Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 191	$ 261	$ 1,384	$ 509
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit of $2, $1, $3 and $0, respectively	(42)	80	(159)	29
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax	(3)	0	(1)	98
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	(45)	80	(160)	127
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(3), $(6), $(3) and $15, respectively	15	5	32	(42)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(7), $5, $(15) and $(6), respectively	21	1	67	50
Total change in fair value of derivatives	36	6	99	8
Pension activity:
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax expense of $0, $4, $2 and $10, respectively	1	7	5	20
Total pension adjustments	1	7	5	20
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(8)	93	(56)	155
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	183	354	1,328	664
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(114)	(127)	(416)	(360)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 69	$ 227	$ 912	$ 304