Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Total Revenue	$ 2,700	$ 2,217	$ 5,335	$ 4,555
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(1,972)	(1,693)	(3,943)	(3,524)
Operating margin	728	524	1,392	1,031
General and administrative expenses	(45)	(40)	(91)	(78)
Interest expense	(237)	(218)	(427)	(451)
Interest income	73	64	141	134
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(18)	(40)	(19)	(41)
Other expense	(4)	(3)	(20)	(7)
Other income	183	9	226	54
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	64	(27)	59	(27)
Asset impairment expense	(872)	0	(1,345)	(6)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(2)	(6)	(37)	(18)
Other non-operating expense	0	(158)	0	(202)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(130)	105	(121)	425
Income tax benefit (expense)	59	(113)	51	(202)
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	(10)	8	(40)	6
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(81)	0	(110)	229
Gain from disposal of discontinued businesses	4	3	4	3
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(77)	3	(106)	232
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	105	(86)	(14)	(171)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 28	$ (83)	$ (120)	$ 61
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.03	$ (0.13)	$ (0.19)	$ 0.09
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 24	$ (86)	$ (124)	$ 58
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 4	$ 3	$ 4	$ 3
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.03	$ (0.13)	$ (0.19)	$ 0.09
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	0.01	0.01	0.01	0
Earnings Per Share, Basic	0.04	(0.12)	(0.18)	0.09
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.04	$ (0.12)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.09
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	670	665	666	668
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 0.04	$ (0.12)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.09
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 0.04	$ (0.12)	$ (0.18)	$ 0.09
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	670	665	666	668
Electric Transmission [Member]
Total Revenue	$ 672	$ 624	$ 1,379	$ 1,336
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(580)	(535)	(1,162)	(1,127)
Electricity, Generation [Member]
Total Revenue	2,028	1,593	3,956	3,219
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (1,392)	$ (1,158)	$ (2,781)	$ (2,397)