Reversal of Cost of Goods

No definition available.

Name:	aes_ReversalOfCostOfGoods
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(3)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13237-110859

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q1)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13237-110859

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 16
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6571209&loc=d3e13703-110860

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum period the individual is required to perform services to be fully vested under the deferred compensation arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 710
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 7
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6409961&loc=d3e20487-108367

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=128089324&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualRequisiteServicePeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of loss contingency liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14615-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124440162&loc=d3e12021-110248

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after accumulated amortization of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets classified as other.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_AESTieteDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_CompensationFromConcessionAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_CompensationFromConcessionAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=aes_LitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_EnvironmentalIssueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Contingencies and Commitments - Loss Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Environmental Contingencies
Liability recorded for projected environmental remediation costs				$ 4	$ 4
AES Tiete [Domain]
Litigation Contingencies
Reversal of Cost of Goods	$ 6		$ 184
AES Tiete [Domain] \| Compensation from Concession Agreement
Litigation Contingencies
Other Intangible Assets, Net	$ 190	$ 184
AES Tiete [Domain] \| Compensation from Concession Agreement
Litigation Contingencies
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Requisite Service Period		2 years 8 months 12 days
Litigation [Member]
Litigation Contingencies
Aggregate reserves for claims deemed both probable and reasonably estimable				28	$ 23
Maximum [Member] \| Litigation [Member]
Environmental Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss				909
Maximum [Member] \| Environmental Issue
Environmental Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss				13
Minimum [Member] \| Litigation [Member]
Environmental Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss				$ 252