Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Total Revenue	$ 2,217	$ 2,483	$ 4,555	$ 5,133
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(1,693)	(1,981)	(3,524)	(4,045)
Operating margin	524	502	1,031	1,088
General and administrative expenses	(40)	(49)	(78)	(95)
Interest expense	(218)	(273)	(451)	(538)
Interest income	64	82	134	161
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(40)	(51)	(41)	(61)
Other expense	(3)	(14)	(7)	(26)
Other income	9	18	54	48
Loss on disposal and sale of business interests	(27)	(3)	(27)	(7)
Asset impairment expense	0	(116)	(6)	(116)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(6)
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain, before Tax		22	18	18
Other non-operating expense	(158)	0	(202)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	105	118	425	472
Income tax expense	(113)	(57)	(202)	(172)
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	8	5	6	(1)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	0	66	229	299
Gain from disposal of discontinued businesses	3	1	3	1
NET INCOME (LOSS)	3	67	232	300
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	(86)	(50)	(171)	(129)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(83)	17	61	171
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(86)	16	58	170
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	3	1	3	1
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (83)	$ 17	$ 61	$ 171
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.13)	$ 0.02	$ 0.09	$ 0.26
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	0.01	0	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	(0.12)	0.02	0.09	0.26
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	(0.13)	0.02	0.09	0.26
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.01	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	665	667	668	667
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ (0.12)	$ 0.02	$ 0.09	$ 0.26
Electric Transmission [Member]
Total Revenue	$ 624	$ 724	$ 1,336	$ 1,509
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(535)	(605)	(1,127)	(1,240)
Electricity, Generation [Member]
Total Revenue	1,593	1,759	3,219	3,624
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (1,158)	$ (1,376)	$ (2,397)	$ (2,805)