XML 243 R201.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.24.0.1

RETIREMENT BENEFITS - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |
Plan asset amortization period | 5 years |
Pension plans |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |
Employer contributions | $ 52,000,000 | $ 61,000,000
Expected future employer contributions, next fiscal year | 0 |
Actuarial losses | $ 493,000,000 | $ (3,908,000,000)
Change in discount rate | (1800.00%) | 2.16%
Pension plans | Qualified pension plan |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |
Employer contributions | $ 0 |
Other postretirement benefit plans |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |
Employer contributions | 73,000,000 | $ 73,000,000
Expected future employer contributions, next fiscal year | 0 |
Actuarial losses | $ (33,000,000) | $ (365,000,000)

X
- Definition Defined Benefit Plan, Change In Discount Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | so_DefinedBenefitPlanChangeInDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix: | so_
Data Type: | dtr-types1:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Period over which company has elected to amortize changes in market value of all plan assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | so_PeriodOverWhichCompanyHasElectedToAmortizeChangesInMarketValueOfAllPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix: | so_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) from change in actuarial assumptions which (increases) decreases benefit obligation of defined benefit plan. Assumptions include, but are not limited to, interest, mortality, employee turnover, salary, and temporary deviation from substantive plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(4) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 17 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-17 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 18 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-18 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-6 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(ii) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of contribution expected to be received by defined benefit plan from employer in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 55 -Paragraph 18 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-18 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureEmployerContributionsNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RetirementPlanTaxStatusAxis=us-gaap_QualifiedPlanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |