Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
NET INCOME	$ 515	$ 483
Available-for-sale securities activity:
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0 and $1, respectively	0	0
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0 and $0, respectively	0	(1)
Total change in fair value of available-for-sale securities	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) of $(1) and $(4), respectively	142	131
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0 and $0, respectively	(1)	(3)
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	141	128
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) of $(4) and $(9), respectively	20	41
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) of $(28) and $(8), respectively	87	30
Total change in fair value of derivatives	107	71
Pension activity:
Reclassification to earnings, due to amortization of prior service cost and net gains (losses), net of income tax (expense) of $(3) and $(2), respectively	6	3
Total pension adjustments	6	3
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	254	201
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	769	684
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(245)	(325)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ 524	$ 359