Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Treasury	Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests	ALABAMA POWER CO	ALABAMA POWER CO Common Stock	ALABAMA POWER CO Paid-In Capital	ALABAMA POWER CO Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	ALABAMA POWER CO Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	GEORGIA POWER CO	GEORGIA POWER CO Common Stock	GEORGIA POWER CO Paid-In Capital	GEORGIA POWER CO Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	GEORGIA POWER CO Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	MISSISSIPPI POWER CO	MISSISSIPPI POWER CO Common Stock	MISSISSIPPI POWER CO Paid-In Capital	MISSISSIPPI POWER CO Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	MISSISSIPPI POWER CO Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	SOUTHERN POWER CO	SOUTHERN POWER CO Total Common Stockholders' Equity	SOUTHERN POWER CO Paid-In Capital	SOUTHERN POWER CO Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	SOUTHERN POWER CO Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	SOUTHERN POWER CO Noncontrolling Interests	SOUTHERN Co GAS	SOUTHERN Co GAS Paid-In Capital	SOUTHERN Co GAS Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	SOUTHERN Co GAS Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		1,054	1						31					9					1
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 31,759	$ 5,257	$ (42)	$ 11,734	$ 10,877	$ (321)	$ 4,254	$ 8,955	$ 1,222	$ 4,755	$ 3,001	$ (23)	$ 15,065	$ 398	$ 10,962	$ 3,756	$ (51)	$ 1,652	$ 38	$ 4,449	$ (2,832)	$ (3)	$ 6,622	$ 2,368	$ 909	$ 1,485	$ (26)	$ 4,254	$ 9,506	$ 9,697	$ (198)	$ 7
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income (loss)	837				868		(31)
Net income (loss)	841							284					331			331		32			32		44	75		75		(31)	275		275
Net income after dividends on preferred stock	868							280			280												75						275
Capital contributions from parent company								612		612			502		502			76		76
Return of capital to parent company																		(37)		(37)									(2)	(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(47)					(47)		1				1	(1)				(1)						(33)	(33)			(33)		(15)			(15)
Stock issued (in shares)		3
Stock issued	52	$ 9		43
Stock-based compensation	5			5
Cash dividends on common stock	(655)				(655)			(239)			(239)		(385)			(385)							(50)	(50)		(50)			(133)		(133)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests	16						16																16					16
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(48)						(48)																(48)					(48)
Other	(3)		$ (2)		(2)	1												(1)		(1)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		1,057	1						31					9					1
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	31,916	$ 5,266	$ (44)	11,782	11,088	(367)	4,191	9,609	$ 1,222	5,367	3,042	(22)	15,512	$ 398	11,464	3,702	(52)	1,722	$ 38	4,487	(2,800)	(3)	6,551	2,360	909	1,510	(59)	4,191	9,631	9,695	(56)	(8)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		1,058	1						31					9					1
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	32,234	$ 5,268	$ (46)	11,834	11,311	(395)	4,262	9,810	$ 1,222	5,413	3,194	(19)	16,501	$ 398	12,361	3,789	(47)	1,742	$ 38	4,460	(2,754)	(2)	6,631	2,369	914	1,522	(67)	4,262	9,767	9,930	(141)	(22)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,103				1,135		(32)
Net income (loss)	1,107							363					351			351		45			45		65	97		97		(32)	398		398
Net income after dividends on preferred stock	1,135							359			359												97						398
Capital contributions from parent company								602		602			332		332			100		100									57	57
Return of capital to parent company																							(271)	(271)	(271)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	28					28		1				1	2				2						16	16			16		4			4
Stock issued (in shares)		2
Stock issued	14	$ 5		9
Stock-based compensation	9			9
Cash dividends on common stock	(678)				(678)			(246)			(246)		(412)			(412)		(39)			(39)		(51)	(51)		(51)			(132)		(132)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests	403						403																403					403
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(46)						(46)																(46)					(46)
Other	1			2			(1)																(3)	(2)	(2)	1	(1)	(1)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021		1,060	1						31					9					1
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 33,068	$ 5,273	$ (46)	$ 11,854	$ 11,768	$ (367)	$ 4,586	$ 10,526	$ 1,222	$ 6,015	$ 3,307	$ (18)	$ 16,774	$ 398	$ 12,693	$ 3,728	$ (45)	$ 1,848	$ 38	$ 4,560	$ (2,748)	$ (2)	$ 6,744	$ 2,158	$ 641	$ 1,569	$ (52)	$ 4,586	$ 10,094	$ 9,987	$ 125	$ (18)