Equity - Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-Regulated	$ 1,975	$ 1,984	$ 3,994	$ 4,086
Interest income	63	82	129	173
Interest expense	(346)	(384)	(723)	(800)
Foreign currency transaction losses	(17)	(101)	(49)	(102)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1,412)	(1,527)	(3,028)	(2,985)
Regulated cost of sales	(1,738)	(1,869)	(3,632)	(3,925)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	409	201	708	970
Income tax expense	(81)	(75)	(163)	(343)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	2	11	6	24
Income from continuing operations	330	137	551	651
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	166	67	281	240
Gain on sale of investments	20	5	23	184
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	3	75	(33)	70
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	167	140	249	481
Reclassified Out of AOCI [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(93)		(115)
Reclassified Out of AOCI [Member] | Unrealized Derivative Losses, Net [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-Regulated	(1)		(1)
Interest expense	(34)		(69)
Foreign currency transaction losses	(17)		(10)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1)		(2)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(74)		(103)
Income tax expense	15		22
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	(2)		(4)
Income from continuing operations	(61)		(85)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	11		13
Gain on sale of investments	(21)		(21)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(50)		(72)
Reclassified Out of AOCI [Member] | Amortization Of Defined Benefit Pension Actuarial Loss, Net [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1)		(2)
Regulated cost of sales	(19)		(39)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(20)		(41)
Income tax expense	7		14
Income from continuing operations	(13)		(27)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	10		21
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(3)		(6)
Reclassified Out of AOCI [Member] | Available-For-Sale Securities, Net [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest income	(1)		(1)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(1)		(1)
Reclassified Out of AOCI [Member] | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on sale of investments	(4)		(1)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued businesses	(35)		(35)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (39)		$ (36)