Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Southern - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 3,428	$ 2,309	$ 3,103
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities —
Depreciation and amortization, total	4,064	3,973	3,905
Deferred income taxes	670	(49)	(241)
Utilization of federal investment tax credits	88	288	341
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(224)	(190)	(149)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	(436)	(305)	(261)
Settlement of asset retirement obligations	(455)	(456)	(442)
Storm damage and reliability reserve accruals	430	288	325
Stock based compensation expense	127	144	113
Estimated loss on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4	183	1,692	325
Impairment charges	251	91	206
Gain on dispositions, net	(42)	(176)	(66)
Retail fuel cost under recovery – long-term	(2,166)	(536)	0
Natural gas cost under recovery – long-term	207	(207)	0
Other, net	17	87	(75)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities —
-Receivables	(769)	(81)	(222)
-Fossil fuel for generation	(125)	99	(29)
-Materials and supplies	(160)	(130)	(157)
-Natural gas cost under recovery	158	(266)	0
-Other current assets	(288)	(270)	(132)
-Accounts payable	1,021	(8)	(27)
-Accrued taxes	51	(54)	242
-Customer refunds	119	130	(236)
-Other current liabilities	153	(204)	173
Net cash provided from operating activities	6,302	6,169	6,696
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(7,923)	(7,586)	(7,522)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(1,125)	(1,598)	(877)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	1,112	1,593	871
Proceeds from dispositions	275	917	1,049
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(649)	(442)	(361)
Payments pursuant to LTSAs	(190)	(188)	(211)
Other investing activities	70	(49)	21
Net cash used for investing activities	(8,430)	(7,353)	(7,030)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net		530
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(337)		(1,096)
Proceeds —
Long-term debt	5,132	8,262	8,047
Short-term borrowings	2,650	325	615
Common stock	1,808	73	74
Redemptions and repurchases —
Long-term debt	(2,158)	(4,327)	(4,458)
Short-term borrowings	(1,150)	(25)	(840)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests	73	501	363
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(259)	(351)	(271)
Payment of common stock dividends	(2,907)	(2,777)	(2,685)
Other financing activities	(218)	(266)	(325)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	2,336	1,945	(576)
Net Change in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	208	761	(910)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year	1,829	1,068	1,978
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Year	2,037	1,829	1,068
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	1,758	1,718	1,683
Income taxes, net	146	93	64
Noncash transactions —
Accrued property additions at year-end	1,024	866	989
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	15	89	12
Contributions of wind turbine equipment	$ 0	$ 82	$ 17