Segment and Related Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	$ 4,521,000,000	$ 4,208,000,000	$ 8,533,000,000	$ 8,365,000,000
Segment net income (loss)*	604,000,000	510,000,000	1,026,000,000	1,005,000,000
Total Assets	56,023,000,000		56,023,000,000		55,032,000,000
Traditional Operating Companies [Member] | Electric Utilities [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	4,291,000,000	4,056,000,000	8,101,000,000	8,061,000,000
Segment net income (loss)*	559,000,000	476,000,000	943,000,000	957,000,000
Total Assets	52,117,000,000		52,117,000,000		51,144,000,000
Southern Power [Member]
Segment and Related Information (Textuals) [Abstract]
Southern Power's revenues from sales to the traditional operating companies	71,000,000	93,000,000	154,000,000	195,000,000
Southern Power [Member] | Electric Utilities [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	305,000,000	249,000,000	587,000,000	505,000,000
Segment net income (loss)*	44,000,000	31,000,000	82,000,000	46,000,000
Total Assets	3,537,000,000		3,537,000,000		3,438,000,000
Eliminations [Member] | Electric Utilities [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	(93,000,000)	(118,000,000)	(191,000,000)	(243,000,000)
Total Assets	(108,000,000)		(108,000,000)		(128,000,000)
All Other Segments [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	38,000,000	41,000,000	76,000,000	82,000,000
Segment net income (loss)*	1,000,000	3,000,000	2,000,000	3,000,000
Total Assets	1,068,000,000		1,068,000,000		1,178,000,000
Eliminations [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	(20,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(40,000,000)	(40,000,000)
Segment net income (loss)*			(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Total Assets	(591,000,000)		(591,000,000)		(600,000,000)
Electric Utilities [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	4,503,000,000	4,187,000,000	8,497,000,000	8,323,000,000
Segment net income (loss)*	603,000,000	507,000,000	1,025,000,000	1,003,000,000
Total Assets	$ 55,546,000,000		$ 55,546,000,000		$ 54,454,000,000