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Investment In and Advances To Affiliates
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Abstract]  
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block] INVESTMENTS IN AND ADVANCES TO AFFILIATES
Summarized Financial Information — The following table summarizes financial information of the Company’s 50%-or-less-owned affiliates that are accounted for using the equity method (in millions):
 Three Months Ended March 31,
Three Months Ended March 31,20212020
Revenue$506 $370 
Operating margin (loss)32 55 
Net loss(17)(11)
sPower — On February 1, 2021, the Company substantially completed the merger of the sPower and AES Distributed Energy development platforms to form AES Clean Energy Development, a consolidated entity, which will serve as the development vehicle for all future renewable projects in the U.S. Since the sPower development platform was carved-out of AES’ existing equity method investment, this transaction resulted in a $77 million decrease in the carrying value of the sPower investment. See Note 18—Acquisitions for further information. As the Company still does not control sPower after the transaction, it continues to be accounted for as an equity method investment and is reported in the US and Utilities SBU reportable segment.
Guacolda — In September 2020, Guacolda management reviewed the recoverability of the Guacolda asset group and determined the undiscounted cash flows did not exceed the carrying amount. Impairment indicators were identified primarily as a result of inability to re-contract Guacolda’s generation after expiration of its existing PPAs driven by lower energy prices in Chile and reduced forecasted cash flows resulting from decarbonization initiatives of the Chilean Government. Guacolda recognized a long-lived asset impairment at the investee level, which negatively impacted the Company's Net equity in losses of affiliates by $127 million. As a result, the Company’s basis in its investment in Guacolda was reduced to zero and the equity method of accounting was suspended. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has not recognized $95 million of equity method losses which were in excess of the Company’s carrying amount.
In February 2021, AES Gener entered into an agreement to sell its 50% ownership interest in Guacolda for $34 million. The sale is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021. The Guacolda equity method investment is reported in the South America SBU reportable segment.
OPGC — In March 2020, an other-than-temporary impairment was identified at OPGC primarily due to the estimated market value of the Company's investment and the economic slowdown. A calculation of the fair value of the Company’s investment in OPGC was required to evaluate whether there was a loss in the carrying value of the investment. Based on management’s estimate of fair value of $152 million, the Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment of $43 million in Other non-operating expense.