Fair Value (Nonrecurring Measurements) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Apr. 12, 2019
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges		$ 50	$ 29	$ 533	$ 1,374
AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			73		73
Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring		12		12
Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring		86		86
Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring		452		452
Jordan (IPP1 & IPP4)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Selling Expense				5
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges					475
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges					67
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges		0	0	0	155
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Ventanas 3 & 4
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges		0	0	0	649
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges		0	0	468	0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Jordan (IPP1 & IPP4)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other Asset Impairment Charges		$ 51	0	$ 51	0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring	[1]					$ 17
Other Asset Impairment Charges					11
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			452		452
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Puerto Rico
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			548		548
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Puerto Rico | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Puerto Rico | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Puerto Rico | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			73		73
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ventanas [Domain]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			78		78
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ventanas [Domain] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ventanas [Domain] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ventanas [Domain] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			11		11
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			241		241
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Angamos [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Angamos [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Angamos [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			86		86
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ventanas 3 & 4
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			661		661
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ventanas 3 & 4 | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ventanas 3 & 4 | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ventanas 3 & 4 | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			12		12
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			920		920
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Maritza | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Maritza | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Maritza | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			452		452
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Jordan (IPP1 & IPP4)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			216		216
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Jordan (IPP1 & IPP4) | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			0		0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Jordan (IPP1 & IPP4) | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			170		170
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Jordan (IPP1 & IPP4) | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring			$ 0		$ 0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring						0
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring						6
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring						$ 0
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(11.00%)
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				11.00%
Measurement Input, Long-term Revenue Growth Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(66.00%)
Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				21.00%
Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				25.00%
Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member] | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				20.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(1.00%)
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				23.00%
Measurement Input, Variable Margin | Valuation, Income Approach [Member] | Property, Plant and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Maritza
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs, Nonrecurring				(66.00%)

[1] Represents the carrying values at the dates of measurement, before fair value adjustment. (2)See Note 17 — Held-for-Sale and Dispositions for further information. (3)The Jordan disposal group was written down to it’s fair value of $170 million. The resulting pre-tax loss of $51 million includes costs to sell of $5 million. The following table summarizes the significant unobservable inputs used in the Level 3 measurement of long-lived assets held and used measured on a nonrecurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 (in millions, except range amounts): Fair ValueValuation TechniqueUnobservable InputRange (Weighted Average)Long-lived assets held and used:Maritza$452 Discounted cash flowAnnual revenue growth (66)% to 11% (-11%) Annual variable margin (66)% to 23% (-1%) Weighted-average cost of capital 20% to 25% (21%) Total$452