Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details Textual)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	34.10%	35.40%
Significantly increase or decrease in the amount of the unrecognized tax benefits associated with a majority of Southern	Next 12 Months
Alabama Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	38.90%	38.50%
Georgia Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	34.20%	34.80%
Gulf Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	36.60%	35.90%
Mississippi Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	25.20%	32.60%
Southern Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	35.90%	35.30%