Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,688	$ 1,704
Restricted cash	448	478
Short-term investments	1,740	1,356
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $300 and $273, respectively	2,735	2,534
Inventory	799	785
Deferred income taxes	480	454
Prepaid expenses	238	157
Other current assets	1,394	1,569
Current assets of discontinued and held for sale businesses	37	191
Total current assets	9,559	9,228
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	1,113	1,090
Electric generation, distribution assets and other	31,774	31,143
Accumulated depreciation	(9,290)	(8,944)
Construction in progress	1,992	1,833
Property, plant and equipment, net	25,589	25,122
Other Assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	1,430	1,422
Debt service reserves and other deposits	880	876
Goodwill	3,732	3,733
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $201 and $164, respectively	550	566
Deferred income taxes	736	715
Other	2,273	2,331
Noncurrent assets of discontinued and held for sale businesses	682	1,340
Total other assets	10,283	10,983
TOTAL ASSETS	45,431	45,333
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,014	2,014
Accrued interest	433	327
Accrued and other liabilities	3,114	3,398
Non-recourse debt, including $296 and $259, respectively, related to variable interest entities	2,194	2,123
Recourse debt - current	21	305
Current liabilities of discontinued and held for sale businesses	202	279
Total current liabilities	7,978	8,446
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Non-recourse debt, including $1,173 and $1,156, respectively, related to variable interest entities	13,841	13,412
Recourse debt - noncurrent	6,179	6,180
Deferred income taxes	1,445	1,328
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities	1,755	1,729
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,132	3,083
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued and held for sale businesses	552	1,348
Total noncurrent liabilities	26,904	27,080
Contingencies and Commitments (see Note 8)	0	0
Cumulative preferred stock of subsidiaries	78	78
THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 809,082,637 issued and 767,434,120 outstanding at March 31, 2012 and 807,573,277 issued and 765,186,316 outstanding at December 31, 2011	8	8
Additional paid-in capital	8,516	8,507
Retained earnings	1,019	678
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,575)	(2,758)
Treasury stock, at cost (41,648,517 shares at March 31, 2012 and 42,386,961 shares at December 31, 2011, respectively)	(479)	(489)
Total AES Corporation stockholders' equity	6,489	5,946
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,982	3,783
Total equity	10,471	9,729
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 45,431	$ 45,333