Investments In and Advances To Affiliates - Effective Equity Ownership Interest and Carrying Values (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified																				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Silver Ridge Power		Dec. 31, 2012 Silver Ridge Power		Dec. 31, 2013 Barry		Dec. 31, 2012 Barry		Dec. 31, 2013 CET		Dec. 31, 2012 CET		Dec. 31, 2013 Chigen Affiliates		Dec. 31, 2012 Chigen Affiliates		Dec. 31, 2013 Elsta		Dec. 31, 2012 Elsta		Dec. 31, 2013 Entek	Dec. 31, 2012 Entek	Dec. 31, 2013 Guacolda	Dec. 31, 2012 Guacolda	Dec. 31, 2013 OPGC	Dec. 31, 2012 OPGC	Dec. 31, 2013 Trinidad Generation Unlimited		Dec. 31, 2012 Trinidad Generation Unlimited		Dec. 31, 2013 Other Affiliates	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Affiliates
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates	$ 1,010	$ 1,196	$ 1,422	$ 291	[1]	$ 307	[1]	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2],[3]	$ 13	[2],[3]	$ 0	[4]	$ 2	[4]	$ 120	[2],[5]	$ 219	[2],[5]	$ 165	$ 234	$ 245	$ 196	$ 186	$ 199	$ 0	[2],[6]	$ 24	[2],[6]	$ 3	$ 2
Investment In Affiliate Ownership Percentage				50.00%	[1]	50.00%	[1]	100.00%	[2]	100.00%	[2]			72.00%	[2],[3]			35.00%	[4]	50.00%	[2],[5]	50.00%	[2],[5]	50.00%	50.00%	35.00%	35.00%	49.00%	49.00%	10.00%		10.00%	[2],[6]
Equity method investment, other than temporary impairment																				129
Long Term Liabilities Associated With Debt Agreement Resulting In Loss Of Control								$ 55

[1] Represent our investments in AES Solar Energy Ltd in Europe, AES Solar Power LLC in the United States and AES Solar Power, PR, LLC in Puerto Rico. The collective solar energy affiliates were consolidated into a single entity, Silver Ridge Power, during 2013.

[2] Represent VIEs in which the Company holds a variable interest, but is not the primary beneficiary.

[3] The Company acquired all of the noncontrolling interests of CET during the fourth quarter of 2013, which resulted in the consolidation of this entity

[4] Represent our investment in Chengdu AES Kaihua Gas Turbine Company Ltd. The Company disposed of this investment during the first quarter of 2013.

[5] The Company recognized a $129 million impairment of its investment in Elsta during 2013. For additional information see Note 9 — Other Non-Operating Expense.

[6] The Company sold its interest in Trinidad Generation Unlimited during the third quarter of 2013.