Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 264	$ 275	$ 518	$ 341
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $(7), $0 and $(8), respectively	77	24	(344)	29
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0 for all periods	0	(53)	0	(47)
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	77	(29)	(344)	(18)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(20), $22, $(3) and $46, respectively	82	(105)	10	(225)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(1), $(10), $(3) and $(13), respectively	7	13	19	32
Total change in fair value of derivatives	89	(92)	29	(193)
Pension activity:
Change in pension adjustments due to prior service cost, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $(1), $0, and $(1), respectively	0	1	0	1
Change in pension adjustments due to disposal of discontinued operations for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $(9), $0 and $(9), respectively	0	14	0	14
Reclassification to earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(2), $2, $(5) and $(1), respectively	4	10	9	16
Total pension adjustments	4	25	9	31
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	170	(96)	(306)	(180)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	434	179	212	161
Less: Comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(261)	(102)	(173)	(227)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 173	$ 77	$ 39	$ (66)