Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	$ 1,839	$ 1,757	$ 5,437	$ 5,116
Regulated cost of sales	(1,574)	(1,623)	(4,640)	(4,521)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1,347)	(1,231)	(3,980)	(3,750)
General and Administrative Expense	(52)	(40)	(155)	(135)
Other Expenses	(47)	(13)	(95)	(42)
Interest expense	(353)	(354)	(1,034)	(1,086)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	21	(20)	13	(16)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	347	294	746	445
Income tax benefit (expense)	(110)	(75)	(270)	(165)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	24	11	33	25
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	261	230	509	305
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	0	0	(382)
Net income (loss)	261	229	509	(84)
Less: Net loss from operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries			337	105
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	152	175	181	(181)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			142
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	(1)	0	(49)	30
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	(1)	(17)	(142)	(22)
Accumulated Foreign Currency 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			98
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Nonoperating Gains (Losses)	0	0	(98)	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	0	0	(98)	0
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	(10)	(4)	(30)	(13)
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	1	0
Other Expenses	(1)	0	(1)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(11)	(4)	(30)	(13)
Income tax benefit (expense)	4	2	10	4
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(7)	(2)	(20)	(9)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	(1)	0	(1)
Net income (loss)	(7)	(3)	(20)	(10)
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	12	20	22	94
Non-regulated cost of sales	(2)	(17)	(11)	(54)
Interest expense	(20)	(25)	(63)	(86)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	14	(3)	(4)	18
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	4	(25)	(56)	(28)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(5)	4	6	5
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(1)	(21)	(50)	(23)
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 loss from operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	1	5	10	4
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			40
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	0	(16)	(40)	(19)
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 loss from operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	6	2	16	7
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			4
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)	$ (4)	$ (3)