XML 18 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011
Regulatory Assets And Liabilities Tables [Abstract] |
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities [Text Block] |
|  |  | December 31, |  |
|  |  | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | Recovery Period
REGULATORY ASSETS |  | (in millions) |  |
Current regulatory assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Brazil tariff recoveries:(1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Energy purchases |  | $ | 79 |  | $ | 62 |  | Over tariff reset period
| Transmission costs, regulatory fees and other |  |  | 185 |  |  | 82 |  | Over tariff reset period
El Salvador tariff recoveries(2) |  |  | 108 |  |  | 67 |  | Over tariff reset period
Other(3) |  |  | 19 |  |  | 1 |  | Various
Total current regulatory assets |  |  | 391 |  |  | 212 |  |
Noncurrent regulatory assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Defined benefit pension obligations at IPL and DPL(4)(5) |  |  | 399 |  |  | 235 |  | Various
Income taxes recoverable from customers(4)(6) |  |  | 76 |  |  | 66 |  | Various
Brazil tariff recoveries:(1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Energy purchases |  |  | 84 |  |  | 18 |  | Over tariff reset period
| Transmission costs, regulatory fees and other |  |  | 86 |  |  | 32 |  | Over tariff reset period
Deferred Midwest ISO costs(7) |  |  | 80 |  |  | 80 |  | To be determined
Other(3) |  |  | 122 |  |  | 39 |  | Various
Total noncurrent regulatory assets |  |  | 847 |  |  | 470 |  |
TOTAL REGULATORY ASSETS |  | $ | 1,238 |  | $ | 682 |  |
REGULATORY LIABILITIES |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current regulatory liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Brazil tariff reset adjustment(8) |  | $ | 190 |  | $ | - |  | To be determined
Efficiency program costs(9) |  |  | 29 |  |  | 58 |  | Over tariff reset period
Brazil tariff recoveries:(1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Energy purchases |  |  | 305 |  |  | 118 |  | Over tariff reset period
| Transmission costs, regulatory fees and other |  |  | 172 |  |  | 71 |  | Over tariff reset period
Other(10) |  |  | 37 |  |  | 37 |  | Various
Total current regulatory liabilities |  |  | 733 |  |  | 284 |  |
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset retirement obligations(11) |  |  | 649 |  |  | 509 |  | Over life of assets
Brazil special obligations(12) |  |  | 422 |  |  | 435 |  | To be determined
Brazil tariff recoveries:(1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Energy purchases |  |  | 76 |  |  | 69 |  | Over tariff reset period
| Transmission costs, regulatory fees and other |  |  | 64 |  |  | 57 |  | Over tariff reset period
Efficiency program costs(9) |  |  | 44 |  |  | 54 |  | Over tariff reset period
Other(10) |  |  | 24 |  |  | 8 |  | Various
Total noncurrent regulatory liabilities |  |  | 1,279 |  |  | 1,132 |  |
TOTAL REGULATORY LIABILITIES |  | $ | 2,012 |  | $ | 1,416 |  |
Schedule of Regulatory Assets by Region [Table Text Block] |
|  | December 31,
|  | 2011 |  | 2010
|  | (in millions)
Latin America |  | $ | 546 |  | $ | 265
North America |  |  | 692 |  |  | 417
Total regulatory assets |  | $ | 1,238 |  | $ | 682
Schedule of Regulatory Liabilities by Region [Table Text Block] |
|  | December 31,
|  | 2011 |  | 2010
|  | (in millions)
Latin America |  | $ | 1,333 |  | $ | 890
North America |  |  | 679 |  |  | 526
Total regulatory liabilities |  | $ | 2,012 |  | $ | 1,416

X
- Details
Name: | aes_RegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesTablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for detailed information about regulatory assets and liabilities, including current and noncurrent assets created when regulatory agencies permit the deferral of costs to the balance sheet that would otherwise be required to appear on the company's income statement and would be charged against current expenses or revenues, as well as current and noncurrent liabilities created when regulatory agencies permit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfRegulatoryAssetsAndLiabilitiesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of assets that are created when regulatory agencies permit public utilities to defer certain costs included in rate-setting to the balance sheet. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 715 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501251&loc=d3e52485-110419 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 340 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44264-110382 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 9 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 10 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 340 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6499975&loc=d3e44250-110382 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfRegulatoryAssetsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of regulatory liabilities. Detailed information about liabilities that result from rate actions of a regulator. Rate actions of a regulator can impose a liability on a regulated enterprise resulting in a regulatory liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 71 -Paragraph 11 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfRegulatoryLiabilitiesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration