Asset Impairment Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$ 872	$ 0	$ 1,345	$ 6
Other Asset Impairment Charges	872	0	1,345	6
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	1	0	(1)	6
AES Puerto Rico
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0	0	475	0
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	73		73
AES Puerto Rico | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges			475
Mountain View Power Partners
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use			67
Mountain View Power Partners | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges	67	0	67	0
Angamos [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use			155
Angamos [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges	155	0	155	0
Ventanas [Domain]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use			649
Ventanas [Domain] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges	$ 649	$ 0	$ 649	$ 0