Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, at the beginning and end of the year
Total unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of the year	$ 44,775	$ 41,997	$ 133,422
Additions for tax positions of the current year	2,175	4,309	3,516
Additions for tax positions of prior years	0	751	13,158
Reductions for tax positions of prior years for:
Changes in judgment	(10,244)	(2,282)	(108,099)
Settlements with taxing authorities	0	0	0
Lapses of applicable statute of limitations	(2,259)	0	0
Total unrecognized tax benefits, end of the year	34,447	44,775	41,997
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, at the beginning and end of the year
Total unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of the year	44,775	41,997	133,241
Additions for tax positions of the current year	2,175	4,309	3,516
Additions for tax positions of prior years	0	751	13,158
Reductions for tax positions of prior years for:
Changes in judgment	(10,244)	(2,282)	(107,918)
Settlements with taxing authorities	0	0	0
Lapses of applicable statute of limitations	(2,259)	0	0
Total unrecognized tax benefits, end of the year	$ 34,447	$ 44,775	$ 41,997