Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of share-based compensation expenses

These expenses resulting from stock options, restricted stock units and performance awards are included in administrative and general expenses in AWR and GSWC’s statements of income:

	AWR						GSWC
	For The Years Ended December 31,						For The Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012		2011		2013		2012		2011
Stock-based compensation related to:
Stock options	$	9	$	150	$	302	$	8	$	147	$	307
Restricted stock units	1,507		1,729		1,218		1,266		1,468		1,038
Performance awards	493		52		—		373		52		—
Total stock-based compensation expense	$	2,009	$	1,931	$	1,520	$	1,647	$	1,667	$	1,345

Schedule of assumptions used to estimate fair value of each option grant on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model

The fair value of each option grant during the year ended December 31, 2011 was estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

	2011
Weighted-average fair value of option granted	$7.15
Risk-free interest rate	2.48%
Expected annual dividend yield	3.04%
Expected volatility factor	28.98%
Expected option term (in years)	5

Summary of stock option activity

A summary of stock option activity as of December 31, 2013 and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, are presented below:

	Number of Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Options outstanding at January 1, 2013	403,158		$	16.72
Granted	—		—
Exercised	(131,448	)	16.06
Forfeited or expired	(7,114	)	13.13
Options outstanding at December 31, 2013	264,596		$	17.16	3.75	$	3,060,764
Options exercisable at December 31, 2013	264,545		$	17.16	3.75	$	3,060,166

Summary of the status of Registrant's outstanding restricted stock units to employees and directors

A summary of the status of Registrant’s outstanding RSUs, excluding performance awards, to employees and directors as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year ended December 31, 2013, is presented below:

	Number of Restricted Share Units		Weighted Average Grant-Date Value
Restricted share units at January 1, 2013	287,510		$	16.97
Granted	61,312		26.14
Vested	(148,522	)	17.93
Forfeited	(3,264	)	20.78
Restricted share units at December 31, 2013	197,036		$	19.04