Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales	$ (1,937)	$ (1,990)	$ (4,021)	$ (4,014)
General and Administrative Expense	(35)	(49)	(91)	(103)
Other Expenses	(4)	(7)	(13)	(31)
Interest expense	(263)	(276)	(544)	(563)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(30)	12	(49)	(8)
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 (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	14	2	25	9
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	224	142	1,002	239
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax	(4)	8	(5)	9
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	196	0	196	0
Net income	416	150	1,193	248
Less: Net income from operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries			(226)	(225)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2	(8)	2	(9)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	290	53	974	29
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			41
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	(89)	48	(877)	48
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	(48)	(117)	(41)	(141)
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			2
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]
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	(18)	0	(18)	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(18)	(95)	(2)	(98)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	0	(95)	16	(98)
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	0	0	(1)	1
Other Expenses	(1)	0	(1)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(1)	0	(2)	1
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(1)	0	(2)	1
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax	1	(7)	0	(14)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	(2)	0	(2)	0
Net income	(2)	(7)	(4)	(13)
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	(1)	0	(5)	10
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1)	1	(2)	(9)
Interest expense	(12)	(20)	(27)	(43)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(31)	(20)	(20)	(18)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(45)	(39)	(54)	(60)
Income tax expense	9	10	8	11
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(36)	(29)	(46)	(49)
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	8	9	11	9
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			35
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	(28)	(20)	(35)	(40)
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			4
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	0	10
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (2)	$ (2)	$ (4)	$ (3)