CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (APSC) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	COMMON STOCK (Note 7)	COMMON STOCK (Note 7) ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	RETAINED EARNINGS	RETAINED EARNINGS ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	TREASURY STOCK (Note 7)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008			$ 2,151,323	$ 178,162	$ 2,117,789	$ 1,444,208	$ 1,168,901	$ (146,698)	$ (125,702)	$ 124,990	$ 77,601			$ (2,854)
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income attributable to common shareholders	68,330	251,225				68,330	251,225					68,330	251,225
Dividends on common stock		(170,000)				(212,386)	(170,000)
Pension and other postretirement benefits (Note 8):
Unrealized actuarial loss, net of tax benefit of $(3,828), $(6,344) and $(2,938)		(4,571)						(6,350)	(4,571)
Amortization to income:
Actuarial loss, net of tax benefit of $1,724, $1,658 and $1,387		(2,126)						2,615	2,126
Prior service cost, net of tax benefit of $194, $193 and $190		291						329	291
Derivative instruments:
Net unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $(37,397), $(61,358) and $(61,317)		(94,008)						(93,996)	(94,008)
Reclassification of net realized (gain) loss to income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $46,298, $48,462 and $73,261		112,068						112,452	112,068
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,434)	19,209								4,434	19,209
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Other comprehensive income (loss)	15,111											15,111	15,906
Total comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders												68,330	267,131
Net capital activities by noncontrolling interests		(14,486)								(17,529)	(14,486)
Other		9,074	(8,648)		9,074	(1,939)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	3,428,004	3,527,679	2,153,295	178,162	2,126,863	1,298,213	1,250,126	(131,587)	(109,796)	111,895	82,324			(3,812)
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income attributable to common shareholders		10,984
Balance at Mar. 31, 2010
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	3,428,004	3,527,679	2,153,295	178,162	2,126,863	1,298,213	1,250,126	(131,587)	(109,796)	111,895	82,324			(3,812)
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Equity infusion		252,833			252,833
Net income attributable to common shareholders	350,053	335,663				350,053	335,663					350,053	335,663
Dividends on common stock		(182,400)				(224,305)	(182,400)
Pension and other postretirement benefits (Note 8):
Unrealized actuarial loss, net of tax benefit of $(3,828), $(6,344) and $(2,938)		(9,684)						(11,795)	(9,684)
Amortization to income:
Actuarial loss, net of tax benefit of $1,724, $1,658 and $1,387		(2,541)						2,868	2,541
Prior service cost, net of tax benefit of $194, $193 and $190		295						308	295
Derivative instruments:
Net unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $(37,397), $(61,358) and $(61,317)		(93,929)						(93,939)	(93,929)
Reclassification of net realized (gain) loss to income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $46,298, $48,462 and $73,261		74,278						74,287	74,278
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(20,156)	20,163								20,156	20,163
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(28,180)											(28,180)	(26,499)
Total comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders													309,164
Net capital activities by noncontrolling interests		(11,403)								(40,152)	(11,403)
Other			4,780				1
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	3,775,226	3,916,037	2,421,372	178,162	2,379,696	1,423,961	1,403,390	(159,767)	(136,295)	91,899	91,084			(2,239)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income attributable to common shareholders		7,811
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	3,775,226	3,916,037		178,162										(2,239)
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income attributable to common shareholders	(15,135)	(12,081)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2011
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	3,775,226	3,916,037	2,421,372	178,162	2,379,696	1,423,961	1,403,390	(159,767)	(136,295)	91,899	91,084			(2,239)
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Equity infusion		0			0
Net income attributable to common shareholders	339,473	336,249				339,473	336,249					339,473	336,249
Dividends on common stock						(228,951)	(228,900)
Pension and other postretirement benefits (Note 8):
Unrealized actuarial loss, net of tax benefit of $(3,828), $(6,344) and $(2,938)								(9,296)	(5,860)
Amortization to income:
Actuarial loss, net of tax benefit of $1,724, $1,658 and $1,387								2,990	2,639
Prior service cost, net of tax benefit of $194, $193 and $190		0						275	296
Derivative instruments:
Net unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $(37,397), $(61,358) and $(61,317)								(57,271)	(57,262)
Reclassification of net realized (gain) loss to income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $46,298, $48,462 and $73,261								70,901	70,891
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(27,467)	27,524								27,467	27,524
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Other comprehensive income (loss)	7,605											7,605	10,704
Total comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders			0										346,953
Net capital activities by noncontrolling interests										(10,630)	(10,209)
Other			11,818		0		1
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	3,930,586	4,051,406	2,444,247	178,162	2,379,696	1,534,483	1,510,740	(152,163)	(125,591)	108,736	108,399			(4,717)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity
Net income attributable to common shareholders	12,564	14,292
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 3,930,586	$ 4,051,406		$ 178,162										$ (4,717)