Fair Value (Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Liabilities [Abstract]
Non-recourse debt	$ 15,600aes_NonRecourseDebtTotal	$ 15,380aes_NonRecourseDebtTotal
Recourse debt	5,258aes_RecourseDebtTotal	5,669aes_RecourseDebtTotal
Carrying Amount
ASSETS
Accounts receivable - noncurrent	257	260
Liabilities [Abstract]
Non-recourse debt	15,600	15,380
Recourse debt	5,258	5,669
Fair Value
ASSETS
Accounts receivable - noncurrent	246	194
Liabilities [Abstract]
Non-recourse debt	16,008	15,620
Recourse debt	5,552	6,164
Value added tax	36	46
Fair Value \| Level 1
ASSETS
Accounts receivable - noncurrent	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Non-recourse debt	0	0
Recourse debt	0	0
Fair Value \| Level 2
ASSETS
Accounts receivable - noncurrent	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Non-recourse debt	12,538	13,397
Recourse debt	5,552	6,164
Fair Value \| Level 3
ASSETS
Accounts receivable - noncurrent	246	194
Liabilities [Abstract]
Non-recourse debt	3,470	2,223
Recourse debt	$ 0	$ 0

Non-recourse debt is secured by the capital stock, physical assets, contracts and cash flows of the related subsidiary. The risk is limited to the respective subsidiary business and is without recourse to the Parent Company and other subsidiaries.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is structurally subordinate to the affiliates non-recourse debt.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, more than one year from the balance sheet date, for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ 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 210.5-02.17)

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

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- Definition

Carrying amount due after one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle), if longer of value added taxes due either from customers arising from sales on credit terms, or as previously overpaid to tax authorities.

+ References

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