Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	$ 0	$ (8,000,000)	$ 0	$ (5,000,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	2,000,000	2,000,000	4,000,000	3,000,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of pension and other post retirement benefit plans included in net income, tax	1,000,000	1,000,000	2,000,000	1,000,000
Alabama Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	0	(7,000,000)	0	(4,000,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	0	0	0	0
Georgia Power [Member]
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Gulf Power [Member]
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	90,000	90,000	180,000	180,000
Mississippi Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	0	0	0	(296,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	132,000	132,000	263,000	148,000
Southern Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	0	53,000	0	(120,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	$ 1,052,000	$ 956,000	$ 2,097,000	$ 1,912,000