Fair Value (Nonrecurring Measurements) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges	$ 872	$ 0		$ 1,345	$ 6
AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	73			73
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | OPGC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges			$ 43		158
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges				475
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges	67	0		67	0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges	649	0		649	0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges	155	0		155	0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	171			171
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | OPGC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring		272	195		272
Cumulative Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Period Increase (Decrease)			115		114
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | OPGC [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring		0	0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | OPGC [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring		104	0		104
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | OPGC [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring		$ 0	$ 152		$ 0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	548			548
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | AES Puerto Rico | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	0			0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | AES Puerto Rico | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	0			0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | AES Puerto Rico | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	73			73
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	78			78
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	0			0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	0			0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	11			11
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	661			661
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Ventanas [Domain] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	0			0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Ventanas [Domain] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	0			0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Ventanas [Domain] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	12			12
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	241			241
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Angamos [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	0			0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Angamos [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	0			0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Angamos [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	$ 86			$ 86
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(0.02%)
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				2.00%
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				8.00%
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maximum [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				8.00%
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				54.00%
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				23.00%
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				58.00%
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Minimum [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(80.00%)
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(69.00%)
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(18.00%)
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(8.00%)
Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				18.20%
Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				7.50%
Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				11.00%
Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				11.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				45.99%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				6.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				11.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maximum [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				97.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				56.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				21.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				53.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Minimum [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				37.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Mountain View Power Partners
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(10.00%)
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(5.00%)
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(8.00%)
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Measurement Input, Entity Credit Risk [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				3.40%
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Measurement Input, Entity Credit Risk [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				3.40%
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Measurement Input, Entity Credit Risk [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				0.60%
Cross currency derivatives [Member] | Measurement Input, Entity Credit Risk [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				3.60%
Cross currency derivatives [Member] | Measurement Input, Entity Credit Risk [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				3.60%
Cross currency derivatives [Member] | Measurement Input, Entity Credit Risk [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				3.60%
Foreign Exchange | Weighted Average [Member] | Argentina, Pesos
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative, Forward Exchange Rate	256			256
Foreign Exchange | Maximum [Member] | Argentina, Pesos
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative, Forward Exchange Rate	551			551
Foreign Exchange | Minimum [Member] | Argentina, Pesos
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative, Forward Exchange Rate	97			97