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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Accumulated Provisions and Estimated Costs For Decommissioning (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Alabama Power [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total $ 775so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
$ 734so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 1,442so_SiteStudyCosts
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | Plant Farley [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Beginning Year 2037  
Completion Year 2076  
Alabama Power [Member] | Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning External Trust Funds [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 754so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningExternalTrustFundsMember
713so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningExternalTrustFundsMember
Alabama Power [Member] | Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning Internal Reserves [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 21so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningInternalReservesMember
21so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningInternalReservesMember
Alabama Power [Member] | Site Study Cost Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 1,362so_SiteStudyCosts
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | Site Study Cost Non-Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 80so_SiteStudyCosts
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostNonRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Farley [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 775so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
734so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
Decommissioning    
Beginning Year 2037  
Completion Year 2076  
Total site study costs 1,442so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
 
Plant Farley [Member] | Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning External Trust Funds [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 754so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningExternalTrustFundsMember
713so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningExternalTrustFundsMember
Plant Farley [Member] | Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning Internal Reserves [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 21so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningInternalReservesMember
21so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningInternalReservesMember
Plant Farley [Member] | Site Study Cost Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 1,362so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Farley [Member] | Spent Fuel Management [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 0so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SpentFuelManagementMember
 
Plant Farley [Member] | Site Study Cost Non-Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 80so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantFarleyMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostNonRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Hatch [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 496so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
469so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
Decommissioning    
Beginning Year 2034  
Completion Year 2068  
Total site study costs 731so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
 
Plant Hatch [Member] | Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning External Trust Funds [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 496so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningExternalTrustFundsMember
469so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningExternalTrustFundsMember
Plant Hatch [Member] | Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning Internal Reserves [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 0so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningInternalReservesMember
0so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningInternalReservesMember
Plant Hatch [Member] | Site Study Cost Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 549so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Hatch [Member] | Spent Fuel Management [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 131so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SpentFuelManagementMember
 
Plant Hatch [Member] | Site Study Cost Non-Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 51so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostNonRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Hatch [Member] | Georgia Power [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Beginning Year 2034  
Completion Year 2068  
Total site study costs 731so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
 
External trust funds 496so_NetAssetsOfFunds
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
 
Plant Hatch [Member] | Georgia Power [Member] | Site Study Cost Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 549so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Hatch [Member] | Georgia Power [Member] | Spent Fuel Management [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 131so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SpentFuelManagementMember
 
Plant Hatch [Member] | Georgia Power [Member] | Site Study Cost Non-Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 51so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantHatchMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostNonRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Vogtle [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 293so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
277so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
Decommissioning    
Beginning Year 2047  
Completion Year 2072  
Total site study costs 644so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
 
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning External Trust Funds [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 293so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningExternalTrustFundsMember
277so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningExternalTrustFundsMember
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning Internal Reserves [Member]    
Accumulated Provisions for Decommissioning    
Total 0so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningInternalReservesMember
0so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioning
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_AccumulatedProvisionsForDecommissioningInternalReservesMember
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Site Study Cost Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 453so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Spent Fuel Management [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 115so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SpentFuelManagementMember
 
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Site Study Cost Non-Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 76so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostNonRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Georgia Power [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Beginning Year 2047  
Completion Year 2072  
Total site study costs 644so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
 
External trust funds 293so_NetAssetsOfFunds
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
 
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Georgia Power [Member] | Site Study Cost Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 453so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostRadiatedStructuresMember
 
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Georgia Power [Member] | Spent Fuel Management [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs 115so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SpentFuelManagementMember
 
Plant Vogtle [Member] | Georgia Power [Member] | Site Study Cost Non-Radiated Structures [Member]    
Decommissioning    
Total site study costs $ 76so_SiteStudyCosts
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= so_PlantVogtleMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis
= so_SiteStudyCostNonRadiatedStructuresMember