Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,166,000,000			$ 949,000,000
Restricted cash	370,000,000			274,000,000
Total current assets	5,015,000,000			6,398,000,000
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates	1,114,000,000			1,197,000,000	$ 621,000,000
Office Equipment:
Cost	25,242,000,000			24,119,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(8,227,000,000)			(7,942,000,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	21,396,000,000			20,296,000,000
Other Assets:
Deferred income taxes	97,000,000		$ 106,000,000	130,000,000
Other assets	1,514,000,000			1,741,000,000
Total other assets	6,110,000,000			6,418,000,000
TOTAL ASSETS	32,521,000,000			33,112,000,000	36,124,000,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,329,000,000			1,371,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	962,000,000			980,000,000
Total current liabilities	4,399,000,000			6,028,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Other long-term liabilities	2,723,000,000			2,595,000,000
Total noncurrent liabilities	21,639,000,000			21,402,000,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	8,000,000	$ 13.05		8,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	8,154,000,000			8,501,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(1,005,000,000)		(2,209,000,000)	(2,276,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,071,000,000)		$ (1,857,000,000)	(1,876,000,000)	(2,756,000,000)
Treasury stock	(1,878,000,000)			(1,892,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	3,208,000,000			2,465,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	32,521,000,000			33,112,000,000
Parent Company [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	19,000,000			10,000,000	$ 112,000,000	$ 218,000,000
Accounts and notes receivable from subsidiaries	285,000,000			143,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	31,000,000			27,000,000
Total current assets	335,000,000			180,000,000
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates	6,834,000,000			8,239,000,000
Office Equipment:
Cost	27,000,000			27,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(19,000,000)			(18,000,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,000,000			9,000,000
Other Intangible Assets, Net	3,000,000			3,000,000
Other Assets:
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $4 and $2, respectively	4,000,000			5,000,000
Deferred income taxes	24,000,000			289,000,000
Other assets	2,000,000			2,000,000
Total other assets	33,000,000			299,000,000
TOTAL ASSETS	7,210,000,000			8,727,000,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	15,000,000			18,000,000
Accounts and notes payable to subsidiaries	74,000,000			381,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	206,000,000			246,000,000
Senior notes payable—current portion	5,000,000			5,000,000
Total current liabilities	300,000,000			650,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Senior notes payable	3,650,000,000			4,625,000,000
Accounts and notes payable to subsidiaries	28,000,000			967,000,000
Other long-term liabilities	24,000,000			20,000,000
Total noncurrent liabilities	3,702,000,000			5,612,000,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	8,000,000			8,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	8,154,000,000			8,501,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(1,005,000,000)			(2,276,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,071,000,000)			(1,876,000,000)
Treasury stock	(1,878,000,000)			(1,892,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	3,208,000,000			2,465,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 7,210,000,000			$ 8,727,000,000