Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 755	$ (680)
Adjustments to net income (loss):
Depreciation and amortization	982	1,038
Gain from sale of investments and impairment expense	313	1,802
Deferred income taxes	(82)	101
Provisions for contingencies	33	51
Loss on the extinguishment of debt	212	0
Loss (gain) on disposals and impairments - discontinued operations	108	(130)
Other	(26)	10
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	135	(191)
(Increase) decrease in inventory	(6)	(10)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	403	90
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(149)	(379)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other current liabilities	(578)	303
Increase (decrease) in income tax payables, net and other tax payables	(66)	(151)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	6	275
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,040	2,129
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(1,330)	(1,581)
Acquisitions - net of cash acquired	(3)	(18)
Proceeds from the sale of businesses, net of cash sold	167	432
Proceeds from the sale of assets	52	4
Sale of short-term investments	3,375	5,116
Purchase of short-term investments	(3,638)	(4,764)
Decrease in restricted cash, debt service reserves and other assets	75	35
Proceeds from government grants for asset construction	1	120
Other investing	34	(20)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,267)	(676)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments under the revolving credit facilities, net	(22)	(322)
Issuance of recourse debt	750	0
Issuance of non-recourse debt	3,082	822
Repayments of recourse debt	(1,208)	(8)
Repayments of non-recourse debt	(2,288)	(759)
Payments for financing fees	(148)	(24)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(385)	(741)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	157	12
Dividends paid on AES common stock	(89)	0
Payments for financed capital expenditures	(436)	(30)
Purchase of treasury stock	(63)	(301)
Other financing	15	8
Net cash used in financing activities	(635)	(1,343)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(37)	9
Decrease in cash of discontinued and held-for-sale businesses	21	140
Total increase in cash and cash equivalents	122	259
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	1,909	1,632
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	2,031	1,891
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	923	1,024
Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds	$ 506	$ 580