Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013 MWh	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Generation Capacity (MW)	125
Revenue
Total Revenue	$ 4,555	$ 4,888
Intersegment	(290)	(302)
External Revenue	4,265	4,586
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	265	413
Intersegment	0	0
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	265	413
Reconciliation To Income From Continuing Operations Before Taxes
Unrealized derivatives gains (losses)	(13)	(30)
Unrealized foreign currency gains (losses)	(27)	29
Dispositions/acquisitions gains	3	178
Impairment losses	(48)	(58)
Debt retirement losses	(43)	0
Pre-tax contribution	137	532
Add: Income from continuing operations before taxes, attributable to noncontrolling interests	166	250
Less: Net equity in earnings of affiliates	4	13
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	299	769
Assets
Total Assets	42,718		41,830
US - Generation [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	170	198
Intersegment	0	0
External Revenue	170	198
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	65	36
Intersegment	2	11
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	67	47
Assets
Total Assets	3,184		3,259
US - Utilities [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	722	732
Intersegment	0	0
External Revenue	722	732
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	70	57
Intersegment	0	0
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	70	57
Assets
Total Assets	7,576		7,534
Andes - Generation [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	691	734
Intersegment	0	(9)
External Revenue	691	725
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	80	111
Intersegment	3	(5)
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	83	106
Assets
Total Assets	6,554		6,619
Brazil - Generation [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	386	305
Intersegment	(280)	(282)
External Revenue	106	23
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	40	52
Intersegment	(67)	(68)
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	(27)	(16)
Assets
Total Assets	1,867		1,590
Brazil - Utilities [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	1,323	1,531
Intersegment	0	0
External Revenue	1,323	1,531
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	2	56
Intersegment	45	46
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	47	102
Assets
Total Assets	8,424		8,120
MCAC - Generation [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	458	393
Intersegment	(1)	(1)
External Revenue	457	392
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	48	71
Intersegment	3	2
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	51	73
Assets
Total Assets	4,440		4,293
EMEA - Generation [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	351	477
Intersegment	(8)	(9)
External Revenue	343	468
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	94	187
Intersegment	(2)	(14)
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	92	173
Assets
Total Assets	4,568		4,578
Asia - Generation [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	134	182
Intersegment	0	0
External Revenue	134	182
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	31	32
Intersegment	1	0
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	32	32
Assets
Total Assets	2,702		2,625
Segment Discontinued Operations [Member]
Assets
Total Assets	173		202
Corporate Other And Other Eliminations [Member]
Revenue
Total Revenue	320	336
Intersegment	(1)	(1)
External Revenue	319	335
Adjusted PTC
Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	(165)	(189)
Intersegment	15	28
External Adjusted Pre-Tax Contribution	(150)	(161)
Assets
Total Assets	$ 3,230		$ 3,010

No authoritative reference available.

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Total generation capacity of the subsidiary, in megawatts.

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Pre-tax income from continuing operations attributable to the Parent Company excluding unrealized gains or losses related to derivative transactions, unrealized foreign currency gains or losses, significant gains or losses due to dispositions and acquisitions of business interests, significant losses due to impairments and costs due to the early retirement of debt.

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Amount of pre-tax contribution from external customers for the reportable segment. Must be disclosed if the amounts (a) is included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) is otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.

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Amount of adjusted pre-tax contribution from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity. Must be disclosed if the amount (a) is included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) is otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

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