Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	SOUTHERN CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000092122
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	874,105,516
Alabama Power [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ALABAMA POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000003153
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Georgia Power [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	GEORGIA POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000041091
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Gulf Power [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	GULF POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000044545
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Mississippi Power [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	MISSISSIPPI POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000066904
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Southern Power [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	SOUTHERN POWER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0001160661
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer