Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue:
Regulated	$ 2,546	$ 2,373	$ 7,375	$ 7,136
Non-Regulated	2,041	1,934	6,144	5,762
Total Revenue	4,587	4,307	13,519	12,898
Cost of Sales:
Regulated	(2,114)	(1,707)	(6,267)	(5,332)
Non-Regulated	(1,469)	(1,590)	(4,478)	(4,571)
Total cost of sales	(3,583)	(3,297)	(10,745)	(9,903)
Gross margin	1,004	1,010	2,774	2,995
General and administrative expenses	(64)	(90)	(225)	(282)
Interest expense	(401)	(418)	(1,202)	(1,137)
Interest income	89	102	263	293
Other expense	(15)	(76)	(59)	(126)
Other income	7	57	40	107
Gain on sale of investments	30	0	214	7
Goodwill impairment	(1,850)	(17)	(1,850)	(17)
Asset impairment expense	(43)	(130)	(72)	(163)
Foreign currency transaction losses	(8)	(90)	(110)	(20)
Other non-operating expense	0	(82)	(50)	(82)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(1,251)	266	(277)	1,575
Income tax expense	(176)	(68)	(519)	(457)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	24	5	48	11
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(1,403)	203	(748)	1,129
Income (loss) from operations of discontinued businesses, net of income tax (benefit) expense of $(2), $(16), $3, and $(22), respectively	3	(28)	0	(44)
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $(1), $0, $60, and $0, respectively	(2)	0	68	0
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(1,402)	175	(680)	1,085
Noncontrolling interests:
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	166	271	407	769
Less: Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	35	0	49
Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(166)	(306)	(407)	(818)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(1,568)	(131)	(1,087)	267
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(1,569)	(68)	(1,155)	360
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1	(63)	68	(93)
Net income (loss)	$ (1,568)	$ (131)	$ (1,087)	$ 267
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (2.10)	$ (0.09)	$ (1.52)	$ 0.46
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0	$ (0.08)	$ 0.09	$ (0.12)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ (2.10)	$ (0.17)	$ (1.43)	$ 0.34
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (2.10)	$ (0.09)	$ (1.52)	$ 0.46
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0	$ (0.08)	$ 0.09	$ (0.12)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ (2.10)	$ (0.17)	$ (1.43)	$ 0.34
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE	$ 0.04	$ 0	$ 0.04	$ 0