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v2.4.1.9

Asset Impairment Expense (Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held and Used by Asset) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jan. 09, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 28, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | $ 91 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges | $ 95 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges | $ 73 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges |  |  |  |
Ebute |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 67 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_EbuteMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_EbuteMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_EbuteMember |  |  |  |
UK Wind (Newfield) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 12 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_UKWindNewfieldMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_UKWindNewfieldMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_UKWindNewfieldMember |  |  |  |
DP&L (East Bend) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 12 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_EastBendDPLMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_EastBendDPLMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_EastBendDPLMember |  |  |  |
Beaver Valley |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_BeaverValleyMember | 46 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_BeaverValleyMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_BeaverValleyMember | 46 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_BeaverValleyMember |  |  |
Conesville (DP&L) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_ConesvilleDPLMember | 26 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_ConesvilleDPLMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_ConesvilleDPLMember |  | 26 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_ConesvilleDPLMember |  |
Itabo (San Lorenzo) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_ItaboSanLorenzoMember | 16 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_ItaboSanLorenzoMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_ItaboSanLorenzoMember |  |  | 16 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_ItaboSanLorenzoMember |
U.S. wind turbines and projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_WindTurbinesAndProjectsMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_WindTurbinesAndProjectsMember | 41 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_WindTurbinesAndProjectsMember |  |  |  |
Kelanitissa |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_KelanitissaMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_KelanitissaMember | 19 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_KelanitissaMember |  |  |  |
St. Patrick |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_StPatrickMember | 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_StPatrickMember | 11 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_StPatrickMember |  |  |  | 11 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_StPatrickMember
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | $ 0 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_OtherImpairmentMember | $ 7 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_OtherImpairmentMember | $ 2 us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_OtherImpairmentMember |  |  |  |

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- Definition The charge against earnings resulting from the write down of long lived assets other than goodwill due to the difference between the carrying value and lower fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230 + Details
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