Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Income)	$ (1,569)	$ (68)	$ (1,155)	$ 360
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Shares)	747,000,000	778,000,000	759,000,000	783,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ (2.10)	$ (0.09)	$ (1.52)	$ 0.46
EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES
Director stock units (Shares)			0	0
Director stock units (Per Share)			$ 0	$ 0
Stock options (Shares)	0	0	0	1,000,000
Restricted stock units (Shares)	0	0	0	3,000,000
Restricted stock units (Per Share)		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (INCOME)	$ (1,569)	$ (68)	$ (1,155)	$ 360
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (SHARES)	747,000,000	778,000,000	759,000,000	787,000,000
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$ (2.10)	$ (0.09)	$ (1.52)	$ 0.46
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares of common stock issued upon exercise of stock options	246,715		1,290,732
Shares of common stock issued under the Company's profit sharing plan			1,013,872
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Additional options outstanding that could potentially dilute EPS in the future			6,411,169	15,564,118
Stock Options [Member] | Anti-dilutive [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Additional options outstanding that could potentially dilute EPS in the future	1,953,938		3,360,138
Stock Options [Member] | Anti-dilutive; Lack of generated income [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Additional options outstanding that could potentially dilute EPS in the future	807,563	1,457,025	1,092,802
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Additional options outstanding that could potentially dilute EPS in the future			1,153,866
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Anti-dilutive [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Additional options outstanding that could potentially dilute EPS in the future	5,264,072		6,095,706
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Anti-dilutive; Lack of generated income [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Additional options outstanding that could potentially dilute EPS in the future	3,062,761	2,882,463	3,007,482