Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales	$ (2,166)	$ (2,053)	$ (6,187)	$ (6,067)
General and Administrative Expense	(43)	(52)	(134)	(155)
Other Expenses	(29)	(36)	(42)	(67)
Interest expense	(255)	(297)	(799)	(860)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	5	22	(44)	14
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	332	304	1,672	687
Income tax expense	(146)	(93)	(509)	(246)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	6	24	31	33
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	192	235	1,194	474
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax	(4)	26	(9)	35
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	3	0	199	0
Net income	191	261	1,384	509
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	(21)	2	(30)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	101	152	1,075	181
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			59
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	21	1	(856)	49
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	(18)	(1)	(59)	(142)
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			(1)
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	0	0	(18)	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	3	0	1	(98)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	3	0	19	(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	(1)	0	(2)	1
Other Expenses	0	(1)	(1)	(1)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(1)	(1)	(3)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(1)	(1)	(3)	0
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax	0	(6)	0	(20)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	0	(2)	0
Net income	(1)	(7)	(5)	(20)
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)	12	(6)	22
Non-regulated cost of sales	1	2	3	11
Interest expense	11	20	38	63
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(15)	14	(35)	(4)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(28)	4	(82)	(56)
Income tax expense	7	(5)	15	6
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(21)	(1)	(67)	(50)
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 continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	1	1	12	10
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			55
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	(20)	0	(55)	(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			5
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	6	0	16
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (5)	$ (4)