Share-Based Compensation Share-based Compensation (PCU) (Details) - Performance Cash Units [Member] $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value \| $ / shares	$ 1.04
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Related To Current Current Year Grants	$ 7
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Related To Current Current Year Grants Per Year	$ 2

The aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees during the current period under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest.

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees during the current period under equity-based compensation expected to vest each of the following three years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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