Name:	aes_RecourseDebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The non-current portion of the entity's recourse debt. Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is structurally subordinate to the affiliates' non-recourse debt.

No definition available.

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtNonCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is structurally subordinate to the affiliates non-recourse debt.

No definition available.

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtTotal
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_SeniorUnsecuredNote800Due2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=aes_RecourseDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_SeniorUnsecuredNoteLIBORplus3due2019Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_SeniorUnsecuredNote800Due2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_SeniorUnsecuredNote7375Due2021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_SeniorUnsecuredNote4875Due2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_A5.50SeniorUnsecuredNoteDue2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_A5.50Unsecuredseniornotesdue2025Domain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_A6.00seniornotesdue2026Domain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtByInstrumentAxis=aes_TermConvertibleTrustSecurities675Due2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: