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Contingencies (Loss Contingencies) (Details) (USD $)
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Environmental    
Environmental Contingencies    
Liability recorded for projected environmental remediation costs $ 12,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= aes_EnvironmentalMember
$ 19,000,000us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= aes_EnvironmentalMember
Maximum potential loss related to environmental matters 1,000,000us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= aes_EnvironmentalMember
 
Litigation    
Environmental Contingencies    
Maximum potential loss related to environmental matters 1,200,000,000us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= aes_LitigationMember
 
Litigation Contingencies    
Aggregate reserves for claims deemed both probable and reasonably estimable 199,000,000us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= aes_LitigationMember
239,000,000us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= aes_LitigationMember
Minimum potential loss related to environmental matters $ 1,100,000,000us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMinimum
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= aes_LitigationMember