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Income Taxes (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of unrecognized tax benefits roll forward
The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, at the beginning and end of the year that are included in accrued taxes and unrecognized tax benefits (dollars in thousands):
Pinnacle West ConsolidatedAPS Consolidated
 202020192018202020192018
Total unrecognized tax benefits, January 1$43,435 $40,731 $41,966 $43,435 $40,731 $41,966 
Additions for tax positions of the current year3,418 3,373 3,436 3,418 3,373 3,436 
Additions for tax positions of prior years1,431 1,843 2,696 1,431 1,843 2,696 
Reductions for tax positions of prior years for:      
Changes in judgment(1,965)(2,078)(1,764)(1,965)(2,078)(1,764)
Settlements with taxing authorities— — — — — — 
Lapses of applicable statute of limitations(664)(434)(5,603)(664)(434)(5,603)
Total unrecognized tax benefits, December 31$45,655 $43,435 $40,731 $45,655 $43,435 $40,731 
Summary of unrecognized tax benefits
Included in the balances of unrecognized tax benefits are the following tax positions that, if recognized, would decrease our effective tax rate (dollars in thousands):

Pinnacle West ConsolidatedAPS Consolidated
 202020192018202020192018
Tax positions, that if recognized, would decrease our effective tax rate$25,714 $22,813 $19,504 $25,714 $22,813 $19,504 
The amount of interest expense or benefit recognized related to unrecognized tax benefits are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Pinnacle West ConsolidatedAPS Consolidated
 202020192018202020192018
Unrecognized tax benefit interest expense/(benefit) recognized$266 $459 $(780)$266 $459 $(780)
Following are the total amount of accrued liabilities for interest recognized related to unrecognized benefits that could reverse and decrease our effective tax rate to the extent matters are settled favorably (dollars in thousands):
Pinnacle West ConsolidatedAPS Consolidated
 202020192018202020192018
Unrecognized tax benefit interest accrued $1,855 $1,589 $1,130 $1,855 $1,589 $1,130 
Components of income tax expense he components of income tax expense are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Pinnacle West ConsolidatedAPS Consolidated
 Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,
 202020192018202020192018
Current:   
Federal$11,869 $(13,551)$18,375 $57,299 $(54,697)$88,180 
State1,932 3,195 3,342 99 695 1,877 
Total current13,801 (10,356)21,717 57,398 (54,002)90,057 
Deferred:      
Federal53,398 (14,982)94,721 15,122 29,321 32,436 
State10,974 9,565 17,464 16,244 15,109 22,321 
Total deferred64,372 (5,417)112,185 31,366 44,430 54,757 
Income tax expense/(benefit)$78,173 $(15,773)$133,902 $88,764 $(9,572)$144,814 
Comparison of pretax income from continuing operations at the federal income tax rate to income tax expense - continuing operations he following chart compares pretax income at the 21% statutory federal income tax rate to income tax expense (dollars in thousands):
Pinnacle West ConsolidatedAPS Consolidated
 Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,
 202020192018202020192018
Federal income tax expense at statutory rate$136,127 $113,828 $139,533 $142,020 $120,790 $154,260 
Increases (reductions) in tax expense resulting from:      
State income tax net of federal income tax benefit19,146 18,599 23,115 20,124 19,267 24,531 
State income tax credits net of federal income tax benefit(8,951)(8,519)(6,704)(7,213)(6,781)(5,440)
Nondeductible expenditures associated with ballot initiative— — 7,879 — — — 
Stock compensation34 (2,252)(1,804)183 (1,054)(780)
Excess deferred income taxes — Tax Cuts and Jobs Act(50,543)(124,082)(6,725)(50,543)(124,082)(4,715)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction (see Note 1)(2,747)(2,476)(7,231)(2,747)(2,476)(7,231)
Palo Verde VIE noncontrolling interest (see Note 18)(4,094)(4,094)(4,094)(4,094)(4,094)(4,094)
Investment tax credit amortization(7,510)(6,851)(6,742)(7,510)(6,851)(6,742)
Other(3,289)74 (3,325)(1,456)(4,291)(4,975)
Income tax expense/(benefit)$78,173 $(15,773)$133,902 $88,764 $(9,572)$144,814 
Components of the net deferred income tax liability The components of the net deferred income tax liability were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Pinnacle West ConsolidatedAPS Consolidated
 December 31,December 31,
 2020201920202019
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS  
Risk management activities$4,287 $17,552 $4,287 $17,552 
Regulatory liabilities:   
Excess deferred income taxes — Tax Cuts and Jobs Act319,091 335,877 319,091 335,877 
Asset retirement obligation and removal costs157,470 143,011 157,470 143,011 
Unamortized investment tax credits50,879 52,236 50,879 52,236 
Other postretirement benefits95,778 43,841 95,778 43,841 
Other43,551 52,382 43,551 52,382 
Operating lease liabilities107,853 15,497 107,414 15,497 
Pension liabilities45,853 73,210 40,168 67,976 
Coal reclamation liabilities42,065 40,837 42,065 40,837 
Renewable energy incentives25,355 28,066 25,355 28,066 
Credit and loss carryforwards26,460 54,795 8,034 10,992 
Other78,113 47,605 78,113 55,451 
Total deferred tax assets996,755 904,909 972,205 863,718 
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES   
Plant-related(2,489,899)(2,448,458)(2,489,899)(2,448,458)
Risk management activities(1,174)(27)(1,174)(27)
Pension and other postretirement assets(123,462)(21,892)(122,580)(21,458)
Other special use funds(42,927)(44,507)(42,927)(44,507)
Operating lease right-of-use assets(107,853)(15,497)(107,414)(15,497)
Regulatory assets:   
Allowance for equity funds used during construction(41,038)(40,023)(41,038)(40,023)
Deferred fuel and purchased power(47,673)(35,162)(47,673)(35,162)
Pension benefits(116,219)(163,339)(116,219)(163,339)
Retired power plant costs (35,214)(42,228)(35,214)(42,228)
Other(106,227)(82,722)(106,227)(82,722)
Other(20,472)(3,393)(5,513)(3,393)
Total deferred tax liabilities(3,132,158)(2,897,248)(3,115,878)(2,896,814)
Deferred income taxes — net$(2,135,403)$(1,992,339)$(2,143,673)$(2,033,096)