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Income Taxes (Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 392us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 475us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 464us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Additions for current year tax positions	8us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	7us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	12us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Additions for tax positions of prior years	14us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	10us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	29us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(2)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	(3)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	(29)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Effects of foreign currency translation	(3)aes_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesDecreasesNetResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation	0aes_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesDecreasesNetResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation	0aes_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesDecreasesNetResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation
Settlements	(2)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	(65)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Lapse of statute of limitations	(12)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	(32)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	(1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Ending balance	$ 395us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 392us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 475us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits

X

- Definition

The net amount of increases (decreases) in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from the effects of foreign currency translation

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15A

-Subparagraph (a)

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- Definition

Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15A

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319

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- Definition

Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

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- Definition

Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in current period tax return.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15A

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Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from lapses of applicable statutes of limitations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15A

-Subparagraph (a)(4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319

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