Debt (Subsidiary Non-Recourse Debt in Default or Accelerated) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Debt Details [Line Items]
Debt defaults at risk of causing cross default	0
Debt default amount	$ 351	[1]
AES Puerto Rico
Debt Details [Line Items]
Net assets	139
AES Puerto Rico | Covenant Violation
Debt Details [Line Items]
Debt default amount	317
Colon [Domain] | Covenant Violation
Debt Details [Line Items]
Debt default amount	483
Sul Subsidiary [Member] | Covenant Violation
Debt Details [Line Items]
Debt default amount	34
Net assets	$ 17

[1] This does not include $483 million of non-recourse debt at Colon, one of the Company’s subsidiaries in Panama, that has been classified as current. Colon is currently in compliance with all provisions of its financing agreements, but does not expect to complete a required contract assignment to the lenders by the March 31, 2019 deadline. The Company is working with the lenders to modify the loan agreement to amend the requirement of this technical covenant in 2019. If this amendment is executed, the debt will be re-classified as noncurrent.