Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	34.20%	34.60%
Significantly increase or decrease in the amount of the unrecognized tax benefits associated with a majority of Southern	Next 12 Months
Alabama Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	38.30%	37.10%
Georgia Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	34.90%	34.60%
Gulf Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	34.60%	33.80%
Mississippi Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	24.70%	32.20%
Southern Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	31.30%	35.60%