Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenue:
Regulated	$ 2,093	$ 2,105	$ 4,339	$ 4,589
Non-Regulated	1,975	1,984	3,994	4,086
Total revenue	4,068	4,089	8,333	8,675
Cost of Sales:
Regulated	(1,738)	(1,869)	(3,632)	(3,925)
Non-Regulated	(1,412)	(1,527)	(3,028)	(2,985)
Total cost of sales	(3,150)	(3,396)	(6,660)	(6,910)
Gross margin	918	693	1,673	1,765
General and administrative expenses	(59)	(74)	(120)	(161)
Interest expense	(346)	(384)	(723)	(800)
Interest income	63	82	129	173
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(165)	0	(212)	0
Other expense	(18)	(15)	(46)	(43)
Other income	13	14	81	32
Gain on sale of investments	20	5	23	184
Asset impairment expense	0	(18)	(48)	(28)
Foreign currency transaction losses	(17)	(101)	(49)	(102)
Other non-operating expense	0	(1)	0	(50)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	409	201	708	970
Income tax expense	(81)	(75)	(163)	(343)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	2	11	6	24
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	330	137	551	651
Income (loss) from operations of discontinued businesses, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $1, $3, $0, and $5, respectively	0	(5)	14	1
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $(1), $61, $(2), and $61, respectively	3	75	(33)	70
NET INCOME	333	207	532	722
Noncontrolling interests:
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(166)	(67)	(281)	(240)
Less: Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	(2)	(1)
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(166)	(67)	(283)	(241)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	167	140	249	481
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	164	70	270	411
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 3	$ 70	$ (21)	$ 70
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.22	$ 0.09	$ 0.36	$ 0.54
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.00	$ 0.09	$ (0.03)	$ 0.09
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 0.22	$ 0.18	$ 0.33	$ 0.63
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.22	$ 0.09	$ 0.36	$ 0.54
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.00	$ 0.09	$ (0.03)	$ 0.09
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 0.22	$ 0.18	$ 0.33	$ 0.63
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0	$ 0.08	$ 0