XML 156 R108.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Intangible Assets Acquired) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  | $ 19
Other intangible assets acquired | $ 40 |
Renewable Energy Certificates [Member] |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired |  | 3
Land Use Rights [Member] |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired | 13 | $ 16
Contracts |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired | $ 22 |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life | 5 years |
Other Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Member] |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Other intangible assets acquired | $ 5 |

X
- Definition Other intangible assets acquired + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_Otherintangibleassetsacquired
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, resulting from a business combination. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with an indefinite life, resulting from a business combination. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_RenewableEnergyCertificatesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_UseRightsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_ContractBasedIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | aes_IntangibleassetsAxis=aes_OtherIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |