Equity (Reclassifications Out of AOCL) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue																	$ 7,303	$ 8,272	$ 7,835
Regulated cost of sales																	(6,564)	(7,530)	(6,837)
Non-regulated cost of sales																	(5,533)	(6,528)	(5,807)
General and administrative expenses																	196	187	220
Interest expense																	(1,436)	(1,471)	(1,482)
Other Income																	83	124	125
Gain on sale of businesses																	29	358	26
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)																	105	11	(22)
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates																	1,122	1,576	1,048
Income tax expense																	(465)	(419)	(343)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates																	105	19	25
Income from continuing operations		$ 41	$ 203	[1]	$ 264	[1]	$ 254	[1]	$ 298	[2],[3]	$ 508	[2],[3]	$ 281	[2],[3]	$ 89	[2],[3]	762	1,176	730
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations																	0	(56)	(152)
Net Income		41	203		264		254		298		508		275		66		762	1,147	551
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(456)	(387)	(446)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation		$ (85)	$ 180		$ 69		$ 142		$ 206		$ 488		$ 133		$ (58)		306	769	114
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation	[4]																(50)	(116)	(178)
Available-for-Sale securities, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on sale of businesses	[4]																0	4	(2)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations	[4]																0	(38)	(35)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation	[4]																0	(34)	(37)
Unrealized derivative gains (losses), net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	[4]																43	30	(3)
Non-regulated cost of sales	[4]																(14)	(4)	(7)
Interest expense	[4]																(112)	(139)	(137)
Gain on sale of businesses	[4]																(4)	0	(21)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	[4]																12	(9)	(6)
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	[4]																(75)	(122)	(174)
Income tax expense	[4]																11	26	41
Net equity in earnings of affiliates	[4]																(2)	(3)	(6)
Income from continuing operations	[4]																(66)	(99)	(139)
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	[4]																18	27	11
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation	[4]																(48)	(72)	(128)
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial loss, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Regulated cost of sales	[4]																(25)	(33)	(73)
Non-regulated cost of sales	[4]																2	(5)	(4)
General and administrative expenses	[4]																(2)	0	(1)
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	[4]																(25)	(38)	(78)
Income tax expense	[4]																9	7	26
Income from continuing operations	[4]																(16)	(31)	(52)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations	[4]																0	2	0
Net Income	[4]																(16)	(29)	(52)
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	[4]																14	19	39
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation	[4]																$ (2)	$ (10)	$ (13)

[1] (1)Includes pretax impairment expense of $8 million, $37 million, $231 million and $326 million, for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2015, respectively. See Note 9—Other Non-Operating Expense, Note 10—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and Note 21—Asset Impairment Expense for further discussion.

[2] (2) Includes a pretax gain of approximately $283 million for the third quarter of 2014 related to the sale of a noncontrolling interest in Masinloc. See Note 16—Equity for further discussion. Includes pretax gain of approximately $78 million for the third quarter of 2014 related to the sale of the U.K. wind projects. See Note 24—Dispositions and Held-for-Sale Businesses for further discussion. Includes pretax interest income of $59 million recognized on FONIVEMEM III receivables at AES Argentina in the fourth quarter of 2014. Also includes a pretax foreign currency derivative gain of $106 million recognized on the FONIVEMEM III receivables in the fourth quarter of 2014. See Note 7—Financing Receivables for further discussion. Includes pretax loss of $41 million recognized in Net equity in earnings of affiliates corresponding to the Company's share of an asset impairment at Elsta in the fourth quarter of 2014. See Note 8—Investments In And Advances To Affiliates for further discussion.

[3] (3) Includes pretax impairment expense of $166 million, $107 million, $31 million and $79 million, for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2014, respectively. See Note 9—Other Non-Operating Expense, Note 10—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and Note 21—Asset Impairment Expense for further discussion.

[4] (1) Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to the Consolidated Statements of Operations.