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Financing - Scheduled Maturities and Redemptions of Securities Due Within One Year (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Scheduled maturities and redemptions of securities due within one year    
Senior notes $ 2,375,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotesCurrent $ 428,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotesCurrent
Other long-term debt 775,000,000us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebtCurrent 12,000,000us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebtCurrent
Capitalized leases 31,000,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent 29,000,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
Pollution control revenue bonds 152,000,000us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrent 0us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrent
Total 3,333,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent 469,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
Alabama Power [Member]    
Scheduled maturities and redemptions of securities due within one year    
Total 454,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
0us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
Alabama Power [Member] | 4.92% Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0492so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointNineTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 100us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointNineTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 80,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointNineTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Redemption Price Per Share $ 103.23us-gaap_TemporaryEquityRedemptionPricePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointNineTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Alabama Power [Member] | 4.72% Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0472so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSevenTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 100us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSevenTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 50,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSevenTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Redemption Price Per Share $ 102.18us-gaap_TemporaryEquityRedemptionPricePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSevenTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Alabama Power [Member] | 4.64% Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0464so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSixFourPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 100us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSixFourPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 60,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSixFourPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Redemption Price Per Share $ 103.14us-gaap_TemporaryEquityRedemptionPricePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSixFourPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Alabama Power [Member] | 4.60% Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0460so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSixZeroPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 100us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSixZeroPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 100,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSixZeroPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Redemption Price Per Share $ 104.20us-gaap_TemporaryEquityRedemptionPricePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointSixZeroPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Alabama Power [Member] | 4.52% Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0452so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointFiveTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 100us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointFiveTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 50,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointFiveTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Redemption Price Per Share $ 102.93us-gaap_TemporaryEquityRedemptionPricePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointFiveTwoPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Alabama Power [Member] | 4.20% Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0420so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointTwoZeroPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 100us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointTwoZeroPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 135,115us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointTwoZeroPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Redemption Price Per Share $ 105.00us-gaap_TemporaryEquityRedemptionPricePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FourPointTwoZeroPercentRedeemablePreferredStockMember
[1]  
Alabama Power [Member] | 5.83% Class A Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0583so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointEightThreePercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointEightThreePercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 1,520,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointEightThreePercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | 5.20% Class A Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0520so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointTwoZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointTwoZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 6,480,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointTwoZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | 5.30% Class A Preferred Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.0530so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointThreeZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointThreeZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 4,000,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointThreeZeroPercentClassPreferredStockMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | 5.625% Preference Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.05625so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointSixTwoFivePercentPreferenceStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointSixTwoFivePercentPreferenceStockMember
 
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 6,000,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_FivePointSixTwoFivePercentPreferenceStockMember
 
Alabama Power [Member] | 6.450% Preference Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.06450so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_SixPointFourFiveZeroPercentPreferenceStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_SixPointFourFiveZeroPercentPreferenceStockMember
[1]  
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 6,000,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_SixPointFourFiveZeroPercentPreferenceStockMember
[1]  
Alabama Power [Member] | 6.500% Preference Stock [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Redeemable Preferred Stock/Preference Stock dividend rate percentage 0.06500so_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_SixPointFiveZeroZeroPercentPreferenceStockMember
 
Par Value/Stated Capital Per Share $ 25us-gaap_TemporaryEquityParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_SixPointFiveZeroZeroPercentPreferenceStockMember
[1]  
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 2,000,000us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_AlabamaPowerMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= so_SixPointFiveZeroZeroPercentPreferenceStockMember
[1]  
Georgia Power [Member]    
Scheduled maturities and redemptions of securities due within one year    
Senior notes 1,050,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
0us-gaap_SeniorNotesCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
Capitalized leases 6,000,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
5,000,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
Pollution control revenue bonds 98,000,000us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
0us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
Total 1,154,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
5,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_GeorgiaPowerMember
Mississippi Power [Member]    
Redeemable Preferred/Preference Stock [Abstract]    
Temporary Equity, Shares Outstanding 334,210us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
334,210us-gaap_TemporaryEquitySharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
Scheduled maturities and redemptions of securities due within one year    
Capitalized leases 2,700,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
2,500,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
Pollution control revenue bonds 0us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
11,300,000us-gaap_LongtermPollutionControlBondCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
Bank term loans 775,000,000us-gaap_LoansPayableToBankCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
0us-gaap_LoansPayableToBankCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
Total $ 777,667,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
$ 13,789,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= so_MississippiPowerMember
[1] Prior to 10/01/2017: Stated Value Plus Make-Whole Premium; after 10/01/2017: Stated Capital