Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details Textual)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	35.30%	36.10%
Significantly increase or decrease in the amount of the unrecognized tax benefits associated with a majority of Southern	12 months
Alabama Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	38.80%	39.00%
Georgia Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	35.80%	35.80%
Gulf Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	37.30%	36.60%
Mississippi Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	26.70%	32.60%
Southern Power [Member]
Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Effective tax rate	34.40%	35.90%