Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue		$ 1,850	$ 2,195	$ 3,754	$ 4,315
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net		(8)	(23)	(22)	(45)
Regulated cost of sales		1,634	1,844	3,441	3,776
Non-regulated cost of sales		1,470	1,648	2,926	3,184
Other Income		15	33	31	45
Interest expense		(310)	(323)	(673)	(696)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)		15	7	(8)	(12)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES		384	418	719	536
Income tax expense		(120)	(157)	(216)	(211)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates		0	20	15	45
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS		264	281	518	370
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses		0	(13)	0	(56)	[1]
Net income		264	275	518	341
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		195	139	307	275
Interest income		133	73	223	136
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION		69	133	211	75
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax				14
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	[2]	(4)	52	(14)	25
Unrealized Derivative Losses, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	[2]	10	6	15	19
Non-regulated cost of sales	[2]	(5)	(3)	(5)	(2)
Interest expense	[2]	(15)	(31)	(40)	(63)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	[2]	2	7	8	4
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	[2]	(8)	(21)	(22)	(42)
Income tax expense	[2]	1	10	3	13
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	[2]	0	(2)	0	(3)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	[2]	(7)	(13)	(19)	(32)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	[2]	4	15	7	15
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	[2]	(3)	2	(12)	(17)
Amortization Of Defined Benefit Pension Actuarial Loss, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Regulated cost of sales	[2]	(6)	(9)	(14)	(17)
Non-regulated cost of sales	[2]	0	1	0	0
Other Income	[2]	0	(2)	0	(2)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	[2]	(6)	(10)	(14)	(19)
Income tax expense	[2]	2	(2)	5	1
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	[2]	(4)	(12)	(9)	(18)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	[2]	0	2	0	2
Net income	[2]	(4)	(10)	(9)	(16)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	[2]	3	7	(7)	(11)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	[2]	(1)	(3)	(2)	(5)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	[2]	0	53	0	47
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	[2]	0	53	0	47
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Net Equity In Earnings Of Affiliates [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net		$ 0	$ (2)	$ 0	$ (3)

[1] Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 2014 2015 2014 (in millions)Revenue$— $104 $— $233Income from operations of discontinued businesses, before income tax$— $15 $— $49Income tax expense— (8) — (22)Income from operations of discontinued businesses, after income tax$— $7 $— $27Net loss from disposal & impairments of discontinued businesses, after income tax$— $(13) $— $(56)

[2] Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.