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Equity (Transactions with Noncontrolling Interests) (Details) - USD ($) |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 18, 2015 | Feb. 11, 2015 | Jul. 15, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Apr. 30, 2015 | Feb. 28, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Apr. 01, 2015 | Mar. 15, 2015 | Jun. 25, 2014
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received Per Transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 460,000,000 | $ 0 |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |
Acquire addition shares through December 31, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment Options, acquisition percentage |  |  |  | 2.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dominican Republic |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  | 8.00% |  | 10.00% | 8.00% |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 83,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Agreement, Buyer Option To Purchase Ownership Interest, Sales Price |  |  |  | $ 18,000,000 |  |  | $ 24,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary, Recorded to APIC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7,000,000 | $ 29,000,000 |  |  |  |
Cachagua [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent | 99.90% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on Disposition of Stock in Subsidiary, Recorded to APIC | $ 24,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received Per Transaction | $ 145,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership before Transaction | 70.70% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership after Transaction | 66.70% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AES US Investment, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment In Affiliate Ownership Percentage Sold |  | 15.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received Per Transaction |  | $ 247,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Masinloc Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from divestiture of business |  |  | $ 436,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment In Affiliate Ownership Percentage Sold |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 45.00%
Divestiture of Business, Purchase Purchase Subject Adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 453,000,000
Divestiture of Businesses, Portion Contingent Upon Achievement of Certain Restructuring Efficiencies |  |  | $ 23,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent |  |  | 51.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Masinloc Subsidiary | Electricity Generating Public Company Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners |  |  | 41.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Masinloc Subsidiary | International Finance Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners |  |  | 8.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24.90% |  |
sales agreement, Buyer option to purchase ownership interest, exercised |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 214,000,000 |  |
Future Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership by noncontrolling owner once transaction is complete |  |  |  | 30.00% |  |  |  |  | 30.00% |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received Per Transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 460,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Ownership Interest Sold | 4.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Jordan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 30,000,000 |
Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Ownership Interest Sold |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00% |
Dominican Republic | Acquire addition shares through December 31, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment Options, acquisition percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dominican Republic | Acquire additional shares through December 31, 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment Options, acquisition percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Masinloc Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 283,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquire additional shares through 2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment Options, acquisition percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 17.65% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquire additional shares through 2016 | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Agreement, Buyer Option To Purchase Ownership Interest, Sales Price |  |  |  |  | $ 349,000,000 |  |  |  | 135,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Acquire additional shares through 2016 | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Agreement, Buyer Option To Purchase Ownership Interest, Sales Price |  |  |  |  |  | $ 349,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquire additional shares through December 31, 2016 | Dominican Republic |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Agreement, Buyer Option To Purchase Ownership Interest, Sales Price |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 125,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 323,000,000 | 29,000,000 | 16,000,000 |  |  |
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] | AES Brasiliana [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Restructuring Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 27,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 377,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Additional Disclosures, Issuance Costs Not Expensed |  |  |  | $ 84,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 84,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (377,000,000) | 0 |  |  |  |
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (377,000,000) | 0 |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 119,000,000 | $ 173,000,000 | $ 91,000,000 |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Masinloc Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 130,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |

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