1.0.0.3 false Statement Of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data 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 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 false 3 $ 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 5 Revenue: 3 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenueAbstract 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 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 Regulated 4 us-gaap_ElectricalDistributionRevenue us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 7816000000 7816 false false 2 true true 7768000000 7768 false false 3 true true 6863000000 6863 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Non-Regulated 4 us-gaap_ElectricalGenerationRevenue us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 6303000000 6303 false false 2 false true 7590000000 7590 false false 3 false true 6151000000 6151 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Total revenue 4 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 14119000000 14119 false false 2 false true 15358000000 15358 false false 3 false true 13014000000 13014 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 9 Cost of Sales: 3 us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldElectricAbstract 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 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 10 Regulated 4 us-gaap_CostOfTransmission us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -5705000000 -5705 false false 2 false true -5564000000 -5564 false false 3 false true -4746000000 -4746 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Non-Regulated 4 us-gaap_ElectricProductionExpense us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -4919000000 -4919 false false 2 false true -6162000000 -6162 false false 3 false true -4970000000 -4970 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Total cost of sales 4 us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldElectric us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -10624000000 -10624 false false 2 false true -11726000000 -11726 false false 3 false true -9716000000 -9716 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 13 Gross margin 3 us-gaap_GrossProfit us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3495000000 3495 false false 2 false true 3632000000 3632 false false 3 false true 3298000000 3298 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 14 General and administrative expenses 3 us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -345000000 -345 false false 2 false true -371000000 -371 false false 3 false true -378000000 -378 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Interest expense 3 us-gaap_InterestExpense us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1515000000 -1515 false false 2 false true -1803000000 -1803 false false 3 false true -1755000000 -1755 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Interest income 3 us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 348000000 348 false false 2 false true 519000000 519 false false 3 false true 489000000 489 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Other expense 3 us-gaap_OtherExpenses us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -111000000 -111 false false 2 false true -161000000 -161 false false 3 false true -253000000 -253 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Other income 3 us-gaap_OtherIncome us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 466000000 466 false false 2 false true 377000000 377 false false 3 false true 358000000 358 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Gain on sale of investments 3 us-gaap_NonoperatingGainsLosses us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 131000000 131 false false 2 false true 909000000 909 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 (Loss) gain on sale of subsidiary stock 3 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfStockInSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvestee us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -31000000 -31 false false 3 false true 134000000 134 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Goodwill impairment 3 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -122000000 -122 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Asset impairment expense 3 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -25000000 -25 false false 2 false true -175000000 -175 false false 3 false true -408000000 -408 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Foreign currency transaction gains (losses) on net monetary position 3 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 33000000 33 false false 2 false true -184000000 -184 false false 3 false true 29000000 29 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Other non-operating expense 3 us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingExpense us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -12000000 -12 false false 2 false true -15000000 -15 false false 3 false true -57000000 -57 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES AND EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF AFFILIATES 3 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2343000000 2343 false false 2 false true 2697000000 2697 false false 3 false true 1457000000 1457 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 26 Income tax expense 3 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -599000000 -599 false false 2 false true -771000000 -771 false false 3 false true -676000000 -676 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Net equity in earnings of affiliates 3 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 92000000 92 false false 2 false true 33000000 33 false false 3 false true 76000000 76 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 3 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1836000000 1836 false false 2 false true 1959000000 1959 false false 3 false true 857000000 857 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 29 Income from operations of discontinued businesses, net of income tax expense of $3, $7 and $32, respectively 3 us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 69000000 69 false false 2 false true 67000000 67 false false 3 false true 161000000 161 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 Gain (loss) from disposal of discontinued businesses, net of income tax benefit of $-, $- and $8, respectively 3 us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -150000000 -150 false false 2 false true 6000000 6 false false 3 false true -661000000 -661 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 NET INCOME 3 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1755000000 1755 false false 2 false true 2032000000 2032 false false 3 false true 357000000 357 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 32 Noncontrolling interests: 3 us-gaap_IncomeAmountsAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestDisclosuresAbstract 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 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 33 Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsAttributableToNoncontrollingEntity us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1107000000 -1107 false false 2 false true -770000000 -770 false false 3 false true -403000000 -403 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 10000000 10 false false 2 false true -28000000 -28 false false 3 false true -49000000 -49 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Total net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1097000000 -1097 false false 2 false true -798000000 -798 false false 3 false true -452000000 -452 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 36 NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 658000000 658 false false 2 false true 1234000000 1234 false false 3 false true -95000000 -95 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 37 BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE: 3 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAbstract 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 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 38 Income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare us-gaap true na duration decimal No definition available. false false false false false false false false true 1 true true 1.09 1.09 false false 2 true true 1.78 1.78 false false 3 true true 0.68 0.68 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 39 Discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare us-gaap true na duration decimal No definition available. false false false false false false false false true 1 true true -0.10 -0.10 false false 2 true true 0.06 0.06 false false 3 true true -0.82 -0.82 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 40 NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS 4 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic us-gaap true na duration decimal No definition available. false false false false false false false false true 1 true true 0.99 0.99 false false 2 true true 1.84 1.84 false false 3 true true -0.14 -0.14 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 41 DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE: 3 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDilutedAbstract 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 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 42 Income from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare us-gaap true na duration decimal No definition available. false false false false false false false false true 1 true true 1.09 1.09 false false 2 true true 1.76 1.76 false false 3 true true 0.67 0.67 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 43 Discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare us-gaap true na duration decimal No definition available. false false false false false false false false true 1 true true -0.11 -0.11 false false 2 true true 0.06 0.06 false false 3 true true -0.81 -0.81 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS 4 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted us-gaap true na duration decimal No definition available. false false false false false false false false true 1 true true 0.98 0.98 false false 2 true true 1.82 1.82 false false 3 true true -0.14 -0.14 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 45 AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS: 3 us-gaap_IncomeAmountsAttributableToReportingEntityDisclosuresAbstract 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 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 46 Income from continuing operations, net of tax 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 729000000 729 false false 2 false true 1189000000 1189 false false 3 false true 454000000 454 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 47 Discontinued operations, net of tax 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -71000000 -71 false false 2 false true 45000000 45 false false 3 false true -549000000 -549 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 48 NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 658000000 658 false false 2 true true 1234000000 1234 false false 3 true true -95000000 -95 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true false 3 44 false Millions UnKnown Hundreds false true