Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	$ (8,000,000)		$ (5,000,000)	$ 2,000,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	2,000,000	1,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Change in fair value of marketable securities, tax		2,000,000		1,000,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of pension and other post retirement benefit plans included in net income, tax	1,000,000	(1,000,000)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Alabama Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	(7,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(4,000,000)	1,000,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax		(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Georgia Power [Member]
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Gulf Power [Member]
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	90,000	90,000	180,000	180,000
Mississippi Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax		7,000	(296,000)	6,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	132,000		148,000
Southern Power [Member]
Changes in fair value of qualifying hedges, tax	53,000	(23,000)	(120,000)	400,000
Reclassification adjustment for amounts of qualifying hedges included in net income, tax	$ 956,000	$ 1,084,000	$ 1,912,000	$ 2,155,000