Asset Impairment Expense (Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held and Used by Asset) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Asset impairment expense								$ (1,575)	$ (864)	$ (185)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use								1,575	864	185
Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use							$ 115	0	0	115
Hawaii Subsidiary [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use					$ 38	$ 60		0	38	60
Other
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use								25	19	10
AES Gener
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use					213			0	213	0
AES Panama
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		$ 11			30			11	30	0
Ventanas 3 & 4
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		649						649	0	0
AES PR
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use				$ 475				475	0	0
Angamos [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		$ 155			$ 564			155	564	0
buffalo gap III
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$ 91							91	0	0
buffalo gap II [Member] [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	73							73	0	0
Buffalo Gap [Member]
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$ 29							29	0	0
Mountain View Power Partners
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use			$ 67					$ 67	$ 0	$ 0