Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales	$ 1,981	$ 1,937	$ 4,045	$ 4,021
General and Administrative Expense	(49)	(35)	(95)	(91)
Other expense	14	4	26	13
Interest expense	273	263	538	544
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	(3)	89	(7)	877
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	22	(30)	18	(49)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	118	342	472	1,340
Income tax expense	57	132	172	363
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	5	14	(1)	25
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	66	224	299	1,002
Loss from operations of discontinued businesses	0	(4)	0	(5)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	1	196	1	196
Net income	67	416	300	1,193
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	50	128	129	221
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	2	0	2
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	17	290	171	974
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			68
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(57)	(48)	(68)	(41)
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			23
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	(23)	0	(23)	16
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	(18)	0	(18)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(23)	(18)	(23)	(2)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other expense	0	(1)	(1)	(2)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	(26)	0	(26)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(26)	(1)	(27)	(2)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(26)	(1)	(27)	(2)
Loss from operations of discontinued businesses	0	1	0	0
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	(2)	0	(2)
Net income	(26)	(2)	(27)	(4)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated revenue	0	(1)	0	(5)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1)	(1)	(10)	(2)
Interest expense	(7)	(12)	(15)	(27)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	1	0	1	0
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(2)	(31)	3	(20)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(9)	(45)	(21)	(54)
Income tax expense	2	9	4	8
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(2)	0	(2)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(9)	(36)	(19)	(46)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	1	8	1	11
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			18
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	(8)	(28)	(18)	(35)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			27
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	$ (26)	$ (2)	$ (27)	$ (4)