1.0.0.3 false (A) INTRODUCTION false 1 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 2 (A) INTRODUCTION 0 so_Introduction so false na duration string The abstract element for Note A to the financial statements. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false The abstract element for Note A to the financial statements. false 3 Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] 1 us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div><div><a name="_AUC23fbe4312e0047698c98e7b04f396f31">(A) INTRODUCTION</a> The condensed quarterly financial statements of each registrant included herein have been prepared by such registrant, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.  The Condensed Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 have been derived from the audited financial statements of each registrant.  In the opinion of each registrant’s management, the information regarding such registrant furnished herein reflects all adjustments, which, except as otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the results of operations for the periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.  In addition, all subsequent events have been evaluated for disclosure through the issuance of the financial statements on November 6, 2009.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although each registrant believes that the disclosures regarding such registrant are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  <a name="OLE_LINK11"></a><a name="OLE_LINK6">Disclosures which would substantially duplicate the disclosures in the audited financial statements included in the Form 10-K and, with respect to Southern Company, the subsequently revised audited financial statements included in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 8, 2009 (the Form 8-K), and details which have not changed significantly in amount or composition since the filing of the Form 10-K and, for Southern Company, the Form 8-K are generally omitted from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Therefore, these Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Form 10-K</a> and<a name="OLE_LINK8"></a><a name="OLE_LINK7">, for Southern Company,</a> the Form 8-K.  Due to the seasonal variations in the demand for energy, operating results for the periods presented do not necessarily indicate operating results for the entire year.    <a name="OLE_LINK14"></a><a name="OLE_LINK13">Reclassifications</a>   Certain prior period data presented in the financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.  For comparative purposes, each registrant’s statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were modified within the operating expenses section to combine the line items “Other operations” and “Maintenance” into a single line item entitled “Other operations and maintenance.”  The balance sheets at December 31, 2008 of Southern Company, Alabama Power, and Georgia Power were modified to present a separate line item for “Other regulatory assets, current” previously included in “Other current assets” and a separate line item for “Other regulatory liabilities, current” previously included in “Other current liabilities.”  In addition, Georgia Power’s balance sheet was modified to present a separate line item for “Joint owner accounts receivable” previously included in “Other accounts and notes receivable” and to reflect a new line item “Liabilities from risk management activities” previously included in “Other current liabilities.”  Gulf Power’s balance sheet shows separately the amount of “Prepaid expenses” previously reported in “Other current assets” in the prior period.  Southern Company modified its statements of cash flows within the investing activities section by collapsing the line items “Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries” and “Hurricane Katrina capital grant proceeds” previously shown as separate line items into “Other investing activities” while “Change in construction payables” previously included in “Other investing activities” is shown separately in the current presentation.  Within the operating activities of Georgia Power’s statements of cash flows, “Deferred expenses,” and “Insurance cash surrender value” previously included in “Other, net” in the prior period are now shown as separate line items, and “Deferred expenses--affiliates” previously shown as a separate line item is included in the line item “Deferred expenses.”  Also, within the financing activities of the same statement, the line item “Capital leases” was collapsed into “Other financing activities.”  Mississippi Power’s statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was modified within the operating activities to present separately from “Other, net” the amount of “Generation construction screening expense.”   These reclassifications had no effect on total assets, net income, cash flows, or earnings per share.   Effective January 1, 2009, Southern Company and its subsidiaries adopted retrospectively a new accounting standard for noncontrolling interests.  In connection with the adoption, Southern Company evaluated the requirements with respect to the presentation of preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries.  Based on the accounting guidance, the preferred and preference stock at Georgia Power and the preference stock at Alabama Power and Gulf Power are considered to be “noncontrolling interests” and are separately presented as a component of “Stockholders’ Equity” on Southern Company’s consolidated balance sheets.  The preferred stock of Alabama Power and Mississippi Power contains a feature that allows the holders to elect a majority of such subsidiary’s board of directors if dividends are not paid for four consecutive quarters.  Because such a potential redemption-triggering event is not solely within the control of Alabama Power and Mississippi Power, this preferred stock is presented as “Redeemable Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries” in a manner consistent with temporary equity.  The preferred and preference stock at Georgia Power and the preference stock at Alabama Power and Gulf Power do not contain such a provision that would allow the holders to elect a majority of such subsidiary’s board.   In addition, the new accounting standard for noncontrolling interests requires that preferred and preference dividends of subsidiaries previously presented within Southern Company’s consolidated statements of income as a component of “Other Income and (Expense)” be presented as a deduction from “Consolidated Net Income” to arrive at “Consolidated Net Income After Dividends on Preferred and Preference Stock.”  In Southern Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows, the preferred and preference dividends previously classified in operating activities are now classified in financing activities.   Southern Power Depreciation Policy   See Note 1 to the financial statements of Southern Power under “Depreciation” in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for information regarding Southern Power’s depreciation policy.  Southern Power revised its depreciation rates in 2009.  The change in estimate is due to revised useful life assumptions for certain components of plant in service.  The expected 2009 impact to Southern Power is an increase in depreciation expense of $4.8 million and a reduction in net income of $2.9 million.   <a name="OLE_LINK21"></a><a name="OLE_LINK20">Nuclear Relicensing</a>   The NRC operating licenses for Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 were scheduled to expire in January 2027 and February 2029, respectively.  In June 2007, Georgia Power filed an application with the NRC to extend the licenses for Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 for an additional 20 years.  On June 3, 2009, the NRC approved the extension of the licenses as requested.   Leveraged Leases   On June 29, 2009, Southern Company terminated two international leveraged lease investments for a net gain, after termination of related debt, of $25.5 million.  The termination is reflected on the statements of cash flows and the statements of income on line items “Proceeds from property sales,” “Gain on disposition of lease termination,” and “Loss on extinguishment of debt.” </div></div> (A) INTRODUCTION The condensed quarterly financial statements of each registrant included herein have been prepared by such registrant, without audit, pursuant false false No definition available. 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