Cash inflows associated with the issuance of non-recourse debt.

No definition available.

Name:	aes_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfNonrecourseDebt
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495323-112611

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124435984&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124429444&loc=SL124452920-239629

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 69C
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466577&loc=SL123495737-112612

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 69B
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466577&loc=SL123495735-112612

+ Details

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

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126972273&loc=d3e12355-112629

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126972273&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126954810&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received by a corporation from a shareholder during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126954810&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromContributedCapital
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126954810&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for a borrowing having initial term of repayment within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfShortTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Debt - Non-Recourse Debt Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				$ 3,132	$ 700
Loss on extinguishment of debt	$ (1)		$ (18)	(7)	$ (19)
Nonrecourse Debt [Member] \| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A. LONDON BRANCH
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt		$ 500
AES Brasil [Domain] \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				469
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(201)
AES Andres \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt	140
Repayments of Long-term Debt	0
AES Gener \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt				477
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(95)
Colon [Domain] \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member] \| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A. LONDON BRANCH
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt	50
AES Hispanola Holdings BV \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Long-term Debt		0
AES Hispanola Holdings BV \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member] \| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A. LONDON BRANCH
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt	450
Mercury Chile HoldCo LLC
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from Contributed Capital	196
Mercury Chile HoldCo LLC \| Bridge Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Short-Term Debt		350
Mercury Chile HoldCo LLC \| Bridge Loan \| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A. LONDON BRANCH
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued senior notes	500			500
Mercury Chile HoldCo LLC \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt		$ 710
Mercury Chile HoldCo LLC \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member] \| Bridge Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt	350
Mercury Chile HoldCo LLC \| Senior Notes [Member] \| 6.5% senior notes due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued senior notes	$ 360			$ 360
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.50%			6.50%
IPL Subsidiary [Member] \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt	$ 200
Repayments of Long-term Debt	0
AES Clean Energy Subsidiary \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt	267
Repayments of Long-term Debt	0
AES El Salvador \| Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt	348
Repayments of Long-term Debt	$ (345)