Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,970	$ 1,695
Restricted cash	751	477
Short-term investments	696	1,356
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $309 and $273, respectively	2,712	2,522
Inventory	769	775
Deferred income taxes	222	454
Prepaid expenses	231	157
Other current assets	1,114	1,560
Current assets of discontinued and held for sale assets	0	233
Total current assets	8,465	9,229
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	1,008	1,089
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other, Gross	31,837	31,068
Accumulated depreciation	(9,723)	(8,944)
Construction in progress	2,791	1,788
Property, plant and equipment, net	25,913	25,001
Other Assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	1,196	1,422
Debt service reserves and other deposits	565	876
Goodwill	1,999	3,820
Other intangible assets, net of amortization of $276 and $164, respectively	429	545
Deferred income taxes	996	715
Other	2,242	2,346
Noncurrent assets of discontinued and held for sale assets	25	1,392
Total other assets	7,452	11,116
TOTAL ASSETS	41,830	45,346
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,638	2,008
Accrued interest	295	327
Accrued and other liabilities	2,532	3,389
Non-recourse debt, including $287 and $259, respectively, related to variable interest entities	2,843	2,123
Recourse debt	11	305
Current liabilities of discontinued and held for sale businesses	0	286
Total current liabilities	8,319	8,438
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Non-recourse debt, including $1,187 and $1,156, respectively, related to variable interest entities	12,568	13,412
Recourse debt - noncurrent	5,951	6,180
Deferred income taxes	1,238	1,321
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities	2,456	1,729
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	3,706	3,111
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued and held for sale businesses	0	1,348
Total noncurrent liabilities	25,919	27,101
Cumulative preferred stock of subsidiaries	78	78
THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 810,679,839 issued and 744,263,855 outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 807,573,277 issued and 765,186,316 outstanding at December 31, 2011	8	8
Additional paid-in capital	8,525	8,507
Retained earnings	(264)	678
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,920)	(2,758)
Treasury stock, at cost (66,415,984 and 42,386,961 shares at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	(780)	(489)
Total AES Corporation stockholders' equity	4,569	5,946
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	2,945	3,783
Total equity	7,514	9,729
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	41,830	45,346
Parent Company
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	305	189
Restricted cash	227	50
Receivable from affiliates	594	602
Deferred income taxes	8	24
Total current assets	1,162	908
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other, Gross	86	81
Accumulated depreciation	(72)	(67)
Property, plant and equipment, net	14	14
Other Assets:
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $0 and $0, respectively	76	92
Investments in and advances to affiliates	9,393	11,352
Deferred income taxes	573	525
Other	0	222
Total other assets	649	839
TOTAL ASSETS	11,218	13,113
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	15	21
Accrued and other liabilities	241	216
Recourse debt	(11)	(305)
Total current liabilities	317	590
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Recourse debt - noncurrent	5,951	6,180
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	139	143
Total noncurrent liabilities	6,332	6,577
THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock ($0.01 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 810,679,839 issued and 744,263,855 outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 807,573,277 issued and 765,186,316 outstanding at December 31, 2011	8	8
Additional paid-in capital	8,525	8,507
Retained earnings	(264)	678
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,920)	(2,758)
Treasury stock, at cost (66,415,984 and 42,386,961 shares at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	(780)	(489)
Total AES Corporation stockholders' equity	4,569	5,946
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 11,218	$ 13,113