Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,426,000,000		$ 1,374,000,000
Restricted cash	370,000,000		536,000,000
Assets, Current	6,649,000,000		7,643,000,000	$ 5,356,000,000
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates	941,000,000		952,000,000	1,080,000,000
Office Equipment:
Cost	30,190,000,000		26,599,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(8,602,000,000)		(8,651,000,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	29,958,000,000		23,039,000,000
Other Assets:
Deferred income taxes	396,000,000		319,000,000	409,000,000
Other assets	3,259,000,000		4,030,000,000
Total other assets	8,192,000,000		7,681,000,000
Assets	44,799,000,000		38,363,000,000	32,963,000,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	2,199,000,000		1,730,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	1,334,000,000		1,489,000,000
Total current liabilities	9,731,000,000		6,491,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Other long-term liabilities	3,114,000,000		3,168,000,000
Liabilities, Noncurrent	27,619,000,000		26,047,000,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	8,000,000	$ 20.73	8,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	6,355,000,000		6,688,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(1,386,000,000)		(1,635,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,514,000,000)		(1,640,000,000)	(2,220,000,000)
Treasury stock	(1,813,000,000)		(1,822,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,488,000,000		2,437,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	44,799,000,000		38,363,000,000
Preferred stock (without par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 1,043,050 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022)	838,000,000		838,000,000
Parent Company [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	33,000,000		24,000,000	$ 40,000,000	$ 70,000,000
Accounts and notes receivable from subsidiaries	1,248,000,000		169,000,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	51,000,000		47,000,000
Assets, Current	1,332,000,000		240,000,000
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates	6,735,000,000		7,204,000,000
Office Equipment:
Cost	14,000,000		16,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(12,000,000)		(10,000,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,000,000		6,000,000
Other Assets:
Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent, Net	6,000,000		8,000,000
Other assets	44,000,000		117,000,000
Total other assets	50,000,000		125,000,000
Assets	8,119,000,000		7,575,000,000
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	44,000,000		33,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	284,000,000		319,000,000
Senior notes payable—current portion	200,000,000		0
Total current liabilities	801,000,000		961,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Debt	4,264,000,000		3,894,000,000
Other long-term liabilities	408,000,000		283,000,000
Liabilities, Noncurrent	4,830,000,000		4,177,000,000
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	8,000,000		8,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	6,355,000,000		6,688,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(1,386,000,000)		(1,635,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,514,000,000)		(1,640,000,000)
Treasury stock	(1,813,000,000)		(1,822,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,488,000,000		2,437,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	8,119,000,000		7,575,000,000
Accumulated Amortization, Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent	11,000,000		9,000,000
Parent Company [Member] | Related Party
Current Liabilities:
Other Liabilities, Current	273,000,000		609,000,000
Long-term Liabilities:
Other long-term liabilities	$ 158,000,000		$ 0