Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 275	$ 333	$ 341	$ 532
Available-for-sale securities activity:
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0, $0 and $1, respectively	0	(1)	0	(1)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0, $0 and $0, respectively	0	1	0	1
Total change in fair value of available-for-sale securities	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(7), $2, $(8) and $2, respectively	24	(226)	29	(258)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0, $0 and $0, respectively	(53)	44	(47)	41
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	(29)	(182)	(18)	(217)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $22, $(28), $46 and $(28), respectively	(105)	102	(225)	86
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) of $(10), $(15), $(13) and $(22), respectively	13	61	32	85
Total change in fair value of derivatives	(92)	163	(193)	171
Pension activity:
Change in pension adjustments due to prior service cost, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(1), $0, $(1), $0, respectively	1	0	1	0
Change in pension adjustments due to disposal of discontinued operations for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(9), $0, $(9), $0, respectively	14	0	14	0
Reclassification to earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $2, $(7), $(1) and $(14), respectively	10	13	16	27
Total pension adjustments	25	13	31	27
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)	(96)	(6)	(180)	(19)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	179	327	161	513
Less: Comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(102)	(147)	(227)	(283)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 77	$ 180	$ (66)	$ 230

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