Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other investments, primarily notes receivable	$ 41		$ 35
Other investments:
Special use funds: equity method investments	229		164
Special use funds: loans	34		39
Available for sale debt securities amortized cost	1,753		1,638
Available for sale equity securities amortized cost	1,437		1,425
Held to maturity notes receivable maturity date - high	2029
Special use funds: storm fund assets	127
Special use funds: nuclear decommissioning fund assets	4,096
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	4,223	[1]	3,867	[1]
Other investments:
Notes receivable	500		503
Debt securities	115	[2]	89	[2]
Equity securities	61		80
Long-term debt, including current maturities	24,769		21,614
Interest rate swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	(311)		(283)
Foreign currency swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	5		18
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Special use funds	4,223	[1]	3,867	[1]
Other investments:
Notes receivable	681	[3]	535	[3]
Debt securities	115	[4]	89	[4]
Equity securities	75	[5]	159	[5]
Long-term debt, including current maturities	27,674	[6]	23,699	[6]
Interest rate swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	(311)	[4]	(283)	[4]
Foreign currency swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	5	[4]	18	[4]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Other investments:
Long-term debt, including current maturities	15,873		15,035
FPL [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other investments, primarily notes receivable	8		4
Other investments:
Special use funds: equity method investments	144		112
Special use funds: loans	28		24
Available for sale debt securities amortized cost	1,417		1,321
Available for sale equity securities amortized cost	791		864
Special use funds: nuclear decommissioning fund assets	2,840
Special use funds: nuclear decommissioning funds weighted average maturity (in years)	6 years
FPL [Member] | Carrying Amount [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Special use funds	2,967	[1]	2,737	[1]
Other investments:
Long-term debt, including current maturities	8,084		7,533
FPL [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Special use funds	2,967	[1]	2,737	[1]
Other investments:
Long-term debt, including current maturities	$ 9,984	[6]	$ 9,078	[6]

[1] At September 30, 2012, includes $229 million of investments accounted for under the equity method and $34 million of loans not measured at fair value on a recurring basis ($144 million and $28 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 $1,753 million and $1,437 million, respectively, at September 30, 2012 and $1,638 million and $1,425 million, respectively, at December 31, 2011 ($1,417 million and $791 million, respectively, at September 30, 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 by 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 September 30, 2012, NEE had no 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 September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $15,873 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).