Financial Statement Presentation New Accounting Pronouncement Adopted (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total Revenue	$ 2,625	$ 2,837	$ 7,758	$ 8,114
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(1,924)	(2,166)	(5,969)	(6,187)
Operating margin	701	671	1,789	1,927
Interest income	81	79	242	231
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	424	332	896	1,672
Income tax expense	130	146	302	509
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	298	192	597	1,194
NET INCOME	298	191	598	1,384
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	210	101	381	1,075
Other current assets	856		856			$ 807
Deferred income taxes	135		135			97
Loan receivable	1,370		1,370			1,423
TOTAL ASSETS	33,423		33,423			32,521
Accrued and other liabilities	951		951		$ 989	962
Accumulated deficit	(614)		(614)			(1,005)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,335)		(2,335)			(2,071)
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	2,246		2,246			2,396
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	33,423		33,423			32,521
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	(1,145)		(1,145)			(1,166)
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	(455)		(455)			(370)
Debt service reserves and other deposits	241		241			467
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	1,841	$ 2,122	1,841	$ 2,122		2,003	$ 1,788
Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	73		73			116
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Value	524		524			578
Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, before Allowance for Credit Loss, Current	1,500		1,500
Loan receivable	1,400		1,400
Retained Earnings [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2017-12 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets					4
Retained Earnings [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets					$ 6
Debt Securities [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Value	265		265			248
Debt Securities [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Value	265		265
ARGENTINA
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	65		65			$ 93
ARGENTINA | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss	$ 65		$ 65