Segment Information, Change in Accounting Estimate (Details) (Change in estimate of useful lives [Member], USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Change in estimate of useful lives [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Previous average useful lives of wind plants equipment		25 years
Increase average useful lives of wind plants' equipment (in years)		30 years
Reduction In Depreciation And Amortization Expense Due To Change In Estimate	$ 19	$ 56
Increase In Net Income Due To Change In Estimate	11	33
Increase In Basic Earnings Per Share Due To Change In Estimate ( in dollars per share)	$ 0.03
increase in diluted earnings per share due to change in estimate (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08
Expected Reduction In Depreciation And Amortization For Fiscal Year Due To Change In Estimate			75
Expected Increase In Net Income For Fiscal Year Due To Change In Estimate			$ 44
Expected Increase In Basic Earnings Per Share For Fiscal Year Due To Change In Estimate( in dollars per share)			$ 0.11
Expected increase in diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year due to change in estimate (in dollars per share)		$ 0.11

The expected increase in basic earnings per share for the fiscal year due to the change in estimate in average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources.

Name:	nee_ExpectedIncreaseInBasicEarningsPerShareForFiscalYearDueToChangeInEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The expected increase in diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year due to the change in estimate in average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources.

+ Details

Name:	nee_ExpectedIncreaseInDilutedEarningsPerShareForFiscalYearDueToChangeInEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The expected increase in net income for the fiscal year due to the change in estimate in average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources.

+ Details

Name:	nee_ExpectedIncreaseInNetIncomeForFiscalYearDueToChangeInEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The expected reduction in depreciation and amortization expense for the fiscal year due to the change in estimate in average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources.

+ Details

Name:	nee_ExpectedReductionInDepreciationAndAmortizationForFiscalYearDueToChangeInEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increased average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources, which were adjusted based on the entity's review of the estimated useful lives of its fixed assets on an ongoing basis. Effective January 1, 2011.

+ Details

Name:	nee_IncreasedAverageUsefulLivesOfWindPlantsEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase in basic earnings per share due to the change in estimate in average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources.

+ Details

Name:	nee_IncreaseInBasicEarningsPerShareDueToChangeInEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase in diluted earnings per share due to the change in estimate in average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources.

+ Details

Name:	nee_IncreaseInDilutedEarningsPerShareDueToChangeInEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase in net income due to the change in estimate in average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources.

+ Details

Name:	nee_IncreaseInNetIncomeDueToChangeInEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The previous average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources, that were adjusted based on the entity's review of the estimated useful lives of its fixed assets on an ongoing basis.

+ Details

Name:	nee_PreviousAverageUsefulLivesOfWindPlantsEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reduction in depreciation and amortization expense due to the change in estimate in average useful lives of certain wind plants at NextEra Energy Resources.

+ Details

Name:	nee_ReductionInDepreciationAndAmortizationExpenseDueToChangeInEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	nee
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ChangeInAccountingEstimateLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration