Debt - Non-Recourse Debt Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt defaults at risk of causing cross default	0			0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	$ 65		$ 11	$ 126	$ 187
Nonrecourse Debt [Member] | AES Southland [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt		$ 0
Issued new debt		535
Repayments of Long-term Debt		0
Nonrecourse Debt [Member] | AES Tiete [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt		11
Issued new debt		550
Repayments of Long-term Debt		$ (450)
Nonrecourse Debt [Member] | Alto Maipo [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt				3
Issued new debt	561			561
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(533)
Nonrecourse Debt [Member] | DPL Subsidiary [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt				43
Issued new debt	825			825
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(835)
Nonrecourse Debt [Member] | Gener Subsidiary [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt				31
Issued new debt	1,120			1,120
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(1,081)
Nonrecourse Debt [Member] | Angamos [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt				28
Issued new debt	610			610
Repayments of Long-term Debt				(579)
LIBOR 1.75% Term Loan Due In 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount				343
LIBOR 2.25% Senior Notes Due In 2029 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued new debt	$ 1,100			$ 1,100
4.41% SPV Loan [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.41%			4.41%
7.18% SPV Loan [Member] [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.18%			7.18%
4.0% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Domain] [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued new debt						$ 500
3.95% Senior Notes due 2049 [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued new debt	$ 425			$ 425
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.95%			3.95%
Variable Rate [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount				$ 435
Variable Rate [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued new debt	$ 445			445
4.35% Senior Notes due 2029 [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued new debt	$ 400			$ 400
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.35%			4.35%
7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount				$ 400
7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issued new debt	$ 780			$ 780
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 4.0% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Domain] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						4.00%
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.25%			7.25%
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt				$ 43
Senior Notes [Member] | LIBOR 4.15% Senior Notes Due In 2029 [Member] [Member] | Nonrecourse Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt				$ 31
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | LIBOR 1.75% Term Loan Due In 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				1.75%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | LIBOR 2.25% Senior Notes Due In 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				2.25%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | LIBOR 4.15% Senior Notes Due In 2029 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				4.15%