Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenues	$ 11,141	$ 9,660	$ 10,189
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	8,430	6,967	7,840
Operating margin	2,711	2,693	2,349
General and administrative expenses	(166)	(165)	(196)
Interest expense	(911)	(1,038)	(1,050)
Interest income	298	268	318
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(78)	(186)	(169)
Other expense	60	53	80
Other income	410	75	145
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	(1,683)	(95)	28
Asset impairment expense	(1,575)	(864)	(185)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(10)	55	(67)
Other non-operating expense	0	(202)	(92)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(1,064)	488	1,001
Income tax benefit (expense)	133	(216)	(352)
Net equity in losses of affiliates	(24)	(123)	(172)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(955)	149	477
Gain from disposal of discontinued businesses, net of income tax expense of $1, $0, and $0, respectively	4	3	1
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(951)	152	478
Less: Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(542)	106	175
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(409)	46	303
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(413)	43	302
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	4	3	1
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (409)	$ 46	$ 303
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.62)	$ 0.06	$ 0.46
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	0.01	0.01	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	(0.61)	0.07	0.46
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	(0.62)	0.06	0.45
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	0.01	0.01	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ (0.61)	$ 0.07	$ 0.45
Electricity, Generation [Member]
Revenues	$ 8,273	$ 6,999	$ 7,161
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	5,982	4,732	5,356
Electric Distribution [Member]
Revenues	2,868	2,661	3,028
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ 2,448	$ 2,235	$ 2,484