Buyer Option to Purchase Company's Remaining Interest, Term

No definition available.

Name:	aes_BuyerOptionToPurchaseCompanysRemainingInterestTerm
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Company's Continuing Ownership Interest Extension Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_CompanysContinuingOwnershipInterestExtensionPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the additional ownership interest that is available for purchase by the acquirer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationInterestAvailableForPurchaseAtOptionOfAcquirer
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the proceeds from the sale of the disposal group not considered discontinued.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationNetProceedsFromSale
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the ownership interest prior to the sale of the disposal group not considered discontinued.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationOwnershipInterestPriorToSale
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of equity interest in business disposed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationOwnershipInterestSold
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage Sold

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageSold
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Generation Capacity Mega Watts

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	num:powerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of U.K. Wind Projects Sold

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_NumberofU.K.WindProjectsSold
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Pre-tax income of disposed businesses, Excluding gain on disposal, included in continuing operations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_PretaxincomeofdisposedbusinessesExcludinggainondisposalincludedincontinuingoperations
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pre-tax loss of disposed businesses, excluding gain on disposal, included in continuing operations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_PretaxlossofdisposedbusinessesExcludinggainondisposalincludedincontinuingoperations
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the proceeds from the sale of a business and equity investment, where the business was not classified as a discontinued operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_ProceedsFromSaleOfChinaEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Proceeds from sale of ownership interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aes_Proceedsfromsaleofownershipinterest
Namespace Prefix:	aes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationDisposalDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The gain (loss) resulting from the sale of a disposal group that is not a discontinued operation. It is included in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the income statement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2443-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of an equity method investment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the deconsolidation of a previously consolidated subsidiary or sale of an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=aes_UKWindProjectsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aes_AesCartagenaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aes_AESNBOMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aes_ChinaWindAffiliateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aes_EbuteMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aes_InnoVentandSt.PatrickMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aes_TrinidadGenerationUnlimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=aes_UKWindProjectsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	5 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	4 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 22, 2014	Jul. 10, 2013	Apr. 26, 2013 MW	Feb. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2013	Jun. 28, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Nov. 20, 2014
Dispositions
Production Capacity (MW)	2,072aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts	2,072aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts
Ebute
Dispositions
Ownership interest sold													95.00%
Proceeds from sale of ownership interest	$ 22
Pre-tax gain on disposal	(6)
Pre-tax loss of disposed businesses, Excluding gain on disposal, included in continuing operations		(27)	(29)
Pre-tax income of disposed businesses, Excluding gain on disposal, included in continuing operations				32
AES NBO
Dispositions
Ownership interest sold													100.00%
UK Wind Projects
Dispositions
Ownership interest sold					100.00%
Proceeds from sale of ownership interest					158
Pre-tax gain on disposal					78
Pre-tax loss of disposed businesses, Excluding gain on disposal, included in continuing operations		(18)	3	(3)
Production Capacity (MW)					88
Trinidad Generation Unlimited
Dispositions
Equity method investment, ownership percentage sold						10.00%
Proceeds from the sale of equity method investments						31
Equity method investment						28
Equity method investment, gain (loss) on disposal						3
AES Cartagena
Dispositions
Ownership interest sold								80.00%
Pre-tax gain on disposal								178	20
Production Capacity (MW)							1,199
Proceeds from sale of ownership interest in Cartagena							24
Cartagena ownership interest prior to sale								70.81%
Acquirer's option to purchase additional ownership interest in Cartagena								20.00%
Term of buyer option to purchase Company's remaining interest										5 months
Company's continuing ownership interest extension period (beyond one year)								1 year
InnoVent and St. Patrick
Dispositions
Proceeds from the sale of interest in affiliate											42
China Wind
Dispositions
Equity method investment, gain (loss) on disposal												27
Proceeds from sale of China equity method investments												$ 133
UK Wind Projects
Dispositions
Number of U.K. Wind Projects Sold					4