Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,539	$ 1,642
Restricted cash	283	597
Short-term investments	709	668
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $96 and $134, respectively	2,709	2,363
Inventory	702	684
Deferred income taxes	275	166
Prepaid expenses	175	179
Other current assets	1,434	976
Current assets of discontinued operations and held-for-sale assets	0	464
Total current assets	7,826	7,739
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	870	922
Electric generation, distribution assets and other	30,459	30,596
Accumulated depreciation	(9,962)	(9,604)
Construction in progress	3,784	3,198
Property, plant and equipment, net	25,151	25,112
Other Assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	537	1,010
Debt service reserves and other deposits	411	541
Goodwill	1,458	1,622
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $158 and $153, respectively	281	297
Deferred income taxes	662	666
Other noncurrent assets	2,640	2,170
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations and held-for-sale assets	0	1,254
Total other assets	5,989	7,560
TOTAL ASSETS	38,966	40,411
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,278	2,259
Accrued interest	260	263
Accrued and other liabilities	2,326	2,114
Non-recourse debt, including $240 and $267, respectively, related to variable interest entities	1,982	2,062
Recourse debt	151	118
Current liabilities of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	0	837
Total current liabilities	6,997	7,653
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Non-recourse debt, including $1,030 and $979, respectively, related to variable interest entities	13,618	13,318
Recourse debt	5,107	5,551
Deferred income taxes	1,277	1,119
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities	1,342	1,310
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,222	3,299
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	0	432
Total noncurrent liabilities	24,566	25,029
Contingencies and Commitments (see Notes 13 and 14)
Cumulative preferred stock of subsidiaries	78	78
THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 814,539,146 issued and 703,851,297 outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 813,316,510 issued and 722,508,342 outstanding at December 31, 2013)	8	8
Additional paid-in capital	8,409	8,443
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	512	(150)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,286)	(2,882)
Treasury stock, at cost (110,687,849 shares at December 31, 2014 and 90,808,168 shares at December 31, 2013)	(1,371)	(1,089)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	4,272	4,330
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,053	3,321
Total equity	7,325	7,651
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 38,966	$ 40,411