Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Comprehensive Income) (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
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (206)	$ 71	$ 167	$ 82	$ 175	$ (1,568)	$ 140	$ 341	$ 114	$ (912)	$ 58
Available-for-sale securities activity:
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									(1)	1	1
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									1	(1)	(2)
Total change in fair value of available-for-sale securities									0	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $10, $0 and $18, respectively									(375)	(247)	(484)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									41	37	188
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(334)	(210)	(296)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(31), $33 and $95, respectively									108	(134)	(379)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(32), $(51) and $(21), respectively									139	177	137
Total change in fair value of derivatives									247	43	(242)
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of tax									0	(1)	0
Net actuarial (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(42), $64 and $25, respectively									379	(587)	(223)
Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(5), $(5) and $(1), respectively									52	24	13
Total pension adjustments									431	(564)	(210)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									344	(731)	(749)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									895	(1,088)	781
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION									114	(912)	58
Available-for-sale securities activity:
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									(1)	1	1
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									1	(1)	(2)
Total change in fair value of available-for-sale securities									0	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $10, $0 and $18, respectively									(263)	(127)	(297)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									36	37	154
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(227)	(90)	(143)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(31), $33 and $95, respectively									46	(108)	(311)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(32), $(51) and $(21), respectively									128	161	121
Total change in fair value of derivatives									174	53	(190)
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of tax									0	(1)	0
Net actuarial (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(42), $64 and $25, respectively									78	(130)	(43)
Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(5), $(5) and $(1), respectively									13	6	2
Total pension adjustments									91	(125)	(41)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									38	(162)	(375)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									$ 152	$ (1,074)	$ (317)