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Fair Value of Financial Instruments: (Details) (USD $)
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
GSWC | Carrying Amount    
Financial liabilities:    
Long-term debt-GSWC $ 326,021,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember		 $ 326,090,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
GSWC | Fair Value    
Financial liabilities:    
Long-term debt-GSWC 382,941,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember		 417,057,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= awr_GoldenStateWaterCompanyMember
Mutual Funds | Level 1    
Fair value of financial instruments    
Investments $ 8,900,000us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= awr_MutualFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member