Asset Retirement Obligations (Tables)
|
12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract] |
|
| Details of AROs included in the balance sheets |
Details of the AROs included in the balance sheets are as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | Mississippi Power | Southern Power | | (in millions) | Balance at December 31, 2016 | $ | 4,514 |
| $ | 1,533 |
| $ | 2,532 |
| $ | 179 |
| $ | 64 |
| Liabilities incurred | 16 |
| — |
| 4 |
| — |
| 6 |
| Liabilities settled | (177 | ) | (26 | ) | (120 | ) | (23 | ) | — |
| Accretion | 179 |
| 77 |
| 89 |
| 5 |
| 4 |
| Cash flow revisions | 292 |
| 125 |
| 133 |
| 13 |
| 4 |
| Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 4,824 |
| $ | 1,709 |
| $ | 2,638 |
| $ | 174 |
| $ | 78 |
| Liabilities incurred | 29 |
| — |
| 27 |
| — |
| 2 |
| Liabilities settled | (244 | ) | (55 | ) | (116 | ) | (35 | ) | — |
| Accretion | 217 |
| 106 |
| 94 |
| 5 |
| 4 |
| Cash flow revisions | 4,737 |
| 1,450 |
| 3,186 |
| 16 |
| — |
| Reclassification to held for sale | (169 | ) | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| Balance at December 31, 2018 | $ | 9,394 |
| $ | 3,210 |
| $ | 5,829 |
| $ | 160 |
| $ | 84 |
|
|
| Investment securities in the Funds |
Investment securities in the Funds for December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | | (in millions) | At December 31, 2018: | | | | Equity securities | $ | 919 |
| $ | 594 |
| $ | 325 |
| Debt securities | 726 |
| 201 |
| 525 |
| Other securities | 74 |
| 51 |
| 23 |
| Total investment securities in the Funds | $ | 1,719 |
| $ | 846 |
| $ | 873 |
| | | | | At December 31, 2017: | | | | Equity securities | $ | 1,059 |
| $ | 644 |
| $ | 415 |
| Debt securities | 725 |
| 223 |
| 502 |
| Other securities | 47 |
| 35 |
| 12 |
| Total investment securities in the Funds | $ | 1,831 |
| $ | 902 |
| $ | 929 |
|
|
| Fair value increases (decreases) of the Funds |
The fair value increases (decreases) of the Funds, including reinvested interest and dividends and excluding the Funds' expenses, for 2018, 2017, and 2016 are shown in the table below. The fair value increases (decreases) included unrealized gains (losses) on securities held in the Funds at each of December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, which are also shown in the table below. | | | | | | | | | | | | Southern Company | Alabama Power | Georgia Power | | (in millions) | Fair value increases (decreases) | | | | 2018 | $ | (67 | ) | $ | (38 | ) | $ | (29 | ) | 2017 | 233 |
| 125 |
| 108 |
| 2016 | 114 |
| 76 |
| 38 |
| | | | | Unrealized gains (losses) | | | | At December 31, 2018 | $ | (183 | ) | $ | (96 | ) | $ | (87 | ) | At December 31, 2017 | 181 |
| 98 |
| 83 |
| At December 31, 2016 | 48 |
| 34 |
| 14 |
|
At December 31, 2018, assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the period, together with their associated level of the fair value hierarchy, were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fair Value Measurements Using | | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets | | Significant Other Observable Inputs | | Significant Unobservable Inputs | | Net Asset Value as a Practical Expedient | | | At December 31, 2018: | (Level 1) | | (Level 2) | | (Level 3) | | (NAV) | | Total | | (in millions) | Southern Company | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives(a)(b) | $ | 469 |
| | $ | 292 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 761 |
| Foreign currency derivatives | — |
| | 75 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 75 |
| Investments in trusts:(c)(d) | | | | | | | | | | Domestic equity | 601 |
| | 107 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 708 |
| Foreign equity | 53 |
| | 173 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 226 |
| U.S. Treasury and government agency securities | — |
| | 261 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 261 |
| Municipal bonds | — |
| | 83 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 83 |
| Pooled funds – fixed income | — |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 14 |
| Corporate bonds | 24 |
| | 290 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 314 |
| Mortgage and asset backed securities | — |
| | 68 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 68 |
| Private equity | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 45 |
| | 45 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 16 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 16 |
| Other | 34 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 38 |
| Cash equivalents | 765 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 766 |
| Other investments | — |
| | 12 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 12 |
| Total | $ | 1,962 |
| | $ | 1,380 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 45 |
| | $ | 3,387 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives(a)(b) | $ | 648 |
| | $ | 316 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 964 |
| Interest rate derivatives | — |
| | 49 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 49 |
| Foreign currency derivatives | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| Contingent consideration | — |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| Total | $ | 648 |
| | $ | 388 |
| | $ | 21 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,057 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fair Value Measurements Using | | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets | | Significant Other Observable Inputs | | Significant Unobservable Inputs | | Net Asset Value as a Practical Expedient | | | At December 31, 2018: | (Level 1) | | (Level 2) | | (Level 3) | | (NAV) | | Total | | (in millions) | Alabama Power | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| Nuclear decommissioning trusts:(c) | | | | | | | | | | Domestic equity | 396 |
| | 95 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 491 |
| Foreign equity | 53 |
| | 50 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 103 |
| U.S. Treasury and government agency securities | — |
| | 18 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 18 |
| Municipal bonds | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| Corporate bonds | 24 |
| | 135 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 159 |
| Mortgage and asset backed securities | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| Private equity | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 45 |
| | 45 |
| Other | 6 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 6 |
| Cash equivalents | 116 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 117 |
| Other investments | — |
| | 12 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 12 |
| Total | $ | 595 |
| | $ | 341 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 45 |
| | $ | 981 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Georgia Power | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| Nuclear decommissioning trusts:(c)(d) | | | | | | | | | | Domestic equity | 205 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 206 |
| Foreign equity | — |
| | 119 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 119 |
| U.S. Treasury and government agency securities | — |
| | 243 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 243 |
| Municipal bonds | — |
| | 82 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 82 |
| Corporate bonds | — |
| | 155 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 155 |
| Mortgage and asset backed securities | — |
| | 45 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 45 |
| Other | 19 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| Total | $ | 224 |
| | $ | 655 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 879 |
| Liabilities: |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 21 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 21 |
| Interest rate derivatives | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| Total | $ | — |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 23 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fair Value Measurements Using | | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets | | Significant Other Observable Inputs | | Significant Unobservable Inputs | | Net Asset Value as a Practical Expedient | | | At December 31, 2018: | (Level 1) | | (Level 2) | | (Level 3) | | (NAV) | | Total | | (in millions) | Mississippi Power | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 3 |
| Cash equivalents | 255 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 255 |
| Total | $ | 255 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 258 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 9 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Southern Power | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 4 |
| Foreign currency derivatives | — |
| | 75 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 75 |
| Cash equivalents | 46 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 46 |
| Total | $ | 46 |
| | $ | 79 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 125 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 8 |
| Foreign currency derivatives | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| Contingent consideration | — |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| Total | $ | — |
| | $ | 31 |
| | $ | 21 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 52 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Southern Company Gas | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives(a)(b) | $ | 469 |
| | $ | 272 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 741 |
| Non-qualified deferred compensation trusts: | | | | | | | | | | Domestic equity | — |
| | 11 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 11 |
| Foreign equity | — |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 4 |
| Pooled funds - fixed income | — |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 14 |
| Cash equivalents | 4 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 4 |
| Cash equivalents | 40 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 40 |
| Total | $ | 513 |
| | $ | 301 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 814 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
|
| Energy-related derivatives(a)(b) | $ | 648 |
| | $ | 261 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 909 |
|
| | (a) | Energy-related derivatives exclude $8 million associated with premiums and certain weather derivatives accounted for based on intrinsic value rather than fair value. |
| | (b) | Energy-related derivatives exclude cash collateral of $277 million. |
| | (c) | Excludes receivables related to investment income, pending investment sales, payables related to pending investment purchases, and currencies. See Note 6 under "Nuclear Decommissioning" for additional information. |
| | (d) | Includes investment securities pledged to creditors and collateral received and excludes payables related to the securities lending program. See Note 6 under "Nuclear Decommissioning" for additional information. |
At December 31, 2017, assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the period, together with their associated level of the fair value hierarchy, were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fair Value Measurements Using | | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets | | Significant Other Observable Inputs | | Significant Unobservable Inputs | | Net Asset Value as a Practical Expedient | | | At December 31, 2017: | (Level 1) | | (Level 2) | | (Level 3) | | (NAV) | | Total | | (in millions) | Southern Company | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives(a)(b) | $ | 331 |
| | $ | 239 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 570 |
| Interest rate derivatives | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| Foreign currency derivatives | — |
| | 129 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 129 |
| Nuclear decommissioning trusts:(c) | | | | | | | | | | Domestic equity | 690 |
| | 82 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 772 |
| Foreign equity | 62 |
| | 224 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 286 |
| U.S. Treasury and government agency securities | — |
| | 251 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 251 |
| Municipal bonds | — |
| | 68 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 68 |
| Corporate bonds | 21 |
| | 315 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 336 |
| Mortgage and asset backed securities | — |
| | 57 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 57 |
| Private equity | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 29 |
| | 29 |
| Other | 19 |
| | 12 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 31 |
| Cash equivalents | 1,455 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,455 |
| Other investments | 9 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 10 |
| Total | $ | 2,587 |
| | $ | 1,378 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 29 |
| | $ | 3,995 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives(a)(b) | $ | 480 |
| | $ | 253 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 733 |
| Interest rate derivatives | — |
| | 38 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 38 |
| Foreign currency derivatives | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| Contingent consideration | — |
| | — |
| | 22 |
| | — |
| | 22 |
| Total | $ | 480 |
| | $ | 314 |
| | $ | 22 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 816 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fair Value Measurements Using | | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets | | Significant Other Observable Inputs | | Significant Unobservable Inputs | | Net Asset Value as a Practical Expedient | | | At December 31, 2017: | (Level 1) | | (Level 2) | | (Level 3) | | (NAV) | | Total | | (in millions) | Alabama Power | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 4 |
| Nuclear decommissioning trusts:(d) |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | | |
|
| Domestic equity | 442 |
| | 81 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 523 |
| Foreign equity | 62 |
| | 59 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 121 |
| U.S. Treasury and government agency securities | — |
| | 24 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 24 |
| Corporate bonds | 21 |
| | 160 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 181 |
| Mortgage and asset backed securities | — |
| | 18 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 18 |
| Private equity | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 29 |
| | 29 |
| Other | 6 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 6 |
| Cash equivalents | 349 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 349 |
| Total | $ | 880 |
| | $ | 346 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 29 |
| | $ | 1,255 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Georgia Power | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| Nuclear decommissioning trusts:(d)(e) | | | | | | | | | | Domestic equity | 248 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 249 |
| Foreign equity | — |
| | 166 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 166 |
| U.S. Treasury and government agency securities | — |
| | 227 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 227 |
| Municipal bonds | — |
| | 68 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 68 |
| Corporate bonds | — |
| | 155 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 155 |
| Mortgage and asset backed securities | — |
| | 40 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 40 |
| Other | 12 |
| | 12 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 24 |
| Cash equivalents | 690 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 690 |
| Total | $ | 950 |
| | $ | 675 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,625 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 19 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 19 |
| Interest rate derivatives | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 5 |
| Total | $ | — |
| | $ | 24 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 24 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fair Value Measurements Using | | | | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets | | Significant Other Observable Inputs | | Significant Unobservable Inputs | | Net Asset Value as a Practical Expedient | | | At December 31, 2017: | (Level 1) | | (Level 2) | | (Level 3) | | (NAV) | | Total | | (in millions) | Mississippi Power | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 2 |
| Interest rate derivatives | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| Cash equivalents | 224 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 224 |
| Total | $ | 224 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 227 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 9 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Southern Power | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 3 |
| Foreign currency derivatives | — |
| | 129 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 129 |
| Cash equivalents | 21 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| Total | $ | 21 |
| | $ | 132 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 153 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives | $ | — |
| | $ | 13 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 13 |
| Foreign currency derivatives | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| Contingent consideration | — |
| | — |
| | 22 |
| | — |
| | 22 |
| Total | $ | — |
| | $ | 36 |
| | $ | 22 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 58 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Southern Company Gas | | | | | | | | | | Assets: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives(a)(b) | $ | 331 |
| | $ | 223 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 554 |
| Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | Energy-related derivatives(a)(b) | $ | 479 |
| | $ | 181 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | 660 |
|
| | (a) | Energy-related derivatives exclude $11 million associated with premiums and certain weather derivatives accounted for based on intrinsic value rather than fair value. |
| | (b) | Energy-related derivatives exclude cash collateral of $193 million. |
| | (c) | For additional detail, see the nuclear decommissioning trusts sections for Alabama Power and Georgia Power in this table. |
| | (d) | Excludes receivables related to investment income, pending investment sales, payables related to pending investment purchases, and currencies. See Note 6 under "Nuclear Decommissioning" for additional information. |
| | (e) | Includes investment securities pledged to creditors and collateral received and excludes payables related to the securities lending program. See Note 6 under "Nuclear Decommissioning" for additional information. |
|
| Accumulated provisions for the external decommissioning trust funds |
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the accumulated provisions for the external decommissioning trust funds were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | 2018 | | 2017 | | (in millions) | Alabama Power | | | | Plant Farley | $ | 846 |
| | $ | 902 |
| | | | | Georgia Power | | | | Plant Hatch | $ | 547 |
| | $ | 583 |
| Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2 | 326 |
| | 346 |
| Total | $ | 873 |
| | $ | 929 |
|
|
| Estimated costs of decommissioning |
The estimated costs of decommissioning at December 31, 2018 based on the most current studies, which were each performed in 2018, were as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Plant Farley | | Plant Hatch(*) | | Plant Vogtle Units 1 and 2(*) | Decommissioning periods: | | | | | | Beginning year | 2037 |
| | 2034 |
| | 2047 |
| Completion year | 2076 |
| | 2075 |
| | 2079 |
| | (in millions) | Site study costs: | | | | | | Radiated structures | $ | 1,234 |
| | $ | 734 |
| | $ | 601 |
| Spent fuel management | 387 |
| | 172 |
| | 162 |
| Non-radiated structures | 99 |
| | 56 |
| | 79 |
| Total site study costs | $ | 1,720 |
| | $ | 962 |
| | $ | 842 |
|
| | (*) | Based on Georgia Power's ownership interests. |
|