Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,301	$ 1,966
Restricted cash	760	748
Short-term investments	851	696
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $314 and $306, respectively	2,633	2,671
Inventory	755	766
Deferred income taxes	231	222
Prepaid expenses	256	230
Other current assets	1,403	1,103
Current assets of discontinued operations and held for sale assets	68	63
Total current assets	9,258	8,465
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Land	1,019	1,007
Electric generation, distribution assets and other	32,210	31,656
Accumulated depreciation	(9,745)	(9,645)
Construction in progress	2,528	2,783
Property, plant and equipment, net	26,012	25,801
Other Assets:
Investments in and advances to affiliates	1,195	1,196
Debt service reserves and other deposits	593	565
Goodwill	1,999	1,999
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $193 and $276, respectively	417	429
Deferred income taxes	986	996
Other noncurrent assets	2,153	2,240
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations and held for sale assets	105	139
Total other assets	7,448	7,564
TOTAL ASSETS	42,718	41,830
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	2,951	2,631
Accrued interest	415	295
Accrued and other liabilities	2,251	2,505
Non-recourse debt, including $424 and $282, respectively, related to variable interest entities	3,108	2,829
Recourse debt	507	11
Current liabilities of discontinued operations and held for sale businesses	54	48
Total current liabilities	9,286	8,319
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
Non-recourse debt, including $1,118 and $1,076, respectively, related to variable interest entities	12,815	12,554
Recourse debt	5,454	5,951
Deferred income taxes	1,239	1,237
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities	2,389	2,455
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,713	3,705
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations and held for sale businesses	3	17
Total noncurrent liabilities	25,613	25,919
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; 812,021,363 issued and 746,474,449 outstanding at March 31, 2013 and 810,679,839 issued and 744,263,855 outstanding at December 31, 2012	8	8
Additional paid-in capital	8,527	8,525
Accumulated Deficit	(182)	(264)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,952)	(2,920)
Treasury stock, at cost (65,546,914 shares at March 31, 2013 and 66,415,984 shares at December 31, 2012)	(768)	(780)
Total AES Corporation stockholders' equity	4,633	4,569
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,108	2,945
Total equity	7,741	7,514
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 42,718	$ 41,830