Equity Reclassifications Out of AOCL (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Reclassifications Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Non-regulated cost of sales	$ 1,924	$ 2,166	$ 5,969	$ 6,187
General and Administrative Expense	(41)	(43)	(136)	(134)
Other expense	9	29	35	42
Interest expense	250	255	788	799
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	16	(21)	9	856
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(87)	5	(69)	(44)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	424	332	896	1,672
Income tax expense	130	146	302	509
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	4	6	3	31
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	298	192	597	1,194
Loss from operations of discontinued businesses	0	(4)	0	(9)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	3	1	199
Net income	298	191	598	1,384
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries	88	90	217	311
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	2
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	210	101	381	1,075
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			83
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	(15)	(18)	(83)	(59)
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	0	3	(23)	19
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	0	0	(18)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION	0	3	(23)	1
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)	(3)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	0	0	(26)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	0	(1)	(27)	(3)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	0	(1)	(27)	(3)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0	0	0	(2)
Net income	0	(1)	(27)	(5)
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	(6)
Non-regulated cost of sales	(1)	(1)	(11)	(3)
Interest expense	(8)	(11)	(23)	(38)
Gain (loss) on disposal and sale of business interests	0	0	1	0
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)	(14)	(15)	(11)	(35)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES	(23)	(28)	(44)	(82)
Income tax expense	6	7	10	15
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	(2)	0
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	(17)	(21)	(36)	(67)
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	2	1	3	12
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			33
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	(15)	(20)	(33)	(55)
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	$ 0	$ (1)	$ (27)	$ (5)