INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT                                      Exhibit 23.1

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
The AES Corporation on Form S-3 of our report dated February 3, 2000 (February
22, 2000, as to the last paragraph of Note 2), appearing in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K of The AES Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1999 and to
the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in both Prospectuses, which are
part of this Registration Statement.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
McLean, Virginia
June 9, 2000