Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation	$ (85)	$ 180	$ 69	$ 142	$ 206	$ 488	$ 133	$ (58)	$ 306	$ 769	$ 114
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $1, $(7) and $10, respectively									(1,019)	(491)	(375)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									0	(3)	41
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(1,019)	(494)	(334)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $4, $51 and $(31), respectively									(57)	(358)	108
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(12), $(37) and $(32), respectively									66	99	139
Total change in fair value of derivatives									9	(259)	247
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									1	0	0
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(7), $9 and $(42), respectively									60	(49)	379
Reclassification of earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(2), $0 and $(5), respectively									16	29	52
Total pension adjustments									77	(20)	431
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME									(933)	(773)	344
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME									(171)	374	$ 895
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation									306	769		$ 114
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $1, $(7) and $10, respectively									(674)	(366)		(263)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									0	34		36
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(674)	(332)		(227)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $4, $51 and $(31), respectively									(5)	(180)		46
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(12), $(37) and $(32), respectively									48	72		128
Total change in fair value of derivatives									43	(108)		174
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0 and $0, respectively									1	(1)		0
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(7), $9 and $(42), respectively									18	(13)		78
Reclassification of earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(2), $0 and $(5), respectively									2	10		13
Total pension adjustments									21	(4)		91
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME									(610)	(444)		38
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME									$ (304)	$ 325		$ 152