Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Total Revenue	$ 3,036	$ 2,545	$ 8,371	$ 7,100
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(2,276)	(1,789)	(6,219)	(5,313)
Operating margin	760	756	2,152	1,787
General and administrative expenses	(39)	(41)	(130)	(119)
Interest expense	(242)	(290)	(669)	(741)
Interest income	71	64	212	198
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(22)	(54)	(41)	(95)
Other expense	(12)	(20)	(32)	(27)
Other income	48	6	274	60
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	22	(90)	81	(117)
Asset impairment expense	(29)	(849)	(1,374)	(855)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	29	2	(8)	20
Other non-operating expense	0	0	0	(202)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	586	(516)	465	(91)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(126)	147	(75)	(55)
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	25	(112)	(15)	(106)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	485	(481)	375	(252)
Gain from disposal of discontinued businesses	0	0	4	3
NET INCOME (LOSS)	485	(481)	379	(249)
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	(142)	148	(156)	(23)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 343	$ (333)	$ 223	$ (272)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.52	$ (0.50)	$ 0.32	$ (0.41)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.01	$ 0
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 343	$ (333)	$ 219	$ (275)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 4	$ 3
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.48	$ (0.50)	$ 0.31	$ (0.41)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	0	0	0.01	0
Earnings Per Share, Basic	0.52	(0.50)	0.33	(0.41)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.48	$ (0.50)	$ 0.32	$ (0.41)
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	710	665	700	665
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 0.52	$ (0.50)	$ 0.33	$ (0.41)
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 0.48	$ (0.50)	$ 0.32	$ (0.41)
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	710	665	700	665
Electric Transmission [Member]
Total Revenue	$ 768	$ 680	$ 2,147	$ 2,016
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(644)	(548)	(1,806)	(1,675)
Electricity, Generation [Member]
Total Revenue	2,268	1,865	6,224	5,084
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (1,632)	$ (1,241)	$ (4,413)	$ (3,638)