Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales	$ 1,789	$ 1,924	$ 5,313	$ 5,969
General and Administrative Expense	(41)	(41)	(119)	(136)
Other expense	(20)	(9)	(27)	(35)
Interest expense	290	250	741	788
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	(90)	16	(117)	9
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(516)	424	(91)	896
Income tax expense	(147)	130	55	302
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(112)	4	(106)	3
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(481)	298	(252)	597
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	0	3	1
Net income (loss)	(481)	298	(249)	598
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(333)	210	(272)	381
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			148
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	(82)	(15)	(148)	(83)
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			78
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]
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	(80)	0	(78)	(23)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(80)	0	(78)	(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]
Non-regulated cost of sales	1	0	(1)	0
Other expense	0	0	(1)	(1)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	0	0	0	(26)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(1)	0	(2)	(27)
Income tax expense	0	0	1	0
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	0	0	(1)	0
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1)	(1)	0	(11)
Interest expense	(42)	(8)	(89)	(23)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	0	0	0	1
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	9	(14)	(14)	(11)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(34)	(23)	(104)	(44)
Income tax expense	10	6	24	10
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(3)	0	(4)	(2)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(27)	(17)	(84)	(36)
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: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	26	2	15	3
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			69
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	(1)	(15)	(69)	(33)
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			1
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	$ (1)	$ 0	$ (1)	$ (27)