EXHIBIT 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We  consent  to  the   incorporation  by  reference  in  the  AES  Corporation's
Registration  Statement  No.  33-49262 on Form S-8,  Registration  Statement No.
333-26225  on Form  S-8,  Registration  Statement  No.  333-28883  on Form  S-8,
Registration  Statement No.  333-28885 on Form S-8,  Registration  Statement No.
333-38535  on Form  S-8,  Registration  Statement  No.  333-30352  on Form  S-8,
Registration  Statement No.  333-57482 on Form S-8,  Registration  Statement No.
333-66954  on Form  S-8,  Registration  Statement  No.  333-66952  on Form  S-8,
Registration  Statement No.  333-84008 on Form S-8,  Registration  Statement No.
333-83574  on Form  S-8,  Registration  Statement  No.  333-82306  on Form  S-8,
Registration  Statement  No.  333-81953  on S-3/A,  Registration  Statement  No.
333-64572  on Form S-3,  Registration  Statement  No.  333-83767  on Form S-3/A,
Registration  Statement No. 333-37924 on Form S-3/A,  Registration Statement No.
333-38924 on Form S-3/A,  Registration  Statement  No.  333-40870 on Form S-3/A,
Registration  Statement No. 333-44698 on Form S-3/A,  Registration Statement No.
333-46564 on Form S-3/A, and Registration  Statement No. 333-45916 on Form S-4/A
of our report dated June 25, 2002,  appearing in this Annual Report on Form 11-K
of the Employees' Thrift Plan of Indianapolis Power & Light Company for the year
ended December 31, 2001.




/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Indianapolis, IN
June 27, 2002