FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Narrative (Details) - Private equity - Alabama Power - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Alternative investment	$ 150	$ 76
Unfunded commitments	$ 69	$ 73

Fair value of investment other than investment in equity security, investment in debt security and equity method investment. Includes, but is not limited to, investment in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share. Example includes, but is not limited to, investment in hedge fund, venture capital fund, private equity fund, and real estate partnership or fund.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123874694&loc=SL6742756-110258

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 54B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=122636397&loc=SL7495116-110257

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of unfunded commitments for which the entity is obligated, to those certain investments for which net asset value per share is calculated (including by unit, membership interest, or other equity (ownership interest) unit measure) (alternative investments).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123874694&loc=SL6742756-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareUnfundedCommittments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOptionQuantitativeDisclosuresLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_PrivateEquityFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=so_AlabamaPowerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: