Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Income)	$ 488	$ 175	$ 583	$ 454
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Shares)	721	742	724	745
Income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.68	$ 0.23	$ 0.81	$ 0.61
EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Dilutive Convertible Securities	6	0
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Debt Securities	15	0
DilutiveSecuritiesEffectOnBasicEPS, per diluted share	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00
Stock options (Shares)	1	1	0	0
Restricted stock units (Shares)	3	4	3	4
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Income)	$ 494	$ 175	$ 583	$ 454
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Shares)	740	747	727	749
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$ 0.67	$ 0.23	$ 0.81	$ 0.61
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Debt Securities	15	0
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			5.0	6.0
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			1.0	1.0
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		15.0	15.0	15.0