Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ 3	$ 67	$ 232	$ 300
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of $0 income tax for all periods	17	9	(135)	8
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods	(2)	23	(2)	23
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	15	32	(137)	31
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit of $33, $35, $166 and $53, respectively	(99)	(129)	(547)	(197)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax expense of $25, $1, $33 and $3, respectively	78	9	110	19
Total change in fair value of derivatives	(21)	(120)	(437)	(178)
Pension activity:
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of $0 income tax for all periods	0	2	0	2
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax expense of $1, $13, $1 and $13, respectively	0	26	0	27
Total pension adjustments	0	28	0	29
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	(6)	(60)	(574)	(118)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(3)	7	(342)	182
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	(81)	(30)	(60)	(83)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (84)	$ (23)	$ (402)	$ 99