Income Taxes (APSC) (Details 2) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Feb. 17, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current:
Federal										$ (3,493,000)	$ (310,000)	$ (108,827,000)
State										8,395,000	15,140,000	25,545,000
Total current										4,902,000	14,830,000	(83,282,000)
Deferred:
Federal										200,322,000	159,566,000	260,236,000
State										28,280,000	16,626,000	10,911,000
Total deferred										228,602,000	176,192,000	260,411,000
Income tax expense - continuing operations		18,157,000	147,116,000	76,689,000	(4,645,000)	7,375,000	131,416,000	50,818,000	(6,005,000)	237,317,000	183,604,000	160,869,000
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%
Federal income tax expense at 35% statutory rate										229,709,000	188,733,000	177,002,000
Increases (reductions) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax net of federal income tax benefit										23,819,000	19,594,000	17,485,000
Credits and favorable adjustments related to prior years resolved in current year												(17,300,000)
Medicare Subsidy Part-D										483,000	823,000	1,311,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction										(6,158,000)	(6,881,000)	(6,563,000)
Palo Verde VIE noncontrolling interest										(11,065,000)	(9,636,000)	(7,057,000)
Other										529,000	(9,029,000)	(4,009,000)
Income tax expense - continuing operations		18,157,000	147,116,000	76,689,000	(4,645,000)	7,375,000	131,416,000	50,818,000	(6,005,000)	237,317,000	183,604,000	160,869,000
Net deferred income tax liability recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Current asset		152,191,000				130,571,000				152,191,000	130,571,000
Long-term liability		(2,151,371,000)				(1,925,388,000)				(2,151,371,000)	(1,925,388,000)
Deferred income taxes - net		(1,999,180,000)				(1,794,817,000)				(1,999,180,000)	(1,794,817,000)
Income Taxes, additional disclosures
Phase-in period of corporate income tax rate reductions beginning in 2014	4 years
Increase in deferred income tax liabilities										(69,000,000)
Change in regulatory liabilities										13,539,000	37,009,000	56,801,000
Percentage of bonus depreciation for federal income tax purposes										50.00%
Federal general business income tax credit carryforwards whose realization will be delayed on recognition of cash benefit		79,000,000								79,000,000
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Current:
Federal										(11,650,000)	4,633,000	(71,036,000)
State										12,308,000	19,104,000	17,406,000
Total current										658,000	23,737,000	(53,630,000)
Deferred:
Federal										216,367,000	154,632,000	207,334,000
State										27,371,000	14,173,000	16,761,000
Total deferred										243,738,000	168,805,000	224,095,000
Income tax expense - continuing operations										244,396,000	192,542,000	170,465,000
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%
Federal income tax expense at 35% statutory rate										235,027,000	194,710,000	184,202,000
Increases (reductions) in tax expense resulting from:
State income tax net of federal income tax benefit										25,379,000	21,139,000	19,186,000
Credits and favorable adjustments related to prior years resolved in current year												(17,300,000)
Medicare Subsidy Part-D										483,000	823,000	889,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction										(6,158,000)	(6,880,000)	(6,563,000)
Palo Verde VIE noncontrolling interest										(11,065,000)	(9,633,000)	(7,057,000)
Other										730,000	(7,617,000)	(2,892,000)
Income tax expense - continuing operations										244,396,000	192,542,000	170,465,000
Net deferred income tax liability recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Current asset		74,420,000				111,503,000				74,420,000	111,503,000
Long-term liability		(2,133,976,000)				(1,952,608,000)				(2,133,976,000)	(1,952,608,000)
Deferred income taxes - net		(2,059,556,000)				(1,841,105,000)				(2,059,556,000)	(1,841,105,000)
Income Taxes, additional disclosures
Phase-in period of corporate income tax rate reductions beginning in 2014	4 years
Increase in deferred income tax liabilities										(69,000,000)
Change in regulatory liabilities										13,539,000	37,009,000	56,801,000
Percentage of bonus depreciation for federal income tax purposes										50.00%
Federal general business income tax credit carryforwards whose realization will be delayed on recognition of cash benefit		$ 4,000,000								$ 4,000,000