Income Taxes - Current and Deferred Income Tax Provisions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Federal -
Current	$ 363,000	$ 177,000	$ 57,000
Deferred	386,000	1,011,000	1,035,000
Total federal taxes	749,000	1,188,000	1,092,000
State -
Current	(10,000)	61,000	8,000
Deferred	110,000	85,000	119,000
Total state taxes	100,000	146,000	127,000
Income taxes	849,000	1,334,000	1,219,000
Alabama Power [Member]
Federal -
Current	243,000	262,000	20,000
Deferred	160,000	137,000	377,000
Total federal taxes	403,000	399,000	397,000
State -
Current	36,000	51,000	(1,000)
Deferred	39,000	27,000	82,000
Total state taxes	75,000	78,000	81,000
Income taxes	478,000	477,000	478,000
Georgia Power [Member]
Federal -
Current	277,000	273,000	106,000
Deferred	374,000	370,000	479,000
Total federal taxes	651,000	643,000	585,000
State -
Current	(30,000)	38,000	19,000
Deferred	102,000	7,000	21,000
Total state taxes	72,000	45,000	40,000
Income taxes	723,000	688,000	625,000
Gulf Power [Member]
Federal -
Current	5,009	(92,610)	(1,548)
Deferred	63,134	161,096	56,087
Total federal taxes	68,143	68,486	54,539
State -
Current	(2,410)	(2,484)	(412)
Deferred	13,935	13,209	7,141
Total state taxes	11,525	10,725	6,729
Income taxes	79,668	79,211	61,268
Mississippi Power [Member]
Federal -
Current	23,345	1,212	(27,099)
Deferred	(342,870)	16,994	65,206
Total federal taxes	(319,525)	18,206	38,107
State -
Current	5,219	1,656	(2,473)
Deferred	(53,529)	694	6,559
Total state taxes	(48,310)	2,350	4,086
Income taxes	(367,835)	20,556	42,193
Southern Power [Member]
Federal -
Current	(120,200)	(133,100)	61,600
Deferred	158,700	210,400	12,400
Total federal taxes	38,500	77,300	74,000
State -
Current	(5,200)	(3,000)	9,800
Deferred	12,600	18,300	(7,900)
Total state taxes	7,400	15,300	1,900
Income taxes	$ 45,895	$ 92,621	$ 75,857