Income Taxes - Components of Income Tax Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current:
Federal									$ (12,335)	$ 25,054	$ (81,784)
State									4,763	10,382	10,537
Total current									(7,572)	35,436	(71,247)
Deferred:
Federal									221,505	167,365	279,973
State									23,787	17,904	21,865
Total deferred									245,292	185,269	301,838
Income tax expense	$ 22,847	$ 139,555	$ 67,371	$ 7,947	$ 5,007	$ 134,753	$ 74,540	$ 6,405	237,720	220,705	230,591
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Current:
Federal									6,485	40,115	(97,531)
State									7,813	15,598	11,983
Total current									14,298	55,713	(85,548)
Deferred:
Federal									208,326	165,027	305,389
State									23,217	16,620	25,254
Total deferred									231,543	181,647	330,643
Income tax expense									$ 245,841	$ 237,360	$ 245,095