Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Total Revenue	$ 3,078	$ 2,700	$ 5,930	$ 5,335
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(2,515)	(1,972)	(4,837)	(3,943)
Operating margin	563	728	1,093	1,392
General and administrative expenses	(46)	(45)	(98)	(91)
Interest expense	(279)	(237)	(537)	(427)
Interest income	95	73	170	141
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(1)	(18)	(7)	(19)
Other expense	(29)	(4)	(41)	(20)
Other income	70	183	76	226
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	(2)	64	(1)	59
Asset impairment expense	(482)	(872)	(483)	(1,345)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(49)	(2)	(68)	(37)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(160)	(130)	104	(121)
Income tax benefit (expense)	19	59	(41)	51
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	5	(10)	(28)	(40)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(136)	(81)	35	(110)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	4	0	4
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(136)	(77)	35	(106)
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	(43)	105	(99)	(14)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (179)	$ 28	$ (64)	$ (120)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.27)	$ 0.03	$ (0.10)	$ (0.19)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0	$ 0.01	$ 0	$ 0.01
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (179)	$ 24	$ (64)	$ (124)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0	$ 4	$ 0	$ 4
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (0.27)	$ 0.03	$ (0.10)	$ (0.19)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	0	0.01	0	0.01
Earnings Per Share, Basic	(0.27)	0.04	(0.10)	(0.18)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ (0.27)	$ 0.04	$ (0.10)	$ (0.18)
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	668	671	668	666
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ (0.27)	$ 0.04	$ (0.10)	$ (0.18)
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ (0.27)	$ 0.04	$ (0.10)	$ (0.18)
DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	668	671	668	666
Electric Transmission [Member]
Total Revenue	$ 802	$ 672	$ 1,637	$ 1,379
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(734)	(580)	(1,439)	(1,162)
Electricity, Generation [Member]
Total Revenue	2,276	2,028	4,293	3,956
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (1,781)	$ (1,392)	$ (3,398)	$ (2,781)