Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues	$ 10,736	$ 10,530	$ 10,281
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	8,163	8,065	7,898
Operating margin	2,573	2,465	2,383
General and administrative expenses	(192)	(215)	(194)
Interest expense	(1,056)	(1,170)	(1,134)
Interest income	310	244	245
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(188)	(68)	(13)
Other expense	(58)	(58)	(80)
Other income	72	120	64
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	984	(52)	29
Asset impairment expense	(208)	(537)	(1,096)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(72)	42	(15)
Other non-operating expense	(147)	0	(2)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	2,018	771	187
Income tax expense	(708)	(990)	(32)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	39	71	36
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	1,349	(148)	191
Income (loss) from operations of discontinued businesses, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(2), $(21), and $229, respectively	(9)	(18)	151
Gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(44), $0, and $266, respectively	225	(611)	(1,119)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	1,565	(777)	(777)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(364)	(359)	(211)
Less: Loss (income) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	(25)	(142)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	1,203	(1,161)	(1,130)
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	985	(507)	(20)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	218	(654)	(1,110)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 1,203	$ (1,161)	$ (1,130)
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 1.49	$ (0.77)	$ (0.04)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	0.33	(0.99)	(1.68)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	1.82	(1.76)	(1.72)
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	1.48	(0.77)	(0.04)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	0.33	(0.99)	(1.68)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	1.81	(1.76)	(1.72)
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.49	$ 0.45
Electricity, Generation [Member]
Revenues	$ 7,797	$ 7,421	$ 6,971
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	5,690	5,415	5,059
Electric Distribution [Member]
Revenues	2,939	3,109	3,310
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ 2,473	$ 2,650	$ 2,839