Cover Page	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021 shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-3526
Entity Registrant Name	The Southern Company
Entity Tax Identification Number	58-0690070
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.
Entity Address, City or Town	Atlanta
Entity Address, State or Province	GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	30308
City Area Code	404
Local Phone Number	506-5000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	1,059,803,931
Entity Central Index Key	0000092122
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock, par value $5 per share
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $5 per share
Trading Symbol	SO
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series 2016A 5.25% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2076
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series 2016A 5.25% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2076
Trading Symbol	SOJB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series 2017B 5.25% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2077
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series 2017B 5.25% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2077
Trading Symbol	SOJC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
2019 Series A Corporate Units
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	2019 Series A Corporate Units
Trading Symbol	SOLN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series 2020A 4.95% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2080
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series 2020A 4.95% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2080
Trading Symbol	SOJD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series 2020C 4.20% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series 2020C 4.20% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2060
Trading Symbol	SOJE
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series 2021B 1.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2081
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series 2021B 1.875% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2081
Trading Symbol	SO 81
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
ALABAMA POWER CO
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	1-3164
Entity Registrant Name	Alabama Power Company
Entity Tax Identification Number	63-0004250
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	AL
Entity Address, Address Line One	600 North 18th Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Birmingham
Entity Address, State or Province	AL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	35203
City Area Code	205
Local Phone Number	257-1000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	30,537,500
Entity Central Index Key	0000003153
ALABAMA POWER CO | 5.00% Series Class A Preferred Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	5.00% Series Class A Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	ALP PR Q
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
GEORGIA POWER CO
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	1-6468
Entity Registrant Name	Georgia Power Company
Entity Tax Identification Number	58-0257110
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	GA
Entity Address, Address Line One	241 Ralph McGill Boulevard, N.E.
Entity Address, City or Town	Atlanta
Entity Address, State or Province	GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	30308
City Area Code	404
Local Phone Number	506-6526
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	9,261,500
Entity Central Index Key	0000041091
GEORGIA POWER CO | Series 2017A 5.00% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2077
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series 2017A 5.00% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2077
Trading Symbol	GPJA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
MISSISSIPPI POWER CO
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	001-11229
Entity Registrant Name	Mississippi Power Company
Entity Tax Identification Number	64-0205820
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MS
Entity Address, Address Line One	2992 West Beach Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	Gulfport
Entity Address, State or Province	MS
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	39501
City Area Code	228
Local Phone Number	864-1211
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	1,121,000
Entity Central Index Key	0000066904
SOUTHERN POWER CO
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	001-37803
Entity Registrant Name	Southern Power Company
Entity Tax Identification Number	58-2598670
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, N.W.
Entity Address, City or Town	Atlanta
Entity Address, State or Province	GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	30308
City Area Code	404
Local Phone Number	506-5000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	1,000
Entity Central Index Key	0001160661
SOUTHERN POWER CO | Series 2016A 1.000% Senior Notes due 2022
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series 2016A 1.000% Senior Notes due 2022
Trading Symbol	SO/22B
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
SOUTHERN POWER CO | Series 2016B 1.850% Senior Notes due 2026
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series 2016B 1.850% Senior Notes due 2026
Trading Symbol	SO/26A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
SOUTHERN Co GAS
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	1-14174
Entity Registrant Name	Southern Company Gas
Entity Tax Identification Number	58-2210952
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	GA
Entity Address, Address Line One	Ten Peachtree Place, N.E.
Entity Address, City or Town	Atlanta
Entity Address, State or Province	GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	30309
City Area Code	404
Local Phone Number	584-4000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	100
Entity Central Index Key	0001004155