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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	$ 384us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	(5)us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleCumulativeEffectOfChangeOnEquityOrNetAssets1	0us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleCumulativeEffectOfChangeOnEquityOrNetAssets1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effect of Change in Accounting Principle, Net of Taxes	13us-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	13us-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	$ 1,500us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification / us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis = aes_AccountingStandardUpdate201405Member / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember

X

- 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

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- Definition

Represents the quantification of the effect of adopting the new accounting standard or change in accounting principle expected by the entity to have a significant effect on the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The after tax effect on other comprehensive income of a change in accounting principle recognized in the period, which occurred before retrospective adjustments were required, or is in lieu of retrospective adjustments.

+ References

Reference 1: 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



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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 250

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28359718&loc=d3e22499-107794

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