Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Apr. 22, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000764622
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		111,139,995
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Arizona Public Service Company
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0000007286
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		71,264,947
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1