Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Selected Quarterly Financial Data Tables [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]

		Quarter Ended 2012
		Mar 31		June 30		Sept 30		Dec 31
		(in millions, except per share data)
Revenue		$	4,722	$	4,192	$	4,587	$	4,640
Gross margin			1,082		695		1,006		931
Income from continuing operations, net of tax (1)			524		139		(1,400)		377
Discontinued operations, net of tax			(9)		68		(2)		(54)
Net income (loss)		$	515	$	207	$	(1,402)	$	323
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation		$	341	$	140	$	(1,568)	$	175
Basic income (loss) per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to
	The AES Corporation, net of tax	$	0.46	$	0.09	$	(2.10)	$	0.31
Discontinued operations attributable to
	The AES Corporation, net of tax		(0.01)		0.09		-		(0.08)
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to
	The AES Corporation	$	0.45	$	0.18	$	(2.10)	$	0.23
Diluted income (loss) per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to
	The AES Corporation, net of tax	$	0.45	$	0.09	$	(2.10)	$	0.31
Discontinued operations attributable to
	The AES Corporation, net of tax		(0.01)		0.09		-		(0.08)
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to
	The AES Corporation	$	0.44	$	0.18	$	(2.10)	$	0.23
Dividends declared per common share		$	-	$	-	$	0.04	$	0.04
		Quarter Ended 2011
		Mar 31		June 30		Sept 30		Dec 31(2)
		(in millions, except per share data)
Revenue		$	4,102	$	4,386	$	4,252	$	4,183
Gross margin			985		989		1,010		1,079
Income from continuing operations, net of tax (3)			482		430		210		453
Discontinued operations, net of tax			1		(3)		(35)		(8)
Net income		$	483	$	427	$	175	$	445
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation		$	224	$	174	$	(131)	$	(209)
Basic income (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to
	The AES Corporation, net of tax	$	0.29	$	0.24	$	(0.08)	$	0.18
Discontinued operations attributable to
	The AES Corporation, net of tax		(0.01)		(0.02)		(0.09)		(0.45)
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to
	The AES Corporation	$	0.28	$	0.22	$	(0.17)	$	(0.27)
Diluted income (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to
	The AES Corporation, net of tax	$	0.29	$	0.24	$	(0.08)	$	0.18
Discontinued operations attributable to
	The AES Corporation, net of tax		(0.01)		(0.02)		(0.09)		(0.45)
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to
	The AES Corporation	$	0.28	$	0.22	$	(0.17)	$	(0.27)
Dividends declared per common share		$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-