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Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 plan | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined contribution plan, number of plans | 4 aes_DefinedContributionPlanNumberofPlans |  |
Defined contribution plan, award vesting period | 5 years |  |
Defined contribution plan contributions | $ 14 aes_DefinedContributionPlanContributions | $ 15 aes_DefinedContributionPlanContributions | $ 21 aes_DefinedContributionPlanContributions
Defined benefit plan, number of plans disclosure | 31 aes_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansDisclosure |  |
U.S. Non-Union Number of Defined Contribution Plans | 3 aes_U.S.nonunionNumberofDefinedContributionPlans |  |
Parent Company Number of Defined Contribution Plans | 1 aes_ParentCompanyNumberofDefinedContributionPlans |  |
IPL Number of Non-Union Defined Contribution Plans | 1 aes_IPLNumberofNonUnionDefinedContributionPlans |  |
DPL Number of Non-Union Defined Contribution Plans | 1 aes_DPLNumberofNonUnionDefinedContributionPlans |  |
DPL Number of Union Defined Contribution Plans | 1 aes_DPLNumberofUnionDefinedContributionPlans |  |
U.S. Defined Benefit Plans |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined benefit plan, number of plans disclosure | 5 aes_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember |  |

X
- Definition Represents the number of defined benefit plans covering the employees at certain subsidiaries + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Defined Contribution Plan, Award Vesting Period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_DefinedContributionPlanAwardVestingPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The amount of the contributions made during the period to defined contribution plans + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_DefinedContributionPlanContributions
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Defined Contribution Plan, Number of Plans + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_DefinedContributionPlanNumberofPlans
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition DPL Number of Non-Union Defined Contribution Plans + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_DPLNumberofNonUnionDefinedContributionPlans
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition DPL Number of Union Defined Contribution Plans + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_DPLNumberofUnionDefinedContributionPlans
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition IPL Number of Non-Union Defined Contribution Plans + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_IPLNumberofNonUnionDefinedContributionPlans
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Parent Company Number of Defined Contribution Plans + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_ParentCompanyNumberofDefinedContributionPlans
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition U.S. non-union Defined Contribution Plans + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_U.S.nonunionNumberofDefinedContributionPlans
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |