Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 298	$ 191	$ 598	$ 1,384
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit of $0, $2, $0 and $3, respectively	(75)	(42)	(67)	(159)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods	0	(3)	23	(1)
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	(75)	(45)	(44)	(160)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $44, $(3), $97 and $(3), respectively	(178)	15	(375)	32
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax expense of $6, $7, $9 and $15, respectively	17	21	36	67
Total change in fair value of derivatives	(161)	36	(339)	99
Pension activity:
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of $0 income tax for all periods	0	0	2	0
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax expense of $0, $0, $13 and $2, respectively	0	1	27	5
Total pension adjustments	0	1	29	5
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	(236)	(8)	(354)	(56)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	62	183	244	1,328
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	(40)	(114)	(123)	(416)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 22	$ 69	$ 121	$ 912