Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	$ 1,818	$ 2,063	$ 5,572	$ 6,378
Regulated cost of sales	1,660	1,956	5,101	5,732
Non-regulated cost of sales	1,388	1,718	4,314	4,902
Other Income	(13)	(12)	(43)	(56)
Interest expense	(388)	(390)	(1,061)	(1,086)
Gain on disposals and sale of investments	23	362	24	363
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	9	(79)	1	(91)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	166	606	885	1,142
Income tax expense	(45)	(92)	(261)	(303)
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	82	(6)	97	39
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	203	508	721	878
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	0	0	0	(56)
Net income	203	508	721	849
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	20	330	295
Interest income	150	69	373	205
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	180	488	391	563
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			34
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	(9)	(33)	(34)	(8)
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on disposals and sale of investments	0	4	0	4
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	0	0	0	47
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Regulated cost of sales	(7)	(8)	(21)	(25)
Other Income	0	0	0	2
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(7)	(8)	(21)	(27)
Income tax expense	3	3	8	4
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(4)	(5)	(13)	(23)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	0	0	0	2
Net income	(4)	(5)	(13)	(21)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	0	4	0	51
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	12	4	27	23
Non-regulated cost of sales	(5)	(2)	(10)	(4)
Interest expense	(28)	(39)	(84)	(102)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	12	(17)	20	(13)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(13)	(54)	(51)	(96)
Income tax expense	0	10	6	23
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	(1)	0	(1)	(3)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(14)	(44)	(46)	(76)
Unrealized Derivative Losses, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on disposals and sale of investments	(4)	0	(4)	0
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	6	9	15	24
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			31
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(8)	(35)	(31)	(52)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	3	3	(10)	(14)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			3
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (1)	$ (2)	$ (3)	$ (7)