Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,943	$ 1,704
Restricted cash	735	478
Short-term investments	873	1,356
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $307 and $273, respectively	2,671	2,534
Inventory	796	785
Deferred income taxes	431	454
Prepaid expenses	226	157
Other current assets	1,009	1,570
Current assets of discontinued and held for sale assets	0	191
Total current assets	8,684	9,229
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	1,036	1,090
Electric generation, distribution assets and other	31,429	31,073
Accumulated depreciation	(9,562)	(8,944)
Construction in progress	2,581	1,788
Property, plant and equipment, net	25,484	25,007
Other Assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	1,334	1,422
Debt service reserves and other deposits	561	876
Goodwill	1,967	3,820
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $250 and $164, respectively	462	547
Deferred income taxes	671	715
Other	2,168	2,345
Noncurrent assets of discontinued and held for sale assets	25	1,385
Total other assets	7,188	11,110
TOTAL ASSETS	41,356	45,346
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,327	2,014
Accrued interest	426	327
Accrued and other liabilities	2,438	3,390
Non-recourse debt, including $294 and $259, respectively, related to variable interest entities	2,324	2,123
Recourse debt	11	305
Current liabilities of discontinued and held for sale businesses	0	279
Total current liabilities	7,526	8,438
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Non-recourse debt, including $1,173 and $1,156, respectively, related to variable interest entities	13,049	13,412
Recourse debt	6,176	6,180
Deferred income taxes	1,417	1,321
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities	1,555	1,729
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,719	3,111
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued and held for sale businesses	0	1,348
Total noncurrent liabilities	25,916	27,101
Contingencies and Commitments (see Note 8)
Cumulative preferred stock of subsidiaries	78	78
THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 810,312,922 issued and 743,875,691 outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 807,573,277 issued and 765,186,316 outstanding at December 31, 2011	8	8
Additional paid-in capital	8,540	8,507
Retained earnings	(439)	678
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,905)	(2,758)
Treasury stock, at cost (66,437,231 shares at September 30, 2012 and 42,386,961 shares at December 31, 2011, respectively)	(780)	(489)
Total AES Corporation stockholders' equity	4,424	5,946
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,412	3,783
Total equity	7,836	9,729
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 41,356	$ 45,346