2.0.0.10 false Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits 0207 - Disclosure - Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits true false false false 1 usd $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Abstract] 0 so_EffectiveTaxRateAndUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsAbstract so false na duration string Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false Effective Tax Rate and Unrecognized Tax Benefits. false 3 EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS 1 us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left">(G)</td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AND UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b> </b></td> <td width="1%"><b> </b></td> <td><b>Effective Tax Rate</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Southern Company’s effective tax rate was 31.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to 54.1% for the corresponding period in 2009. See Note 5 to the financial statements of each registrant in Item 8 of the Form 10-K for information on the effective income tax rate. Southern Company’s effective tax rate decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to March 31, 2009 primarily due to the $202 million charge for the MC Asset Recovery litigation settlement, which occurred in the first quarter 2009. Southern Company is currently evaluating potential recovery of the settlement payment through various means including insurance, claims in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and other avenues. The degree to which any recovery is realized will determine, in part, the final income tax treatment of the settlement payment. Additionally, Georgia Power’s effective tax rate decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to March 31, 2009 from 33.1% to 27.8%, primarily due to the recognition of additional Georgia state tax credits and additional AFUDC equity, which is not taxable, in the first quarter 2010.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b> </b></td> <td width="1%"><b> </b></td> <td><b>Unrecognized Tax Benefits</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Changes during 2010 for unrecognized tax benefits are as follows:</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="right" style="margin-right: 2%"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="93%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="28%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Southern</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Alabama</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Georgia</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Gulf</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Mississippi</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Southern</b></td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Company</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Power</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Power</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Power</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Power</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Power</b></td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="25" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td colspan="23" align="center"><i>(in millions)</i><br /></td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2009 </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">199</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">6</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">181</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">2</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">3</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Tax positions from current periods </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">11</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">11</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Tax positions from prior periods </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right"> </td> <td align="right">(23</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right"> </td> <td align="right">(23</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Reductions due to settlements </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Reductions due to expired statute of limitations </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="25" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Balance as of March 31, 2010 </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">187</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">6</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">169</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">2</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">3</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="25" align="left" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>All of the unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 would impact the effective tax rate of Southern Company and its subsidiaries if recognized. The tax positions increase from current periods relates primarily to the Georgia state tax credits litigation and other miscellaneous uncertain tax positions. The tax positions decrease from prior periods relates to the Georgia state tax credits litigation. See Note (B) under “Income Tax Matters – Georgia State Income Tax Credits” herein for additional information.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Accrued interest for unrecognized tax benefits was as follows:</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="right" style="margin-right: 2%"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="93%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="52%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>As of</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>As of</b></td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Georgia</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>Other</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>March 31,</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>December 31,</b></td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff"><b>Power</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff"><b>Registrants</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>2010</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="3"><b>2009</b></td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="17" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td colspan="15" align="center"><i>(in millions)</i><br /></td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Interest accrued as of December 31, 2009 </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">20</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">21</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">21</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Interest reclassified due to settlements </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Interest accrued during the period </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="17" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Balance as of March 31, 2010 </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">20</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">21</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">$</td> <td align="right">21</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="17" align="left" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>None of the registrants accrued any penalties on uncertain tax positions.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="2%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized tax benefits associated with a majority of Southern Company’s and Georgia Power’s unrecognized tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. The resolution of the Georgia state tax credits litigation would substantially reduce the balances. The conclusion or settlement of state audits could also impact the balances significantly. At this time, an estimate of the range of reasonably possible outcomes cannot be determined.</td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false Description containing the entire income tax disclosure. Examples include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 136, 172 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true