Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 508	$ 223	$ 849	$ 755
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 $0, respectively	(1)	0	(1)	(1)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0, $0 and $0, respectively	0	0	0	1
Total change in fair value of available-for-sale securities	(1)	0	(1)	0
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $1, $1, $(7) and $3, respectively	(329)	(6)	(300)	(264)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0, $0 and $0, respectively	(4)	0	(51)	41
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	(333)	(6)	(351)	(223)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $6, $0, $52 and $(28), respectively	(36)	7	(261)	93
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) of $(10), $(8), $(23) and $(30), respectively	44	27	76	112
Total change in fair value of derivatives	8	34	(185)	205
Pension activity:
Change in pension adjustments due to prior service cost, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0, $(1) $0, respectively	0	0	1	0
Change in pension adjustments due to disposal of discontinued operations for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0, $(9), $0, respectively	0	0	14	0
Reclassification to earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(3), $(6), $(4) and $(20), respectively	5	12	21	39
Total pension adjustments	5	12	36	39
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(321)	40	(501)	21
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	187	263	348	776
Less: Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	108	(171)	(119)	(454)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 295	$ 92	$ 229	$ 322