Equity (Reclassifications Out of AOCL) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2017		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue																	$ 7,421	$ 6,971	$ 8,020
Regulated cost of sales																	(2,656)	(2,844)	(3,074)
Non-regulated cost of sales																	(5,410)	(5,057)	(5,523)
General and administrative expenses																	215	194	196
Other Expenses																	57	79	24
Interest expense																	(1,170)	(1,134)	(1,145)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of businesses																	(52)	29	29
Foreign currency transaction gains																	42	(15)	106
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates																	771	187	989
Income tax expense																	(990)	(32)	(412)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates																	71	36	105
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (622)	[1]	$ 236	[1]	$ 141	[1]	$ 97	[1]	$ (136)	[2]	$ 238	[2]	$ 2	[2]	$ 87	[2]	(148)	191	682
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations																	(611)	(1,119)	0
Net income (loss)	(1,286)		261		150		98		(693)		229		(387)		74		(777)	(777)	762
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(359)	(211)	(364)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	(25)	(142)	(92)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation	$ (1,342)		$ 152		$ 53		$ (24)		$ (949)		$ 175		$ (482)		$ 126		(1,161)	(1,130)	306
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation																	(928)	(1,021)	(50)
Available-for-Sale securities, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of businesses																	(188)	0	0
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations																	(455)	(992)	0
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation																	(643)	(992)	0
Unrealized derivative gains (losses), net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue																	25	111	43
Non-regulated cost of sales																	(12)	(57)	(14)
Interest expense																	(79)	(107)	(112)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of businesses																	0	0	(4)
Foreign currency transaction gains																	15	8	12
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates																	(51)	(45)	(75)
Income tax expense																	1	8	11
Net equity in earnings of affiliates																	0	0	(2)
Income (loss) from continuing operations																	(50)	(37)	(66)
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	13	9	18
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation																	(37)	(28)	(48)
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales																	1	0	2
General and administrative expenses																	(1)	(1)	(2)
Other Expenses																	0	(1)	0
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates																	0	(2)	0
Income tax expense																	0	3	9
Income (loss) from continuing operations																	0	1	9
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations																	(266)	(11)	(25)
Net income (loss)																	(266)	(10)	(16)
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	0	9	14
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	18	0	0
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation																	$ (248)	$ (1)	$ (2)

[1] Includes pre-tax impairment expense of $168 million, $90 million, $2 million and $277 million, for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2017, respectively. See Note 19—Asset Impairment Expense for further discussion.

[2] Includes pre-tax impairment expense of $159 million, $235 million, $79 million and $623 million, for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2016, respectively. See Note 19—Asset Impairment Expense for further discussion.