Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jan. 01, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,374,000,000		$ 943,000,000
Restricted cash	536,000,000		304,000,000
Assets, Current	7,643,000,000		5,356,000,000
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates	952,000,000		1,080,000,000	$ 835,000,000
Office Equipment:
Cost	26,599,000,000		25,552,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(8,651,000,000)		(8,486,000,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	23,039,000,000		19,906,000,000
Other Assets:
Deferred income taxes	319,000,000		409,000,000
Other assets	2,979,000,000		2,188,000,000		$ 1,605,000,000	$ 1,635,000,000
Total other assets	7,681,000,000		7,701,000,000
Assets	38,363,000,000		32,963,000,000	34,603,000,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,730,000,000		1,153,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	2,151,000,000		1,205,000,000
Total current liabilities	6,491,000,000		4,732,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Other long-term liabilities	3,168,000,000		3,358,000,000
Liabilities, Noncurrent	26,047,000,000		22,407,000,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	8,000,000	$ 21.01	8,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	6,688,000,000		7,106,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(1,635,000,000)		(1,089,000,000)		$ (731,000,000)	(692,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,640,000,000)		(2,220,000,000)	(2,397,000,000)
Treasury stock	(1,822,000,000)		(1,845,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,437,000,000		2,798,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	38,363,000,000		32,963,000,000
Preferred stock (without par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 1,043,050 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021)	838,000,000		838,000,000
Parent Company [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	24,000,000		40,000,000	$ 70,000,000		$ 11,000,000
Accounts and notes receivable from subsidiaries	169,000,000		231,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	47,000,000		50,000,000
Assets, Current	240,000,000		321,000,000
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates	7,204,000,000		7,159,000,000
Office Equipment:
Cost	16,000,000		29,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(10,000,000)		(23,000,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	6,000,000		6,000,000
Other Assets:
Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent, Net	8,000,000		6,000,000
Other assets	117,000,000		33,000,000
Total other assets	125,000,000		39,000,000
Assets	7,575,000,000		7,525,000,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	33,000,000		17,000,000
Accounts and notes payable to subsidiaries	609,000,000		161,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	319,000,000		340,000,000
Total current liabilities	961,000,000		518,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Debt	3,894,000,000		3,729,000,000
Other long-term liabilities	283,000,000		480,000,000
Liabilities, Noncurrent	4,177,000,000		4,209,000,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	8,000,000		8,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	6,688,000,000		7,106,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(1,635,000,000)		(1,089,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,640,000,000)		(2,220,000,000)
Treasury stock	(1,822,000,000)		(1,845,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,437,000,000		2,798,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	7,575,000,000		7,525,000,000
Accumulated Amortization, Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent	$ 9,000,000		$ 7,000,000