Represents the percent equity interest to be acquired under the purchase agreement.

Name:	aes_AcquisitionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total amount of project financing obtained to facilitate the acquisition

+ Details

Name:	aes_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityFinancingObtained
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percent ownership interest in the acquired subsidiary by the project finance lender

+ Details

Name:	aes_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityFinancingObtainedLenderOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total estimated cost to complete a rehabilitation plan to improve the output, reliability and general condition of the acquired assets, including transaction costs and completion of an upgrade program to improve environental and operational performance

+ Details

Name:	aes_BusinessAcquisitionEstimatedCostOfRehabilitation
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated total consideration received for disposal group not considered discontinued operations, before additional earn-out provisions, management and operation agreements or capital expenditure program bonus

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationEstimatedTotalConsiderationReceived
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The Gain or Loss resulting from the reversal of a tax contingency related to the sale of a disposal group that is not a discontinued operation. It is included in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the income statement.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalFromReversalOfTaxContingency
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Letter of credit provided by the acquirer of the disposal group to secure the termination payment

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLetterOfCreditProvidedToSecureTerminationPayment
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net income generated by the disposal group not considered discontinued operations prior to the disposal.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationNetIncomeGenerated
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Performance incentive bonus received for management services provided subsequent to disposal

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationPerformanceIncentiveBonusReceived
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenue generated by the disposal group not considered discontinued operations prior to the disposal

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationRevenueGenerated
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Payment received upon termination of management agreement, subsequent to disposal

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationTerminationPaymentReceived
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total generation capacity of the subsidiary, in megawatts.

+ Details

Name:	aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts
Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash paid to acquire the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-Subparagraph f(1)

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph d

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationDisposalDisclosuresAbstract
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The gain (loss) resulting from the sale of a disposal group that is not a discontinued operation. It is included in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 47
-Subparagraph b

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 37, 45

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Disposal Disclosures Abstract
Consideration Received			$ 1,100,000
Performance Incentive Bonus		80,000,000
Gain on sale from reversal of tax contingency		13,000,000
Termination Payment	102,000,000
Letter Of Credit Provided To Support Termination Payment		102,000,000
Gain On Sale		98,500,000
Revenue generated by disposal group not considered discontinued operations			114,000,000
Net income generated by disposal group not considered discontinued operations			61,000,000
Masinloc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition Amount			930,000,000
Acquisition Percent			92.00%
Generation Capacity (MW)			660
Project Financing Obtained			665,000,000
Project Financing Lender's Pwnership Interest In Business Acquired			8.00%
Estimated Total Cost Of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan			$ 1,100,000,000