Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (2,516)	$ (2,735)	$ (7,690)	$ (7,572)
General and Administrative Expense	(64)	(51)	(191)	(149)
Other expense	(12)	(10)	(38)	(51)
Interest expense	(326)	(276)	(966)	(813)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	0	1	(4)	0
Impairment expense			(358)	(533)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(100)	8	(209)	(60)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	414	617	683	721
Income tax expense	(109)	(145)	(179)	(186)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(14)	(26)	(43)	(54)
Net income	291	446	461	481
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	231	421	343	357
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			(45)
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	2	(11)	45	(42)
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 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	0	(2)	0	(2)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	0	(2)	0	(3)
Income tax expense	0	1	0	1
Net income	0	(1)	0	(2)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	0	1	0	1
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	0	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	0	(8)	(1)
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	(1)	(5)	(2)	(7)
Interest expense	(3)	(9)	13	(42)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	0	0	33	0
Impairment expense	0	0	0	(16)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	0	2	(3)	2
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(4)	(12)	33	(64)
Income tax expense	0	(1)	(11)	12
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	5	(1)	27	0
Net income	1	(14)	49	(52)
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	1	3	(4)	11
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			(45)
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	2	(11)	45	(41)
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			0
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	$ 0	$ 0	$ (1)