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Equity (Reclassifications Out of AOCL) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-regulated revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6,957 | $ 7,303 | $ 8,272
Regulated cost of sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (6,078) | (5,764) | (6,615)
Non-regulated cost of sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (5,075) | (5,533) | (6,529)
General and administrative expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 194 | 196 | 187
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,431) | (1,344) | (1,451)
Other Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 65 | 82 | 121
Gain on sale of businesses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29 | 29 | 358
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (15) | 107 | 11
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 137 | 1,154 | 1,443
Income tax benefit (expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 188 | (472) | (371)
Net equity in earnings of affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 36 | 105 | 19
Income from continuing operations |  | $ 56 | [1] | $ 230 | [1] | $ (8) | [1] | $ 83 | [1] | $ 54 | [2] | $ 198 | [2] | $ 274 | [2] | $ 261 | [2] | 361 | 787 | 1,091
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,119) | 0 | (55)
Net Income |  | (693) |  | 229 |  | (387) |  | 74 |  | 41 |  | 203 |  | 264 |  | 254 |  | (777) | 762 | 1,147
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (364) | (456) | (386)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation |  | $ (949) |  | $ 175 |  | $ (482) |  | $ 126 |  | $ (85) |  | $ 180 |  | $ 69 |  | $ 142 |  | (1,130) | 306 | 769
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,021) | (50) | (116)
Available-for-Sale securities, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of businesses | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 4
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (992) | 0 | (38)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (992) | 0 | (34)
Unrealized derivative gains (losses), net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-regulated revenue | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 111 | 43 | 30
Non-regulated cost of sales | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (57) | (14) | (4)
Interest expense | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (107) | (112) | (139)
Gain on sale of businesses | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (4) | 0
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses) | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 | 12 | (9)
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (45) | (75) | (122)
Income tax benefit (expense) | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 | 11 | 26
Net equity in earnings of affiliates | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (2) | (3)
Income from continuing operations | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (37) | (66) | (99)
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 | 18 | 27
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (28) | (48) | (72)
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial loss, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Regulated cost of sales | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (17) | (24) | (32)
Non-regulated cost of sales | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 2 | (5)
General and administrative expenses | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) | (2) | 0
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (19) | (24) | (37)
Income tax benefit (expense) | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 | 9 | 7
Income from continuing operations | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (16) | (15) | (30)
Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 | (1) | 1
Net Income | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (10) | (16) | (29)
Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 | 14 | 19
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) | (2) | $ (10)
Amortization Of Defined Benefit Pension Actuarial Loss, Net [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (1) | $ 0 |
[1] | Includes pretax impairment expense of $159 million, $235 million, $79 million and $625 million, for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2016, respectively. See Note 20—Asset Impairment Expense for further discussion.
[2] | Includes pretax impairment expense of $8 million, $37 million, $231 million and $326 million, for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2015, respectively. See Note 9—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets and Note 20—Asset Impairment Expense for further discussion.
[3] | Details About December 31,AOCL Components Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations 2016 2015 2014Foreign currency translation adjustment, net Gain on sale of businesses $— $— $4 Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations (992) — (38) Net income attributable to The AES Corporation $(992) $— $(34)Unrealized derivative gains (losses), net Non-regulated revenue $111 $43 $30 Non-regulated cost of sales (57) (14) (4) Interest expense (107) (112) (139) Gain on sale of businesses — (4) — Foreign currency transaction gains (losses) 8 12 (9) Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates (45) (75) (122) Income tax expense 8 11 26 Net equity in earnings of affiliates — (2) (3) Income from continuing operations (37) (66) (99) Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests 9 18 27 Net income attributable to The AES Corporation $(28)$(48) $(72)Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial loss, net Regulated cost of sales $(17) $(24) $(32) Non-regulated cost of sales — 2 (5) General and administrative expenses (1) (2) — Other Expense (1) — — Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates (19)(24) (37) Income tax expense 3 9 7 Income from continuing operations (16)(15) (30) Net loss from disposal and impairments of discontinued operations 6 (1) 1 Net Income (10) (16) (29) Less: (Income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests 9 14 19 Net income attributable to The AES Corporation $(1)$(2) $(10)Total reclassifications for the period, net of income tax and noncontrolling interests $(1,021)$(50) $(116)

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