exv10w26



 





Exhibit 10.26




AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY




2003 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN




 









 








AMERICAN STATES WATER COMPANY

2003 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN




Section 1. General Description




     The American States Water Company 2003 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan
(the “Plan”) provides for grants of stock units and stock options to
non-employee directors. The purposes of the Plan are (a) to attract, motivate
and retain eligible directors of the Company by providing to them supplemental
stock-based compensation and (b) to encourage eligible directors to increase
their stock ownership in the Company.



Section 2. Definitions




     Whenever the following terms are used in this Plan they shall have the
meaning specified below unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:



     “Account or Accounts” means the Participant’s Stock Unit Account or Option
Dividend Equivalent Account, as the context requires.



     “Award Units” means Stock Units credited pursuant to Sections 5.1 and 5.2
and any Dividend Equivalents credited thereon pursuant to Section 5.3.



     “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.



     “Cause” has the same meaning as determined under Section 304 of the
California Corporations Code or any successor thereof.



     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.



     “Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company, subject to
adjustment pursuant to Section 6.



     “Committee” means the Board or a Committee of the Board acting under
delegated authority from the Board.



     “Company” means American States Water Company, a California corporation,
and its successors and assigns.



     “Dividend Equivalent” means (a), with respect to a Participant’s Option
Dividend Equivalent Account, the amount of cash dividends or other cash
distributions paid by the Company on that number of shares of Common Stock that
is equal to the number of shares subject to each outstanding Option held by the
Participant as of the applicable measurement date for the dividend or other
distribution, which amount shall be allocated as Stock Units credited to the
Participant’s Option Dividend Equivalent Account pursuant to Section 4.7; and
(b), with respect to a Participant’s Stock Unit Account, the amount of cash
dividends or other cash distributions paid by the Company on that number of
shares of Common Stock that is equal to the number of Stock Units then credited
to the Participant’s Stock Unit Account as of the applicable measurement date
for the dividend or other distribution, which amount shall be



 









 





allocated as additional Stock Units to the Participant’s Stock Unit
Account pursuant to Section 5.3.



     “Distribution Subaccount” means a subaccount of a Non-Employee Director’s
Option Dividend Equivalent Account established to separately account for
Dividend Equivalents credited in the form of Stock Units with respect to each
outstanding Option.



     “Effective Date” means May 20, 2003, subject to shareholder approval at
the 2004 annual meeting of shareholders.



     “Eligible Non-Employee Director” means each Non-Employee Director who
first becomes a Non-Employee Director on or after the date of the 2003 Annual
Meeting and each other Non-Employee Director who notifies the Company in
writing of his or her election to waive all benefits under the Retirement Plan
in exchange for participation in the Stock Unit Award feature under Section 5
of this Plan.



     “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time.



     “Fair Market Value” on any date means (1) if the stock is listed or
admitted to trade on a national securities exchange, the closing price of the
stock on the Composite Tape, as published in the Western Edition of The Wall
Street Journal, of the principal national securities exchange on which the
stock is so listed or admitted to trade, on such date, or, if there is no
trading of the stock on such date, then the closing price of the stock as
quoted on such Composite Tape on the next preceding date on which there was
trading in such shares; (2) if the stock is not listed or admitted to trade on
a national securities exchange, the last price for the stock on such date, as
furnished by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”)
through the NASDAQ National Market Reporting System or a similar organization
if the NASD is no longer reporting such information; (3) if the stock is not
listed or admitted to trade on a national securities exchange and is not
reported on the National Market Reporting System, the mean between the bid and
asked price for the stock on such date, as furnished by the NASD or a similar
organization; or (4) if the stock is not listed or admitted to trade on a
national securities exchange, is not reported on the National Market Reporting
System and if bid and asked prices for the stock are not furnished by the NASD
or a similar organization, the value as established by the Committee at such
time for purposes of this Plan.



     “Grant Date” means the date on which an Option is granted pursuant to
Section 4.



     “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not an officer
or employee of the Company or a subsidiary.



     “Option or Nonqualified Stock Option” means an option to purchase a number
of shares of Common Stock granted to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to Section
4.1.



     “Option Dividend Equivalent Account” means the bookkeeping account
maintained by the Company on behalf of each Participant that is credited with
Dividend Equivalents in accordance with Section 4.7, and includes each
Distribution Subaccount.



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     “Participant” means any person who has been granted an Option or Award
Units under this Plan.



     “Plan” means the American States Water Company 2003 Non-Employee Directors
Stock Plan.



     “Retirement” means a retirement or resignation by a Non-Employee Director
who either (a) has attained age 65 and has provided at least five years service
as a member of the Board or (b) is required to retire from service on the Board
and not seek reelection or nomination pursuant to the Company’s director
retirement policy.



     “Retirement Plan” means the Company’s Amended and Restated Retirement Plan
for Non-Employee Directors of American States Water Company.



     “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.



     “Stock” means a share of Common Stock.



     “Stock Unit or Unit” means a non-voting unit of measurement which is
deemed for bookkeeping and payment purposes to represent one outstanding share
of Common Stock of the Company solely for purposes of determining benefits
under this Plan, established pursuant to the grant of Award Units under
Sections 5.1 and 5.2, or in respect of Dividend Equivalents under Section 4.7
or Section 5.3, and payable solely in a share of Stock, on a one-for-one basis.



     “Stock Unit Account” means the bookkeeping account maintained by the
Company on behalf of each Participant that is credited with Award Units and
Dividend Equivalents in accordance with Section 5.



     “2003 Annual Meeting” means the Company’s 2003 annual meeting of stockholders.



Section 3. Effective Date; Duration




     The effective date of the Plan is May 20, 2003, subject to approval of the
Company’s stockholders at their 2004 annual meeting. No awards may be granted
under the Plan after May 19, 2013. The Plan shall continue in effect until all
matters relating to Options, Stock Units and the administration of the Plan
have been completed and all payments of benefits have been made.



Section 4. Stock Option Awards




     4.1 Annual Award.




     (a) On the date of each annual meeting of stockholders during the
term of the Plan, commencing with the 2003 Annual Meeting, each
Non-Employee Director in office immediately following the annual meeting
shall be granted, without further action by the Committee, a Nonqualified
Stock Option to purchase 1,000 shares of Common Stock.



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     (b) If any person who was not a Non-Employee Director at the
immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders at which a grant is
made pursuant to Section 4.1(a) becomes a Non-Employee Director within
six months following such annual meeting, then such Non-Employee Director
shall be granted, without any further action by the Committee, a
Nonqualified Stock Option to purchase 1,000 shares of Common Stock, the
Grant Date of which shall be the date the person takes office.



     4.2 Maximum Number of Shares. Annual grants that would otherwise exceed
the maximum number of shares allotted for issuance under the Plan contained in
Section 7.1 shall be prorated within such limitation pursuant to Section 7.2.



     4.3 Option Price. The exercise price per share of the Stock covered by
each Option granted pursuant to this Section 4 shall be 100% of the Fair Market
Value of the Stock on the Grant Date. The exercise price of any Option granted
under this Section 4 shall be paid in full at the time of each purchase in
cash, by electronic funds transfer, or by check or in shares of Stock valued at
their Fair Market Value on the date the Participant exercises the Option, or
partly in such shares and partly in cash, provided that any such shares used in
payment that were previously acquired by the Participant from the Company upon
exercise of an Option or otherwise shall have been owned by the Participant at
least six months prior to the date of exercise. The Company shall not be
obligated to deliver shares of Stock unless and until it receives full payment
of the exercise price therefor and any related conditions of the Option have
been satisfied.



     4.4 Option Period and Exercisability. Each Option granted under this
Section 4 and all rights or obligations thereunder shall expire 10 years after
the Grant Date and shall be subject to earlier termination as provided below.
Each Option shall be fully exercisable upon the Grant Date.



     4.5 Termination of Directorship.




     (a) If a Non-Employee Director’s services as a member of the Board
terminate for any reason other than Cause, then any Option granted
pursuant to this Section 4 held by such Participant shall remain
exercisable for the period of time set forth in the option agreement
evidencing his or her Option.




     (b) If a Non-Employee Director’s services as a member of the Board
terminate for Cause, all unexercised Options shall terminate on the date
of termination of services.



     4.6 Option Agreements. Each Option granted to a Non-Employee Director
shall be evidenced by an agreement in a form approved by the Committee and
shall contain the terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as approved by
the Committee relating to the Option.



     4.7 Dividend Equivalent Credits to Option Dividend Equivalent Accounts.




     (a) As of each dividend record date, a Participant’s Option Dividend
Equivalent Account shall be credited with Stock Units in an amount equal
to the
Dividend Equivalents representing dividends payable as of such
dividend record date on



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a number of shares equal to the aggregate number
of shares subject to each outstanding Option granted to such Participant
divided by the then Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
dividend record date. The Dividend Equivalents attributable to each
Option granted to a Participant shall be credited to a separate
Distribution Subaccount established for such Participant.




     (b) Stock Units credited to the Participant’s Distribution
Subaccount with respect to an Option shall become payable to the
Participant upon the earlier to occur of (1) the date the Option is
exercised or (2) three years from the Grant Date.




     (c) Stock Units credited to a Non-Employee Director’s Option
Dividend Equivalent Account shall at all times be fully vested and
non-forfeitable and shall be distributed in an equivalent whole number of shares of Stock. Any fractional share interests shall be accumulated and
paid in cash on the distribution date.



Section 5. Stock Units Awards




     5.1 2003 Awards




     (a) Continuing Eligible Non-Employee Directors. As of the date of
the 2003 Annual Meeting, the Stock Unit Account of each person who is
continuing in office as an Eligible Non-Employee Director immediately
following such meeting shall be credited with a number of Stock Units
equal to (1) $15,000, multiplied by (2) the lesser of (i) the
Non-Employee Director’s years of prior Board service or (ii) 10, divided
by (3) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the last
trading date prior to the 2003 Annual Meeting.




     (b) New Non-Employee Directors. As of the date of the 2003 Annual
Meeting, the Stock Unit Account of each person who first becomes a
Non-Employee Director at the 2003 Annual Meeting shall be credited with a
number of Stock Units equal to (1) the amount of the then-current annual
retainer divided by (2) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
on the last trading date prior to the 2003 Annual Meeting.



     5.2 Annual Award. As of the date of each annual meeting of stockholders
commencing in 2004, the Stock Unit Account of each Eligible Non-Employee
Director in office immediately following the annual meeting, shall be credited
with a number of Stock Units equal (1) the amount of the then-current annual
retainer payable by the Company for services rendered as a director for such
year, divided by (2) the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the last trading
date prior to such annual meeting; provided, however, that in no event shall
the Stock Unit Account of an Eligible Non-Employee Director be credited with
Stock Units with respect to more than 10 years of service (including, for this
purpose, the number of years of service taken into account under Section
5.1(a)). Annual grants that would otherwise exceed the maximum number of
shares allotted for issuance under the Plan contained in Section 7.1 shall be
prorated within such limitation pursuant to Section 7.2.



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     5.3 Crediting of Dividend Equivalents to Stock Unit Accounts.




     (a) As of each dividend record date, an Eligible Non-Employee
Director’s Stock Unit Account shall be credited with additional Stock
Units in an amount equal to the Dividend Equivalents representing
dividends payable as of such dividend record date on a number of shares
equal to the aggregate number of Units credited to the Participant’s
Stock Unit Account divided by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock on the dividend record date.




     (b) Stock Units credited in respect of Dividend Equivalents shall be
paid in Stock at the same time and the same manner as the Stock Units to
which they relate.



     5.4 Units and Other Amounts Vest Immediately. All Units or other amounts
credited to an Eligible Non-Employee Director’s Stock Unit Account shall be at
all times fully vested and not subject to a risk of forfeiture.



     5.5 Distribution of Benefits.




     (a) Commencement of Benefits Distribution. Subject to the terms of
this Section 5.5 and Section 6, each Eligible Non-Employee Director shall
be entitled to receive a distribution of his or her Stock Unit Account in
the form of shares of Stock upon his or her termination of service as a
director of the Company.




     (b) Manner of Distribution. Upon an Eligible Non-Employee
Director’s termination of service as a director of the Company, the
Company shall, subject to Section 7.2, deliver to the Participant (or his
or her Beneficiary, as applicable) a number of shares of Stock equal to
the number of Stock Units (as adjusted pursuant to Section 6, if
applicable) to which the Participant is then entitled under the terms of
this Section 5 of the Plan. Such distribution shall be made in a lump
sum as soon as administratively practicable, but no later than 30 days,
following the Participant’s termination of service, unless the
Participant elects in writing, as provided in Section 5.5(c), to receive
a distribution of his or her benefits in respect of such Units in up to
ten substantially equal annual installments.




     (c) Election for Installment Distribution; Changes in Elections. A
Participant may elect to receive his or her benefits in up to ten annual
installments, and to subsequently change any prior distribution election,
by filing a written election with the Committee on a form provided by the
Committee; provided, however, that no such election shall be effective
until at least twelve months after such election is filed with the
Committee, and no such election shall become effective after a
Non-Employee Director’s termination of service. An election made
pursuant to this Section 5.5(c) shall not affect the date of the
commencement of benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the number
of Stock Units credited to a Non-Employee Director’s Stock Unit Account
at the time of the termination of his or her service is less than 1,000,
then his or her benefit under this Section 5 shall be paid in a lump sum.



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Section 6. Changes in Capital Structure.




     Upon or in contemplation of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock
split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend) or reverse
stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization;
any spin-off, split-up, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution
(“spin-off”) in respect of the Common Stock (whether in the form of securities
or property); any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company,
or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of
the Common Stock; or a sale of all or substantially all the assets of the
Company as an entirety (“asset sale”); then the Committee shall, in such
manner, to such extent (if any) and at such time as it deems appropriate and
equitable in the circumstances proportionately adjust any or all of (a) the
number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities) that thereafter
may be made the subject of Options, Stock Units and Accounts (including the
specific maximums and numbers of shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (b)
the number, amount and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or
property) subject to any or all outstanding Options and payable in respect of
Stock Units, (c) the grant, purchase, or exercise price of any or all
outstanding Options, and the number and type of Stock Units credited under the
Plan, or (d) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise
of any outstanding Options and payable in respect of Stock Units or make
provision for a cash payment or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of
any or all outstanding Options and Stock Units or the cash, securities or
property deliverable to the holder of any or all outstanding Options and Stock
Units, based upon the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the
Common Stock upon or in respect of such event.



     The Committee may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding
Options and Stock Units as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or
property settlement and, in the case of Options, but without limitation on
other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess if any of
the amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise price of
the Option.



     To the extent that any vested Option is not exercised prior to (i) a
dissolution of the Company or (ii) a merger or other corporate event, and no
provision is made for the assumption, conversion, substitution or exchange of
the Option, the Option shall terminate upon the occurrence of such event.



Section 7. Shares Subject To The Plan; Share Limits




     7.1 Shares Available for Issuance. Subject to adjustment under Section
6, the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued or delivered
under the Plan shall not exceed 250,000 shares. Stock delivered by the Company
under the Plan shall be shares of authorized and unissued shares of Stock
and/or previously issued Stock held as treasury shares and shall be fully paid
and non-assessable when issued. Shares issuable on exercise of Options or
payment of Stock Units shall be reserved for issue, and to the extent that
awards terminate or expire without payment in shares, the shares will be
available for subsequent grants or accretions.



     7.2 Share Limits; Cut Backs. If any grant of an Option or the award or
crediting of Stock Units would cause the sum of the shares of Stock previously
issued and shares issuable



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under outstanding awards under the Plan to exceed the maximum
number of shares authorized under the Plan, the Company shall prorate among the
Non-Employee Directors the grant of new Options or award of Stock Units and
allocate the number of remaining shares available for issuance first to the
grant of Options and second toward the award of Award Units. If and for so
long as no available share authorization remains, no additional Options shall
be granted or Stock Units credited and cash shall be paid in lieu of dividend
equivalents under Sections 4.7 and 5.3 for such duration.



     7.3 Fractional Shares; Minimum Issue. Fractional share interests may be
accumulated but shall not be issued. Cash will be paid or transferred in lieu
of any fractional share interests that remain upon a final distribution under
the Plan. No fewer than 100 shares may be purchased on exercise of an Option
at any one time unless the number purchased is the total number at the time
available for purchase under the Option.



Section 8. Administration




     8.1 The Administrator.



     The Administrator of this Plan shall be the Board as a whole or a
Committee as appointed from time to time by the Board to serve as administrator
of this Plan. The participating members of any Committee so acting shall
include, as to decisions in respect of participants who are subject to Section
16 of the Exchange Act, only those members who are Non-Employee Directors (as
defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act). Members of the
Committee shall not receive any additional compensation for administration of
this Plan.



     8.2 Committee Action.



     A member of the Committee shall not vote or act upon any matter which
relates solely to himself or herself as a Participant in this Plan. Action of
the Committee with respect to the administration of this Plan shall be taken
pursuant to a majority vote or (assuming compliance with Section 8.1) by
unanimous written consent of its members.



     8.3 Rights and Duties; Delegation and Reliance; Decisions Binding.



     Subject to the limitations of this Plan, the Committee shall be charged
with the general administration of this Plan and the responsibility for
carrying out its provisions, and shall have powers necessary to accomplish
those purposes, including, but not by way of limitation, the following:




     (a) To construe and interpret this Plan;




     (b) To resolve any questions concerning the amount of benefits
payable to a Participant (except that no member of the Committee shall
participate in a decision relating solely to his or her own benefits);




     (c) To make adjustments under Section 6 and all other determinations
required by this Plan;



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     (d) To maintain all the necessary records for the administration of
this Plan; and




     (e) To make and publish forms, rules and procedures for the
administration of this Plan.



     The determination of the Committee made in good faith as to any disputed
question or controversy and the Committee’s determination of benefits payable
to Participants, including decisions as to adjustments under Section 6, shall
be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Plan. In performing its
duties, the Committee shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions,
reports or statements prepared or presented by: (i) officers or employees of
the Company whom the Committee believes to be reliable and competent as to such
matters; and (ii) counsel (who may be employees of the Company), independent
accountants and other persons as to matters which the Committee believes to be
within such persons’ professional or expert competence. The Committee shall be
fully protected with respect to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
pursuant to the advice of such persons. The Committee may delegate
ministerial, bookkeeping and other non-discretionary functions to individuals
who are officers or employees of the Company.



Section 9. Amendment and Termination; Stockholder Approval




     9.1 Amendment and Termination. Subject to Section 9.2, the Board shall
have the right to amend this Plan in whole or in part from time to time or may
at any time suspend or terminate this Plan; provided, however, that, except as
contemplated by Section 6, no amendment or termination shall cancel or
otherwise adversely affect in any way, without his or her written consent, any
Participant’s rights with respect to Stock Units credited to his or her
Accounts or Options granted; and provided further that neither Section 4 nor
any other provision of the Plan or an award shall be amended to permit the
reduction (by amendment, substitution, cancellation and regrant or other means)
of the exercise price of any Option without prior stockholder approval. Any
amendments authorized hereby shall be stated in an instrument in writing, and
all Participants shall be bound by such amendment. Changes contemplated by
Section 6 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes
of this Section 9.1.



     9.2 Stockholder Approval. The Plan, any grant, election, action,
crediting or vesting prior to stockholder approval, shall be subject to
approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company and, to the extent
required under applicable law or listing agency rule, required by the
provisions of Section 9.1, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any
amendment to the Plan shall be subject to stockholder approval.



Section 10. Miscellaneous




     10.1 Limitation on Participants’ Rights. Participation in this Plan shall
not give any person the right to continue to serve as a member of the Board or
any rights or interests other than as expressly provided herein. This Plan
shall create only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to
such amounts and shall not be construed as creating a trust or fiduciary
relationship between the Company, the Board, the Committee, and any Participant
or other



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person. This Plan, in and of itself, has no assets. Participants
shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with
respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, on their Accounts,
and rights no greater than the right to receive the Common Stock (or equivalent
value as a general unsecured creditor) with respect to Accounts. Participants
shall not be entitled to receive actual dividends or to vote Shares until after
delivery of a certificate representing the Shares.



     10.2 Beneficiaries.




     (a) Beneficiary Designation. Upon forms provided by the Company
each Non-Employee Director may designate in writing the Beneficiary or
Beneficiaries (as defined in Section 10.2(b)) whom such Non-Employee
Director desires to receive any amounts payable under the Plan after his
or her death. Beneficiary designation forms shall be effective on the
date that the form is received by the Corporate Secretary. A
Non-Employee Director may from time to time change his or her designated
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries without the consent of such Beneficiary or
Beneficiaries by filing a new designation in writing with the Corporate
Secretary. However, if a married Non-Employee Director wishes to
designate a person other than his or her spouse as Beneficiary, such
designation shall be consented to in writing by the spouse. The
Non-Employee Director may change any election designating a Beneficiary
or Beneficiaries without any requirement of further spousal consent if
the spouse’s consent so provides. Notwithstanding the foregoing, spousal
consent shall not be necessary if it is established that the required
consent cannot be obtained because the spouse cannot be located or
because of other circumstances prescribed by the Committee. The Company
and the Committee may rely on the Non-Employee Director’s designation of
a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries last filed in accordance with the terms of
the Plan.




     (b) Definition of Beneficiary. A Participant’s “Beneficiary” or
“Beneficiaries” shall be the person, persons, trust or trusts (or similar
entity) designated by the Participant or, in the absence of a
designation, entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to
receive the Participant’s benefits under this Plan in the event of the
Participant’s death, and shall mean the Participant’s executor or
administrator if no other Beneficiary is identified and able to act under
the circumstances.



     10.3 Non-Transferability. A Participant’s rights and interests under the
Plan in respect of Options and Stock Units, including amounts payable or Stock
deliverable under or in respect thereof, may not be assigned, pledged, or
transferred except:




     (a) in the event of a Participant’s death, to a designated
beneficiary as provided in Section 10.2(b) above, or in the absence of
such designation, by will or the laws of descent and distribution; or




     (b) in the case of Options, with the consent of the Committee
evidenced in writing or by duly adopted resolution, to certain persons or
entities related to the Participant, including but not limited to members
of the Participant’s immediate family, charitable institutions, or trusts
or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of
the Participant’s immediate family and/or charitable institutions,
pursuant



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to such conditions and procedures as the Committee may establish.
Any permitted transfer shall be subject to the condition that the
Committee receive evidence satisfactory to it that the transfer is being
made for essentially estate and/or tax planning purposes or a gratuitous
or donative basis and without consideration (other than nominal
consideration or in exchange for an interest in a qualified transferee)
and only if such transfer would not adversely affect the Company’s
eligibility to use Form S-8 to register under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, the offering of shares issuable under the Plan by the
Company.



The above exercise and transfer restrictions shall not apply to transfers to
the Company or transfers pursuant to a court order.



     10.4 Obligations Binding Upon Successors.



     Obligations of the Company under this Plan shall be binding upon
successors of the Company.



     10.5 Governing Law; Severability.



     The validity of this Plan and any agreements entered into under the Plan
or any of its provisions shall be construed, administered and governed in all
respects under the laws of the State of California. If any provisions of this
Plan shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or
unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be fully
effective.



     10.6 Compliance with Laws.



     This Plan and the offer, issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock
and/or the payment of benefits under this Plan are subject to compliance with
all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including but not
limited to state and federal securities law) and to such approvals by any
listing, agency or any regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection
therewith. Any securities delivered under this Plan shall be subject to prior
registration or such restrictions as the Company may deem necessary or
desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements, and the
person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide
such assurances and representations to the Company as it may reasonably request
to assure such compliance.



     10.7 Limitations on Rights Associated with Units. A Non-Employee
Director’s Accounts shall be a memorandum account on the books of the Company.
The Units credited to a Non-Employee Director’s Accounts shall be used solely
as a device for the determination of the number of shares of Stock to be
distributed to the Participant in accordance with this Plan following his or
her termination of service as a director of the Company. The Units shall not
be treated as property or as a trust fund of any kind. No Participant shall be
entitled to any voting or other stockholder rights with respect to Units
credited under this Plan. The number of Units credited to a Participant’s
Accounts shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 6 and the
terms of this Plan.



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     10.8 Plan Construction.



     It is the intent of the Company that transactions pursuant to this Plan
satisfy and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies the applicable conditions
for exemption under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Rule
16b-3”) so that, to the extent consistent therewith, the crediting of Units and
the payment of Stock as well as grants of Options will be entitled to the
benefits of Rule 16b-3 or other exemptive rules under Section 16 of the
Exchange Act and will not be subjected to avoidable liability thereunder.



     10.9 Headings Not Part of Plan.



     Headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for reference only and
are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.



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CERTIFICATION




     The undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing
constitutes a complete and correct copy of the 2003 Non-Employee Directors
Stock Plan adopted on         
                 , 2003 by the Board of Directors of American
States Water Company.



                                                         

Secretary



Date:                                      



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2003 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN



TABLE OF CONTENTS




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	SECTION 1.
	 	     GENERAL DESCRIPTION	 	 	2	 
	SECTION 2.
	 	     DEFINITIONS	 	 	2	 
	SECTION 3.
	 	     EFFECTIVE DATE; DURATION	 	 	4	 
	SECTION 4.
	 	     STOCK OPTION AWARDS	 	 	4	 
	4.1
	 	Annual Award	 	 	4	 
	4.2
	 	Maximum Number of Shares.	 	 	5	 
	4.3
	 	Option Price.	 	 	5	 
	4.4
	 	Option Period and Exercisability.	 	 	5	 
	4.5
	 	Termination of Directorship.	 	 	5	 
	4.6
	 	Option Agreements.	 	 	5	 
	4.7
	 	Dividend Equivalent Credits to Option Dividend Equivalent Accounts.	 	 	5	 
	SECTION 5.
	 	     STOCK UNITS AWARDS	 	 	6	 
	5.1
	 	2003 Awards	 	 	6	 
	5.2
	 	Annual Award	 	 	6	 
	5.3
	 	Crediting of Dividend Equivalents to Stock Unit Accounts	 	 	7	 
	5.4
	 	Units and Other Amounts Vest Immediately	 	 	7	 
	5.5
	 	Distribution of Benefits	 	 	7	 
	SECTION 6.
	 	     CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE	 	 	8	 
	7.1
	 	Shares Available for Issuance.	 	 	8	 
	7.2
	 	Share Limits; Cut Backs.	 	 	8	 
	7.3
	 	Fractional Shares; Minimum Issue.	 	 	9	 
	SECTION 8.
	 	     ADMINISTRATION	 	 	9	 
	8.1
	 	The Administrator	 	 	9	 
	8.2
	 	Committee Action	 	 	9	 
	8.3
	 	Rights and Duties; Delegation and Reliance; Decisions Binding	 	 	9	 
	SECTION 9.
	 	     AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION; STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL	 	 	10	 
	9.1
	 	Amendment and Termination	 	 	10	 
	9.2
	 	Stockholder Approval	 	 	10	 
	SECTION 10.
	 	     MISCELLANEOUS	 	 	10	 







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	 	 	 	 	Page
	10.1
	 	Limitation on Participants’ Rights	 	 	10	 
	10.2
	 	Beneficiaries	 	 	11	 
	10.3
	 	Non-Transferability	 	 	11	 
	10.4
	 	Obligations Binding Upon Successors.	 	 	12	 
	10.5
	 	Governing Law; Severability	 	 	12	 
	10.6
	 	Compliance with Laws	 	 	12	 
	10.7
	 	Limitations on Rights Associated with Units	 	 	12	 
	10.8
	 	Plan Construction	 	 	13	 
	10.9
	 	Headings Not Part of Plan	 	 	13	 








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