Acquisitions Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]	U.K. Wind — During the second quarter of 2016, the Company deconsolidated UK Wind and recorded a loss on deconsolidation of $20 million to Gain on disposal and sale of businesses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Prior to deconsolidation, UK Wind was reported in the Europe SBU reportable segment. See Note 15—Equity for additional information. DPLER — In December 2015, the Company executed an agreement for the sale of its ownership interest in DPLER, a competitive retail marketer selling electricity to customers in Ohio. Accordingly, DPLER was classified as held-for-sale as of December 31, 2015, but did not meet the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation. DPLER's results were therefore reflected within continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. On January 1, 2016, the Company completed the sale of its interest in DPLER and recognized a gain on sale of $49 million. Proceeds of $76 million were received on December 31, 2015. The proceeds were classified as restricted cash with a corresponding amount recorded in Accrued and other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015. DPLER's pretax income attributable to AES for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $11 million and pretax loss attributable to AES for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $129 million. Prior to its sale, DPLER was reported in the US SBU reportable segment. Kelanitissa — In August 2015, the Company executed an agreement for the sale of its 90% ownership interest in Kelanitissa, a diesel-fired generation plant in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, Kelanitissa was classified as held-for-sale as of December 31, 2015, but did not meet the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation. Kelanitissa's results were therefore reflected within continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. On January 27, 2016, the Company completed the sale of its interest in Kelanitissa. Upon completion, proceeds of $18 million were received and a loss on sale of $5 million was recognized. Kelanitissa's pretax loss attributable to AES for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $7 million and pretax income attributable to AES for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $1 million. Prior to its sale, Kelanitissa was reported in the Asia SBU reportable segment. Armenia Mountain — Under the terms of the sale agreement for certain U.S. Wind Projects, the buyer was provided an option to purchase the Company's 100% interest in Armenia Mountain, a wind project in Pennsylvania, at a fixed price of $75 million. The buyer exercised the option on March 31, 2015 and completed the sale of its interest in Armenia Mountain on July 1, 2015. The sale did not meet the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation. Upon completion, net proceeds of $64 million were received and a pretax gain on sale of $22 million was recognized. Excluding the gain on sale, Armenia Mountain's pretax income attributable to AES was $6 million and $7 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Prior to its sale, Armenia Mountain was reported in the US SBU reportable segment. Ebute — On November 20, 2014, the Company completed the sale of its interest in Ebute, which included its 95% interest in AES Nigeria Barge Limited and its 100% interest in AES Nigeria Barge Operations Limited. Proceeds from the sale were $22 million and the Company recognized a loss on sale of $6 million. As Ebute did not meet the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation, its results were reflected within continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Excluding the loss on sale, Ebute's pretax loss attributable to AES was $27 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Prior to its sale, Ebute was reported in the Europe SBU reportable segment. U.K. Wind (Operating Projects) — On August 22, 2014, the Company completed the sale of its interests in four operating wind projects located in the U.K.. Total net proceeds from the sale were $158 million and the Company recognized a pretax gain on sale of $78 million. As these wind projects did not meet the criteria to be reported as discontinued operations, their results were reflected within continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Excluding the gain on sale, the pretax loss attributable to AES for these disposed projects was $18 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Prior to the sale, U.K. Wind (Operating Projects) were reported in the Europe SBU reportable segment. ACQUISITIONS Distributed Energy — On February 18, 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the common stock of Main Street Power Company, Inc. for approximately $25 million. The purchase consideration was composed of $20 million cash and the fair value of earn-out payments of $5 million. At December 31, 2015, the assets acquired (including $4 million cash) and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date were recorded at fair value based on the final purchase price allocation, which resulted in the recognition of $16 million of goodwill. After the date of acquisition, Main Street Power Company, Inc. was renamed Distributed Energy, Inc. On September 16, 2016, Distributed Energy acquired the equity interest of various projects held by multiple partnerships for approximately $43 million. These partnerships were previously classified as equity method investments. In accordance with the accounting guidance for business combinations, the Company has recorded the opening balance sheets of the acquired businesses based on the purchase price allocation as of the acquisition date.

U.K. Wind — During the second quarter of 2016, the Company deconsolidated UK Wind and recorded a loss on deconsolidation of $20 million to Gain on disposal and sale of businesses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Prior to deconsolidation, UK Wind was reported in the Europe SBU reportable segment. See Note 15—Equity for additional information.

DPLER — In December 2015, the Company executed an agreement for the sale of its ownership interest in DPLER, a competitive retail marketer selling electricity to customers in Ohio. Accordingly, DPLER was classified as held-for-sale as of December 31, 2015, but did not meet the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation. DPLER's results were therefore reflected within continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

On January 1, 2016, the Company completed the sale of its interest in DPLER and recognized a gain on sale of $49 million. Proceeds of $76 million were received on December 31, 2015. The proceeds were classified as restricted cash with a corresponding amount recorded in Accrued and other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015. DPLER's pretax income attributable to AES for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $11 million and pretax loss attributable to AES for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $129 million. Prior to its sale, DPLER was reported in the US SBU reportable segment.

Kelanitissa — In August 2015, the Company executed an agreement for the sale of its 90% ownership interest in Kelanitissa, a diesel-fired generation plant in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, Kelanitissa was classified as held-for-sale as of December 31, 2015, but did not meet the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation. Kelanitissa's results were therefore reflected within continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

On January 27, 2016, the Company completed the sale of its interest in Kelanitissa. Upon completion, proceeds of $18 million were received and a loss on sale of $5 million was recognized. Kelanitissa's pretax loss attributable to AES for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $7 million and pretax income attributable to AES for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $1 million. Prior to its sale, Kelanitissa was reported in the Asia SBU reportable segment.

Armenia Mountain — Under the terms of the sale agreement for certain U.S. Wind Projects, the buyer was provided an option to purchase the Company's 100% interest in Armenia Mountain, a wind project in Pennsylvania, at a fixed price of $75 million. The buyer exercised the option on March 31, 2015 and completed the sale of its interest in Armenia Mountain on July 1, 2015. The sale did not meet the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation. Upon completion, net proceeds of $64 million were received and a pretax gain on sale of $22 million was recognized. Excluding the gain on sale, Armenia Mountain's pretax income attributable to AES was $6 million and $7 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Prior to its sale, Armenia Mountain was reported in the US SBU reportable segment.

Ebute — On November 20, 2014, the Company completed the sale of its interest in Ebute, which included its 95% interest in AES Nigeria Barge Limited and its 100% interest in AES Nigeria Barge Operations Limited. Proceeds from the sale were $22 million and the Company recognized a loss on sale of $6 million. As Ebute did not meet the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation, its results were reflected within continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Excluding the loss on sale, Ebute's pretax loss attributable to AES was $27 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Prior to its sale, Ebute was reported in the Europe SBU reportable segment.

U.K. Wind (Operating Projects) — On August 22, 2014, the Company completed the sale of its interests in four operating wind projects located in the U.K.. Total net proceeds from the sale were $158 million and the Company recognized a pretax gain on sale of $78 million. As these wind projects did not meet the criteria to be reported as discontinued operations, their results were reflected within continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Excluding the gain on sale, the pretax loss attributable to AES for these disposed projects was $18 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Prior to the sale, U.K. Wind (Operating Projects) were reported in the Europe SBU reportable segment.

ACQUISITIONS

Distributed Energy — On February 18, 2015, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the common stock of Main Street Power Company, Inc. for approximately $25 million. The purchase consideration was composed of $20 million cash and the fair value of earn-out payments of $5 million. At December 31, 2015, the assets acquired (including $4 million cash) and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date were recorded at fair value based on the final purchase price allocation, which resulted in the recognition of $16 million of goodwill. After the date of acquisition, Main Street Power Company, Inc. was renamed Distributed Energy, Inc.

On September 16, 2016, Distributed Energy acquired the equity interest of various projects held by multiple partnerships for approximately $43 million. These partnerships were previously classified as equity method investments. In accordance with the accounting guidance for business combinations, the Company has recorded the opening balance sheets of the acquired businesses based on the purchase price allocation as of the acquisition date.