Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales	$ 1,693	$ 1,981	$ 3,524	$ 4,045
General and Administrative Expense	(40)	(49)	(78)	(95)
Other expense	(3)	(14)	(7)	(26)
Interest expense	218	273	451	538
Loss on disposal and sale of business interests	(27)	(3)	(27)	(7)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	105	118	425	472
Income tax expense	113	57	202	172
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	8	5	6	(1)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	0	66	229	299
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	3	1	3	1
Net income	3	67	232	300
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(83)	17	61	171
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			119
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(93)	(57)	(119)	(68)
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			(2)
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Loss on disposal and sale of business interests	2	(23)	2	(23)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	2	(23)	2	(23)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other expense	(1)	0	1	1
Loss on disposal and sale of business interests	0	(26)	0	(26)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(1)	(26)	(1)	(27)
Income tax expense	1	0	1	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	0	(26)	0	(27)
Net income	0	(26)	0	(27)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	(1)	0	(1)	0
Non-regulated cost of sales	2	(1)	1	(10)
Interest expense	103	7	(119)	(15)
Loss on disposal and sale of business interests	0	1	0	1
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	0	(2)	(23)	3
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(102)	(9)	(142)	(21)
Income tax expense	25	2	33	4
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(1)	(2)	(1)	(2)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(78)	(9)	(110)	(19)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	(17)	1	(11)	1
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			121
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(95)	(8)	(121)	(18)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 0	$ (26)	$ 0	$ (27)