

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Prospectuses
constituting part of the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (NO.  333-15487) of
The AES  Corporation  of our report  dated  February  28,  1997  relating to the
financial  statements  of Companhia  Energetica de Mina Gerais - CEMIG as at and
for the years ended  December  31, 1996 and 1995  prepared  in  accordance  with
accounting  principles generally accepted in Brazil, which appears in the Item 7
on Form 8-K of The AES  Corporation  dated July 16, 1997 and to the reference to
us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus or Prospectus  Supplement which
are part of such registration Statement.


Price Waterhouse
Auditores Independentes
Belo Horizonte, MG-Brazil
July 16, 1997
