Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters - Components of Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 3,819,971	$ 3,390,143
Long-term debt less current maturities	3,462,391	3,006,573
APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Gross long-term debt	3,728,555
Unamortized discount	(10,374)	(9,206)
Unamortized premium	4,686	4,866
Unamortized debt issue costs	(27,896)	(24,642)
Total long-term debt	3,694,971	3,265,143
Less current maturities	(357,580)	(383,570)
Total long-term debt less current maturities	3,337,391	2,881,573
Pinnacle West
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Gross long-term debt	3,853,555
Total long-term debt	125,000	125,000
Long-term debt less current maturities	125,000	125,000
Pollution Control Bonds - Variable \| APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Gross long-term debt	92,405	$ 156,405
Less current maturities	$ (108,000)
Pollution Control Bonds - Variable \| APS \| Minimum
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)	0.01%	0.03%
Pollution Control Bonds - Variable \| APS \| Maximum
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)	0.24%	0.27%
Pollution Control Bonds - Fixed \| APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Gross long-term debt	$ 211,150	$ 249,300
Interest Rates, low end of range (as a percent)	1.75%	1.75%
Interest Rates, high end of range (as a percent)	5.75%	5.75%
Total Pollution Control Bonds \| APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Gross long-term debt	$ 303,555	$ 405,705
Senior unsecured notes \| APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Gross long-term debt	$ 3,375,000	$ 2,875,000
Interest Rates, low end of range (as a percent)	2.20%	2.20%
Interest Rates, high end of range (as a percent)	8.75%	8.75%
Palo Verde sale leaseback lessor notes \| APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Palo Verde sale leaseback lessor notes	$ 0	$ 13,420
Interest rate (as a percent)	8.00%	8.00%
Term loan facility \| Pinnacle West
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 125,000	$ 125,000
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)	1.174%	1.019%
Senior unsecured notes maturing through 2015 \| APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Less current maturities	$ (250,000)
Term loan \| APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)	1.024%
Term loan \| Term loan facility maturing June 26, 2018 \| APS
Long-Term Debt and Liquidity Matters [Line Items]
Term loan	$ 50,000	$ 0

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