Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Other investments, primarily notes receivable	$ 40		$ 35
Other investments, primarily notes receivable, included in other current receivables	2		2
Other investments:
Special use funds: equity method investments	180		164
Special use funds: loans	43		39
Available for sale debt securities amortized cost	1,579		1,638
Available for sale equity securities amortized cost	1,443		1,425
Held to maturity notes receivable maturity date - low	2014
Held to maturity notes receivable maturity date - high	2029
Special use funds: storm fund assets	125
Special use funds: nuclear decommissioning fund assets	3,979
Special use funds: nuclear decommissioning funds weighted average maturity (in years)	6 years
Special use funds: storm fund weighted average maturity (in years)	3 years
Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Special use funds	4,104	[1]	3,867	[1]
Other investments:
Notes receivable	503		503
Debt securities	97	[2]	89	[2]
Equity securities	87		80
Long-term debt, including current maturities	22,036		21,614
Interest rate swaps - net unrealized losses	(263)		(283)
Foreign currency swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	(27)		18
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Special use funds	4,104	[1]	3,867	[1]
Other investments:
Notes receivable	605	[3]	535	[3]
Debt securities	97	[4]	89	[4]
Equity securities	159	[5]	159	[5]
Long-term debt, including current maturities	23,827	[6]	23,699	[6]
Interest rate swaps - net unrealized losses	(263)	[4]	(283)	[4]
Foreign currency swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	(27)	[4]	18	[4]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Other investments:
Long-term debt, including current maturities	$ 14,937	[6]	$ 15,035	[6]

[1] At March 31, 2012, includes $180 million of investments accounted for under the equity method and $43 million of loans not measured at fair value on a recurring basis ($126 million and $25 million, respectively, for FPL). At December 31, 2011, includes $164 million of investments accounted for under the equity method and $39 million of loans not measured at fair value on a recurring basis ($112 million and $24 million, respectively, for FPL). For the remaining balances, see Note 3 for classification by major security type and hierarchy level. The amortized cost of debt and equity securities is $1,579 million and $1,443 million, respectively, at March 31, 2012 and $1,638 million and $1,425 million, respectively, at December 31, 2011 ($1,260 million and $870 million, respectively, at March 31, 2012 and $1,321 million and $864 million, respectively, at December 31, 2011 for FPL).

[2] Classified as trading securities.

[3] Classified as held to maturity. Estimated using a discounted cash flow valuation technique based on certain observable yield curves and indices considering the credit profile of the borrower (Level 3). Notes receivable bear interest primarily at fixed rates and mature from 2014 to 2029. Notes receivable are considered impaired and placed in non-accrual status when it becomes probable that all amounts due cannot be collected in accordance with the contractual terms of the agreement. The assessment to place notes receivable in non-accrual status considers various credit indicators, such as credit standings and ratings and market-related information. As of March 31, 2012, neither NEE nor FPL had any notes receivable reported in non-accrual status.

[4] See Note 3.

[5] Primarily modeled internally based on recent market information including, among other things, private offerings of the securities (Level 3).

[6] As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $14,937 million and $15,035 million, respectively, is estimated using quoted market prices for the same or similar issues (Level 2); the balance is estimated using a discounted cash flow valuation technique, considering the current credit spread of the debtor (Level 3). For FPL, estimated using quoted market prices for the same or similar issues (Level 2).