UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 22, 2005 AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) California 001-14431 95-4676679 (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 630 East Foothill Blvd. San Dimas, California 91773 (Address of principal executive (Zip Code) offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (909) 394-3600 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) California 001-12008 95-1243678 (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 630 East Foothill Blvd. San Dimas, California 91773 (Address of principal executive (Zip Code) offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (909) 394-3600 Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing requirement of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below): |_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the exchange Act (17 CFR 14a-12) |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Section 8-Other Events Item 8.01. Other Events On December 29, 2005 American States Water Company announced Standard & Poor's (`S&P') has affirmed the corporate ratings of `A-' for American States Water Company and its primary water utility subsidiary, Golden State Water Company (`GSWC') and has also revised the rating outlook for both, from negative to stable. A copy of the Company's press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. This Form 8-K and the attached exhibit are furnished to, but not filed with, the Securities and Exchange Commission. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY Date: December 29, 2005 /s/ Robert J. Sprowls ------------------------------------------- Robert J. Sprowls Sr. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- 99.1 Press Release dated December 29, 2005 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------