Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Activities:
Net Income	$ 1,710,000,000	$ 2,415,000,000	$ 2,268,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	2,298,000,000	2,145,000,000	2,048,000,000
Deferred income taxes	496,000,000	1,096,000,000	1,155,000,000
Investment tax credits	302,000,000	128,000,000	85,000,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(190,000,000)	(143,000,000)	(153,000,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	131,000,000	(398,000,000)	(45,000,000)
Stock based compensation expense	59,000,000	55,000,000	42,000,000
Estimated loss on Kemper IGCC	1,180,000,000	0	0
Retail fuel cost-recovery - long-term	(123,000,000)	123,000,000	0
Other, net	82,000,000	(72,000,000)	(70,000,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(153,000,000)	234,000,000	362,000,000
-Fossil fuel stock	481,000,000	(452,000,000)	(62,000,000)
-Materials and supplies	36,000,000	(97,000,000)	(60,000,000)
-Other current assets	(11,000,000)	(37,000,000)	(17,000,000)
-Accounts payable	72,000,000	(89,000,000)	(5,000,000)
-Accrued taxes	(85,000,000)	(71,000,000)	330,000,000
-Accrued compensation	(138,000,000)	(28,000,000)	10,000,000
-Retail fuel cost over-recovery—short-term	(66,000,000)	129,000,000	(3,000,000)
-Other current liabilities	16,000,000	(40,000,000)	18,000,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	6,097,000,000	4,898,000,000	5,903,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(5,463,000,000)	(4,809,000,000)	(4,525,000,000)
Investment in restricted cash	(149,000,000)	(280,000,000)	1,000,000
Distribution of restricted cash	96,000,000	284,000,000	63,000,000
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(986,000,000)	(1,046,000,000)	(2,195,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	984,000,000	1,043,000,000	2,190,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(131,000,000)	(149,000,000)	(93,000,000)
Change in construction payables	(126,000,000)	(84,000,000)	198,000,000
Other investing activities	33,000,000	(127,000,000)	178,000,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(5,742,000,000)	(5,168,000,000)	(4,183,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	662,000,000	(30,000,000)	(438,000,000)
Proceeds --
Long-term debt issuances	2,938,000,000	4,404,000,000	3,719,000,000
Interest-bearing refundable deposit related to asset sale	0	150,000,000	0
Issuance of preference stock	50,000,000	0	0
Common stock issuances	695,000,000	397,000,000	723,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Long-term debt	(2,830,000,000)	(3,169,000,000)	(3,170,000,000)
Common stock repurchased	(20,000,000)	(430,000,000)	0
Payment of common stock dividends	(1,762,000,000)	(1,693,000,000)	(1,601,000,000)
Payment of dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	(66,000,000)	(65,000,000)	(65,000,000)
Other financing activities	9,000,000	19,000,000	(20,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(324,000,000)	(417,000,000)	(852,000,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	31,000,000	(687,000,000)	868,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	628,000,000	1,315,000,000	447,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	659,000,000	628,000,000	1,315,000,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	759,000,000	803,000,000	832,000,000
Income taxes (net of refunds)	139,000,000	38,000,000	(401,000,000)
Alabama Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net Income	751,000,000	743,000,000	747,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	816,000,000	767,000,000	749,000,000
Deferred income taxes	198,000,000	164,000,000	459,000,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(32,000,000)	(19,000,000)	(22,000,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	9,000,000	(21,000,000)	(41,000,000)
Stock based compensation expense	10,000,000	9,000,000	6,000,000
Natural disaster reserve	3,000,000	3,000,000	34,000,000
Other, net	(41,000,000)	(27,000,000)	(41,000,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	2,000,000	23,000,000	18,000,000
-Fossil fuel stock	146,000,000	(132,000,000)	47,000,000
-Materials and supplies	19,000,000	(21,000,000)	(33,000,000)
-Other current assets	5,000,000	(4,000,000)	(6,000,000)
-Accounts payable	35,000,000	(77,000,000)	11,000,000
-Accrued taxes	(23,000,000)	(12,000,000)	157,000,000
-Accrued compensation	(23,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(12,000,000)
-Retail fuel cost over-recovery—short-term	42,000,000	1,000,000	0
-Other current liabilities	(3,000,000)	(18,000,000)	(25,000,000)
Net cash provided from operating activities	1,914,000,000	1,376,000,000	2,048,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(1,107,000,000)	(867,000,000)	(977,000,000)
Investment in restricted cash from pollution control bonds	0	1,000,000	4,000,000
Distribution of restricted cash	0	0	13,000,000
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(280,000,000)	(194,000,000)	(350,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	279,000,000	193,000,000	349,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(47,000,000)	(33,000,000)	(28,000,000)
Change in construction payables	(13,000,000)	12,000,000	(9,000,000)
Other investing activities	26,000,000	(46,000,000)	9,000,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,142,000,000)	(934,000,000)	(989,000,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	24,000,000	27,000,000	12,000,000
Senior note issuances	300,000,000	1,000,000,000	700,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Pollution control revenue bonds	0	(1,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Senior notes	(250,000,000)	(950,000,000)	(750,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(39,000,000)	(39,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(644,000,000)	(684,000,000)	(774,000,000)
Other financing activities	(5,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(614,000,000)	(649,000,000)	(869,000,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	158,000,000	(207,000,000)	190,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	137,000,000	344,000,000	154,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	295,000,000	137,000,000	344,000,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	243,000,000	273,000,000	286,000,000
Income taxes (net of refunds)	296,000,000	309,000,000	(139,000,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	18,000,000	31,000,000	19,000,000
Georgia Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net Income	1,191,000,000	1,185,000,000	1,162,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	979,000,000	912,000,000	867,000,000
Deferred income taxes	476,000,000	377,000,000	500,000,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(30,000,000)	(53,000,000)	(96,000,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	59,000,000	9,000,000	(29,000,000)
Retail fuel cost-recovery - long-term	(123,000,000)	123,000,000	0
Other, net	37,000,000	(12,000,000)	(23,000,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(58,000,000)	205,000,000	235,000,000
-Fossil fuel stock	250,000,000	(269,000,000)	(99,000,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	(17,000,000)	(7,000,000)	72,000,000
-Other current assets	40,000,000	(53,000,000)	(21,000,000)
-Accounts payable	67,000,000	(165,000,000)	44,000,000
-Accrued taxes	(14,000,000)	(76,000,000)	(36,000,000)
-Accrued compensation	(37,000,000)	(18,000,000)	7,000,000
-Retail fuel cost over-recovery—short-term	(49,000,000)	107,000,000	0
-Other current liabilities	(5,000,000)	30,000,000	49,000,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	2,766,000,000	2,295,000,000	2,632,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(1,743,000,000)	(1,723,000,000)	(1,861,000,000)
Investment in restricted cash from pollution control bonds	(89,000,000)	(284,000,000)	0
Distribution of restricted cash from pollution control revenue bonds	89,000,000	284,000,000	0
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(706,000,000)	(852,000,000)	(1,845,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	705,000,000	850,000,000	1,841,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(59,000,000)	(82,000,000)	(42,000,000)
Change in construction payables, net of joint owner portion	(67,000,000)	(149,000,000)	123,000,000
Other investing activities	(20,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,890,000,000)	(1,973,000,000)	(1,791,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	1,047,000,000	(513,000,000)	(61,000,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	37,000,000	42,000,000	214,000,000
Pollution control revenue bonds issuances and remarketings	194,000,000	284,000,000	604,000,000
Senior note issuances	850,000,000	2,300,000,000	550,000,000
Other long-term debt issuances	0	0	250,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Pollution control revenue bonds	(298,000,000)	(284,000,000)	(339,000,000)
Senior notes	(1,775,000,000)	(850,000,000)	(427,000,000)
Other long-term debt	0	(250,000,000)	(303,000,000)
Long-term debt to affiliate trust	0	0	(206,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(17,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(17,000,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(907,000,000)	(983,000,000)	(1,096,000,000)
Other financing activities	(22,000,000)	(19,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(891,000,000)	(290,000,000)	(836,000,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(15,000,000)	32,000,000	5,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	45,000,000	13,000,000	8,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	30,000,000	45,000,000	13,000,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	344,000,000	337,000,000	346,000,000
Income taxes (net of refunds)	298,000,000	312,000,000	54,000,000
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	208,000,000	261,000,000	391,000,000
Gulf Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net Income	132,133,000	132,135,000	111,208,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	155,798,000	147,723,000	135,790,000
Deferred income taxes	77,069,000	174,305,000	63,228,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(6,448,000)	(5,221,000)	(9,914,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	11,422,000	(8,109,000)	(356,000)
Stock based compensation expense	1,749,000	1,647,000	1,318,000
Other, net	5,866,000	4,518,000	(8,258,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(49,051,000)	8,713,000	21,518,000
-Prepayments	(337,000)	417,000	10,150,000
-Fossil fuel stock	19,468,000	(6,144,000)	17,519,000
-Materials and supplies	(1,570,000)	(3,035,000)	(5,073,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	15,526,000	355,000	26,901,000
-Other current assets	1,018,000	0	40,000
-Accounts payable	(6,964,000)	(5,195,000)	(2,528,000)
-Accrued taxes	(4,759,000)	(4,705,000)	1,475,000
-Accrued compensation	(3,309,000)	481,000	25,000
-Over recovered regulatory clause revenues	(17,092,000)	(10,858,000)	10,247,000
-Other current liabilities	(782,000)	(7,837,000)	2,937,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	329,737,000	419,190,000	376,227,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(292,914,000)	(313,257,000)	(324,372,000)
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(13,827,000)	(28,993,000)	(14,471,000)
Change in construction payables	6,796,000	1,161,000	2,902,000
Payments pursuant to long-term service agreements	(7,109,000)	(8,119,000)	(8,007,000)
Other investing activities	496,000	656,000	420,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(306,558,000)	(348,552,000)	(343,528,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	12,108,000	16,075,000	21,324,000
Proceeds --
Issuance of preference stock	50,000,000	0	0
Capital contributions from parent company	2,987,000	2,106,000	2,101,000
Pollution control revenue bonds issuances and remarketings	63,000,000	13,000,000	0
Common stock issuances	40,000,000	40,000,000	50,000,000
Senior note issuances	90,000,000	100,000,000	125,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Pollution control revenue bonds	(76,000,000)	(13,000,000)	0
Senior notes	(90,000,000)	(91,363,000)	(608,000)
Other long-term debt	0	0	(110,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(7,004,000)	(6,203,000)	(6,203,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(115,400,000)	(115,800,000)	(110,000,000)
Other financing activities	(3,284,000)	(614,000)	(3,419,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(33,593,000)	(55,799,000)	(31,805,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(10,414,000)	14,839,000	894,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	32,167,000	17,328,000	16,434,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	21,753,000	32,167,000	17,328,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	53,401,000	58,255,000	55,486,000
Income taxes (net of refunds)	(10,727,000)	(96,639,000)	(26,345,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	31,546,000	27,369,000	19,439,000
Mississippi Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net Income	(474,892,000)	101,675,000	95,915,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	92,465,000	86,981,000	83,787,000
Deferred income taxes	(396,400,000)	17,688,000	71,764,000
Investment tax credits received	144,036,000	82,464,000	0
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(121,629,000)	(64,793,000)	(24,707,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	13,953,000	(35,425,000)	3,169,000
Stock based compensation expense	2,510,000	2,084,000	1,548,000
Estimated loss on Kemper IGCC	1,102,000,000	78,000,000	0
Kemper regulatory deferral	90,524,000	0	0
Hedge settlements	0	(15,983,000)	848,000
Regulatory assets associated with Kemper IGCC	(35,220,000)	(15,445,000)	(7,719,000)
Other, net	14,585,000	10,516,000	(433,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(25,001,000)	(6,589,000)	5,864,000
-Fossil fuel stock	63,093,000	(36,206,000)	(27,933,000)
-Materials and supplies	(11,087,000)	(3,473,000)	(2,116,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	16,644,000	(3,852,000)	12,907,000
-Other current assets	(4,363,000)	(19,851,000)	1,606,000
-Accounts payable	12,693,000	8,814,000	24,143,000
-Accrued taxes	11,141,000	13,768,000	1,209,000
Accrued interest	16,768,000	17,627,000	6,817,000
-Accrued compensation	(6,382,000)	(183,000)	(187,000)
-Over recovered regulatory clause revenues	(58,979,000)	16,836,000	(16,544,000)
-Other current liabilities	1,109,000	757,000	1,557,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	447,568,000	235,410,000	231,495,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(1,640,782,000)	(1,620,047,000)	(964,233,000)
Cash paid for acquisitions	0	0	(84,803,000)
Distribution of restricted cash	0	0	50,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(10,386,000)	(4,355,000)	(7,432,000)
Change in construction payables	(50,000,000)	78,961,000	97,079,000
Capital grant proceeds	4,500,000	13,372,000	232,442,000
Proceeds from asset sales	79,020,000	0	0
Other investing activities	14,903,000	(16,706,000)	(5,736,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,602,745,000)	(1,548,775,000)	(682,683,000)
Proceeds --
Interest-bearing refundable deposit related to asset sale	0	150,000,000	0
Bonds-Other	42,342,000	51,471,000	0
Capital contributions from parent company	1,077,088,000	702,971,000	299,305,000
Senior note issuances	0	600,000,000	300,000,000
Other long-term debt issuances	475,000,000	50,000,000	115,000,000
Redemptions and repurchases --
Bonds-Other	(82,563,000)	0	0
Senior notes	(50,000,000)	(90,000,000)	0
Other long-term debt	(125,000,000)	(115,000,000)	(130,000,000)
Return of paid in capital	(104,804,000)	0	0
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(1,733,000)	(1,733,000)	(1,733,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(71,956,000)	(106,800,000)	(75,500,000)
Other financing activities	(3,040,000)	5,879,000	(5,078,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	1,155,334,000	1,246,788,000	501,994,000
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	157,000	(66,577,000)	50,806,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	145,008,000	211,585,000	160,779,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	145,165,000	145,008,000	211,585,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	20,285,000	32,589,000	14,814,000
Income taxes (net of refunds)	(134,198,000)	(77,580,000)	(41,024,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	164,863,000	214,863,000	135,902,000
Noncash transactions - capital lease obligation	82,915,000	0	0
Assumption of debt due to plant acquisition	0	0	346,051,000
Southern Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net Income	165,533,000	175,285,000	162,231,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	177,704,000	153,635,000	138,787,000
Deferred income taxes	171,301,000	228,780,000	4,481,000
Investment tax credits received	158,096,000	45,047,000	84,723,000
Deferred revenues	(18,477,000)	(12,633,000)	(10,594,000)
Mark-to-market adjustments	850,000	(9,275,000)	8,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	19,806,000
Other, net	3,335,000	3,104,000	495,000
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(11,178,000)	(1,384,000)	10,448,000
-Fossil fuel stock	2,438,000	(8,578,000)	532,000
-Materials and supplies	(8,410,000)	(7,825,000)	(4,097,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	(29,609,000)	(3,223,000)	10,693,000
-Other current assets	(2,219,000)	(1,624,000)	(485,000)
-Accounts payable	(11,572,000)	10,514,000	(6,138,000)
-Accrued taxes	(299,000)	431,000	2,134,000
Accrued interest	6,093,000	385,000	(8,102,000)
-Other current liabilities	777,000	492,000	(535,000)
Net cash provided from operating activities	604,363,000	573,131,000	412,379,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(500,756,000)	(116,633,000)	(254,725,000)
Cash paid for acquisitions	(132,163,000)	(124,059,000)	0
Change in construction payables, net of joint owner portion	(4,072,000)	(27,387,000)	(14,291,000)
Payments pursuant to long-term service agreements	(57,269,000)	(63,932,000)	(57,969,000)
Other investing activities	(1,725,000)	(446,000)	(1,387,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(695,985,000)	(332,457,000)	(328,372,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(70,968,000)	(108,552,000)	(90,267,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	1,487,000	(662,000)	127,241,000
Senior note issuances	300,000,000	0	575,000,000
Other long-term debt issuances	23,583,000	5,470,000	0
Redemptions and repurchases --
Senior notes	0	0	(575,000,000)
Other long-term debt	(9,284,000)	(2,450,000)	(3,691,000)
Premium for early debt extinguishment	0	0	(19,375,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(129,120,000)	(127,000,000)	(91,200,000)
Other financing activities	16,076,000	4,169,000	(3,976,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	131,774,000	(229,025,000)	(81,268,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	40,152,000	11,649,000	2,739,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	28,592,000	16,943,000	14,204,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	68,744,000	28,592,000	16,943,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	60,396,000	50,248,000	74,989,000
Income taxes (net of refunds)	(226,179,000)	(175,269,000)	(26,486,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at year-end	$ 5,567,000	$ 11,203,000	$ 32,590,000