Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 249	$ (546)	$ (409)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of $0 income tax for all periods	146	(36)	(130)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods	0	0	3
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	146	(36)	(127)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(7), $(198) and $8, respectively	(1)	711	5
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $9, $0 and $(73), respectively	(73)	59	387
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of $0 income tax for all periods	(1)	0	0
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $1, $(2) and $(9), respectively	(4)	13	26
Reclassification of earnings, net of income tax expense of $0, $1 and $3, respectively	0	(1)	(1)
Total pension adjustments	(3)	14	27
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	69	748	292
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(113)	243	(659)
OCI, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss), Arising During Period, Tax	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Tax	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax	(3)	191	(1)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI on Derivatives, Tax	9	9	105
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, Prior Service Cost (Credit), Tax	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Plan, Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Tax	0	5	10
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Plan, Gain (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Tax	0	1	3
Total change in fair value of derivatives	(74)	770	392
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	249	(546)	(409)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of $0 income tax for all periods	136	(37)	(86)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods	0	0	3
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	136	(37)	(83)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(7), $(198) and $8, respectively	55	645	(7)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $9, $0 and $(73), respectively	(52)	44	254
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of $0 income tax for all periods	1	0	0
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $1, $(2) and $(9), respectively	(4)	10	23
Reclassification of earnings, net of income tax expense of $0, $1 and $3, respectively	0	0	1
Total pension adjustments	(3)	10	24
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	136	662	188
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	385	116	(221)
OCI, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss), Arising During Period, Tax	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Tax	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax	(7)	(198)	8
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI on Derivatives, Tax	9	0	(73)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, Prior Service Cost (Credit), Tax	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Plan, Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Tax	1	(2)	(9)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Plan, Gain (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Tax	0	(1)	(3)
Total change in fair value of derivatives	$ 3	$ 689	$ 247