-- None. No documentation exists for this element. --

No definition available.

Name:	aes_FairValueInputsQuantitativeInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents net derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which are required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesValue
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual rate at which a foreign currency can be purchased or sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeForwardExchangeRate1
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Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Risk associated with risk of default, credit spread risk and downgrade risk, expressed as a percentage, used as an input to measure fair value.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInputsEntityCreditRisk
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as derivative asset (liability) after deduction of derivative liability (asset), measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19279-110258

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_WeightedAverageMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
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Name:	us-gaap_CurrencyAxis=currency_ARS
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Fair Value (Quantitative Information) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	$ 93	$ 81	$ (24)
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Value	93
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	240	255	277
Interest Rate Contract
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	$ (151)	(179)	(304)
Interest Rate Contract \| Minimum
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk	1.90%
Interest Rate Contract \| Maximum
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk	5.10%
Interest Rate Contract \| Weighted Average
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk	4.90%
Commodity Contract [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	$ 4	$ 5	$ 3
Argentina, Pesos \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	$ 240
Argentina, Pesos \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Minimum
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Derivative, Forward Exchange Rate	0.228
Argentina, Pesos \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Maximum
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Derivative, Forward Exchange Rate	0.523
Argentina, Pesos \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Weighted Average
Fair Value Inputs Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Derivative, Forward Exchange Rate	0.366