Income Taxes (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 13, 2013 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	Apr. 04, 2013 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	Feb. 17, 2011 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	Dec. 31, 2013 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	Dec. 31, 2013 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	Dec. 31, 2012 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	Dec. 31, 2011 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Comparison of pretax income from continuing operations at the federal income tax rate to income tax expense - continuing operations
Federal income tax rate (as a percent)									35.00%	35.00%	35.00%					35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Federal income tax expense at 35% statutory rate									$ 234,695,000	$ 229,709,000	$ 188,733,000					$ 246,384,000	$ 235,027,000	$ 194,710,000
State income tax net of federal income tax benefit									21,387,000	23,819,000	19,594,000					23,970,000	25,379,000	21,139,000
Credits and favorable adjustments related to prior years resolved in current year									(3,356,000)							(3,231,000)
Medicare Subsidy Part-D									823,000	483,000	823,000					823,000	483,000	823,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction									(6,997,000)	(6,158,000)	(6,881,000)					(6,997,000)	(6,158,000)	(6,880,000)
Palo Verde VIE noncontrolling interest									(11,862,000)	(11,065,000)	(9,636,000)					(11,862,000)	(11,065,000)	(9,633,000)
Other									(4,099,000)	529,000	(9,029,000)					(3,992,000)	730,000	(7,617,000)
Income tax expense - continuing operations	9,167,000	131,912,000	77,043,000	12,469,000	18,157,000	147,116,000	76,689,000	(4,645,000)	230,591,000	237,317,000	183,604,000					245,095,000	244,396,000	192,542,000
Net deferred income tax liability recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Current asset (liability)	91,152,000				152,191,000				91,152,000	152,191,000					(2,033,000)	(2,033,000)	74,420,000
Long-term liability	(2,351,882,000)				(2,151,371,000)				(2,351,882,000)	(2,151,371,000)					(2,347,724,000)	(2,347,724,000)	(2,133,976,000)
Deferred income taxes - net	(2,260,730,000)				(1,999,180,000)				(2,260,730,000)	(1,999,180,000)					(2,349,757,000)	(2,349,757,000)	(2,059,556,000)
Income Taxes, additional disclosures
Phase-in period of corporate income tax rate reductions beginning in 2014													5 years	4 years
Decrease in long term deferred tax liability due to adoption of regulations		(84,000,000)										(84,000,000)
Decrease in long term deferred tax liability due to rate changes									$ (75,000,000)						$ (2,000,000)	$ (2,000,000)