Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other investments, primarily notes receivable	$ 37		$ 41
Other investments:
Special use funds: equity method investments	241		229
Special use funds: loans	39		40
Available for sale debt securities amortized cost	1,725		1,679
Available for sale equity securities amortized cost	1,500		1,500
Held to maturity notes receivable maturity date - high	2029
Special use funds: storm fund assets	73
Special use funds: nuclear decommissioning fund assets	4,340
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	4,413	[1]	4,190	[1]
Other investments:
Notes receivable	500		500
Debt securities	117	[2]	111	[2]
Equity securities	45		61
Long-term debt, including current maturities	25,543		26,647	[3]
Interest rate swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	(211)		(311)
Foreign currency swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	(103)		(66)
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Special use funds	4,413	[1]	4,190	[1]
Other investments:
Notes receivable	675	[4]	665	[4]
Debt securities	117	[5]	111	[5]
Equity securities	45	[6]	79	[6]
Long-term debt, including current maturities	27,706	[7]	28,874	[7]
Interest rate swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	(211)	[5]	(311)	[5]
Foreign currency swaps - net unrealized gains (losses)	(103)	[5]	(66)	[5]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Other investments:
Long-term debt, including current maturities	18,535		18,962
FPL [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other investments, primarily notes receivable	4		4
Other investments:
Special use funds: equity method investments	149		138
Special use funds: loans	32		32
Available for sale debt securities amortized cost	1,368		1,339
Available for sale equity securities amortized cost	839		839
Special use funds: nuclear decommissioning fund assets	2,991
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	3,064	[1]	2,918	[1]
Other investments:
Long-term debt, including current maturities	8,355		8,782
FPL [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Special use funds	3,064	[1]	2,918	[1]
Other investments:
Long-term debt, including current maturities	$ 9,810	[7]	$ 10,421	[7]

[1] At March 31, 2013, includes $241 million of investments accounted for under the equity method and $39 million of loans not measured at fair value on a recurring basis ($149 million and $32 million, respectively, for FPL). At December 31, 2012, includes $229 million of investments accounted for under the equity method and $40 million of loans not measured at fair value on a recurring basis ($138 million and $32 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 $1,725 million and $1,500 million, respectively, at March 31, 2013 and $1,679 million and $1,500 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012 ($1,368 million and $839 million, respectively, at March 31, 2013 and $1,339 million and $839 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012 for FPL).

[2] Classified as trading securities.

[3] Also includes long-term debt reflected in liabilities associated with assets held for sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, for which the carrying amount approximates fair value.

[4] 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 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 ratings and market-related information. As of March 31, 2013, NEE had no notes receivable reported in non-accrual status.

[5] See Note 3.

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

[7] As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $18,535 million and $18,962 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).