1.0.0.3 false Statement Of Financial Position Classified (USD $) In Millions false 1 $ false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 false 2 $ false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 6 CURRENT ASSETS 4 us-gaap_AssetsCurrentAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 7 Cash and cash equivalents 5 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 1809000000 1809.0 false false 2 true true 881000000 881.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Restricted cash 5 us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 407000000 407.0 false false 2 false true 722000000 722.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Short-term investments 5 us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1648000000 1648.0 false false 2 false true 1382000000 1382.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $290 and $253, respectively 5 us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2152000000 2152.0 false false 2 false true 2064000000 2064.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Inventory 5 us-gaap_InventoryNet us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 569000000 569.0 false false 2 false true 547000000 547.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Receivable from affiliates 5 us-gaap_DueFromRelatedPartiesCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 24000000 24.0 false false 2 false true 31000000 31.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Deferred income taxes-current 5 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 218000000 218.0 false false 2 false true 178000000 178.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Prepaid expenses 5 us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 162000000 162.0 false false 2 false true 175000000 175.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Other current assets 5 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1558000000 1558.0 false false 2 false true 1102000000 1102.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Current assets of discontinued and held for sale businesses 5 us-gaap_AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 240000000 240.0 false false 2 false true 234000000 234.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Total current assets 5 us-gaap_AssetsCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 8787000000 8787.0 false false 2 false true 7316000000 7316.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 19 Property, Plant and Equipment: 5 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 20 Land 6 us-gaap_Land us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1111000000 1111.0 false false 2 false true 854000000 854.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Electric generation, distribution assets and other 6 aes_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentElectricGenerationDistributionAssetsAndOther aes false debit instant monetary Electric generation, distribution assets and other property, plant and equipment other than Land and Construction in... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 27462000000 27462.0 false false 2 false true 24002000000 24002.0 false false Electric generation, distribution assets and other property, plant and equipment other than Land and Construction in Progress. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Accumulated depreciation 6 us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -8920000000 -8920.0 false false 2 false true -7385000000 -7385.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Construction in progress 6 us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4644000000 4644.0 false false 2 false true 3408000000 3408.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Property, plant and equipment, net 6 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 24297000000 24297.0 false false 2 false true 20879000000 20879.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 25 Other Assets: 5 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrentAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 26 Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $297 and $264, respectively 6 us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentNet us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 384000000 384.0 false false 2 false true 364000000 364.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Investments in and advances to affiliates 6 us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1157000000 1157.0 false false 2 false true 901000000 901.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Debt service reserves and other deposits 6 aes_DebtServiceReservesAndOtherDeposits aes false debit instant monetary Reserves set aside for servicing of debt, and other deposit assets. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 595000000 595.0 false false 2 false true 634000000 634.0 false false Reserves set aside for servicing of debt, and other deposit assets. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Goodwill 6 us-gaap_Goodwill us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1299000000 1299.0 false false 2 false true 1421000000 1421.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $223 and $186, respectively 6 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 510000000 510.0 false false 2 false true 500000000 500.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Deferred income taxes-noncurrent 6 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 604000000 604.0 false false 2 false true 567000000 567.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 32 Other 6 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1551000000 1551.0 false false 2 false true 1694000000 1694.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Noncurrent assets of discontinued and held for sale businesses 6 us-gaap_AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 351000000 351.0 false false 2 false true 530000000 530.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Total other assets 6 aes_TotalOtherAssets aes false debit instant monetary Noncurrent assets other than Property, plant and equipment. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 6451000000 6451.0 false false 2 false true 6611000000 6611.0 false false Noncurrent assets other than Property, plant and equipment. No authoritative reference available. true 35 TOTAL ASSETS 4 us-gaap_Assets us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 39535000000 39535.0 false false 2 false true 34806000000 34806.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 37 CURRENT LIABILITIES 4 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrentAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 38 Accounts payable 5 us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1217000000 1217.0 false false 2 false true 1033000000 1033.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 39 Accrued interest 5 us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 271000000 271.0 false false 2 false true 244000000 244.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 40 Accrued and other liabilities 5 us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3017000000 3017.0 false false 2 false true 2640000000 2640.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 41 Non-recourse debt-current 5 aes_NonrecourseDebtCurrent aes false credit instant monetary The current portion of the entity's non-recourse debt. Non-recourse debt is secured by the capital stock, physical assets,... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1759000000 1759.0 false false 2 false true 917000000 917.0 false false The current portion of the entity's non-recourse debt. Non-recourse debt is secured by the capital stock, physical assets, contracts and cash flows of the related subsidiary. The risk is limited to the respective subsidiary business and is without recourse to the Parent Company and other subsidiaries. No authoritative reference available. false 42 Recourse debt-current 5 aes_RecourseDebtCurrent aes false credit instant monetary The current portion of the entity's recourse debt. Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 214000000 214.0 false false 2 false true 154000000 154.0 false false The current portion of the entity's recourse debt. Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is structurally subordinate to the affiliates' non-recourse debt. No authoritative reference available. false 43 Current liabilities of discontinued and held for sale businesses 5 us-gaap_LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 143000000 143.0 false false 2 false true 194000000 194.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 Total current liabilities 5 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 6621000000 6621.0 false false 2 false true 5182000000 5182.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 45 LONG-TERM LIABILITIES 4 us-gaap_LiabilitiesNoncurrentAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 46 Non-recourse debt-noncurrent 5 aes_NonrecourseDebtNoncurrent aes false credit instant monetary The non-current portion of the entity's non-recourse debt. Non-recourse debt is secured by the capital stock, physical... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 12642000000 12642.0 false false 2 false true 11625000000 11625.0 false false The non-current portion of the entity's non-recourse debt. Non-recourse debt is secured by the capital stock, physical assets, contracts and cash flows of the related subsidiary. The risk is limited to the respective subsidiary business and is without recourse to the Parent Company and other subsidiaries. No authoritative reference available. false 47 Recourse debt-noncurrent 5 aes_RecourseDebtNoncurrent aes false credit instant monetary The non-current portion of the entity's recourse debt. Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 5301000000 5301.0 false false 2 false true 4994000000 4994.0 false false The non-current portion of the entity's recourse debt. Recourse debt is direct borrowings by the Parent Company that is structurally subordinate to the affiliates' non-recourse debt. No authoritative reference available. false 48 Deferred income taxes-noncurrent 5 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1090000000 1090.0 false false 2 false true 1115000000 1115.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 49 Pension and other post-retirement liabilities 5 us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1322000000 1322.0 false false 2 false true 1017000000 1017.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 50 Other long-term liabilities 5 us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3208000000 3208.0 false false 2 false true 3357000000 3357.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 51 Long-term liabilities of discontinued and held for sale businesses 5 us-gaap_LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 411000000 411.0 false false 2 false true 429000000 429.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 52 Total long-term liabilities 5 us-gaap_LiabilitiesNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 23974000000 23974.0 false false 2 false true 22537000000 22537.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 53 Contingencies and Commitments (see Notes 11 and 12) 4 us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingencies2009 us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 54 Cumulative preferred stock of subsidiary 4 us-gaap_TemporaryEquityCarryingAmount us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 60000000 60.0 false false 2 false true 60000000 60.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 56 THE AES CORPORATION STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 5 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 57 Common stock ($0.01 par value, 1,200,000,000 shares authorized; 677,214,493 issued and 667,679,913 outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 673,478,012 issued and 662,786,745 outstanding at December 31, 2008) 6 us-gaap_CommonStockValue us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 7000000 7.0 false false 2 false true 7000000 7.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 58 Additional paid-in capital 6 us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 6868000000 6868.0 false false 2 false true 6832000000 6832.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 59 Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 6 us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 650000000 650.0 false false 2 false true -8000000 -8.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 60 Accumulated other comprehensive loss 6 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -2724000000 -2724.0 false false 2 false true -3018000000 -3018.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 61 Treasury stock, at cost (9,534,580 and 10,691,267 shares at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively) 6 us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -126000000 -126.0 false false 2 false true -144000000 -144.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 62 Total The AES Corporation stockholders' equity 6 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4675000000 4675.0 false false 2 false true 3669000000 3669.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 63 NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS 5 us-gaap_MinorityInterest us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4205000000 4205.0 false false 2 false true 3358000000 3358.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 64 Total equity 5 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 8880000000 8880.0 false false 2 false true 7027000000 7027.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 65 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 4 us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 39535000000 39535.0 false false 2 true true 34806000000 34806.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true false 2 57 false HundredThousands UnKnown UnKnown false true