Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	$ 2,195		$ 1,971		$ 4,315	$ 3,982
Regulated cost of sales	(1,844)		(1,632)		(3,776)	(3,419)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1,648)		(1,412)		(3,184)	(3,026)
Interest expense	(323)		(337)		(696)	(707)
Gain on sale of investments	0		20		1	23
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	7		(18)		(12)	(48)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	418		407		536	717
Income tax expense	(157)		(76)		(211)	(159)
Other income	(33)		(13)		(44)	(81)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	20		2		45	6
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	281		333		370	564
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	(13)		3	[1]	(56)	(33)
Net income	275		333		341	532
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(139)		(166)		(275)	(285)
Interest income	(73)		(63)		(136)	(128)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	133		167		75	249
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	52	[2]	(93)	[2]	25	(115)
Unrealized Derivative Losses, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	6	[2]	(1)	[2]	19	(1)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(3)	[2]	(1)	[2]	(2)	(2)
Interest expense	(31)	[2]	(34)	[2]	(63)	(69)
Gain on sale of investments	0		(21)		0	(21)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	7	[2]	(17)	[2]	4	(10)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(21)	[2]	(74)	[2]	(42)	(103)
Income tax expense	10	[2]	15	[2]	13	22
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	(2)	[2]	(2)	[2]	(3)	(4)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(13)	[2]	(61)	[2]	(32)	(85)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	15	[2]	11	[2]	15	13
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	2	[2]	(50)	[2]	(17)	(72)
Amortization Of Defined Benefit Pension Actuarial Loss, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Regulated cost of sales	(9)	[2]	(19)	[2]	(17)	(39)
Non-regulated cost of sales	1	[2]	(1)	[2]	0	(2)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(8)	[2]	(20)	[2]	(17)	(41)
Income tax expense	(2)	[2]	7	[2]	1	14
Other income	(2)	[2]	0	[2]	(2)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(12)	[2]	(13)	[2]	(18)	(27)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	2		0		2	0
Net income	(10)		(13)		(16)	(27)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	[2]	10	[2]	11	21
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(3)		(3)		(5)	(6)
Available-For-Sale Securities, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest income	0		(1)		0	(1)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	0		(1)		0	(1)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on sale of investments	0	[2]	(4)	[2]	0	(1)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	53	[2]	(35)	[2]	47	(35)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 53	[2]	$ (39)	[2]	$ 47	$ (36)

[1] Includes the results of operations of our Ukraine utility businesses, which were sold in April 2013.

[2] Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the condensed consolidated statement of operations.