Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Consolidated Net Income	$ 2,268,000,000	$ 2,040,000,000	$ 1,708,000,000
Net income after dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	2,203,000,000	1,975,000,000	1,643,000,000
Qualifying hedges:
Changes in fair value, net of tax	(18,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax	9,000,000	15,000,000	28,000,000
Marketable securities:
Change in fair value, net of tax	(4,000,000)	(3,000,000)	4,000,000
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Benefit plan net gain (loss),net of tax of $(1), $1 and $(8) respectively	(2,000,000)	6,000,000	(12,000,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax of $(14), $1, and $1 respectively	(26,000,000)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(41,000,000)	18,000,000	17,000,000
Dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	(65,000,000)	(65,000,000)	(65,000,000)
Consolidated Comprehensive Income	2,162,000,000	1,993,000,000	1,660,000,000
Alabama Power [Member]
Consolidated Net Income	747,000,000	746,000,000	709,000,000
Net income after dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	708,000,000	707,000,000	670,000,000
Qualifying hedges:
Changes in fair value, net of tax	(9,000,000)		(3,000,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)	8,000,000
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(11,000,000)	(2,000,000)	5,000,000
Dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	(39,000,000)	(39,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Consolidated Comprehensive Income	697,000,000	705,000,000	675,000,000
Georgia Power [Member]
Consolidated Net Income	1,162,000,000	967,000,000	831,000,000
Net income after dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	1,145,000,000	950,000,000	814,000,000
Qualifying hedges:
Changes in fair value, net of tax			(2,000,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax	2,000,000	10,000,000	14,000,000
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	2,000,000	10,000,000	12,000,000
Dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	(17,000,000)	(17,000,000)	(17,000,000)
Consolidated Comprehensive Income	1,147,000,000	960,000,000	826,000,000
Gulf Power [Member]
Consolidated Net Income	111,208,000	127,714,000	117,436,000
Net income after dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	105,005,000	121,511,000	111,233,000
Qualifying hedges:
Changes in fair value, net of tax		(863,000)	1,803,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax	573,000	598,000	667,000
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	573,000	(265,000)	2,470,000
Dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	(6,203,000)	(6,203,000)	(6,203,000)
Consolidated Comprehensive Income	105,578,000	121,246,000	113,703,000
Mississippi Power [Member]
Consolidated Net Income	95,915,000	81,950,000	86,700,000
Net income after dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	94,182,000	80,217,000	84,967,000
Qualifying hedges:
Changes in fair value, net of tax	(8,870,000)	2,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax	(29,000)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(8,899,000)	2,000
Dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	(1,733,000)	(1,733,000)	(1,733,000)
Consolidated Comprehensive Income	85,283,000	80,219,000	84,967,000
Southern Power [Member]
Consolidated Net Income	162,231,000	131,309,000	155,852,000
Qualifying hedges:
Changes in fair value, net of tax	65,000	938,000	(1,044,000)
Reclassification adjustment for amounts included in net income, net of tax	7,125,000	6,444,000	5,700,000
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans:
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	7,190,000	7,382,000	4,656,000
Consolidated Comprehensive Income	$ 169,421,000	$ 138,691,000	$ 160,508,000