Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
NET INCOME	$ 207	$ 427	$ 722	$ 910
Available-for-sale securities activity:
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $(1), $0, and $0, respectively	1	1	1	1
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $1, $0, and $1, respectively	(1)	(2)	(1)	(3)
Total change in fair value of available-for-sale securities	0	(1)	0	(2)
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $2, $(10), $1, and $(14), respectively	(383)	139	(241)	270
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $0, $0, $0, and $0, respectively	(2)	(5)	(3)	(8)
Total foreign currency translation adjustments	(385)	134	(244)	262
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $24, $34, $20, and $26, respectively	(133)	(110)	(112)	(69)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(5), $5, $(33), and $(3), respectively	40	29	126	59
Total change in fair value of derivatives	(93)	(81)	14	(10)
Pension activity:
Amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $(3), $(2), $(6), and $(4), respectively	7	4	13	7
Total pension adjustments	7	4	13	7
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(471)	56	(217)	257
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(264)	483	505	1,167
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	114	(339)	(131)	(664)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (150)	$ 144	$ 374	$ 503