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Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number of segments     2us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Non-cash construction advances - non-cash investing item $ 700,000us-gaap_TransferToInvestments $ 1,600,000us-gaap_TransferToInvestments  
Proceeds from common stock sales 2,300,000us-gaap_StockIssued1    
Centuri Construction Group Inc [Member] | W.S. Nicholls Western Construction LTD. [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Subsidiaries holding interest percentage 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= swx_CenturiConstructionGroupMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= swx_WsNichollsWesternConstructionLtdMember
   
Pooled funds and mutual funds [Member] | Level 2 - Significant other observable inputs [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Money market fund investments 250,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
  250,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Gas Pipe Inventory and Operating Supplies [Member]      
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Gas pipe inventory and operating supplies $ 23,000,000us-gaap_OtherInventory
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= swx_GasPipeInventoryAndOperatingSuppliesMember
  23,000,000us-gaap_OtherInventory
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= swx_GasPipeInventoryAndOperatingSuppliesMember