Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 128	$ 101	$ 290	$ 684	$ (1,342)	$ 152	$ 53	$ (24)	$ 1,203	$ (1,161)	$ (1,130)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit of $2, $11 and $1, respectively									(161)	(9)	189
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods									(21)	643	992
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(182)	634	1,181
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $16, $13 and $(5), respectively									(67)	(12)	5
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(13), $1 and $1, respectively									93	50	37
Total change in fair value of derivatives									26	38	42
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax expense of $1, $1 and $5, respectively									(2)	2	11
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(1), $6 and $10, respectively									(1)	(21)	(208)
Reclassification of earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(2), $(126) and $2, respectively									8	266	10
Total pension adjustments									5	247	(187)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									(151)	919	1,036
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									1,414	142	259
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION									1,203	(1,161)	(1,130)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit of $2, $11 and $1, respectively									(214)	18	117
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods									(21)	643	992
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(235)	661	1,109
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $16, $13 and $(5), respectively									(64)	(14)	2
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(13), $1 and $1, respectively									78	37	28
Total change in fair value of derivatives									14	23	30
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax expense of $1, $1 and $5, respectively									(2)	1	9
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(1), $6 and $10, respectively									2	(20)	(22)
Reclassification of earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(2), $(126) and $2, respectively									7	248	1
Total pension adjustments									7	229	(12)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									(214)	913	1,127
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									$ 989	$ (248)	$ (3)