Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (78)	$ 210	$ 17	$ 154	$ 128	$ 101	$ 290	$ 684	$ 303	$ 1,203	$ (1,161)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit of $1, $2 and $11, respectively									(33)	(161)	(9)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods									23	(21)	643
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									(10)	(182)	634
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit of $53, $16 and $13, respectively									(265)	(67)	(12)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(4), $(13) and $1, respectively									42	93	50
Total change in fair value of derivatives									(223)	26	38
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax expense of $0, $1 and $1, respectively									1	(2)	2
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $6, $(1) and $6, respectively									(23)	(1)	(21)
Reclassification of earnings, net of income tax expense of $13, $2 and $126, respectively									(28)	(8)	(266)
Total pension adjustments									6	5	247
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									(227)	(151)	919
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									251	1,414	142
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION									303	1,203	(1,161)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit of $1, $2 and $11, respectively									(23)	(214)	18
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods									23	(21)	643
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									0	(235)	661
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit of $53, $16 and $13, respectively									(202)	(64)	(14)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(4), $(13) and $1, respectively									36	78	37
Total change in fair value of derivatives									(166)	14	23
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax expense of $0, $1 and $1, respectively									1	(2)	1
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $6, $(1) and $6, respectively									(16)	2	(20)
Reclassification of earnings, net of income tax expense of $13, $2 and $126, respectively									27	7	248
Total pension adjustments									12	7	229
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									(154)	(214)	913
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									$ 149	$ 989	$ (248)