Equity (Reclassifications Out of AOCL) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue																	$ 7,835		$ 8,187	$ 7,399
Non-regulated cost of sales																	(5,807)		(5,987)	(5,733)
General and administrative expenses																	220		274	346
Regulated cost of sales																	(6,837)		(7,594)	(6,325)
Interest expense																	(1,482)		(1,544)	(1,530)
Interest income																	275		348	398
Gain on sale of investments																	26		219	8
Foreign currency transaction losses																	(22)		(170)	(32)
Total																	1,048		230	2,260
Income tax expense																	(343)		(685)	(656)
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates																	25		35	(2)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(173)	[1]	341	[1]	332	[1]	230	[1]	355	[2]	(1,429)	[2]	150	[2]	504	[2]	730		(420)	1,602
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(446)		(540)	(1,096)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses																	(152)		16	86
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(206)		71		167		82		175		(1,568)		140		341		114		(912)	58
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION																	(178)	[3]
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unrealized derivative losses, net
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue																	(3)	[3]
Non-regulated cost of sales																	(7)	[3]
Interest expense																	(137)	[3]
Gain on sale of investments																	(21)	[3]
Foreign currency transaction losses																	(6)	[3]
Total																	(174)	[3]
Income tax expense																	41	[3]
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates																	(6)	[3]
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS																	(139)	[3]
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	11	[3]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION																	(128)	[3]
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Unfunded pension obligations, net
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales																	(4)	[3]
General and administrative expenses																	(1)	[3]
Regulated cost of sales																	(73)	[3]
Total																	(78)	[3]
Income tax expense																	26	[3]
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS																	(52)	[3]
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	39	[3]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION																	(13)	[3]
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Available for sale securities, net
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest income																	(1)	[3]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION																	(1)	[3]
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Foreign currency translation adjustment, net
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on sale of investments																	(1)	[3]
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses																	(35)	[3]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION																	$ (36)	[3]

[1] Includes pretax impairment expense of $48 million, $0 million, $74 million and $467 million, for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively. See Note 21—Asset Impairment Expense and Note 10—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets for further discussion.

[2] Includes pretax impairment expense of $10 million, $18 million, $1.9 billion and $(31) million, for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2012, respectively. See Note 21—Asset Impairment Expense and Note 10—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets for further discussion.

[3] Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the consolidated statement of operations.