Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 849	$ 755
Adjustments to net income:
Depreciation and amortization	937	982
(Gain) loss on sale of assets and investments	(344)	4
Impairment expenses	304	309
Deferred income taxes	83	(82)
Provisions for (releases of) contingencies	(41)	33
Loss on the extinguishment of debt	196	212
Loss on disposals and impairments - discontinued operations	51	108
Other	135	(26)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	(494)	135
(Increase) decrease in inventory	(75)	(6)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(12)	403
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(439)	(149)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other current liabilities	(14)	(578)
Increase (decrease) in income tax payables, net and other tax payables	(239)	(66)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	319	6
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,216	2,040
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(1,389)	(1,330)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(728)	(3)
Proceeds from the sale of businesses, net of cash sold	1,668	167
Proceeds from the sale of assets	29	52
Sale of short-term investments	3,335	3,375
Purchase of short-term investments	(3,386)	(3,638)
Decrease in restricted cash, debt service reserves and other assets	162	75
Other investing	(55)	35
Net cash used in investing activities	(364)	(1,267)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings (repayments) under the revolving credit facilities, net	14	(22)
Issuance of recourse debt	1,525	750
Issuance of non-recourse debt	2,253	3,082
Repayments of recourse debt	(2,019)	(1,208)
Repayments of non-recourse debt	(1,639)	(2,288)
Payments for financing fees	(111)	(148)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(377)	(385)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	114	157
Dividends paid on AES common stock	(108)	(89)
Payments for financed capital expenditures	(360)	(436)
Purchase of treasury stock	(140)	(63)
Other financing	4	15
Net cash used in financing activities	(844)	(635)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(55)	(37)
Decrease in cash of discontinued and held-for-sale businesses	75	23
Total increase in cash and cash equivalents	28	124
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	1,642	1,900
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	1,670	2,024
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	902	923
Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds	401	506
SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Assets received upon sale of subsidiaries	44	0
Assets acquired through capital lease	$ 13	$ 12