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Financial Statement Presentation New Accounting Pronouncement Adopted (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | $ 384 us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets | (5)us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleCumulativeEffectOfChangeOnEquityOrNetAssets1 | 0 us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleCumulativeEffectOfChangeOnEquityOrNetAssets1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Taxes | 13 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrincipleNetOfTaxes |
Accounting Standard Update 2014-05 [Member] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets | (18)us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleCumulativeEffectOfChangeOnEquityOrNetAssets1 / us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis = aes_AccountingStandardUpdate201405Member |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Taxes | 13 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeCumulativeEffectOfChangeInAccountingPrincipleNetOfTaxes / us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis = aes_AccountingStandardUpdate201405Member |
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member] | Accounting Standard Update 2014-05 [Member] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | $ 1,500 us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification / us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis = aes_AccountingStandardUpdate201405Member / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember |

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- Definition Amount of cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle or new accounting pronouncement on retained earnings or other components of equity or net assets in the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the earliest period presented. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 250 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28359718&loc=d3e22499-107794 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 250 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28359718&loc=d3e22580-107794 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Direct Effects of a Change in Accounting Principle -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510796 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Indirect Effects of a Change in Accounting Principle -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515603 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Accounting Change -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6503790 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Change in Accounting Principle -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507316 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Retrospective Application -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6523989 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 250 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28359718&loc=d3e22583-107794 + Details
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