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Discontinued Operations and Held-For-Sale Businesses (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 7 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |  |  |
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Dec. 31, 2014 MW | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Feb. 24, 2014 | Jan. 30, 2014 | Nov. 30, 2013 MW project | Apr. 29, 2013 business | Apr. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Jun. 30, 2014 business | Jun. 30, 2014 business | Sep. 30, 2013 | Oct. 31, 2013 MW | Mar. 31, 2011 MW plant
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | $ 383,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges | $ 661,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges | $ 1,940,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations | (56,000,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax | (152,000,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax | 16,000,000 us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Production Capacity (MW) | 2,072 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cameroon businesses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 435,000,000 us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesCarryingAmount / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_CameroonMember | 435,000,000 us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesCarryingAmount / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |
Asset impairment expense |  |  |  | 101,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value less costs to sell |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 334,000,000 aes_FairValueLessCostsToSell / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_CameroonMember | 334,000,000 aes_FairValueLessCostsToSell / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |
Sonel |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 56.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_SonelMember |  |
Kribi |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 56.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_KribiMember |  |
Dibamba |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 56.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_DibambaMember |  |
Saurashtra |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  |  |  | 8,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_SaurashtraMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Production Capacity (MW) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 39 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_SaurashtraMember |
U.S. wind projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  |  |  |  | 27,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense |  |  |  |  |  |  | 47,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value less costs to sell |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30,000,000 aes_FairValueLessCostsToSell / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wind projects |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 aes_NumberofWindProjects / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Production Capacity (MW) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 234 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment charges attributable to noncontrolling interest |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,000,000 aes_AssetImpairmentChargesAttributabletoNoncontrollingInterest / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | 77,000,000 aes_AssetsCarryingAmountDisclosureNonrecurring / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  |  |  |  | 3,000,000 aes_DeferredProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_USWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Poland wind projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_PolandWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense |  |  |  |  |  |  | 65,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_PolandWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,000,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_PolandWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wind projects |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 aes_NumberofWindProjects / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_PolandWindProjectsMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Kiev and Rivne |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 113,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_KievandRivneMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_KievandRivneMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of power distribution businesses sold |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 aes_NumberofPowerDistributionBusinessesSold / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_KievandRivneMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Kiev |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 89.10%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_KievMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Customers served |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 881,000 aes_CustomersServed / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_KievMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rivne |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 84.60%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_RivneMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Customers served |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 412,000 aes_CustomersServed / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_RivneMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tisza I I Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  | 100.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_TiszaIISubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_TiszaIISubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  | 14,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_TiszaIISubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations |  |  | 87,000,000 us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_TiszaIISubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Production Capacity (MW) |  |  | 900 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_TiszaIISubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  | 900 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_TiszaIISubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operation from cumulative translation losses |  |  | (73,000,000)aes_GainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationFromCumulativeTranslationLosses / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_TiszaIISubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Red Oak and Ironwood |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_RedOakAndIronwoodMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 228,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_RedOakAndIronwoodMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 73,000,000 us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_RedOakAndIronwoodMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Red Oak |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Production Capacity (MW) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 832 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_RedOakMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ironwood |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Production Capacity (MW) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 710 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_IronwoodMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Eastern Energy Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 827,000,000 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_EasternEnergySubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30,000,000 us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_EasternEnergySubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |
Production Capacity (MW) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,169 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_EasternEnergySubsidiaryMember
Number of Power Plants Held-for-sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 aes_NumberofPowerPlantsHeldforsale / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_EasternEnergySubsidiaryMember
Minimum | Poland wind projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  | 61.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_PolandWindProjectsMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | Poland wind projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Divestiture of ownership in subsidiary percent |  |  |  |  |  |  | 89.00%aes_DivestitureOfOwnershipInSubsidiaryPercent / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_PolandWindProjectsMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Armenia Mountain |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Production Capacity (MW) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 101 aes_GenerationCapacityMegaWatts / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_ArmeniaMountainMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale agreement, buyer option to purchase ownership percent |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%aes_SaleAgreementBuyerOptionToPurchaseOwnershipPercent / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_ArmeniaMountainMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Agreement, Buyer Option To Purchase Ownership Interest, Sales Price |  |  |  |  |  |  | 75,000,000 aes_SaleAgreementBuyerOptionToPurchaseOwnershipInterestSalesPrice / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_ArmeniaMountainMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cameroon businesses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Equity Interests Sold |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 aes_NumberofEquityInterestsSold / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember | 3 aes_NumberofEquityInterestsSold / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 200,000,000 us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember | 200,000,000 us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 156,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |  |
Letter of Credit Related to Sale Agreement | 40,000,000 aes_LetterofCreditRelatedtoSaleAgreement / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gain (loss) from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (7,000,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |
Cameroon businesses | Noncurrent Asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Non-contingent Consideration, Fair Value, Amount to be Received |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 44,000,000 aes_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncontingentConsiderationFairValueAmounttobeReceived / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = aes_NoncurrentAssetMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember | 44,000,000 aes_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncontingentConsiderationFairValueAmounttobeReceived / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = aes_NoncurrentAssetMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount | $ 44,000,000 us-gaap_SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesCarryingAmount / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = aes_NoncurrentAssetMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = aes_CameroonMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value less costs to sell by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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