FINANCING - Schedule of Credit Arrangements (Details)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	$ 33,000,000
Expires, 2022	675,000,000
Expires, 2023	125,000,000
Expires, 2024	6,900,000,000
Total	7,733,000,000
Unused	7,671,000,000
Due within One Year	33,000,000
Southern Company
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	0
Expires, 2022	0
Expires, 2023	0
Expires, 2024	2,000,000,000
Total	2,000,000,000
Unused	1,999,000,000
Due within One Year	0
ALABAMA POWER CO
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	3,000,000
Expires, 2022	525,000,000
Expires, 2023	0
Expires, 2024	800,000,000
Total	1,328,000,000
Unused	1,328,000,000
Due within One Year	3,000,000
GEORGIA POWER CO
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	0
Expires, 2022	0
Expires, 2023	0
Expires, 2024	1,750,000,000
Total	1,750,000,000
Unused	1,728,000,000
Due within One Year	0
MISSISSIPPI POWER CO
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	0
Expires, 2022	150,000,000
Expires, 2023	125,000,000
Expires, 2024	0
Total	275,000,000
Unused	250,000,000
Due within One Year	0
SOUTHERN POWER CO
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	0
Expires, 2022	0
Expires, 2023	0
Expires, 2024	600,000,000
Total	600,000,000
Unused	591,000,000
Due within One Year	0
SOUTHERN POWER CO | Standby Letters of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	120,000,000
Expires, 2024	60,000,000
Unused, 2021	23,000,000
Unused, 2023	40,000,000
SOUTHERN Co GAS
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	0
Expires, 2022	0
Expires, 2023	0
Expires, 2024	1,750,000,000
Total	1,750,000,000
Unused	1,745,000,000
Due within One Year	0
SEGCO
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expires, 2021	30,000,000
Expires, 2022	0
Expires, 2023	0
Expires, 2024	0
Total	30,000,000
Unused	30,000,000
Due within One Year	30,000,000
Southern Company Gas Capital
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Total	1,250,000,000
Nicor Gas
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Total	$ 500,000,000