Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (2,735)	$ (2,276)	$ (7,572)	$ (6,219)
General and Administrative Expense	(51)	(39)	(149)	(130)
Other expense	(10)	(12)	(51)	(32)
Interest expense	(276)	(242)	(813)	(669)
Gain on disposal and sale of business interests	1	22	0	81
Impairment expense			(533)	(1,374)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	8	29	(60)	(8)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	617	586	721	465
Income tax expense	(145)	(126)	(186)	(75)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(26)	25	(54)	(15)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	446	485	481	375
Net income	446	485	481	379
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	421	343	357	223
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			42
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(11)	(23)	(42)	(63)
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			0
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on disposal and sale of business interests	0	0	0	(3)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	0	0	0	(3)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other expense	(2)	0	(2)	(1)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(2)	(3)	(3)	(5)
Income tax expense	(1)	(1)	(1)	0
Net income	(1)	(4)	(2)	(5)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	1	2	1	2
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Regulated Operation
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	0	(2)	(1)	(3)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Unregulated Operation
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	0	(1)	0	(1)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	0	(1)	(1)	(1)
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(5)	2	(7)	(2)
Interest expense	(9)	(33)	(42)	(62)
Impairment expense	0	0	(16)	(13)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	2	(7)	2	(12)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(12)	(39)	(64)	(90)
Income tax expense	(1)	10	12	23
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(1)	(1)	0	(12)
Net income	(14)	(30)	(52)	(79)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	3	9	11	22
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			41
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(11)	(21)	(41)	(57)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			1
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 0	$ (2)	$ (1)	$ (3)