Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 66	$ 199
Adjustments to net income:
Depreciation and amortization	306	329
Loss (gain) on sale of assets and investments	4	11
Impairment expenses	166	48
Deferred income taxes	56	13
Provisions for contingencies	12	26
Loss on the extinguishment of debt	134	47
Loss on disposals and impairments - discontinued operations	44	38
Other	35	56
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	(219)	42
(Increase) decrease in inventory	(12)	(4)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(74)	(192)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(444)	(45)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other current liabilities	415	174
Increase (decrease) in income tax payables, net and other tax payables	(206)	(123)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	(62)	(1)
Net cash provided by operating activities	221	618
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(399)	(401)
Proceeds from the sale of businesses, net of cash sold	29	1
Proceeds from the sale of assets	4	6
Sale of short-term investments	1,049	1,335
Purchase of short-term investments	(993)	(1,492)
Increase in restricted cash, debt service reserves and other assets	(19)	(45)
Other investing	3	15
Net cash used in investing activities	(326)	(581)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under the revolving credit facilities, net	65	15
Issuance of recourse debt	750	0
Issuance of non-recourse debt	554	1,491
Repayments of recourse debt	(866)	(2)
Repayments of non-recourse debt	(349)	(1,007)
Payments for financing fees	(78)	(33)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(26)	(31)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	32	55
Dividends paid on AES common stock	(36)	(30)
Payments for financed capital expenditures	(178)	(152)
Other financing	0	4
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(132)	310
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(22)	(8)
Decrease in cash of discontinued and held-for-sale businesses	30	17
Total (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(229)	356
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	1,642	1,900
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	1,413	2,256
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	226	234
Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds	$ 237	$ 295