Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Income)	$ 180	$ 488	$ 391	$ 583
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Shares)	679	721	692	724
Income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.27	$ 0.68	$ 0.57	$ 0.81
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
DilutiveSecuritiesEffectOnBasicEPS, per diluted share	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Dilutive Convertible Securities	$ 0	$ 6
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Debt Securities	0	15
Stock options (Shares)	1	1
Restricted stock units (Shares)	2	3	2	3
Dilutive Securities Effect On Basic EPS, dilutive Restricted Stock Units, per diluted share	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00
Dilutive Securities Effect On Basic EPS, dilutive Stock Options, per diluted share	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Income)	$ 180	$ 494	$ 391	$ 583
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Shares)	682	740	694	727
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.26	$ 0.67	$ 0.56	$ 0.78
Equity Option [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Options and Restrictive Stock Units	$ 0	$ 0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Options and Restrictive Stock Units	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	15		15	15
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			7	6

Dilutive Securities Effect On Basic EPS, dilutive convertible securities, per diluted share

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Income from continuing operations attributable to the parent plus adjustments resulting from the assumption that dilutive convertible securities were converted, options or warrants were exercised, or that other shares were issued upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

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Amount of increase (decrease) to net income used for calculating diluted earnings per share (EPS), resulting from the assumed exercise of stock options or restrictive stock units (RSUs).

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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Amount of increase (decrease) to net income used for calculating diluted earnings per share (EPS), resulting from the assumed exercise of dilutive convertible securities excluding adjustments related to ESOP convertible preferred stock, stock options, and restrictive stock units.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the parent. Also defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of call options and warrants using the treasury stock method.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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