Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Income)	$ 142	$ 167	$ 95	$ 279
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Shares)	725	747	725	746
Income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.20	$ 0.22	$ 0.13	$ 0.37
EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES
Stock options (Shares)	1	0	1	1
Restricted stock units (Shares)	2	4	2	3
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Income)	$ 142	$ 167	$ 95	$ 279
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Shares)	728	751	728	750
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$ 0.20	$ 0.22	$ 0.13	$ 0.37
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares of common stock issued under the Company's profit sharing plan			1
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			5	7
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			2	1
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			15	15