Buyer Option to Purchase Company's Remaining Interest, Term

No definition available.

Name:	aes_BuyerOptionToPurchaseCompanysRemainingInterestTerm
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Company's Continuing Ownership Interest Extension Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_CompanysContinuingOwnershipInterestExtensionPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the generation capacity of disposal group not considered discontinued operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGenerationCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the additional ownership interest that is available for purchase by the acquirer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationInterestAvailableForPurchaseAtOptionOfAcquirer
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the proceeds from the sale of the disposal group not considered discontinued.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationNetProceedsFromSale
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the ownership interest prior to the sale of the disposal group not considered discontinued.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationOwnershipInterestPriorToSale
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of equity interest in business disposed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationOwnershipInterestSold
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationDisposalDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The gain (loss) resulting from the sale of a disposal group that is not a discontinued operation. It is included in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2443-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Dispositions (Details) (AES Cartagena [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	5 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2013 MW	Feb. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
AES Cartagena [Member]
Dispositions
Cartagena generation capacity (MW)	1,199
Proceeds from sale of ownership interest in Cartagena	$ 24
Pre-tax gain on disposal			$ 20		$ 178
Cartagena ownership interest sold		80.00%			80.00%
Cartagena ownership interest prior to sale					70.81%
Acquirer's option to purchase additional ownership interest in Cartagena					20.00%
Term of buyer option to purchase Company's remaining interest				5 months
Company's continuing ownership interest extension period (beyond one year)		1 year