Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 28, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000764622
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		111,306,107
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
APS
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0000007286
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		71,264,947
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3