Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	1,000,000	2,000,000
Change in fair value of marketable securities, tax	0
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of pension and other post retirement benefit plans included in net income, tax	1,000,000	1,000,000
Alabama Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	3,000,000	2,000,000
Georgia Power [Member]
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	0
Gulf Power [Member]
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	90,000	90,000
Mississippi Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	(296,000)	(1,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	16,000
Southern Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	(173,000)	423,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	$ 956,000	$ 1,071,000