2.4.0.84050 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)truefalsefalse1false USDfalsefalse$D2013Q3http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000764622duration2013-07-01T00:00:002013-09-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000764622duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$3false USDfalsefalse$I2012http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000764622instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 3us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Income Taxes2false 4us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivableNoncurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse7127400071274000USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse7038900070389000USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount due after one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from tax authorities as of the balance sheet date representing refunds of overpayments or recoveries based on agreed-upon resolutions of disputes.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Section Appendix E -Paragraph 289 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 8 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph c -Article 7 false2Long-term income tax receivables3false 4us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivableus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsepositiveLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse23170002317000USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse24230002423000USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount due within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from tax authorities as of the balance sheet date representing refunds of overpayments or recoveries based on agreed-upon resolutions of disputes.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Section Appendix E -Paragraph 289 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 10 -Article 9 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(a)(4)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph c -Article 7 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 false2Income Tax Receivables4false 4pnw_IncomeTaxReceivableThatReclassifiedFromLongTermToShortTermpnw_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse7127400071274000USD$falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents income tax receivable that will be reclassified from long term to short-term.No definition available.false2Income tax receivable that will be reclassified from long term to short-term5false 4us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeLowerBoundus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6500000065000000USD$falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated lower bound of the reasonably possible change in the total amount of the unrecognized tax benefit (that will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date) for a tax position taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 false2Decrease in uncertain tax positions lower bound6false 4us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeUpperBoundus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse7500000075000000USD$falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated upper bound of the reasonably possible change in the total amount of the unrecognized tax benefit (that will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date) for a tax position taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 false2Decrease in uncertain tax positions upper bound7true 2pnw_IncomeTaxesAdditionalDisclosuresAbstractpnw_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Income Taxes, additional disclosures8false 3pnw_PercentageOfBonusDepreciationForIncomeTaxRegardingQualifiedPropertyPlacedIntoServicepnw_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.500.50falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsenum:percentItemTypepureRepresents the percentage of bonus depreciation for federal income tax purposes in relation to qualified property placed into service as per American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.No definition available.false0Percentage of bonus depreciation for federal income tax purposes9false 3pnw_FederalGeneralBusinessCreditsCarryforwardsWhoseRealizationWouldBeDelayedOnRecognitionOfCashBenefitpnw_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse7800000078000000USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents federal general business credit carryforwards whose realization will be delayed on recognition of cash benefit.No definition available.false2Federal general business income tax credit carryforwards whose realization will be delayed on recognition of cash benefit10false 3pnw_FederalGeneralBusinessCreditsCarryforwardsWhoseRealizationWouldBeDelayedOnRecognitionOfCashBenefitNoncurrentpnw_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3900000039000000USD$falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the noncurrent portion of federal general business credit carryforwards whose realization will be delayed on recognition of cash benefit.No definition available.false2Federal general business income tax credit carryforwards reclassified to long-term deferred income taxes11false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4false USDtruefalse$D2013Q2YTD_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000764622duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00falsefalsePalo Verde VIEus-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberus-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0Palo Verde VIE12true 3us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Income Taxes13false 4pnw_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAttributableToNonControllingInterestspnw_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00USD$falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe sum of the current income tax expense or benefit attributable to non-controlling interests.No definition available.false2Income tax expense associates with the VIE's14false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5false USDtruefalse$D2013Q3_ArizonaPublicServiceCompanyMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000764622duration2013-07-01T00:00:002013-09-30T00:00:00falsefalseARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANYdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldipnw_ArizonaPublicServiceCompanyMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY15true 3us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Income Taxes16false 4us-gaap_IncomeTaxesReceivableNoncurrentus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse7166900071669000USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse7078400070784000USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount due after one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from tax authorities as of the balance sheet date representing refunds of overpayments or recoveries based on agreed-upon resolutions of disputes.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Section Appendix E -Paragraph 289 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 8 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph c -Article 7 false2Long-term income tax receivables17false 4pnw_IncomeTaxReceivableThatReclassifiedFromLongTermToShortTermpnw_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse7166900071669000USD$falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents income tax receivable that will be reclassified from long term to short-term.No definition available.false2Income tax receivable that will be reclassified from long term to short-term18false 4us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeLowerBoundus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6500000065000000USD$falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated lower bound of the reasonably possible change in the total amount of the unrecognized tax benefit (that will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date) for a tax position taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 false2Decrease in uncertain tax positions lower bound19false 4us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeUpperBoundus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse7500000075000000USD$falsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated upper bound of the reasonably possible change in the total amount of the unrecognized tax benefit (that will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date) for a tax position taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 false2Decrease in uncertain tax positions upper boundfalseIncome Taxes (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.pinnaclewest.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesDetails319