Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ (777)	$ (777)	$ 762
Adjustments to net income (loss):
Depreciation and amortization	1,169	1,176	1,144
Loss (gain) on sales and disposals of businesses	52	(29)	(29)
Impairment expenses	537	1,098	602
Deferred income taxes	672	(793)	(50)
Provisions for (reversals of) contingencies	34	48	(72)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	68	20	186
Loss on sale and disposal of assets	43	38	20
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	(611)	(1,383)	0
Other	146	168	8
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	(177)	237	(378)
(Increase) decrease in inventory	(28)	42	(26)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	107	870	655
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(295)	(251)	(1,305)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other current liabilities	163	(620)	31
Increase (decrease) in income tax payables, net and other tax payables	53	(199)	53
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	111	473	533
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,489	2,884	2,134
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(2,177)	(2,345)	(2,308)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired, and equity method investments	(625)	(55)	(17)
Proceeds from the sale of businesses, net of cash sold, and equity method investments	108	631	138
Sale of short-term investments	3,540	4,904	4,851
Payments for Advance to Affiliate	89	6	3
Purchase of short-term investments	(3,310)	(5,151)	(4,801)
Increase in restricted cash, debt service reserves, and other assets	(135)	(61)	(159)
Other investing	(61)	(25)	(67)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,749)	(2,108)	(2,366)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under the revolving credit facilities	2,156	1,465	959
Repayments under the revolving credit facilities	(1,742)	(1,433)	(937)
Issuance of recourse debt	1,025	500	575
Repayments of recourse debt	(1,353)	(808)	(915)
Issuance of non-recourse debt	3,222	2,978	4,248
Repayments of non-recourse debt	(2,360)	(2,666)	(3,312)
Payments for financing fees	(100)	(105)	(90)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(424)	(476)	(326)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests and redeemable security holders	73	190	126
Proceeds from the sale of redeemable stock of subsidiaries	0	134	461
Dividends paid on AES common stock	(317)	(290)	(276)
Payments for financed capital expenditures	(179)	(113)	(150)
Purchase of treasury stock	0	(79)	(482)
Proceeds from sales to noncontrolling interests, net of transaction costs	94	0	154
Other financing	(52)	(44)	(7)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	43	(747)	28
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	3	9	(52)
Decrease (increase) in cash of discontinued operations and held-for-sale businesses	(81)	(12)	25
Total increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(295)	26	(231)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	1,244	1,218
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	949	1,244	1,218
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	1,196	1,273	1,265
Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds	377	487	388
SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Assets acquired through capital lease and other liabilities	0	5	18
Dividends declared but not yet paid	86	174	135
NonCash Restructuring and Recapitalization	279	0	0
Non-Cash Long Term Receivables	$ 75	$ 0	$ 0