Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended								36 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	36 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY item	Dec. 31, 2012 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	Dec. 31, 2011 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY	Dec. 31, 2008 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY item	Dec. 31, 1986 ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY item	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum	Dec. 31, 2013 Fossil plant	Dec. 31, 2013 Nuclear plant	Dec. 31, 2013 Other generation	Dec. 31, 2013 Transmission	Dec. 31, 2013 Distribution	Dec. 31, 2013 Other:
Approximate remaining average useful lives of utility property
Average useful life												18 years	26 years	26 years	37 years	34 years	7 years
Extension period of operating licenses for each of the three Palo Verde units							20 years
Number of VIE lessor trusts				3			3	3
Depreciation rates (as a percent)	3.00%	2.71%	2.98%						0.45%		12.08%
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction
Composite rate used to calculate AFUDC (as a percent)	8.56%	8.60%	10.25%
Nuclear Fuel
Charges for the permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel (in dollars per kWh)				0.001
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes, net of refunds	$ 18,537,000	$ 2,543,000	$ 10,324,000	$ 7,524,000	$ 1,196,000	$ 25,975,000
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	184,010,000	200,923,000	217,789,000	180,757,000	196,038,000	210,995,000
Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:
Accrued capital expenditures	33,184,000	26,208,000	27,245,000	33,184,000	26,208,000	27,245,000
Dividends declared but not paid	62,528,000	59,789,000		62,500,000	59,800,000
Liabilities assumed relating to acquisition of SCE Four Corners' interest (see Note 3)	145,609,000			145,609,000
Intangible Assets
Amortization expense	53,000,000	50,000,000	47,000,000
Estimated amortization expense on existing intangible assets over the next five years
2014	47,000,000
2015	38,000,000
2016	29,000,000
2017	19,000,000
2018	$ 7,000,000
Weighted average remaining amortization period for intangible assets	6 years
Investments
Ownership percentage for classification as cost method investments by El Dorado										20.00%