Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Changes for unrecognized tax benefits

Changes during 2013 for unrecognized tax benefits were as follows:

	Southern Company			Alabama Power			Georgia Power			Gulf Power			Mississippi Power			Southern Power
	(in millions)
Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2012	$	70		$	31		$	23		$	5		$	6		$	3
Tax positions from current periods	3			—			—			—			—			2
Tax positions from prior periods	(66		)	(31		)	(23		)	(5		)	(2		)	(3		)
Balance as of September 30, 2013	$	7		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	4		$	2

Impact on effective tax rate

The impact on the effective tax rate, if recognized, was as follows:

	As of September 30, 2013			As of December 31, 2012
		Southern Company
	(in millions)
Tax positions impacting the effective tax rate		$	7	$	5
Tax positions not impacting the effective tax rate		—		65
Balance of unrecognized tax benefits		$	7	$	70