Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2015
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	$ 1,757	$ 1,831	$ 5,116		$ 5,617
Regulated cost of sales	(1,623)	(1,458)	(4,521)		(4,447)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1,231)	(1,399)	(3,750)		(4,348)
Interest expense	(354)	(365)	(1,086)		(995)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(20)	12	(16)		4
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	294	160	445		903
Income tax expense	(75)	(43)	(165)		(266)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	11	81	25		96
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	230	198	305		733
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	0	(382)		0
Net income (loss)	229	203	(84)	[1]	721	[1]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	175	180	(181)		391
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			22
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0	24	30		24
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	(17)	(9)	(22)		(34)
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	(4)	(7)	(13)		(20)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(4)	(7)	(13)		(20)
Income tax expense	2	3	4		8
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(2)	(4)	(9)		(12)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	(1)	0	(1)		(1)
Net income (loss)	(3)	(4)	(10)		(13)
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	20	12	94		27
Non-regulated cost of sales	(17)	(5)	(54)		(10)
Interest expense	(25)	(28)	(86)		(84)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(3)	12	18		20
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(25)	(13)	(28)		(51)
Income tax expense	4	0	5		6
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	(1)	0		(1)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(21)	(14)	(23)		(46)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0	(4)	0		(4)
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]
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5	6	4		15
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			19
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 (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(16)	(8)	(19)		(31)
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]
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	3	7		10
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 (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (3)		$ (3)

[1] (1) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $105 million and $8 million of net loss attributable to redeemable stocks of subsidiaries.