Introduction - Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 6,267	$ 6,251
SOUTHERN POWER CO
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2	2
SOUTHERN Co GAS
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	5,967	5,967
SOUTHERN Co GAS \| Gas distribution operations
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	4,702	4,702
SOUTHERN Co GAS \| Gas marketing services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 1,265	$ 1,265

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant