Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue:
Regulated	$ 8,874	$ 8,056	$ 8,977
Non-regulated	8,272	7,835	8,187
Total revenue	17,146	15,891	17,164
Cost of sales:
Regulated	(7,530)	(6,837)	(7,594)
Non-regulated	(6,528)	(5,807)	(5,987)
Total cost of sales	(14,058)	(12,644)	(13,581)
Operating margin	3,088	3,247	3,583
General and administrative expenses	(187)	(220)	(274)
Interest expense	(1,471)	(1,482)	(1,544)
Interest income	365	275	348
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(261)	(229)	(8)
Other expense	(68)	(76)	(82)
Other income	124	125	98
Gain on disposal and sale of investments	358	26	219
Goodwill impairment expense	(164)	(372)	(1,817)
Asset impairment expense	(91)	(95)	(73)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	11	(22)	(170)
Other non-operating expense	(128)	(129)	(50)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	1,576	1,048	230
Income tax expense	(419)	(343)	(685)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	19	25	35
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	1,176	730	(420)
Income (loss) from operations of discontinued businesses, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $23, $24, and $26, respectively	27	(27)	47
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $4, $(15), and $68, respectively	(56)	(152)	16
NET INCOME (LOSS)	1,147	551	(357)
Noncontrolling interests:
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(387)	(446)	(540)
Less: (Income) loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	9	(15)
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(378)	(437)	(555)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	769	114	(912)
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	789	284	(960)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(20)	(170)	48
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 769	$ 114	$ (912)
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 1.10	$ 0.38	$ (1.27)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.03)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.06
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 1.07	$ 0.15	$ (1.21)
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 1.09	$ 0.38	$ (1.27)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.03)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.06
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 1.06	$ 0.15	$ (1.21)
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.17	$ 0.08