Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Total Revenue	$ 2,545	$ 2,625	$ 7,100	$ 7,758
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(1,789)	(1,924)	(5,313)	(5,969)
Operating margin	756	701	1,787	1,789
General and administrative expenses	(41)	(41)	(119)	(136)
Interest expense	(290)	(250)	(741)	(788)
Interest income	64	81	198	242
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(54)	(65)	(95)	(126)
Other expense	(20)	(9)	(27)	(35)
Other income	6	78	60	126
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	(90)	16	(117)	9
Asset impairment expense	(849)	0	(855)	(116)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	2
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain, before Tax		(87)	(20)	(69)
Other non-operating expense	0	0	(202)	0
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(516)	424	(91)	896
Income tax benefit (expense)	147	(130)	(55)	(302)
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	(112)	4	(106)	3
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(481)	298	(252)	597
Gain from disposal of discontinued businesses	0	0	3	1
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(481)	298	(249)	598
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	148	(88)	(23)	(217)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(333)	210	(272)	381
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(333)	210	(275)	380
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	3	1
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (333)	$ 210	$ (272)	$ 381
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.50)	$ 0.32	$ (0.41)	$ 0.57
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	(0.50)	0.32	(0.41)	0.57
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.50)	$ 0.32	$ (0.41)	$ 0.57
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	665	667	665	667
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ (0.50)	$ 0.32	$ (0.41)	$ 0.57
Electric Transmission [Member]
Total Revenue	$ 680	$ 799	$ 2,016	$ 2,308
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(548)	(633)	(1,675)	(1,873)
Electricity, Generation [Member]
Total Revenue	1,865	1,826	5,084	5,450
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (1,241)	$ (1,291)	$ (3,638)	$ (4,096)