Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent (Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation	$ (949)	$ 175	$ (482)	$ 126	$ (85)	$ 180	$ 69	$ 142	$ (1,130)	$ 306	$ 769
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $1, $1 and $(7), respectively									189	(1,019)	(491)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods									992	0	(3)
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									1,181	(1,019)	(494)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(5), $4 and $51, respectively									5	(57)	(358)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $1, $(12) and $(37), respectively									37	66	99
Total change in fair value of derivatives									42	9	(259)
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax expense of $5, $0 and $0, respectively									11	1	0
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $10, $(7) and $9, respectively									(208)	60	(49)
Reclassification of earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $2, $(2) and $0, respectively									10	16	29
Total pension adjustments									(187)	77	(20)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									1,036	(933)	(773)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									259	(171)	374
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation									(1,130)	306	769
Foreign currency translation activity:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $1, $1 and $(7), respectively									117	(674)	(366)
Reclassification to earnings, net of $0 income tax for all periods									992	0	34
Total foreign currency translation adjustments									1,109	(674)	(332)
Derivative activity:
Change in derivative fair value, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $(5), $4 and $51, respectively									2	(5)	(180)
Reclassification to earnings, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $1, $(12) and $(37), respectively									28	48	72
Total change in fair value of derivatives									30	43	(108)
Pension activity:
Prior service cost for the period, net of income tax expense of $5, $0 and $0, respectively									9	1	(1)
Change in pension adjustments due to net actuarial gain (loss) for the period, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $10, $(7) and $9, respectively									(22)	18	(13)
Reclassification of earnings due to amortization of net actuarial loss, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $2, $(2) and $0, respectively									1	2	10
Total pension adjustments									(12)	21	(4)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									1,127	(610)	(444)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									$ (3)	$ (304)	$ 325