Segment and Related Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	$ 4,181,000,000	$ 4,521,000,000	$ 7,785,000,000	$ 8,533,000,000
Consolidated Net Income After Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries	623,000,000	604,000,000	991,000,000	1,026,000,000
Total Assets	60,897,000,000	59,267,000,000	60,897,000,000	59,267,000,000	59,267,000,000
Electric Utilities [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	4,166,000,000	4,503,000,000	7,755,000,000	8,497,000,000
Consolidated Net Income After Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries	596,000,000	603,000,000	964,000,000	1,025,000,000
Total Assets	60,385,000,000	58,076,000,000	60,385,000,000	58,076,000,000
Traditional Operating Companies [Member] | Electric Utilities [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	3,989,000,000	4,291,000,000	7,438,000,000	8,101,000,000
Consolidated Net Income After Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries	549,000,000	559,000,000	888,000,000	943,000,000
Total Assets	56,726,000,000	54,622,000,000	56,726,000,000	54,622,000,000
Southern Power [Member]
Segment and Related Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Southern Power's revenues from sales to the traditional operating companies	106,000,000	71,000,000	218,000,000	154,000,000
Southern Power [Member] | Electric Utilities [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	286,000,000	305,000,000	539,000,000	587,000,000
Consolidated Net Income After Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries	47,000,000	44,000,000	76,000,000	82,000,000
Total Assets	3,785,000,000	3,581,000,000	3,785,000,000	3,581,000,000
Eliminations [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	(20,000,000)	(20,000,000)	(43,000,000)	(40,000,000)
Consolidated Net Income After Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries			(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Total Assets	(620,000,000)	(401,000,000)	(620,000,000)	(401,000,000)
Eliminations [Member] | Electric Utilities [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	(109,000,000)	(93,000,000)	(222,000,000)	(191,000,000)
Total Assets	(126,000,000)	(127,000,000)	(126,000,000)	(127,000,000)
All Other [Member]
Financial data for business segments
Operating revenues	35,000,000	38,000,000	73,000,000	76,000,000
Consolidated Net Income After Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock of Subsidiaries	27,000,000	1,000,000	28,000,000	2,000,000
Total Assets	$ 1,132,000,000	$ 1,592,000,000	$ 1,132,000,000	$ 1,592,000,000