Equity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent			$ 57
Unfunded pension obligation, Net of Tax	$ (53)		(53)		$ (54)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Net of Tax	(1,674)		(1,674)		(1,644)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(2,347)		(2,347)		(2,397)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			17
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax	(620)		(620)		$ (699)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			40
Total foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax	41	$ 15	(28)	$ (137)
Total change in derivative fair value, net of income tax	(149)	(21)	117	(437)
Total pension adjustments, net of income tax	0	$ 0	1	$ 0
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			43
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			36
Total change in derivative fair value, net of income tax			79
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			1
Total pension adjustments, net of income tax			1
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			(26)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			3
Total foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax			(23)
Gener Subsidiary [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(7)		(7)
AES Brasil [Domain]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Net of Tax	(7)		(7)
AES Brasil [Domain] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax	0		0
AES Brasil [Domain] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Unfunded pension obligation, Net of Tax	$ 0		$ 0