Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (2,276)	$ (1,789)	$ (6,219)	$ (5,313)
General and Administrative Expense	(39)	(41)	(130)	(119)
Other expense	(12)	(20)	(32)	(27)
Interest expense	(242)	(290)	(669)	(741)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	22	(90)	81	(117)
Impairment expense			(1,374)	(1,057)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	29	2	(8)	20
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)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	25	(112)	(15)	(106)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	485	(481)	375	(252)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	0	4	3
Net income (loss)	485	(481)	379	(249)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	343	(333)	223	(272)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			63
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(23)	(82)	(63)	(148)
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			3
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	0	(80)	(3)	(78)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	0	(80)	(3)	(78)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other expense	0	0	(1)	(1)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(3)	(1)	(5)	(2)
Income tax benefit (expense)	1	0	0	(1)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(4)	(1)	(5)	(1)
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	2	0	2	0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Regulated Operation
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(2)	0	(3)	0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Unregulated Operation
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	(1)	0	(1)	(1)
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	2	(1)	(2)	0
Interest expense	(33)	(42)	(62)	(89)
Impairment expense	0	0	(13)	0
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(7)	9	(12)	(14)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(39)	(34)	(90)	(104)
Income tax benefit (expense)	10	10	23	24
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(1)	(3)	(12)	(4)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(30)	(27)	(79)	(84)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	9	26	22	15
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			57
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(21)	(1)	(57)	(69)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			3
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (2)	$ (1)	$ (3)	$ (1)