XML 56 R73.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Property, Plant and Equipment (Depreciation Expense, Software Amortization and Capitalized Interest) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Depreciation expense (including amortization of assets recorded under capital leases) | $ 1,204,000,000 us-gaap_Depreciation | $ 1,193,000,000 us-gaap_Depreciation | $ 1,173,000,000 us-gaap_Depreciation
Amortization of internal-use software | 33,000,000 us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization | 36,000,000 us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization | 45,000,000 us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization
Interest capitalized during development and construction | 120,000,000 us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurredCapitalized | 84,000,000 us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurredCapitalized | 88,000,000 us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurredCapitalized
Property plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation mortgaged, pledged or subject to liens | $ 15,000,000,000 aes_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetOfAccumulatedDepreciationMortgagedPledgedOrSubjectToLiens | $ 15,000,000,000 aes_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetOfAccumulatedDepreciationMortgagedPledgedOrSubjectToLiens |

X
- Definition Amount of property, plant and equipment net of accumulated depreciation mortgaged, pledged, or subject to liens + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetOfAccumulatedDepreciationMortgagedPledgedOrSubjectToLiens
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition For each income statement presented, the amount charged to expense for amortization of capitalized computer software costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 985 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128487-111756 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 985 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Depreciation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of interest capitalized, including amount of allowance for funds used during construction. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Allowance for Funds Used during Construction -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6504829 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -SubTopic 835 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501662&loc=d3e56162-110433 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurredCapitalized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration