Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,994,000,000	$ 1,426,000,000
Restricted cash	362,000,000	370,000,000
Short-term investments	394,000,000	395,000,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $19 and $15, respectively	1,624,000,000	1,420,000,000
Inventory	639,000,000	712,000,000
Prepaid expenses	198,000,000	177,000,000
Other current assets, net of allowance of $15 and $14, respectively	1,404,000,000	1,387,000,000
Current held-for-sale assets	555,000,000	762,000,000
Total current assets	7,170,000,000	6,649,000,000
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	556,000,000	522,000,000
Electric generation, distribution assets and other	31,352,000,000	30,190,000,000
Accumulated depreciation	(8,804,000,000)	(8,602,000,000)
Construction in progress	8,802,000,000	7,848,000,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	31,906,000,000	29,958,000,000
Other Assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	1,029,000,000	941,000,000
Debt service reserves and other deposits	199,000,000	194,000,000
Goodwill	348,000,000	348,000,000
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $514 and $498, respectively	2,258,000,000	2,243,000,000
Deferred income taxes	395,000,000	396,000,000
Other noncurrent assets, net of allowance of $9 and $9, respectively	2,992,000,000	3,259,000,000
Noncurrent assets of held-for-sale businesses	748,000,000	811,000,000
Total other assets	7,969,000,000	8,192,000,000
TOTAL ASSETS	47,045,000,000	44,799,000,000
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,064,000,000	2,199,000,000
Accrued interest	312,000,000	315,000,000
Accrued non-income taxes	268,000,000	278,000,000
Supplier Finance Program, Obligation	875,000,000	974,000,000
Accrued and other liabilities	1,273,000,000	1,334,000,000
Current held-for-sale liabilities	186,000,000	499,000,000
Total current liabilities	9,211,000,000	9,731,000,000
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes	1,507,000,000	1,245,000,000
Other noncurrent liabilities	2,661,000,000	3,114,000,000
Noncurrent held-for-sale liabilities	514,000,000	514,000,000
Total noncurrent liabilities	30,052,000,000	27,619,000,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Carrying Amount	1,502,000,000	1,464,000,000
THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued	0	838,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued	9,000,000	8,000,000
Additional paid-in capital	7,068,000,000	6,355,000,000
Accumulated deficit	(954,000,000)	(1,386,000,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,414,000,000)	(1,514,000,000)
Treasury Stock, Value	(1,809,000,000)	(1,813,000,000)
Total AES Corporation stockholders’ equity	2,900,000,000	2,488,000,000
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,380,000,000	3,497,000,000
Total equity	6,280,000,000	5,985,000,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 47,045,000,000	$ 44,799,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	1,043,050	1,043,050
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,200,000,000	1,200,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	710,644,647	669,693,234
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	859,584,456	819,051,591
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	1,043,050	1,043,050
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	148,939,809	149,358,357
Recourse
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-Term Debt	$ 200,000,000	$ 200,000,000
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	5,095,000,000	4,264,000,000
Nonrecourse [Member]
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-Term Debt	4,033,000,000	3,932,000,000
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	20,275,000,000	18,482,000,000
Nonrecourse [Member] | Consolidated Variable Interest Entities [Member]
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-Term Debt	757,000,000	1,080,000,000
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$ 1,617,000,000	$ 1,715,000,000