Financial Statement Presentation New Accounting Pronouncement Adopted (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total Revenue	$ 2,537	$ 2,613	$ 5,277	$ 5,194
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(1,937)	(1,990)	(4,021)	(4,014)
Operating margin	600	623	1,256	1,180
Interest income	76	59	152	122
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	342	226	1,340	383
Income tax expense	132	86	363	153
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	224	142	1,002	239
NET INCOME	416	150	1,193	248
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	290	53	974	29
Other current assets	682		682		$ 691	$ 630
Deferred income taxes	83		83		106	130
Service concession assets, net	0		0		0	1,360
Loan receivable	1,458		1,458		1,490	0
TOTAL ASSETS	32,597		32,597			33,112
Accrued and other liabilities	1,036		1,036			1,232
Accumulated deficit	(1,234)		(1,234)		(2,209)	(2,276)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,988)		(1,988)		(1,857)	(1,876)
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	2,348		2,348		2,461	2,380
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	32,597		32,597			33,112
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	(1,140)		(1,140)			(949)
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	(379)		(379)			(274)
Other Restricted Assets, Noncurrent	(623)		(623)			(565)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	2,142	1,881	2,142	1,881		$ 1,788	$ 1,960
ASC 606 Impact [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total Revenue	(25)		(36)
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	20		26
Operating margin	(5)		(10)
Interest income	15		30
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	10		20
Income tax expense	0		(1)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	10		19
NET INCOME	10		19
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	10		19
Other current assets	64		64		61
Deferred income taxes	(24)		(24)		(24)
Service concession assets, net	(1,313)		(1,313)		(1,360)
Loan receivable	1,458		1,458		1,490
TOTAL ASSETS	185		185
Accrued and other liabilities	2		2
Accumulated deficit	86		86		67
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	18		18		19
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	79		79		$ 81
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	185		185
Balance Without the Adoption of ASC 606 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total Revenue	2,562		5,313
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(1,957)		(4,047)
Operating margin	605		1,266
Interest income	61		122
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	332		1,320
Income tax expense	(132)		(362)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	214		983
NET INCOME	406		1,174
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	280		955
Other current assets	618		618
Deferred income taxes	107		107
Service concession assets, net	1,313		1,313
Loan receivable	0		0
TOTAL ASSETS	32,412		32,412
Accrued and other liabilities	1,034		1,034
Accumulated deficit	(1,320)		(1,320)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,006)		(2,006)
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	2,269		2,269
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 32,412		$ 32,412
Accounting Standard Update 2016-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets		12		12
Inc (Dec) in Cash provided by Operating Actitvities [Domain] | Accounting Standard Update 2016-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets		8		8
Dec (Inc) In Net Cash Used by Financing Activities [Domain] | Accounting Standard Update 2016-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets		$ 0		$ 0