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Contingencies and Commitments - Loss Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Environmental [Member] |  |
Environmental Contingencies |  |
Liability recorded for projected environmental remediation costs | $ 11 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = aes_EnvironmentalMember | $ 12 us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = aes_EnvironmentalMember
Litigation Contingencies |  |
Maximum potential loss | 1 us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = aes_EnvironmentalMember |
Litigation [Member] |  |
Litigation Contingencies |  |
Minimum potential loss | 919 us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMinimum / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = aes_LitigationMember |
Maximum potential loss | 974 us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = aes_LitigationMember |
Aggregate reserves for claims deemed both probable and reasonably estimable | $ 193 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = aes_LitigationMember | $ 199 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = aes_LitigationMember

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- Definition Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 25 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6395460&loc=d3e13647-108346 + Details
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- Details
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- Details
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- Definition Amount of loss contingency liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
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- Definition The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
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- Definition The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from the contingency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
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Balance Type: |
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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
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Balance Type: |
Period Type: |