Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest income									$ 298	$ 268	$ 318
General and administrative expenses									(166)	(165)	(196)
Other expense									(60)	(53)	(80)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt									(78)	(186)	(169)
Interest expense									(911)	(1,038)	(1,050)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(644)	(192)	(277)
Income tax benefit (expense)									133	(216)	(352)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (632)	$ 343	$ 28	$ (148)	$ 318	$ (333)	$ (83)	$ 144	(409)	46	303
Parent Company
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenue from subsidiaries and affiliates									28	29	30
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries and affiliates									(47)	383	674
Interest income									20	31	53
General and administrative expenses									(121)	(125)	(148)
Other income									51	26	1
Other expense									(65)	(6)	(103)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt									0	(146)	(5)
Interest expense									(74)	(163)	(197)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(208)	29	305
Income tax benefit (expense)									(201)	17	(2)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION									$ (409)	$ 46	$ 303