Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 762	$ 1,147	$ 551
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $1, $(7), and $10, respectively	(1,019)	(491)	(375)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods	0	(3)	41
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,019)	(494)	(334)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $16, $72 and $(31), respectively	(57)	(358)	108
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) of $(11), $(26) and $(41), respectively	66	99	139
Total change in fair value of derivatives	9	(259)	247
Pension activity:
Change in pension adjustments due to prior service cost, net of $0 income tax for all periods	(1)	0	0
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(29), $27, and $(198), respectively	60	(49)	379
Reclassification to earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) of $(9), $(7), and $(26), respectively	16	29	52
Total pension adjustments	77	(20)	431
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(933)	(773)	344
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	(171)	374	895
Less: Comprehensive (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(133)	(49)	(743)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (304)	$ 325	$ 152