Non-Recourse Debt (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	May 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 750,000,000		$ 750,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount	122,000,000	928,000,000	300,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt			0	0	(212,000,000)	0
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Default			1,038,000,000		1,038,000,000
Maritza [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Net Assets			684,000,000		684,000,000
Kavarna [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Net Assets			84,000,000		84,000,000
Kribi [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Net Assets			46,000,000		46,000,000
Sonel [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Net Assets			398,000,000		398,000,000
Saurashtra [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Net Assets			2,000,000		2,000,000
Covenant Violation [Member] | Maritza [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Default			836,000,000		836,000,000
Covenant Violation [Member] | Kavarna [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Default			202,000,000		202,000,000
Covenant Violation [Member] | Kribi [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Default			256,000,000		256,000,000
Covenant Violation [Member] | Sonel [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Default			255,000,000		255,000,000
Covenant Violation [Member] | Saurashtra [Member]
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Default			21,000,000		21,000,000
Tiete [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			496,000,000		496,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount					396,000,000
El Salvador [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			310,000,000		310,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount					301,000,000
Sul [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			150,000,000		150,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount					40,000,000
Mong Duong [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			339,000,000		339,000,000
DPL Subsidiary [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			200,000,000		200,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount					425,000,000
IPL [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			170,000,000		170,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount					110,000,000
Masinloc [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount					500,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt					43,000,000
Jordan [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			138,000,000		138,000,000
Cochrane [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			120,000,000		120,000,000
DP&L [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Schedule of Significant Transactions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			445,000,000		445,000,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount					$ 470,000,000