Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	SOUTHERN CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000092122
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 40,500,000,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		868,969,827
Alabama Power [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ALABAMA POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000003153
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		30,537,500
Georgia Power [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	GEORGIA POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000041091
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,261,500
Gulf Power [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	GULF POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000044545
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,542,717
Mississippi Power [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	MISSISSIPPI POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000066904
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,121,000
Southern Power [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	SOUTHERN POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0001160661
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,000