Commitments and Contingencies (Legal Proceedings) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 1996	Oct. 31, 2004	Jan. 29, 1999
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
FPL's interest owned in generation facility Scherer Unit No. 4 (in hundredths)	76.00%
Maximum amount of civil penalties per day - Clean Air Act from June 1, 1975 through January 30, 1997	$ 25,000
Maximum amount of civil penalties per day - Clean Air Act from January 31, 1997 through March 15, 2004	27,500
Maximum amount of civil penalties per day - Clean Air Act from March 16, 2004 through January 12, 2009	32,500
Maximum amount of civil penalties per day - Clean Air Act from January 13, 2009 forward	37,500
Shares of Adelphia common stock purchased (in shares)		1,091,524
Shares of Adelphia preferred stock purchased (in shares)		20,000
Shares of Adelphia common stock if Adelphia preferred stock converted to Adelphia common stock (in shares)		2,358,490
Aggregate price paid for Adelphia common and preferred stock		35,900,000
Cash paid by Adelphia for repurchase of Adelphia acquired shares				149,213,130
Damages asserted for breach of contract			$ 34,000,000