The amount of outstanding debt classified as short term because the debt may become callable within the next twelve months.

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- Definition

Amount of outstanding debt or borrowing associated with any securities or credit agreement for which there has been a default in principal, interest, sinking fund, or redemption provisions, or any breach of covenant that existed at the end of the period and subsequently has not been cured.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DebtDefaultAmount
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- Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percent added to the base rate to get to the interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	aes
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- Definition

The percent added to current LIBOR to get to the interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	aes
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
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- Definition

Required repurchase price of debt upon a change of control, as a percent of principal.

+ Details

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Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Total debt, including both recourse and non-recourse debt balances.

+ Details

Name:	aes_FairValueDebtTotal
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount paid to settle interest rate locks.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	aes_NonrecourseDebtDefaultLineItems
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- Definition

Non-recourse debt is secured by the capital stock, physical assets, contracts and cash flows of the related subsidiary. The risk is limited to the respective subsidiary business and is without recourse to the Parent Company and other subsidiaries.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is structurally subordinate to the affiliates non-recourse debt.

+ Details

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- Details

Name:	aes_RecourseDebtTransactionsAbstract
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net of assets and liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 5
-Paragraph 4
-Article 6

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 9
-Paragraph 19
-Article 6

+ Details

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Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011 Carrying Reported Amount Debt Disclosure [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Carrying Reported Amount Debt Disclosure [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Estimate Of Fair Value Debt Disclosure [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Estimate Of Fair Value Debt Disclosure [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Unsecured Note 7375 Due 2021 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Secured Term Loan LIBOR Plus 325 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Covenant Violation [Member] Sonel [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Covenant Violation [Member] Kelanitissa [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Covenant Violation [Member] Maritza [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Sonel [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Kelanitissa [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Maritza [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 New York [Member]
Debt Fair Value Detail Abstract
Non-recourse debt		$ 15,242	$ 14,939	$ 15,648	$ 15,269
Recourse debt		6,193	4,612	6,531	4,868	1,000	1,050
Total debt		21,435	19,551	22,179	20,137
Recourse Debt Transactions Abstract
Recourse Debt Total		6,193	4,612	6,531	4,868	1,000	1,050
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Plus Libor At Period End							3.25%
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Plus Base Rate At Period End							2.25%
Debt Instrument Repurchase Price Percent						101.00%
Interest Rate Lock Settlement Amount	24
Nonrecourse Debt Default [Line Items]
Default	1,457							395	22	1,040
Net Assets											382	10	270
Debt Accelerated Amount														$ 178