Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jan. 01, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2017
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 943,000,000	$ 1,089,000,000
Restricted cash	304,000,000	297,000,000
Assets, Current	5,356,000,000	5,414,000,000
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates	1,080,000,000	835,000,000			$ 966,000,000
Office Equipment:
Cost	25,552,000,000	26,707,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(8,486,000,000)	(8,472,000,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	19,906,000,000	22,826,000,000
Other Assets:
Deferred income taxes	409,000,000	288,000,000
Other assets	2,188,000,000	1,660,000,000		$ 1,605,000,000	1,635,000,000
Total other assets	7,701,000,000	6,363,000,000
Assets	32,963,000,000	34,603,000,000			33,648,000,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,153,000,000	1,156,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	1,120,000,000	1,223,000,000
Total current liabilities	4,732,000,000	5,362,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Other long-term liabilities	3,358,000,000	3,241,000,000
Liabilities, Noncurrent	22,407,000,000	23,649,000,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	8,000,000	8,000,000	$ 26.07
Additional paid-in capital	7,119,000,000	7,561,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(1,089,000,000)	(680,000,000)		$ (731,000,000)	(692,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,220,000,000)	(2,397,000,000)			(2,229,000,000)
Treasury stock	(1,845,000,000)	(1,858,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,798,000,000	2,634,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	32,963,000,000	34,603,000,000
Preferred stock (without par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 1,043,050 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021)	825,000,000	0
Parent Company [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	40,000,000	70,000,000			$ 11,000,000	$ 19,000,000
Accounts and notes receivable from subsidiaries	231,000,000	188,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	50,000,000	55,000,000
Assets, Current	321,000,000	313,000,000
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates	7,159,000,000	6,426,000,000
Office Equipment:
Cost	29,000,000	29,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(23,000,000)	(22,000,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	6,000,000	7,000,000
Other Assets:
Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent, Net	6,000,000	4,000,000
Deferred income taxes	0	25,000,000
Other assets	33,000,000	20,000,000
Total other assets	39,000,000	49,000,000
Assets	7,525,000,000	6,795,000,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	17,000,000	15,000,000
Accounts and notes payable to subsidiaries	161,000,000	184,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	340,000,000	344,000,000
Total current liabilities	518,000,000	543,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Senior notes payable	3,729,000,000	3,430,000,000
Accounts and notes payable to subsidiaries	0	28,000,000
Other long-term liabilities	480,000,000	160,000,000
Liabilities, Noncurrent	4,209,000,000	3,618,000,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	8,000,000	8,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	7,119,000,000	7,561,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(1,089,000,000)	(680,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,220,000,000)	(2,397,000,000)
Treasury stock	(1,845,000,000)	(1,858,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,798,000,000	2,634,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	7,525,000,000	6,795,000,000
Accumulated Amortization, Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent	$ 7,000,000	$ 6,000,000