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FINANCING - Dividend Restrictions and Structural Considerations Narrative (Details) $ in Billions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |
Undistributed retained earnings of subsidiaries | $ 4.4
Southern Company Gas |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |
Retained earnings, unappropriated | $ 1.3
Southern Company Gas | Southern Company Gas Capital |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |
Noncontrolling ownership percentage held by parent | 100.00%

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- Definition A segregation of retained earnings which is available for dividend distribution. Earnings not paid out as dividends but instead reinvested in the core business or used to pay off debt. Unappropriated profit is part of shareholder equity. Also called cumulative distributions or earned surplus or accumulated earnings or unappropriated profit. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(23)(a)(4)(ii)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(30)(a)(3)(ii)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(e)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395691&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
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