Debt Instrument, Percentage of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries Securing Obligations

No definition available.

Name:	aes_DebtInstrumentPercentageofCapitalStockofForeignSubsidiariesSecuringObligations
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument Restrictive Covenants [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DebtInstrumentRestrictiveCovenantsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Restrictive Covenants, Maximum Ratio of Debt to Cash Flow

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DebtInstrumentRestrictiveCovenantsMaximumRatioofDebttoCashFlow
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Restrictive Covenants, Minimum Ratio of Operating Cash Flow to Interest Charges

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DebtInstrumentRestrictiveCovenantsMinimumRatioofOperatingCashFlowtoInterestCharges
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Restrictive Covenants, Sale of Guarantor or Its Subsidiaries, Percentage of Proceeds Used to Repay Debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DebtInstrumentRestrictiveCovenantsSaleofGuarantororItsSubsidiariesPercentageofProceedsUsedtoRepayDebt
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Restrictive Covenants, Sale of Guarantor or Its Subsidiaries, Percentage of Proceeds Used to Repay Debt If Debt to Cash Flow is Less than 5

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DebtInstrumentRestrictiveCovenantsSaleofGuarantororItsSubsidiariesPercentageofProceedsUsedtoRepayDebtIfDebttoCashFlowisLessthan5
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117329964&loc=d3e12355-112629

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117329964&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow for cost from early extinguishment and prepayment of debt. Includes, but is not limited to, third-party cost, premium paid, and other fee paid to lender directly for debt extinguishment or debt prepayment. Excludes accrued interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_LIBOR1.75TermLoanDueIn2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_A8.0SeniorNotesDue2020Domain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_A7.375SeniorNotesDue2021MemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_A4.875SeniorNotesDue2023MemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_A5.5SeniorNotesDue2024MemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_A5.5SeniorNotesDue2025MemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_A4.5SeniorNotesDue2023DomainDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_A4.0SeniorNotesDue2021DomainDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=aes_RecourseDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aes_SeniorSecuredTermLoandue2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt (Recourse Debt Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt			$ 169	$ 188	$ 68
LIBOR 1.75% Term Loan Due In 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt terminated amount		$ 343
8.0% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt terminated amount	$ 228
7.375% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt terminated amount	690
4.875% Senior Notes Due 2023 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt terminated amount		$ 100
5.5% Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt terminated amount	671
5.5% Senior Notes Due 2025 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt terminated amount	29
Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.5% Senior Notes Due 2023 [Domain] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount	500
Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.0% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Domain] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount	$ 500
Senior Notes [Member] \| 4.875% Senior Notes Due 2023 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		4.875%
Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.5% Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.50%
Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.5% Senior Notes Due 2025 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	5.50%
Recourse Debt
Recourse Debt Covenants and Guarantees:
Percentage of capital stock of foreign subsidiaries securing obligations			65.00%
Covenants, sale of guarantor or its subsidiaries percentage of proceeds used to repay debt			60.00%
Covenants, sale of guarantor or its subsidiaries percentage of proceeds used to repay debt if debt to cash flow is less than 5			50.00%
Minimum ratio of operating cash flow to interest charges			2.5
Maximum ratio of debt to cash flow			5.75
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 4.5% Senior Notes Due 2023 [Domain] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.50%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 8.0% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	8.00%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 7.375% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	7.375%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 4.0% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Domain] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.00%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Recourse Debt \| Senior Secured Term Loan due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost				150
Loss on extinguishment of debt				1
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Recourse Debt \| 4.0% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Domain] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt	$ 125
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Recourse Debt \| 4.875% Senior Notes Due 2023 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt		$ (5)
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Recourse Debt \| 5.5% Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt	$ 44
Parent Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt			$ 5	$ 171	$ 92