Capitalization (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2014 Tidewater [Member]	May 31, 2014 First Mortgage Bonds - Series VV [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 First Mortgage Bonds - Series VV [Member]	May 31, 2014 First Mortgage Bonds - Series WW [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 First Mortgage Bonds - Series WW [Member]	May 31, 2014 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series [Member]
Schedule of Capitalization [Line Items]
Issuance of shares under the DRP	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,300,000
Issuance of shares under the DRP,shares	54,627	63,649
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowing	4,398,000	3,987,000							3,800,000
Issuance of series bonds					2,800,000		900,000
Interest rate						0.00%
Interest rate - minimum								3.00%
Interest rate - maximum								5.00%
Due date of debt						Aug. 01, 2033		Aug. 01, 2033
Number of shares converted										4,293
Value of shares converted										500,000
Number of shares of common stock issued upon conversion	51,516
Loan amount				15,000,000
Other long term debt	43,700,000		45,000,000
Customer advances	$ 21,336,000		$ 21,837,000