XML 206 R164.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.24.0.1

CONSOLIDATED ENTITIES AND EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS - Southern Company (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022
--- | --- | ---
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries | $ 1,368 | $ 1,443
Southern Holdings Company |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries | $ 126 | $ 112

X
- Definition This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481664/323-10-45-1 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(10)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-25 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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 Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(g)(1)(ii)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480678/235-10-S99-1 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (f) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482907/825-10-50-28 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481687/323-10-50-3 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=so_SouthernHoldingsCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |