Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Equity Tables [Abstract]

Schedule of Stockholders Equity [Table Text Block]

			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012							Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011
			The AES							The AES
			Corporation							Corporation
			Stockholders'		Noncontrolling		Total			Stockholders'		Noncontrolling		Total
			Equity		Interests		Equity			Equity		Interests		Equity
		(in millions)							(in millions)
Balance at January 1			$	5,946	$	3,783	$	9,729		$	6,473	$	3,940	$	10,413
Net income (loss)				(1,087)		407		(680)			267		818		1,085
Total change in fair value of available-for-sale
	securities, net of income tax			-		-		-			(3)		-		(3)
Total foreign currency translation adjustment,
	net of income tax			(158)		(111)		(269)			(178)		(150)		(328)
Total pension adjustments,
	net of income tax			5		14		19			4		8		12
Total change in fair value of derivatives,
	net of income tax			6		(20)		(14)			(167)		(26)		(193)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests				-		12		12			-		9		9
Distributions to noncontrolling interests				-		(625)		(625)			-		(990)		(990)
Disposition of businesses				-		(37)		(37)			-		(1)		(1)
Acquisition of treasury stock				(301)		-		(301)			(225)		-		(225)
Issuance and exercise of stock-based compensation
	benefit plans, net of income tax			40		-		40			43		-		43
Acquisition of subsidiary shares from
	noncontrolling interests			3		(11)		(8)			-		-		-
Dividends declared on common stock ($0.04 per share)				(30)		-		(30)			-		-		-
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interest				-		-		-			19		16		35
Balance at September 30			$	4,424	$	3,412	$	7,836		$	6,233	$	3,624	$	9,857

Components Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

	September 30,		December 31,
	2012		2011
	(in millions)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net	$	2,125	$	1,967
Unrealized derivative losses, net		528		534
Unfunded pension obligation, net		252		257
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	2,905	$	2,758