Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,642	$ 1,900
Restricted cash	597	734
Short-term investments	668	693
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $134 and $195, respectively	2,363	2,539
Inventory	684	719
Deferred income taxes	166	199
Prepaid expenses	179	222
Other current assets	976	1,072
Current assets of discontinued operations and held-for-sale assets	464	387
Total current assets	7,739	8,465
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	922	1,005
Electric generation, distribution assets and other	30,596	30,278
Accumulated depreciation	(9,604)	(9,145)
Construction in progress	3,198	2,497
Property, plant and equipment, net	25,112	24,635
Other Assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	1,010	1,196
Debt service reserves and other deposits	541	510
Goodwill	1,622	1,999
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $153 and $222, respectively	297	324
Deferred income taxes	666	940
Other noncurrent assets	2,170	2,188
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations and held-for-sale assets	1,254	1,573
Total other assets	7,560	8,730
TOTAL ASSETS	40,411	41,830
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,259	2,545
Accrued interest	263	287
Accrued and other liabilities	2,114	2,347
Non-recourse debt, including $267 and $275, respectively, related to variable interest entities	2,062	2,494
Recourse debt	118	11
Current liabilities of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	837	635
Total current liabilities	7,653	8,319
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Non-recourse debt, including $979 and $858, respectively, related to variable interest entities	13,318	12,265
Recourse debt	5,551	5,951
Deferred income taxes	1,119	1,179
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities	1,310	2,418
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,299	3,523
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	432	583
Total noncurrent liabilities	25,029	25,919
Contingencies and Commitments (see Notes 13 and 14)
Cumulative preferred stock of subsidiaries	78	78
THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 813,316,510 issued and 722,508,342 outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 810,679,839 issued and 744,263,855 outstanding at December 31, 2012)	8	8
Additional paid-in capital	8,443	8,525
Accumulated deficit	(150)	(264)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,882)	(2,920)
Treasury stock, at cost (90,808,168 shares at December 31, 2013 and 66,415,984 shares at December 31, 2012)	(1,089)	(780)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	4,330	4,569
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,321	2,945
Total equity	7,651	7,514
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 40,411	$ 41,830