XML 43 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Financing - Narrative (Details) (USD $)
0 Months Ended
May 15, 2015
May 07, 2015
loan
Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Amount of Variable Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     $ 1,800,000,000so_AmountOfVariableRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
Alabama Power [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Amount of Variable Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     864,000,000so_AmountOfVariableRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
Amount of Fixed Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     200,000,000so_AmountofFixedRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
Alabama Power [Member] | Scenario, Plan [Member] | Five Point Two Zero Percent Class A Preferred Stock [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 6,480,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointTwoZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Temporary Equity, Dividend Rate Percentage 0.052so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointTwoZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Temporary Equity, Par or Stated Value Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointTwoZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Alabama Power [Member] | Scenario, Plan [Member] | Five Point Three Zero Percent Class A Preferred Stock [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 4,000,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointThreeZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Temporary Equity, Dividend Rate Percentage 0.053so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointThreeZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Temporary Equity, Par or Stated Value Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointThreeZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Alabama Power [Member] | Scenario, Plan [Member] | Five Point Six Two Five Percent Preference Stock [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 6,000,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointSixTwoFivePercentPreferenceStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Temporary Equity, Dividend Rate Percentage 0.05625so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointSixTwoFivePercentPreferenceStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Temporary Equity, Par or Stated Value Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointSixTwoFivePercentPreferenceStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Alabama Power [Member] | Aggregate Stated Capital [Member] | Scenario, Plan [Member] | Five Point Two Zero Percent Class A Preferred Stock [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 162,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_AggregateStatedCapitalMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointTwoZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Alabama Power [Member] | Aggregate Stated Capital [Member] | Scenario, Plan [Member] | Five Point Three Zero Percent Class A Preferred Stock [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 100,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_AggregateStatedCapitalMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointThreeZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Alabama Power [Member] | Aggregate Stated Capital [Member] | Scenario, Plan [Member] | Five Point Six Two Five Percent Preference Stock [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 150,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_AggregateStatedCapitalMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointSixTwoFivePercentPreferenceStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
   
Alabama Power [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series 2015A [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount     550,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_Series2015AMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage     3.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_Series2015AMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Alabama Power [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Redemption Amount Of Principal Notes     250,000,000so_RedemptionAmountOfPrincipalNotes
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Alabama Power [Member] | Series DD [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage     5.65%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= so_SeriesDDMember
Alabama Power [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Long-term Pollution Control Bond   80,000,000us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Series 2007B [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Long-term Pollution Control Bond   80,000,000us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_Series2007BMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series 2015A [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount   175,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_Series2015AMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage   3.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_Series2015AMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Series 2015B [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount   250,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_Series2015BMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage   2.80%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_Series2015BMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Georgia Power [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Amount of Variable Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     865,000,000so_AmountOfVariableRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
Amount of Fixed Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     118,000,000so_AmountofFixedRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
Georgia Power [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Long-term Pollution Control Bond   65,000,000us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Georgia Power [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Second Series 2008 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Long-term Pollution Control Bond   65,000,000us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrentAndNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_SecondSeries2008Member
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Gulf Power [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Amount of Variable Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     69,000,000so_AmountOfVariableRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GulfPowerMember
Amount of Fixed Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     78,000,000so_AmountofFixedRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GulfPowerMember
Mississippi Power [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Amount of Variable Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     40,000,000so_AmountOfVariableRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
Mississippi Power [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Number Of Floating Rate Bank Loans   3so_NumberOfFloatingRateBankLoans
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Aggregate Principal Amount Of Floating Rate Bank Loan   475,000,000so_AggregatePrincipalAmountOfFloatingRateBankLoan
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis   one-month LIBOR  
Repayment Aggregate Principal Amount Of Floating Rate Bank Loan   275,000,000so_RepaymentAggregatePrincipalAmountOfFloatingRateBankLoan
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Mississippi Power [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Maturity April First Two Thousand Sixteen [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Number Of Floating Rate Bank Loans   2so_NumberOfFloatingRateBankLoans
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_MaturityAprilFirstTwoThousandSixteenMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Aggregate Principal Amount Of Floating Rate Bank Loan   425,000,000so_AggregatePrincipalAmountOfFloatingRateBankLoan
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= so_MaturityAprilFirstTwoThousandSixteenMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Traditional Operating Companies [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Amount of Fixed Rate Pollution Control Revenue Bonds Outstanding Requiring Liquidity Support     $ 396,000,000so_AmountofFixedRatePollutionControlRevenueBondsOutstandingRequiringLiquiditySupport
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_TraditionalOperatingCompaniesMember