Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 2,016,000,000	$ 1,991,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	1,602,000,000	1,530,000,000
Deferred income taxes	645,000,000	914,000,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(102,000,000)	(113,000,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	78,000,000	(1,000,000)
Stock based compensation expense	45,000,000	35,000,000
Retail fuel cost over recovery - long-term	118,000,000	0
Other, net	17,000,000	11,000,000
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(157,000,000)	(118,000,000)
-Fossil fuel stock	(232,000,000)	229,000,000
-Other current assets	(5,000,000)	(45,000,000)
-Accounts payable	(240,000,000)	(155,000,000)
-Accrued taxes	311,000,000	440,000,000
-Accrued compensation	(142,000,000)	(96,000,000)
-Retail fuel cost over recovery - short-term	112,000,000	(14,000,000)
-Other current liabilities	(22,000,000)	(10,000,000)
Net cash provided from operating activities	4,044,000,000	4,598,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(3,558,000,000)	(3,115,000,000)
Investment of restricted cash	(230,000,000)	1,000,000
Distribution of restricted cash	234,000,000	61,000,000
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(758,000,000)	(1,946,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	756,000,000	1,942,000,000
Proceeds from property sales	2,000,000	21,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(83,000,000)	(90,000,000)
Change in construction payables	(73,000,000)	137,000,000
Other investing activities	(48,000,000)	91,000,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(3,758,000,000)	(2,898,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(521,000,000)	(1,160,000,000)
Proceeds --
Long-term debt issuances	3,114,000,000	3,144,000,000
Interest-bearing refundable deposit related to asset sale	150,000,000	0
Common stock issuances	381,000,000	620,000,000
Redemptions --
Long-term debt	(2,098,000,000)	(1,987,000,000)
Common stock repurchased	(85,000,000)	0
Payment of common stock dividends	(1,267,000,000)	(1,193,000,000)
Payment of dividends on preferred and preference stock of subsidiaries	(49,000,000)	(49,000,000)
Other financing activities	30,000,000	(6,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(345,000,000)	(631,000,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(59,000,000)	1,069,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	1,315,000,000	447,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	1,256,000,000	1,516,000,000
Cash paid (received) during the period for --
Interest (net of capitalized amounts)	589,000,000	369,000,000
Income taxes, net	6,000,000	(358,000,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at end of period	531,000,000	541,000,000
Alabama Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	621,000,000	636,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	574,000,000	562,000,000
Deferred income taxes	132,000,000	350,000,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(13,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	10,000,000	(17,000,000)
Stock based compensation expense	7,000,000	5,000,000
Other, net	(3,000,000)	6,000,000
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(83,000,000)	(74,000,000)
-Fossil fuel stock	(93,000,000)	75,000,000
-Materials and supplies	(5,000,000)	(13,000,000)
-Other current assets	(1,000,000)	(19,000,000)
-Accounts payable	(167,000,000)	(120,000,000)
-Accrued taxes	146,000,000	215,000,000
-Accrued compensation	(27,000,000)	(35,000,000)
-Other current liabilities	(13,000,000)	5,000,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	1,085,000,000	1,558,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(616,000,000)	(694,000,000)
Distribution of restricted cash	0	11,000,000
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(128,000,000)	(301,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	128,000,000	301,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(17,000,000)	(52,000,000)
Change in construction payables	(2,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Other investing activities	(11,000,000)	14,000,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(646,000,000)	(734,000,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	22,000,000	10,000,000
Senior notes issuances	250,000,000	700,000,000
Redemptions --
Pollution control revenue bonds	(1,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Senior notes	(250,000,000)	(650,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(30,000,000)	(30,000,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(404,000,000)	(415,000,000)
Other financing activities	(4,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(417,000,000)	(402,000,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	22,000,000	422,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	344,000,000	154,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	366,000,000	576,000,000
Cash paid (received) during the period for --
Interest (net of capitalized amounts)	203,000,000	207,000,000
Income taxes, net	172,000,000	(95,000,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at end of period	16,000,000	15,000,000
Georgia Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	1,000,000,000	1,048,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	684,000,000	646,000,000
Deferred income taxes	243,000,000	422,000,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(41,000,000)	(73,000,000)
Retail fuel cost over recovery - long-term	118,000,000	0
Other, net	23,000,000	(38,000,000)
Deferred expenses	(20,000,000)	(30,000,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(23,000,000)	(68,000,000)
-Fossil fuel stock	(126,000,000)	115,000,000
-Prepaid income taxes	40,000,000	81,000,000
-Other current assets	4,000,000	(2,000,000)
-Accounts payable	(57,000,000)	(46,000,000)
-Accrued taxes	40,000,000	(1,000,000)
-Accrued compensation	(43,000,000)	(18,000,000)
-Retail fuel cost over recovery - short-term	81,000,000	0
-Other current liabilities	48,000,000	43,000,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	1,971,000,000	2,079,000,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(1,291,000,000)	(1,363,000,000)
Investment of restricted cash	(234,000,000)	0
Distribution of restricted cash	234,000,000	0
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund purchases	(630,000,000)	(1,645,000,000)
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	628,000,000	1,641,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(42,000,000)	(21,000,000)
Change in construction payables, net of joint owner portion	(141,000,000)	108,000,000
Other investing activities	9,000,000	(9,000,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,467,000,000)	(1,289,000,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(513,000,000)	(575,000,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	29,000,000	199,000,000
Pollution control revenue bonds issuances	234,000,000	604,000,000
Senior notes issuances	1,900,000,000	550,000,000
Other long-term debt issuances	0	250,000,000
Redemptions --
Pollution control revenue bonds	(234,000,000)	(286,000,000)
Senior notes	(550,000,000)	(277,000,000)
Other long-term debt	(250,000,000)	(509,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(13,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(681,000,000)	(672,000,000)
Other financing activities	(14,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(92,000,000)	(732,000,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	412,000,000	58,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	13,000,000	8,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	425,000,000	66,000,000
Cash paid (received) during the period for --
Interest (net of capitalized amounts)	237,000,000	240,000,000
Income taxes, net	186,000,000	(2,000,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at end of period	253,000,000	375,000,000
Gulf Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	108,035,000	90,912,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	109,132,000	101,335,000
Deferred income taxes	132,367,000	56,869,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(3,988,000)	(7,091,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	4,361,000	(179,000)
Stock based compensation expense	1,346,000	1,055,000
Other, net	3,839,000	(5,787,000)
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(10,995,000)	(13,605,000)
-Prepayments	3,066,000	7,745,000
-Fossil fuel stock	14,055,000	36,802,000
-Materials and supplies	(3,859,000)	(6,382,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	28,108,000	36,081,000
-Other current assets	0	(571,000)
-Accounts payable	(453,000)	(65,000)
-Accrued taxes	18,566,000	22,186,000
-Accrued compensation	(4,263,000)	(4,290,000)
-Over recovered regulatory clause revenues	7,387,000	2,771,000
-Other current liabilities	(925,000)	7,513,000
Net cash provided from operating activities	405,779,000	325,299,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(239,705,000)	(228,696,000)
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(20,931,000)	(9,137,000)
Change in construction payables	(542,000)	636,000
Payments pursuant to long-term service agreements	(6,184,000)	(6,173,000)
Other investing activities	627,000	303,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(266,735,000)	(243,067,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(91,699,000)	(56,607,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	1,569,000	1,569,000
Common stock issuances	40,000,000	50,000,000
Senior notes issuances	100,000,000	125,000,000
Redemptions --
Senior notes	(91,363,000)	(553,000)
Other long-term debt	0	(110,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(4,652,000)	(4,652,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(86,850,000)	(82,500,000)
Other financing activities	(468,000)	(3,593,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(133,463,000)	(81,336,000)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	5,581,000	896,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	17,328,000	16,434,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	22,909,000	17,330,000
Cash paid (received) during the period for --
Interest (net of capitalized amounts)	38,806,000	36,427,000
Income taxes, net	(101,825,000)	(46,319,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at end of period	25,115,000	15,820,000
Mississippi Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	116,206,000	79,218,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	65,902,000	64,329,000
Deferred income taxes	8,527,000	35,225,000
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(43,460,000)	(15,413,000)
Pension, postretirement, and other employee benefits	6,700,000	3,327,000
Stock based compensation expense	1,718,000	1,302,000
Other, net	(4,834,000)	(7,642,000)
Convertible investment tax credits	38,811,000	51,761,000
Hedge settlements	(15,983,000)	0
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(17,622,000)	(5,295,000)
-Fossil fuel stock	(19,888,000)	2,345,000
-Materials and supplies	(2,683,000)	(1,442,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	2,517,000	(18,762,000)
-Other current assets	(14,652,000)	2,295,000
-Accounts payable	13,581,000	21,711,000
-Accrued taxes	2,361,000	(3,751,000)
-Accrued compensation	(4,830,000)	(4,514,000)
-Over recovered regulatory clause revenues	10,982,000	(17,754,000)
-Other current liabilities	14,526,000	(296,000)
Net cash provided from operating activities	157,879,000	186,644,000
Investing Activities:
Property additions	(1,169,653,000)	(605,710,000)
Distribution of restricted cash	0	50,000,000
Cost of removal, net of salvage	(3,092,000)	(6,931,000)
Change in construction payables	97,360,000	70,909,000
Capital grant proceeds	10,058,000	139,921,000
Other investing activities	(12,891,000)	(3,399,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,078,218,000)	(355,210,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	429,272,000	199,782,000
Interest-bearing refundable deposit related to asset sale	150,000,000	0
Senior notes issuances	600,000,000	0
Other long-term debt issuances	25,613,000	115,000,000
Redemptions --
Capital leases	(633,000)	(1,067,000)
Other long-term debt	(205,000,000)	(130,000,000)
Payment of preferred and preference stock dividends	(1,299,000)	(1,299,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(80,100,000)	(56,625,000)
Other financing activities	7,597,000	(377,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	925,450,000	125,414,000
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	5,111,000	(43,152,000)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	211,585,000	160,779,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	216,696,000	117,627,000
Cash paid (received) during the period for --
Interest (net of capitalized amounts)	22,948,000	13,956,000
Income taxes, net	(11,737,000)	(33,276,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at end of period	233,262,000	109,732,000
Southern Power [Member]
Operating Activities:
Consolidated net income	144,294,000	138,415,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided from operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization, total	112,013,000	102,756,000
Deferred income taxes	147,993,000	474,000
Deferred revenues	9,299,000	8,114,000
Other, net	1,168,000	3,790,000
Convertible investment tax credits	36,308,000	62,298,000
Mark-to-market adjustments	(8,970,000)	1,479,000
Changes in certain current assets and liabilities --
-Receivables	(20,427,000)	(24,799,000)
-Fossil fuel stock	(6,440,000)	305,000
-Materials and supplies	(5,557,000)	(1,826,000)
-Prepaid income taxes	(5,669,000)	24,436,000
-Other current assets	(2,159,000)	219,000
-Accounts payable	5,668,000	(2,634,000)
-Accrued taxes	48,203,000	27,417,000
-Accrued interest	(10,225,000)	(11,601,000)
-Other current liabilities	808,000	(661,000)
Net cash provided from operating activities	446,307,000	328,182,000
Investing Activities:
Plant acquisition	(113,651,000)	0
Property additions	(97,569,000)	(200,157,000)
Change in construction payables	(17,557,000)	(14,667,000)
Payments pursuant to long-term service agreements	(52,650,000)	(46,065,000)
Other investing activities	153,000	(3,211,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(281,274,000)	(264,100,000)
Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in notes payable, net	(78,059,000)	(220,903,000)
Proceeds --
Capital contributions from parent company	(681,000)	125,596,000
Senior notes issuances	0	300,000,000
Other long-term debt issuances	4,949,000	0
Redemptions --
Other long-term debt	(650,000)	(3,441,000)
Payment of common stock dividends	(95,250,000)	(68,400,000)
Other financing activities	3,776,000	(5,629,000)
Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities	(165,915,000)	127,223,000
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(882,000)	191,305,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	16,943,000	14,204,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	16,061,000	205,509,000
Cash paid (received) during the period for --
Interest (net of capitalized amounts)	46,163,000	65,201,000
Income taxes, net	(137,756,000)	(26,555,000)
Noncash transactions - accrued property additions at end of period	$ 21,034,000	$ 36,971,000