Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - Southern - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Treasury	Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		1,061
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021			(1)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 32,276	$ 5,279	$ (47)	$ 11,950	$ 10,929	$ (237)	$ 4,402
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income (loss)	987				1,032		(45)
Other comprehensive income	42					42
Stock issued (in shares)		3
Stock issued	38	$ 7		31
Stock-based compensation	6			6
Cash dividends on common stock	(702)				(702)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests	73						73
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(98)						(98)
Other	7		$ (2)	7	2
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022		1,064
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2022			(1)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2022	32,629	$ 5,286	$ (49)	11,994	11,261	(195)	4,332
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,085				1,107		(22)
Other comprehensive income	11					11
Stock issued	23	$ 2		21
Stock-based compensation	14			14
Cash dividends on common stock	(723)				(723)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(28)						(28)
Other	2		$ (2)	4
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022		1,064
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2022			(1)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2022	33,013	$ 5,288	$ (51)	12,033	11,645	(184)	4,282
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,484				1,472		12
Other comprehensive income	28					28
Stock issued (in shares)		26
Stock issued	1,742	$ 129		1,613
Stock-based compensation	15			15
Cash dividends on common stock	(741)				(741)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(57)						(57)
Other	(8)		$ (1)	(4)	(2)	(1)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022		1,090
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2022			(1)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2022	35,476	$ 5,417	$ (52)	13,657	12,374	(157)	4,237
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022		1,090
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022			(1)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022	34,532	$ 5,417	$ (53)	13,673	11,538	(167)	4,124
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income (loss)	799				862		(63)
Other comprehensive income	(44)					(44)
Stock issued (in shares)		2
Stock issued	15	$ 4		11
Stock-based compensation	29			29
Cash dividends on common stock	(742)				(742)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests	21						21
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(48)						(48)
Other	0		$ (2)	2
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023		1,092
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023			(1)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2023	34,562	$ 5,421	$ (55)	13,715	11,658	(211)	4,034
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income (loss)	823				838		(15)
Other comprehensive income	43					43
Stock issued	7	$ 1		6
Stock-based compensation	19			19
Cash dividends on common stock	(764)				(764)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(42)						(42)
Other	0		$ (1)	2			(1)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023		1,092
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023			(1)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2023	34,648	$ 5,422	$ (56)	13,742	11,732	(168)	3,976
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income (loss)	1,432				1,422		10
Other comprehensive income	38					38
Stock issued	4			4
Stock-based compensation	7			7
Cash dividends on common stock	(765)				(765)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(59)						(59)
Other	(1)		$ (1)	(2)	2
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023		1,092
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023			(1)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 35,304	$ 5,422	$ (57)	$ 13,751	$ 12,391	$ (130)	$ 3,927