Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Income)	$ 106	$ 341
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Shares)	745	766
Income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.14	$ 0.45
EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES
Convertible securities (Income)		6
Convertible securities (Shares)		15
Convertible securities (Per Share)		$ 0
Stock options (Shares)	1	1
Restricted stock units (Shares)	3	3
Restricted stock units (Per Share)	$ 0	$ (0.01)
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (INCOME)	$ 106	$ 347
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (SHARES)	749	785
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$ 0.14	$ 0.44
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares of common stock issued under the Company's profit sharing plan	1
Stock Options [Member] | Exercise price exceeds market price [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Additional options outstanding that could potentially dilute EPS in the future	8	7
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	1	2