-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 GboDo9IfWoq6wmtk3eYD7w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-09-009833.txt : 20090427
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-09-009833.hdr.sgml : 20090427
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090427180708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-09-009833
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090423
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090427
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090427

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874761
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COGENERATION SERVICES & SMALL POWER PRODUCERS [4991]
		IRS NUMBER:				541163725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 WILSON BOULEVARD
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7035221315

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 WILSON BOULEVARD
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22203

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AES CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ODEEN PHILIP A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001134555

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12291
		FILM NUMBER:		09773591

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		N/A
		CITY:			N/A
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874761</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AES</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001134555</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ODEEN PHILIP A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE AES CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4300 WILSON BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Joint Ownership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>29154</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>29154</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>71401</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.69</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26442</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-04-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-04-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>26442</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26442</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation
Plan for Directors of The AES Corporation (&quot;AES&quot;), Non-Employee Directors may elect to defer receipt of annual cash compensation, in addition to the mandatory first 34% of the Annual Retainer, otherwise payable to such Director in the form of stock units, and may also elect to receive his/her Deferred Incentive Compensation Grant in the form of stock units and/or an option grant valued at $165,000, in the aggregate, on the grant date. The number of stock units awarded to a Non-Employee Director is determined by dividing the cash compensation and dollar value of the equity compensation to be awarded in stock units by the closing market price of the Company's Common stock on the grant date.  A Non-Employee Director is not eligible to receive a distribution of shares from settlement of his/her stock units until after termination of Board service in accordance with his/her respective Distribution Election Notification.  Each stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of AES Common stock.</footn
ote>
        <footnote id="F2">This stock option award was granted pursuant to The AES Corporation 2001 Plan for Outside Directors (as Amended and Restated).  Mr. Odeen elected to take 50% of his Deferred Incentive Compensation Grant in the form of a stock option grant.  This award will vest in three equal annual installments such that one third will vest on 04/23/2010, one third will vest on 04/23/2011 and the remaining third will vest on 04/23/2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Philip A. Odeen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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