Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($)			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 04, 2013	Feb. 17, 2011	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes
Decrease in prior period uncertain tax positions			$ 10,244,000	$ 2,282,000	$ 108,099,000
Interest income to be received on the overpayment of income taxes for certain adjustments that we have filed, or will file, with the IRS (less than)			1,000,000
General business tax credit carryforwards that will begin to expire in 2031			82,000,000
Amount of federal and state loss carryforwards which will begin to expire in 2019			3,000,000
Decrease in long term deferred tax liability due to adoption of regulations			26,000,000
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Income Taxes
Decrease in prior period uncertain tax positions			10,244,000	$ 2,282,000	107,918,000
Third quarter 2009
Income Taxes
Decrease in prior period uncertain tax positions					67,000,000
Tax Years 2008 and 2009
Income Taxes
Decrease in prior period uncertain tax positions					$ 41,000,000
ARIZONA | State Jurisdiction | ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Income Taxes
Phase-in period of corporate income tax rate reductions beginning in 2014		4 years
Decrease in long term deferred tax liability due to rate changes			75,000,000
NEW MEXICO | State Jurisdiction | ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Income Taxes
Phase-in period of corporate income tax rate reductions beginning in 2014	5 years
Decrease in long term deferred tax liability due to rate changes			2,000,000
Palo Verde VIE
Income Taxes
Income tax expense benefit attributable to non controlling interests			$ 0