Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,670	$ 1,642
Restricted cash	487	597
Short-term investments	686	668
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $104 and $134, respectively	2,755	2,363
Inventory	741	684
Deferred income taxes	148	166
Prepaid expenses	208	179
Other current assets	1,192	976
Current assets of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	0	464
Total current assets	7,887	7,739
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	903	922
Electric generation, distribution assets and other	30,670	30,596
Accumulated depreciation	(9,981)	(9,604)
Construction in progress	3,475	3,198
Property, plant and equipment, net	25,067	25,112
Other Assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	704	1,010
Debt service reserves and other deposits	480	541
Goodwill	1,468	1,622
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $156 and $153, respectively	283	297
Deferred income taxes	693	666
Other noncurrent assets	2,401	2,170
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	0	1,254
Total other assets	6,029	7,560
TOTAL ASSETS	38,983	40,411
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,203	2,259
Accrued interest	402	263
Accrued and other liabilities	2,121	2,114
Non-recourse debt, including $242 and $267, respectively, related to variable interest entities	2,347	2,062
Recourse debt	0	118
Current liabilities of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	0	837
Total current liabilities	7,073	7,653
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Non-recourse debt, including $1,036 and $979, respectively, related to variable interest entities	13,372	13,318
Recourse debt	5,347	5,551
Deferred income taxes	1,165	1,119
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities	1,224	1,310
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,158	3,299
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	0	432
Total noncurrent liabilities	24,266	25,029
Contingencies and Commitments (see Note 9)
Cumulative preferred stock of subsidiaries	78	78
THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 814,456,569 issued and 715,960,427 outstanding at September 30, 2014 and 813,316,510 issued and 722,508,342 outstanding at December 31, 2013)	8	8
Additional paid-in capital	8,355	8,443
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	413	(150)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,176)	(2,882)
Treasury stock, at cost (98,496,142 shares at September 30, 2014 and 90,808,168 shares at December 31, 2013)	(1,203)	(1,089)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	4,397	4,330
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,169	3,321
Total equity	7,566	7,651
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 38,983	$ 40,411