Label	Element	Value
Fair Value, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Period Increase (Decrease)	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationPeriodIncreaseDecrease	$ (1,000,000)
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Period Increase (Decrease)	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationPeriodIncreaseDecrease	2,000,000
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Purchases	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationPurchases	(218,000,000)
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Purchases	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationPurchases	(15,000,000)
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisWithUnobservableInputs	(77,000,000)
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisWithUnobservableInputs	(274,000,000)
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisWithUnobservableInputs	(69,000,000)
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis with Unobservable Inputs	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisWithUnobservableInputs	(55,000,000)
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Settlements	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationSettlements	5,000,000
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Settlements	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationSettlements	0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Liability, Transfers Into Level 3	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersIntoLevel3	0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Liability, Transfers Into Level 3	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersIntoLevel3	0
Fair Value Measurements with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Regulatory Assets Liabilities	aes_FairValueMeasurementsWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisRegulatoryAssetsLiabilities	0
Fair Value Measurements with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Regulatory Assets Liabilities	aes_FairValueMeasurementsWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisRegulatoryAssetsLiabilities	0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Liability, Transfers out of Level 3	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersOutOfLevel3	0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Liability, Transfers out of Level 3	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersOutOfLevel3	0
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationGainLossIncludedInEarnings	0
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationGainLossIncludedInEarnings	(1,000,000)
Fair Value, Recurring [Member] | Other Comprehensive Income- Foreign currency translation activity [Member]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss	2,000,000
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss	0
Fair Value, Recurring [Member] | Other comprehensive income - Derivative activity [Member]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss	0
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss	$ 0