Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Comprehensive Income) (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
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (1,342)	$ 152	$ 53	$ (24)	$ (949)	$ 175	$ (482)	$ 126	$ (1,161)	$ (1,130)	$ 306
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $11, $1 and $1, respectively									(9)	189	(1,019)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods									643	992	0
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									634	1,181	(1,019)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $13, $(5) and $4, respectively									(12)	5	(57)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $1, $1 and $(12), respectively									50	37	66
Total change in fair value of derivatives									38	42	9
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax expense of $1, $5 and $0, respectively									2	11	1
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $6, $10 and $(7), respectively									(21)	(208)	60
Reclassification of earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(126), $2 and $(2), respectively									266	10	16
Total pension adjustments									247	(187)	77
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									919	1,036	(933)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									142	259	(171)
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION									(1,161)	(1,130)	306
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $11, $1 and $1, respectively									18	117	(674)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods									643	992	0
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									661	1,109	(674)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $13, $(5) and $4, respectively									(14)	2	(5)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $1, $1 and $(12), respectively									37	28	48
Total change in fair value of derivatives									23	30	43
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax expense of $1, $5 and $0, respectively									1	9	1
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $6, $10 and $(7), respectively									(20)	(22)	18
Reclassification of earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(126), $2 and $(2), respectively									248	1	2
Total pension adjustments									229	(12)	21
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									913	1,127	(610)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									$ (248)	$ (3)	$ (304)