Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 199	$ 515
Adjustments to net income:
Depreciation and amortization	329	360
Gain from sale of investments and impairment expense	59	(92)
Deferred income taxes	13	101
Provisions for Contingencies	26	17
Loss on the extinguishment of debt	47	0
Loss on disposal and impairment write-down - discontinued operations	38	0
Other	56	(40)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable	42	(189)
(Increase) decrease in inventory	(4)	(11)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	(192)	(117)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(45)	(156)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other current liabilities	174	266
Increase (decrease) in income tax payables, net	(123)	(161)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	(1)	41
Net cash provided by operating activities	618	534
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(546)	(579)
Proceeds from the sale of businesses, net of cash sold	1	63
Proceeds from the sale of assets	6	4
Sale of short-term investments	1,335	1,505
Purchase of short-term investments	(1,492)	(1,855)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(35)	28
(Increase) decrease in debt service reserves and other assets	(10)	20
Proceeds from government grants for asset construction	1	85
Other investing	14	4
Net cash used in investing activities	(726)	(725)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings (repayments) under the revolving credit facilities, net	15	(281)
Issuance of non-recourse debt	1,491	503
Repayments of recourse debt	(2)	(3)
Repayments of non-recourse debt	(1,007)	(151)
Payments for financing fees	(33)	(12)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(31)	(19)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	55	5
Dividends paid on AES common stock	(30)	0
Financed capital expenditures	(7)	(6)
Other financing	4	1
Net cash provided by financing activities	455	37
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(8)	25
(Increase) decrease in cash of discontinued and held for sale businesses	(4)	99
Total increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	335	(30)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	1,966	1,688
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	2,301	1,658
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	234	291
Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds	$ 295	$ 325