Investments In and Advances To Affiliates - Effective Equity Ownership Interest and Carrying Values (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Apr. 18, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates		$ 835		$ 966			$ 1,114
sPower [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates		$ 551		$ 442
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		50.00%		50.00%	26.00%	50.00%
Uplight
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates		$ 85		$ 91
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		32.00%		32.00%
Eolica Mesa La Paz [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates	[1]	$ 60		$ 66
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	[1]	50.00%		50.00%
Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates		$ 49		$ 48
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		43.00%		43.00%
OPGC Affiliate [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates		$ 0		$ 212
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		49.00%	49.00%	49.00%
Guacolda Affiliate [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates		$ 0		$ 74
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		34.00%		33.00%
Barry
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates	[2]	$ 0		$ 0
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	[2]	100.00%		100.00%
Other Affiliates [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in and advances to affiliates	[3]	$ 90		$ 33

[1] The Company's ownership in Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom is held through AES Andres, an 85%-owned consolidated subsidiary. AES Andres owns 50% of Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom, resulting in an AES effective ownership of 43%.(3)The Company's ownership in Guacolda is held through AES Gener, a 67%-owned consolidated subsidiary. AES Gener owns 50% of Guacolda, resulting in an AES effective ownership of 34%.

[2] Represents a VIE in which the Company holds a variable interest, but is not the primary beneficiary.

[3] Includes Bosforo, Fluence, and Tucano equity method investments, and others, as well as a $67 million loan facility granted from Colon to an equity method affiliate in 2020.