Represents the generation capacity of disposal group not considered discontinued operation.

No definition available.

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGenerationCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of equity interest in business disposed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationOwnershipInterestSold
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership by noncontrolling owner once transaction is complete

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_FutureNoncontrollingInterestOwnershipbynoncontrollingowneroncetransactioniscomplete
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gain on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary, Recorded to APIC

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_GainonDispositionofStockinSubsidiaryRecordedtoAPIC
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment Options, acquisition percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_InvestmentOptionsacquisitionpercentage
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reduction of Retain Earnings for difference between Fair Value and book value of shares sold

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Sale Agreement, Buyer Option To Purchase Ownership Interest, Sales Price

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_SaleAgreementBuyerOptionToPurchaseOwnershipInterestSalesPrice
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

sales agreement, Buyer option to purchase ownership interest, exercised

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Taxes and transaction costs recognized in equity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_Taxesandtransactioncostsrecognizedinequity
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The gain (loss) resulting from the sale of a disposal group that is not a discontinued operation. It is included in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the income statement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2443-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in noncontrolling interest from sale of a portion of the parent's controlling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseFromSaleOfParentEquityInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

The value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aes_JordanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=aes_IPALCOEnterprisesInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

Equity Equity Transactions with Noncontrolling Interests (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 01, 2015	Dec. 15, 2014	Mar. 15, 2015 MW
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests	$ (81,000,000)	$ 0
Future Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership by noncontrolling owner once transaction is complete	30.00%
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net proceeds received from sale of businesses	247,000,000
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent					100.00%
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners				24.90%	15.00%
sales agreement, Buyer option to purchase ownership interest, exercised				214,000,000
Gain on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary, Recorded to APIC	214,000,000
Taxes and transaction costs recognized in equity					81,000,000
Reduction of Retain Earnings for difference between Fair Value and book value of shares sold	214,000,000
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] \| Acquire additional shares through 2016 [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Sale Agreement, Buyer Option To Purchase Ownership Interest, Sales Price			349,000,000
Investment Options, acquisition percentage			17.65%
Jordan [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Ownership Interest Sold						40.00%
Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Generation Capacity						247
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals, Acquisition Costs or Sale Proceeds						$ 30,000,000