Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation	$ 206	$ 488	$ 133	$ (58)	$ (206)	$ 71	$ 167	$ 82	$ 769	$ 114	$ (912)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(7), $10 and $0, respectively									(491)	(375)	(247)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									(3)	41	37
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(494)	(334)	(210)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $51, $(31) and $33, respectively									(358)	108	(134)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(37), $(32) and $(51), respectively									99	139	177
Total change in fair value of derivatives									(259)	247	43
Pension activity:
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $9, $(42) and $64, respectively									(49)	379	(588)
Reclassification of earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(0), $(5) and $(5), respectively									29	52	24
Total pension adjustments									(20)	431	(564)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									(773)	344	(731)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									374	895	(1,088)
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation									769	114	(912)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(7), $10 and $0, respectively									(366)	(263)	(127)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									34	36	37
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(332)	(227)	(90)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $51, $(31) and $33, respectively									(180)	46	(108)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(37), $(32) and $(51), respectively									72	128	161
Total change in fair value of derivatives									(108)	174	53
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									(1)	0	(1)
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $9, $(42) and $64, respectively									(13)	78	(130)
Reclassification of earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(0), $(5) and $(5), respectively									10	13	6
Total pension adjustments									(4)	91	(125)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									(444)	38	(162)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									$ 325	$ 152	$ (1,074)