Commitments (Long-Term Purchase Commitments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Electricity Purchase Contracts
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Purchases Under Long Term Contracts	$ 3,104	$ 2,665	$ 2,819
Future Commitments 2015	3,559
Future Commitments 2016	3,660
Future Commitments 2017	3,217
Future Commitments 2018	3,335
Future Commitments 2019	3,521
Future Commitments Thereafter	34,805
Future Commitments Total	52,097
Fuel Purchase Contracts
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Purchases Under Long Term Contracts	1,521	1,590	1,832
Future Commitments 2015	1,266
Future Commitments 2016	819
Future Commitments 2017	761
Future Commitments 2018	502
Future Commitments 2019	356
Future Commitments Thereafter	3,235
Future Commitments Total	6,939
Other Purchase Contracts
Long-Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Purchases Under Long Term Contracts	1,386	1,743	1,637
Future Commitments 2015	1,377
Future Commitments 2016	930
Future Commitments 2017	898
Future Commitments 2018	707
Future Commitments 2019	614
Future Commitments Thereafter	4,874
Future Commitments Total	$ 9,400

The total minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment

No definition available.

Name:	aes_LongTermPurchaseCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The actual amount the entity purchased under the long-term purchase commitment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmountActual
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment, which payments are due after the fifth year following the balance sheet date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment, which payments are due in the Fifth year following the balance sheet date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentWithinFiveYears
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment, which payments are due in the fourth year following the balance sheet date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentWithinFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment, which payments are due within one year of the balance sheet date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentWithinOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment, which payments are due in the third year following the balance sheet date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentWithinThreeYears
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment, which payments are due in the second year following the balance sheet date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentWithinTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=aes_ElectricityPurchaseContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=aes_FuelPurchaseContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentByCategoryOfItemPurchasedAxis=aes_OtherPurchaseContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: