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v2.4.1.9

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Goodwill Roll Forward) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | $ 3,896 us-gaap_GoodwillGross | $ 3,954 us-gaap_GoodwillGross | $ 3,959 us-gaap_GoodwillGross | $ 3,896 us-gaap_GoodwillGross |
Accumulated impairment losses | (2,438)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss | (2,332)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss | (1,960)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss | (2,438)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss |
Net balance | 1,458 us-gaap_Goodwill | 1,622 us-gaap_Goodwill | 1,999 us-gaap_Goodwill | 1,458 us-gaap_Goodwill |
Goodwill impairment expense | (164)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | (372)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | (1,817)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss |  |
Other |  | (5)aes_GoodwillTranslationAdjustmentsAndOther |  |  |
Ebute |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill, Written off Related to Sale of Business Unit |  |  |  | 58 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_EbuteMember |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill impairment expense |  |  |  |  | (58)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / dei_LegalEntityAxis = aes_EbuteMember
US |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 2,658 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | 2,658 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | 2,663 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | 2,658 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember |
Accumulated impairment losses | (2,316)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | (2,152)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | (1,838)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | (2,316)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember |
Net balance | 342 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | 506 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | 825 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | 342 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember |
Goodwill impairment expense |  | (164)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember | (314)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember |  |
Other |  | (5)aes_GoodwillTranslationAdjustmentsAndOther / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_UsGenerationMember |  |  |
Andes |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 899 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 899 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 899 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 899 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember |
Accumulated impairment losses | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember |
Net balance | 899 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 899 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 899 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 899 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember |
Goodwill impairment expense |  | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember |  |
Other |  | 0 aes_GoodwillTranslationAdjustmentsAndOther / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AndesGenerationMember |  |  |
MCAC |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 149 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 149 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 149 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 149 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember |
Accumulated impairment losses | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember |
Net balance | 149 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 149 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 149 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 149 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember |
Goodwill impairment expense |  | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember |  |
Other |  | 0 aes_GoodwillTranslationAdjustmentsAndOther / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_McacGenerationMember |  |  |
Europe |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 122 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | 180 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | 180 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | 122 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember |
Accumulated impairment losses | (122)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | (180)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | (122)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | (122)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember |
Net balance | 0 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | 58 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember |
Goodwill impairment expense |  | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember | (58)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember |  |
Other |  | 0 aes_GoodwillTranslationAdjustmentsAndOther / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_EmeaGenerationMember |  |  |
Asia |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 68 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 68 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 68 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 68 us-gaap_GoodwillGross / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember |
Accumulated impairment losses | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember |
Net balance | 68 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 68 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 68 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 68 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember |
Goodwill impairment expense |  | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember |  |
Other |  | $ 0 aes_GoodwillTranslationAdjustmentsAndOther / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = aes_AsiaGenerationMember |  |  |

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