Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest income									$ 464	$ 460	$ 320
General and administrative expenses									(194)	(196)	(187)
Other income									65	82	121
Other expense									(103)	(58)	(65)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(13)	(182)	(261)
Interest expense									(1,431)	(1,344)	(1,451)
Income (loss) before income taxes									313	653	578
Income tax benefit									188	(472)	(371)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (949)	$ 175	$ (482)	$ 126	$ (85)	$ 180	$ 69	$ 142	(1,130)	306	769
Parent Company
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenue from subsidiaries and affiliates									14	24	29
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries and affiliates									(615)	859	1,313
Interest income									19	24	59
General and administrative expenses									(144)	(154)	(161)
Other income									7	24	8
Other expense									(65)	(6)	(30)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(14)	(105)	(193)
Interest expense									(344)	(364)	(422)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(1,142)	302	603
Income tax benefit									12	4	166
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION									$ (1,130)	$ 306	$ 769