Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue:
Regulated	$ 2,063	$ 2,318	$ 6,175	$ 6,685
Non-Regulated	1,940	2,037	5,933	6,122
Total revenue	4,003	4,355	12,108	12,807
Cost of Sales:
Regulated	(1,663)	(1,927)	(5,082)	(5,642)
Non-Regulated	(1,403)	(1,461)	(4,423)	(4,445)
Total cost of sales	(3,066)	(3,388)	(9,505)	(10,087)
Gross margin	937	967	2,603	2,720
General and administrative expenses	(63)	(64)	(183)	(225)
Interest expense	(357)	(396)	(1,065)	(1,182)
Interest income	85	88	213	261
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(212)	0
Other expense	(15)	(15)	(58)	(56)
Other income	25	7	106	39
Gain on sale of investments	3	30	26	214
Goodwill impairment expense	(58)	(1,850)	(58)	(1,850)
Asset impairment expense	(81)	(43)	(129)	(71)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	32	(7)	(16)	(108)
Other non-operating expense	(122)	0	(122)	(50)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	386	(1,283)	1,105	(308)
Income tax expense	(126)	(172)	(285)	(514)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	15	25	21	49
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	275	(1,430)	841	(773)
Income from operations of discontinued businesses, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $(2), $2, $2, and $8, respectively	26	30	25	25
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $0, $(1), $(2), and $60, respectively	(78)	(2)	(111)	68
NET INCOME (LOSS)	223	(1,402)	755	(680)
Noncontrolling interests:
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(146)	(155)	(431)	(398)
Less: Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	(11)	(4)	(9)
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(152)	(166)	(435)	(407)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	71	(1,568)	320	(1,087)
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	129	(1,585)	410	(1,171)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ (58)	$ 17	$ (90)	$ 84
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.17	$ (2.12)	$ 0.55	$ (1.54)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.08)	$ 0.02	$ (0.12)	$ 0.11
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 0.09	$ (2.10)	$ 0.43	$ (1.43)
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.17	$ (2.12)	$ 0.55	$ (1.54)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.08)	$ 0.02	$ (0.12)	$ 0.11
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 0.09	$ (2.10)	$ 0.43	$ (1.43)
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.04	$ 0.08	$ 0.04