Exhibit F-1

                          [AES CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]




March 15, 2001



Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20549

Re:  Application of The AES Corporation, Dennis W. Bakke and Roger W. Sant
     on Form U-1 under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (File No.
     70-9779)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion is furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in connection with the filing with the Commission of the
application (the "Application") on Form U-1 (File No. 70-9779) of The AES
Corporation ("AES"), Dennis W. Bakke, and Roger W. Sant under the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "Act"). The Application requests
that the Commission issue an order (i) authorizing AES to acquire all of the
equity securities of IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. ("IPALCO," and the acquisition of
IPALCO's equity securities by AES, the "Transaction") and (ii) determining that
following the Transaction, AES and each of its subsidiaries will continue to be
exempt from the provisions of the Act, other than Sections 9(a)(2) and 10, under
Section 3(a)(5).

I am General Counsel for AES and am familiar with the Transaction. In this
connection and in accordance with the requirements for Exhibit F to Form U-1, I
have examined the Articles of Incorporation of AES, the By-Laws of AES, and such
other documents, certificates and corporate records, and such matters of law, as
I have deemed necessary for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

The opinions expressed below with respect to the Transaction are subject to and
rely upon the following assumptions and conditions:

a.   The Transaction shall have been duly authorized and approved, to the extent
     required by the governing corporate documents and applicable state laws, by
     the shareholders of AES and IPALCO.

b.   All required approvals, authorizations, consents, certificates, rulings,
     and orders of, and all filings and registrations with, all applicable
     federal and state commissions and regulatory authorities with respect to
     the Transaction shall have been obtained or made, as the case may be, and
     shall have become final and unconditional in all respects and shall remain
     in effect and the Transaction shall have been accomplished in accordance
     with all such approvals, authorizations, consents, certificates, orders,
     filings, and registrations.

c.   The Commission shall have duly entered an appropriate order or orders with
     respect to the Transaction granting and permitting the Application to
     become effective under the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

d.   All corporate formalities required by the laws of the state of Delaware for
     the consummation of the Transaction shall have been taken, and the
     Transaction shall have become effective in accordance with the laws of the
     state of Delaware.

e.   AES and IPALCO shall have obtained all consents, waivers and releases, if
     any, required for the Transaction under all applicable governing corporate
     documents, contracts, agreements, debt instruments, indentures, franchises,
     licenses, and permits.

f.   The representations and warranties of AES and IPALCO set forth in the
     Agreement and Plan of Share Exchange dated as of July 15, 2000, between AES
     and IPALCO ("Share Exchange Agreement") are true and correct as of the date
     hereof and AES and IPALCO have complied with all applicable covenants and
     conditions set forth in the Share Exchange Agreement.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions and conditions set
forth herein, I am of the opinion that:

1.   AES is a corporation validly organized and existing under the laws of the
     State of Delaware.

2.   AES may lawfully acquire the stock of IPALCO.

3.   The shares of AES common stock issued in conjunction with the Transaction
     will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the holders
     thereof will be entitled to the rights and privileges appertaining thereto
     set forth in the Articles of Incorporation of AES.

I am a member of the New York bar and do not hold myself out as an expert on the
laws of any other state.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Application.

Very truly yours,



/s/ William R. Luraschi
-----------------------
William R. Luraschi
General Counsel