Other Income and Expense (Other Expense) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Loss on sale and disposal of assets	$ 47aes_LossOnSaleAndDisposalOfAssets	$ 51aes_LossOnSaleAndDisposalOfAssets	$ 64aes_LossOnSaleAndDisposalOfAssets
Legal settlement	11aes_Legalsettlement	9aes_Legalsettlement	9aes_Legalsettlement
Contract termination	0aes_OtherExpenseContractTermination	7aes_OtherExpenseContractTermination	0aes_OtherExpenseContractTermination
Other	10us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	9us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	9us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Total other expense	$ 68us-gaap_OtherExpenses	$ 76us-gaap_OtherExpenses	$ 82us-gaap_OtherExpenses

This element represents a sum total of expenses not separately reflected on the income statement for the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 7

-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4,6)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Name:	us-gaap_OtherExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration