Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	$ (2,018)	$ (1,768)
Regulated cost of sales	(601)	(703)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1,483)	(1,321)
General and Administrative Expense	(56)	(54)
Other Expenses	(9)	(24)
Interest expense	(281)	(287)
Foreign currency transaction losses	(19)	(20)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	998	157
Income tax expense	(231)	(67)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	11	7
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	778	97
Net income	777	98
Less: Net income from operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	(98)	(125)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	(1)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	684	(24)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(7)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	(788)	0
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	7	(24)
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	(16)
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)	16	(3)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	16	(3)
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]
General and Administrative Expense	(1)	1
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(1)	1
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(1)	1
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	(1)	(7)
Net income	(2)	(6)
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	4	(10)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1)	(10)
Interest expense	(15)	(23)
Foreign currency transaction losses	11	2
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(9)	(21)
Income tax expense	(1)	1
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(10)	(20)
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 income from operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	3	0
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	7
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	(7)	(20)
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	2
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]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	5
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (2)	$ (1)