Debt - Non-Recourse Debt Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				$ 978	$ 4,229
Loss on extinguishment of debt	$ (22)	$ (54)		(41)	(95)
DPL Subsidiary [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt					(34)
DPL Subsidiary [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | 4.125% Senior Notes due 2025 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued senior notes			$ 415
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			4.125%
DPL Subsidiary [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | 7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			7.25%
Redeemed notes			$ 380
AES Tiete [Domain] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Long-term Debt				0
Loss on extinguishment of debt				0
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt					(2)
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				95
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(95)
Loss on extinguishment of debt				0
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | 4.25% Senior Notes due 2030 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued senior notes			$ 475
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			4.25%
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | 3.45% Senior Notes due 2020 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			3.45%
Redeemed notes			$ 405
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | 65 Million Term Loan due 2020 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redeemed notes			$ 65
AES Panama
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt					(16)
AES Panama | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redeemed notes		447
AES Panama | Senior Notes [Member] | 4.375% Senior Notes due 2030 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued senior notes		$ 1,400			$ 1,400
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.375%			4.375%
AES Panama | Senior Notes [Member] | AES Panama Term Loan due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued senior notes		$ 105			$ 105
Cochrane Subsidiary [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redeemed notes		445
Cochrane Subsidiary [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | 6.25% Senior Notes due 2034 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued senior notes		$ 485			$ 485
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.25%			6.25%
AES Brasil [Domain] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				140
AES Andres | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				300
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(274)
Loss on extinguishment of debt				14
Clean Energy | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				116
Repayments of Long-term Debt				0
Loss on extinguishment of debt				0
AES Gener | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				101
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(129)
Loss on extinguishment of debt				$ 14
Changuinola [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redeemed notes		$ 171
Colon [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redeemed notes		$ 610