955

Utilities Operating Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

223,462

206,250

184,564

Operating Income (Loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

53,407

55,297

54,391

Net income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

22,384

22,318

20,878

Depreciation and amortization

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35,039

33,098

31,193

Interest Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

19,922

20,185

19,675

Provision for income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

14,135

15,542

14,566

Assets

1,109,986

'

'

'

1,087,499

'

'

'

1,109,986

1,087,499

1,038,810

Regulated [Member] | Water Utility Services [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

264,782

251,032

229,411

Utilities Operating Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

212,761

197,893

175,812

Operating Income (Loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

52,021

53,139

53,599

Net income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

23,273

22,811

21,970

Depreciation and amortization

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

33,067

31,085

29,136

Interest Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

16,616

16,499

16,741

Provision for income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

14,446

15,678

15,387

Assets

1,013,229

'

'

'

991,866

'

'

'

1,013,229

991,866

917,580

Regulated [Member] | SJW Corp. [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

264,782

251,032

229,411

Utilities Operating Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

212,761

197,893

175,812

Operating Income (Loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

52,021

53,139

53,599

Net income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

23,273

22,811

21,970

Depreciation and amortization

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

33,067

31,085

29,136

Interest Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

16,616

16,499

16,741

Provision for income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

14,446

15,678

15,387

Assets

1,013,229

'

'

'

991,866

'

'

'

1,013,229

991,866

917,580

Nonregulated [Member] | Water Utility Services [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,882

5,523

4,935

Utilities Operating Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,683

4,043

3,481

Operating Income (Loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

199

1,480

1,454

Net income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-208

707

765

Depreciation and amortization

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

360

360

360

Interest Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

0

Provision for income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

124

581

571

Assets

16,163

'

'

'

13,245

'

'

'

16,163

13,245

11,668

Nonregulated [Member] | Real Estate Services [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,205

4,992

4,609

Utilities Operating Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,000

3,379

3,240

Operating Income (Loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,205

1,613

1,369

Net income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

920

244

-407

Depreciation and amortization

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,612

1,653

1,697

Interest Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,120

1,511

1,833

Provision for income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

768

374

-296

Assets

71,779

'

'

'

74,903

'

'

'

71,779

74,903

80,097

Nonregulated [Member] | All Other [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

[1]

0

[1]

0

[1]

Utilities Operating Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,018

[1]

935

[1]

2,031

[1]

Operating Income (Loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-1,018

[1]

-935

[1]

-2,031

[1]

Net income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-1,601

[1]

-1,444

[1]

-1,450

[1]

Depreciation and amortization

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

[1]

0

[1]

0

[1]

Interest Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,186

[1]

2,175

[1]

1,101

[1]

Provision for income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-1,203

[1]

-1,091

[1]

-1,096

[1]

Assets

8,815

[1]

'

'

'

7,485

[1]

'

'

'

8,815

[1]

7,485

[1]

29,465

[1]

Nonregulated [Member] | SJW Corp. [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12,087

10,515

9,544

Utilities Operating Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10,701

8,357

8,752

Operating Income (Loss)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,386

2,158

792

Net income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-889

-493

-1,092

Depreciation and amortization

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,972

2,013

2,057

Interest Expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,306

3,686

2,934

Provision for income taxes

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-311

-136

-821

Assets

$96,757

'

'

'

$95,633

'

'

'

$96,757

$95,633

$121,230

[1]

The bAll Otherb category includes the accounts of SJW Corp. on a stand-alone basis.

California_Water_Service_Group2

California Water Service Group Stock Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Shares of California Water Service Group held	385,120	'
Investment in California Water Service Group	$8,885	$7,067
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)	'	'
Investment in California Water Service Group	8,885	7,067
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)	'	'
Investment in California Water Service Group	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	'	'
Investment in California Water Service Group	$0	$0

Sale_of_Stock_Details

Sale of Stock (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 25, 2013	Apr. 03, 2013	Apr. 29, 2013
				Underwritten Public Offering [Member]	Underwritten Public Offering [Member]	Underwritten Public Offering [Member]
				Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock issued, shares	'	'	'	'	1,321,000	'
Common stock, par value	$0.52	$0.52	'	'	$0.52	'
Public offering price per share	'	'	'	'	$26.50	'
Share price to underwriters	'	'	'	'	$25.44	'
Length of option period to purchase overallotment of shares	'	'	'	'	'30 days	'
Shares included in overallotment option	'	'	'	'	198,150	'
Shares issued upon exercise of overallotment option	'	'	'	100,000	'	'
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs	$35,894	$0	$0	'	'	$35,894

Subsequent_Events_Details

Subsequent Events (Details) (San Jose Water Company [Member], Senior Notes [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 24, 2014
		John Hancock Life Insurance [Member]
		Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'
Debt amount	'	$50,000
Stated interest rates	'	5.14%
Ratio of indebtedness to total capital	0.6666	66.66
Ratio of net income available for interest charges for the trailing 12-month calendar period to interest charges	1.75	1.75

Unaudited_Quarterly_Financial_2

Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating revenue	$67,262	$85,238	$74,230	$50,139	$62,449	$82,374	$65,575	$51,149	$276,869	$261,547	$238,955
Operating Income (Loss)	11,351	19,346	16,937	5,773	14,110	20,877	13,585	6,725	53,407	55,297	54,391
Net income	4,677	8,950	7,440	1,317	5,924	10,084	5,201	1,109	22,384	22,318	20,878
Comprehensive income	5,304	9,135	7,351	1,671	5,871	10,125	5,260	1,098	23,461	22,354	20,793
Earnings per share	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
bBasic (in dollars per share)	$0.23	$0.44	$0.37	$0.07	$0.32	$0.54	$0.28	$0.06	$1.13	$1.20	$1.12
bDiluted (in dollars per share)	$0.23	$0.44	$0.37	$0.07	$0.31	$0.53	$0.28	$0.06	$1.12	$1.18	$1.11
Dividends per share	$0.18	$0.18	$0.18	$0.18	$0.18	$0.18	$0.18	$0.18	'	'	'
Balancing and memorandum accounts, revenue and regulatory assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$5,019	$2,604	'
--- High (in dollars per share) [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Earnings per share	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Market Price, Stock	$30.03	$28.52	$27.66	$28.09	$26.62	$25.64	$24.34	$24.91	'	'	'
--- Low (in dollars per share) [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Earnings per share	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Market Price, Stock	$26.40	$25.62	$24.58	$25.70	$22.69	$22.95	$22.81	$22.96	'	'	'

VALUATION_AND_QUALIFYING_ACCOU1

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]	'	'	'
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	$225	$225	$235
Charged to expense	442	449	327
Accounts written off	-620	-526	-422
Recoveries of accounts written off	123	77	85
Ending Balance	170	225	225
Legal Reserve [Member]	'	'	'
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning Balance	281	240	449
Charged to expense	220	118	121
Accounts written off	-105	-38	-182
Payments	-260	-39	-148
Ending Balance	$136	$281	$240