XML 211 R163.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Asset Impairment Expense (Narrative) (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) project | Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Aug. 28, 2015 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  | $ 285,000,000 | $ 91,000,000 | $ 95,000,000 |  |
Kilroot [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 70,000,000 |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  | $ 121,000,000 | 121,000,000 | 0 | 0 |  |
Ebute [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  | 0 | 67,000,000 | 0 |  |
Long-Lived Assets | [1] |  |  |  |  | 103,000,000 |  |  |
UK Wind (Newfield) [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  | $ 12,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  | 12,000,000 | 0 |  |
DP&L (East Bend) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  | 12,000,000 |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000 |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  | 0 | 12,000,000 | 0 |  |
Beaver Valley |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lump sum payment received for termination of PPA |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60,000,000 |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 46,000,000 |  |
Conesville (DP&L) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 26,000,000 |  |
Itabo (San Lorenzo) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7,000,000
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 16,000,000 |  |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 23,000,000
buffalo gap III [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  |  |  | 118,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  | 116,000,000 | 116,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |
UK Wind Development Projects [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value |  | $ 1,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  | 37,000,000 | $ 37,000,000 |  |  |  |
number of projects no longer being pursued | project |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
number of impaired projects | project |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-Lived Assets |  | $ 38,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Fair Value | Ebute [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets, fair value | [1] |  |  | $ 36,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
[1] | (1) See Note 21—Asset Impairment Expense for further information.

X
- Definition This element represents the aggregate carrying amount of the assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity before the recognition of impairment charges. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_AssetsCarryingAmountDisclosureNonrecurring
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Lump Sum Payment Received For Termination Of PPA + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_LumpSumPaymentReceivedForTerminationOfPpa
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition number of impaired projects + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_Numberofimpairedprojects
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition number of projects no longer being pursued + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_Numberofprojectsnolongerbeingpursued
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureNonrecurring
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 958 -SubTopic 225 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51659069&loc=d3e92212-112881 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Impairment -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515133 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51719941&loc=d3e2921-110230 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824106&loc=d3e2420-110228 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Long-lived assets other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 41 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51669610&loc=d3e9038-108599 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The charge against earnings resulting from the write down of long lived assets other than goodwill due to the difference between the carrying value and lower fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51719941&loc=d3e2921-110230 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_KilrootMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_EbuteMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_UKWindNewfieldMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_EastBendDPLMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_BeaverValleyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_ConesvilleDPLMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_ItaboSanLorenzoMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_BuffalogapIIIMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_UKWindDevelopmentProjectsDomain
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | aes_FairValueByAssetTypeAxis=aes_LongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |