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Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 12, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Aug. 22, 2014
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  | $ 4,132 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 4,441 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 4,311 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 4,262 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 3,800 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 3,996 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 3,945 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 4,150 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 17,146 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 15,891 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue | $ 17,164 us-gaap_ElectricUtilityRevenue |
Operating margin |  | 708 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 767 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 819 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 794 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 670 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 927 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 901 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 749 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 3,088 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 3,247 us-gaap_GrossProfit | 3,583 us-gaap_GrossProfit |
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax |  | 298 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 508 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 281 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 89 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | (173)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 339 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 333 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 231 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 1,176 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 730 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | (420)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |
Discontinued operations, net of tax |  | 0 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | 0 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | (6)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | (23)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | (31)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | (116)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | 0 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax | (32)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax |  |  |  |
NET INCOME (LOSS) |  | 298 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 508 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 275 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 66 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | (204)us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 223 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 333 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 199 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 1,147 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | 551 us-gaap_ProfitLoss | (357)us-gaap_ProfitLoss |
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation |  | 206 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 488 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 133 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | (58)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | (206)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 71 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 167 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 82 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 769 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 114 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | (912)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |
Basic income (loss) per share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation, net of tax |  | $ 0.29 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ 0.68 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ 0.20 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ (0.07)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ (0.23)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ 0.23 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ 0.22 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ 0.15 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ 1.10 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ 0.38 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare | $ (1.27)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare |
Discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation, net of tax |  | $ 0.00 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ 0.00 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ (0.02)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ (0.01)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ (0.05)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ (0.14)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ 0.00 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ (0.04)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ (0.03)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ (0.23)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare | $ 0.06 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare |
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS |  | $ 0.29 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.68 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.18 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ (0.08)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ (0.28)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.09 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.22 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.11 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 1.07 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ 0.15 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic | $ (1.21)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic |
Diluted income (loss) per share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation, net of tax |  | $ 0.29 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ 0.67 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ 0.20 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ (0.07)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ (0.23)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ 0.23 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ 0.22 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ 0.15 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ 1.09 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ 0.38 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare | $ (1.27)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare |
Discontinued operations attributable to The AES Corporation, net of tax |  | $ 0.00 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ 0.00 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ (0.02)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ (0.01)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ (0.05)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ (0.14)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ 0.00 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ (0.04)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ (0.03)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ (0.23)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare | $ 0.06 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare |
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE AES CORPORATION COMMON STOCKHOLDERS |  | $ 0.29 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.67 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.18 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ (0.08)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ (0.28)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.09 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.22 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.11 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 1.06 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ 0.15 us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted | $ (1.21)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted |
Dividends declared per common share | $ 0.10 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0.15 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0.05 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0.05 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0.09 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0.08 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0.25 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0.17 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared | $ 0.08 us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared |
Impairment expense pre-tax total |  | 79 aes_ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal | 31 aes_ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal | 107 aes_ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal | 166 aes_ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal | 352 aes_ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal | 196 aes_ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal | 0 aes_ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal | 48 aes_ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal |  |  |  |
Net equity in earnings of affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (19)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | (25)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments | (35)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments |
Masinloc Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Diluted income (loss) per share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal |  |  |  | 283 us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_MasinlocSubsidiaryMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
UK Wind Projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Diluted income (loss) per share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 78 us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = aes_UKWindProjectsMember
ARGENTINA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Diluted income (loss) per share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest Income, Other |  | 59 us-gaap_InterestIncomeOther / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_AR |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Embedded Derivative, Gain on Embedded Derivative |  | 106 us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainOnEmbeddedDerivative / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_AR |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Elsta |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Diluted income (loss) per share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net equity in earnings of affiliates |  | $ 41 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = aes_ElstaMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (41)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / invest_InvestmentAxis = aes_ElstaMember |  |  |

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