Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating Activities:
Consolidated Net Income	$ 2,268,000,000	$ 2,040,000,000	$ 1,708,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	2,048,000,000	1,831,000,000	1,788,000,000
Deferred income taxes	1,155,000,000	1,038,000,000	25,000,000
Deferred revenues	(4,000,000)	(103,000,000)	(54,000,000)
Mark-to-market adjustments	(5,000,000)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(153,000,000)	(194,000,000)	(200,000,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	(45,000,000)	(614,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Stock based compensation expense	42,000,000	33,000,000	23,000,000
Generation construction screening costs		(51,000,000)	(22,000,000)
Other, net	19,000,000	70,000,000	43,000,000
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	362,000,000	80,000,000	585,000,000
-Fossil fuel stock	(62,000,000)	135,000,000	(432,000,000)
-Materials and supplies	(60,000,000)	(30,000,000)	(39,000,000)
-Other current assets	(17,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(47,000,000)
-Accounts payable	(5,000,000)	4,000,000	(125,000,000)
-Accrued taxes	330,000,000	(308,000,000)	(95,000,000)
-Accrued compensation	10,000,000	180,000,000	(226,000,000)
-Other current liabilities	15,000,000	(103,000,000)	334,000,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	5,903,000,000	3,991,000,000	3,263,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(4,525,000,000)	(4,086,000,000)	(4,670,000,000)
Distribution of restricted cash	63,000,000	25,000,000	119,000,000
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(2,195,000,000)	(2,009,000,000)	(1,234,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	2,190,000,000	2,004,000,000	1,228,000,000
Proceeds from property sales	25,000,000	18,000,000	340,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(93,000,000)	(125,000,000)	(119,000,000)
Change in construction payables	191,000,000	(51,000,000)	215,000,000
Other investing activities	161,000,000	(32,000,000)	(198,000,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(4,183,000,000)	(4,256,000,000)	(4,319,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(438,000,000)	659,000,000	(306,000,000)
Proceeds --
Long-term debt issuances	3,719,000,000	3,151,000,000	3,042,000,000
Common stock issuances	723,000,000	772,000,000	1,286,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Long-term debt	(3,170,000,000)	(2,966,000,000)	(1,234,000,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(1,601,000,000)	(1,496,000,000)	(1,369,000,000)
Payment of dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	(65,000,000)	(65,000,000)	(65,000,000)
Other financing activities	(20,000,000)	(33,000,000)	(25,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(852,000,000)	22,000,000	1,329,000,000
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	868,000,000	(243,000,000)	273,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	447,000,000	690,000,000	417,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	1,315,000,000	447,000,000	690,000,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest (net capitalized for 2011 and 2010, respectively)	832,000,000	789,000,000	788,000,000
Net cash payments for income taxes	(401,000,000)	276,000,000	975,000,000
Alabama Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated Net Income	747,000,000	746,000,000	709,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	749,000,000	694,000,000	637,000,000
Deferred income taxes	459,000,000	410,000,000	(66,000,000)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(22,000,000)	(36,000,000)	(79,000,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	(32,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(8,000,000)
Pension and postretirement funding	(9,000,000)	(55,000,000)	(17,000,000)
Stock based compensation expense	6,000,000	5,000,000	4,000,000
Natural disaster reserve	34,000,000	52,000,000	55,000,000
Other, net	(41,000,000)	(27,000,000)	8,000,000
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	18,000,000	(29,000,000)	310,000,000
-Fossil fuel stock	47,000,000	(1,000,000)	(77,000,000)
-Materials and supplies	(33,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(22,000,000)
-Other current assets	(6,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(16,000,000)
-Accounts payable	11,000,000	(54,000,000)	(19,000,000)
-Accrued taxes	157,000,000	(140,000,000)	24,000,000
-Accrued compensation	(12,000,000)	28,000,000	(32,000,000)
-Other current liabilities	(25,000,000)	(181,000,000)	193,000,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	2,048,000,000	1,373,000,000	1,604,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(977,000,000)	(903,000,000)	(1,234,000,000)
Investment in restricted cash from pollution control bonds	4,000,000		(6,000,000)
Distribution of restricted cash	13,000,000	18,000,000	49,000,000
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(350,000,000)	(237,000,000)	(245,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	349,000,000	236,000,000	244,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(28,000,000)	(44,000,000)	(38,000,000)
Change in construction payables	(9,000,000)	(45,000,000)	26,000,000
Other investing activities	9,000,000	(12,000,000)	(25,000,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(989,000,000)	(987,000,000)	(1,229,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net			(25,000,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	12,000,000	28,000,000	24,000,000
Pollution control revenue bonds issuances and remarketings			79,000,000
Common stock issuances			203,000,000
Senior note issuances	700,000,000	250,000,000	500,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Pollution control revenue bonds	(4,000,000)
Senior notes	(750,000,000)	(250,000,000)	(250,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(39,000,000)	(39,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(774,000,000)	(586,000,000)	(523,000,000)
Other financing activities	(14,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(869,000,000)	(600,000,000)	(35,000,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	190,000,000	(214,000,000)	340,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	154,000,000	368,000,000	28,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	344,000,000	154,000,000	368,000,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest (net capitalized for 2011 and 2010, respectively)	286,000,000	288,000,000	255,000,000
Net cash payments for income taxes	(139,000,000)	188,000,000	426,000,000
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	19,000,000	28,000,000	74,000,000
Georgia Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated Net Income	1,162,000,000	967,000,000	831,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	867,000,000	724,000,000	791,000,000
Deferred income taxes	500,000,000	342,000,000	191,000,000
Deferred revenues	(1,000,000)	(101,000,000)	(49,000,000)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(96,000,000)	(147,000,000)	(97,000,000)
Pension and postretirement funding	(15,000,000)	(195,000,000)	(22,000,000)
Other, net	(36,000,000)	29,000,000	23,000,000
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	235,000,000	168,000,000	127,000,000
-Fossil fuel stock	(99,000,000)	103,000,000	(242,000,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	72,000,000	(36,000,000)	21,000,000
-Other current assets	(21,000,000)	(9,000,000)	(7,000,000)
-Accounts payable	44,000,000	(99,000,000)	(54,000,000)
-Accrued taxes	(36,000,000)	31,000,000	(19,000,000)
-Accrued compensation	7,000,000	62,000,000	(101,000,000)
-Other current liabilities	49,000,000	8,000,000	25,000,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	2,632,000,000	1,847,000,000	1,418,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(1,861,000,000)	(2,190,000,000)	(2,515,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(1,845,000,000)	(1,772,000,000)	(989,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	1,841,000,000	1,768,000,000	984,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(42,000,000)	(67,000,000)	(56,000,000)
Change in construction payables, net of joint owner portion	123,000,000	36,000,000	106,000,000
Other investing activities	(7,000,000)	(19,000,000)	52,000,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,791,000,000)	(2,244,000,000)	(2,418,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(61,000,000)	252,000,000	(33,000,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	214,000,000	688,000,000	931,000,000
Pollution control revenue bonds issuances and remarketings	604,000,000		417,000,000
Senior note issuances	550,000,000	1,950,000,000	1,000,000,000
Other long-term debt issuances	250,000,000		1,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Pollution control revenue bonds	(339,000,000)	(516,000,000)	(327,000,000)
Senior notes	(427,000,000)	(1,112,000,000)	(333,000,000)
Other long-term debt	(303,000,000)
Long-term debt to affiliate trust	(206,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(17,000,000)	(18,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(1,096,000,000)	(820,000,000)	(739,000,000)
Other financing activities	(5,000,000)	(33,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(836,000,000)	391,000,000	881,000,000
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	5,000,000	(6,000,000)	(119,000,000)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	8,000,000	14,000,000	133,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	13,000,000	8,000,000	14,000,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest (net capitalized for 2011 and 2010, respectively)	346,000,000	339,000,000	341,000,000
Net cash payments for income taxes	54,000,000	149,000,000	228,000,000
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	391,000,000	310,000,000	243,000,000
Gulf Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated Net Income	111,208,000	127,714,000	117,436,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	135,790,000	127,897,000	99,564,000
Deferred income taxes	63,228,000	82,681,000	(16,545,000)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(9,914,000)	(7,213,000)	(23,809,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	(356,000)	(23,964,000)	1,769,000
Stock based compensation expense	1,318,000	1,101,000	933,000
Hedge Settlements		1,530,000
Other, net	(8,258,000)	(4,126,000)	(5,173,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	21,518,000	(36,687,000)	83,245,000
-Prepayments	10,150,000	(10,796,000)	(192,000)
-Fossil fuel stock	17,519,000	15,766,000	(75,145,000)
-Materials and supplies	(5,073,000)	(6,251,000)	(1,642,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	26,901,000	(29,630,000)	(6,355,000)
-Property damage cost recovery			10,746,000
-Other current assets	40,000	55,000	(12,000)
-Accounts payable	(2,528,000)	15,683,000	7,890,000
-Accrued taxes	1,475,000	1,427,000	(2,404,000)
-Accrued compensation	25,000	5,122,000	(6,330,000)
-Over recovered regulatory clause revenues	10,247,000	3,192,000	11,215,000
-Other current liabilities	2,937,000	4,279,000	(960,000)
Net cash provided from operating activities	376,227,000	267,780,000	194,231,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(324,372,000)	(285,793,000)	(421,309,000)
Investment in restricted cash from pollution control bonds			(49,188,000)
Distribution of restricted cash		6,347,000	42,841,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(14,471,000)	(1,145,000)	(9,751,000)
Change in construction payables	2,902,000	(21,581,000)	(23,603,000)
Payments pursuant to long-term service agreements	(8,007,000)	(6,011,000)	(7,421,000)
Other investing activities	420,000	(262,000)	(5,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(343,528,000)	(308,445,000)	(468,436,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	21,324,000	4,451,000	(49,599,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	2,101,000	2,242,000	22,032,000
Pollution control revenue bonds issuances and remarketings		21,000,000	130,400,000
Common stock issuances	50,000,000	50,000,000	135,000,000
Senior note issuances	125,000,000	300,000,000	140,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Senior notes	(608,000)	(215,515,000)	(1,214,000)
Other long-term debt	(110,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(6,203,000)	(6,203,000)	(6,203,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(110,000,000)	(104,300,000)	(89,300,000)
Other financing activities	(3,419,000)	(3,253,000)	(1,677,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(31,805,000)	48,422,000	279,439,000
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	894,000	7,757,000	5,234,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	16,434,000	8,677,000	3,443,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	17,328,000	16,434,000	8,677,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest (net capitalized for 2011 and 2010, respectively)	55,486,000	42,521,000	40,336,000
Net cash payments for income taxes	(26,345,000)	17,224,000	73,889,000
Noncash decrease in notes payable related to energy services			(8,309,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	19,439,000	14,475,000	42,050,000
Mississippi Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated Net Income	95,915,000	81,950,000	86,700,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	83,787,000	82,294,000	78,914,000
Deferred income taxes	71,764,000	37,557,000	(39,849,000)
Convertible investment tax credits received		22,173,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(24,707,000)	(3,795,000)	(387,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	3,169,000	(34,911,000)	7,077,000
Stock based compensation expense	1,548,000	1,186,000	886,000
Hedge Settlements	848,000
Generation construction screening costs		(50,554,000)	(30,638,000)
Other, net	(8,151,000)	(3,404,000)	(3,229,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	5,864,000	(8,185,000)	9,677,000
Under recovered regulatory clause revenues			54,994,000
-Fossil fuel stock	(27,933,000)	14,997,000	(41,699,000)
-Materials and supplies	(2,116,000)	(879,000)	(649,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	12,907,000	(17,075,000)	1,061,000
-Other current assets	1,606,000	(4,633,000)	2,065,000
-Accounts payable	24,143,000	(12,630,000)	(7,590,000)
-Accrued taxes	1,209,000	(4,268,000)	8,800,000
-Accrued compensation	(187,000)	2,291,000	(6,819,000)
-Over recovered regulatory clause revenues	(16,544,000)	28,450,000	48,596,000
-Other current liabilities	8,373,000	2,137,000	2,732,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	231,495,000	132,701,000	170,642,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(964,233,000)	(247,005,000)	(101,995,000)
Cash paid for acquisitions	(84,803,000)
Investment in restricted cash from pollution control bonds		(50,000,000)
Distribution of restricted cash	50,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(7,432,000)	(9,240,000)	(9,352,000)
Change in construction payables	97,079,000	33,767,000	(5,091,000)
Capital grant proceeds	232,442,000	23,657,000
Other investing activities	(5,736,000)	(5,587,000)	(2,971,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(682,683,000)	(254,408,000)	(119,409,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net			(26,293,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	299,305,000	65,215,000	4,567,000
Senior note issuances	300,000,000		125,000,000
Other long-term debt issuances	115,000,000	225,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Capital leases	(1,437,000)	(1,330,000)
Senior notes			(40,000,000)
Other long-term debt	(130,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(1,733,000)	(1,733,000)	(1,733,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(75,500,000)	(68,600,000)	(68,500,000)
Other financing activities	(3,641,000)	(1,091,000)	(1,662,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	501,994,000	217,461,000	(8,621,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	50,806,000	95,754,000	42,612,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	160,779,000	65,025,000	22,413,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	211,585,000	160,779,000	65,025,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest (net capitalized for 2011 and 2010, respectively)	14,814,000	19,518,000	19,832,000
Net cash payments for income taxes	(41,024,000)	7,546,000	77,206,000
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	135,902,000	37,736,000	3,689,000
Assumption of debt due to plant acquisition	346,051,000
Southern Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated Net Income	162,231,000	131,309,000	155,852,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	138,787,000	133,109,000	110,427,000
Deferred income taxes	4,481,000	64,530,000	22,950,000
Convertible investment tax credits received	84,723,000	26,400,000	16,800,000
Deferred revenues	(10,594,000)	(5,586,000)	2,288,000
Accumulated billings on construction contract		401,000	48,451,000
Accumulated costs on construction contract		(65,000)	(46,765,000)
Profit recognized on construction		(470,000)	(13,296,000)
Loss (gain) on sale of property		478,000	4,977,000
Mark-to-market adjustments	8,000,000	1,492,000	5,204,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	19,806,000
Other, net	495,000	5,734,000	5,630,000
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	10,448,000	(23,198,000)	(9,717,000)
-Fossil fuel stock	532,000	2,604,000	2,738,000
-Materials and supplies	(4,097,000)	443,000	(5,345,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	10,693,000	4,784,000	16,296,000
-Other current assets	(485,000)	(985,000)	(298,000)
-Accounts payable	(6,138,000)	1,469,000	2,043,000
-Accrued taxes	2,134,000	(16,024,000)	88,000
Accrued interest	(8,102,000)	53,000	7,000
-Other current liabilities	(535,000)	362,000	(199,000)
Net cash provided from operating activities	412,379,000	326,840,000	318,131,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(254,725,000)	(299,602,000)	(137,133,000)
Cash paid for acquisitions		(105,042,000)	(194,156,000)
Proceeds from property sales	25,000	4,000,000	84,000
Change in construction payables, net of joint owner portion	(14,291,000)	34,851,000	13,435,000
Payments pursuant to long-term service agreements	(57,969,000)	(41,598,000)	(46,120,000)
Other investing activities	(1,412,000)	(721,000)	(184,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(328,372,000)	(408,112,000)	(364,074,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(90,267,000)	150,840,000	118,948,000
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	127,241,000	36,507,000	2,353,000
Senior note issuances	575,000,000
Other long-term debt issuances		4,759,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Senior notes	(575,000,000)
Other long-term debt	(3,691,000)
Premium for early debt extinguishment	(19,375,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(91,200,000)	(107,100,000)	(106,100,000)
Other financing activities	(3,976,000)	3,318,000
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(81,268,000)	88,324,000	15,201,000
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	2,739,000	7,052,000	(30,742,000)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	14,204,000	7,152,000	37,894,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	16,943,000	14,204,000	7,152,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest (net capitalized for 2011 and 2010, respectively)	74,989,000	63,229,000	73,064,000
Net cash payments for income taxes	(26,486,000)	(6,246,000)	30,220,000
Noncash value of business exchanged in West Georgia acquisition			70,839,000
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	$ 32,590,000	$ 46,764,000	$ 15,474,000