Commitments and Contingencies - Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and Contractual Obligations (Details)			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 18, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Trust	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Trust	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 1986 Trust
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station [Abstract]
Change in long-term regulatory liabilities				$ 20,535,000	$ (59,618,000)	$ (64,473,000)
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station [Abstract]
Change in long-term regulatory liabilities				20,535,000	(59,618,000)	(64,473,000)
Maximum insurance against public liability per occurrence for a nuclear incident				13,500,000,000
Maximum available nuclear liability insurance				375,000,000
Remaining nuclear liability insurance through mandatory industry wide retrospective assessment program				13,100,000,000
Maximum assessment per reactor for each nuclear incident				127,300,000
Annual limit per incident with respect to maximum assessment				$ 19,000,000
Number of VIE lessor trusts | Trust			3	3			3
Maximum potential retrospective assessment per incident of APS				$ 111,000,000
Annual payment limitation with respect to maximum potential retrospective assessment				16,600,000
Amount of "all risk" (including nuclear hazards) insurance for property damage to, and decontamination of, property at Palo Verde				2,800,000,000
Maximum amount that APS could incur under the current NEIL policies for each retrospective assessment				23,100,000
Collateral assurance provided based on rating triggers				$ 61,700,000
Period to provide collateral assurance based on rating triggers				20 days
Fuel and Purchased Power Commitments and Purchase Obligations [Abstract]
2016			$ 876,000,000	$ 876,000,000
2017			949,000,000	949,000,000
2018			737,000,000	737,000,000
2019			603,000,000	603,000,000
2020			498,000,000	498,000,000
Thereafter			7,800,000,000	7,800,000,000
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY | Coal take-or-pay commitments
Fuel and Purchased Power Commitments and Purchase Obligations [Abstract]
2016			170,714,000	170,714,000
2017			195,428,000	195,428,000
2018			189,588,000	189,588,000
2019			193,818,000	193,818,000
2020			198,160,000	198,160,000
Thereafter			2,270,974,000	2,270,974,000
Total obligation			3,200,000,000	3,200,000,000
Present value of commitments			2,200,000,000	2,200,000,000
Total purchases				211,327,000	236,773,000	$ 188,496,000
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY | Renewable energy credits
Fuel and Purchased Power Commitments and Purchase Obligations [Abstract]
2016			42,000,000	42,000,000
2017			40,000,000	40,000,000
2018			40,000,000	40,000,000
2019			40,000,000	40,000,000
2020			40,000,000	40,000,000
Thereafter			432,000,000	432,000,000
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY | Coal Mine Reclamation Obligations
Fuel and Purchased Power Commitments and Purchase Obligations [Abstract]
2016			15,000,000	15,000,000
2017			16,000,000	16,000,000
2018			18,000,000	18,000,000
2019			19,000,000	19,000,000
2020			20,000,000	20,000,000
Thereafter			262,000,000	262,000,000
Total obligation			202,000,000	$ 202,000,000	$ 198,000,000
Breach of Contract for Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and/or High Level Radioactive Waste
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station [Abstract]
Litigation settlement, amount		$ 57,400,000
Breach of Contract for Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and/or High Level Radioactive Waste | ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station [Abstract]
Litigation settlement, amount		$ 16,700,000
Arizona Public Service Company and Palo Verde Owners vs. United States Department of Energy - Spent Nuclear Fuel and Waste Disposal [Member]
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station [Abstract]
Proceeds from legal settlements	$ 42,000,000		12,000,000
Arizona Public Service Company and Palo Verde Owners vs. United States Department of Energy - Spent Nuclear Fuel and Waste Disposal [Member] | ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station [Abstract]
Proceeds from legal settlements	12,200,000		$ 3,600,000
Change in long-term regulatory liabilities	$ 12,200,000