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Risks and Uncertainties (Notes) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2017
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |
Unusual Risks and Uncertainties [Table Text Block] | As disclosed in Note 26—Risks and Uncertainties in Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of the 2016 Form 10-K, as of December 31, 2016, the Company has 531 MW under construction at Alto Maipo. Increased project costs, or delays in construction, could have an adverse impact on the Company. Alto Maipo has experienced construction difficulties, which have resulted in an increase in projected cost for the project of up to 22% of the original $2 billion budget. These overages led to a series of negotiations with the intention of restructuring the project’s existing financial structure and obtaining additional funding. On March 17, 2017, AES Gener completed the legal and financial restructuring of Alto Maipo, and through the Company’s 67% ownership interest in AES Gener, AES now has an effective 62% indirect economic interest in Alto Maipo. See Note 11—Equity for additional information regarding the restructuring. Following the restructuring described above, the project continued to face construction difficulties including greater than expected costs and slower than anticipated productivity by construction contractors towards agreed-upon milestones. Furthermore, during the second quarter of 2017, as a result of the failure to perform by one of its construction contractors, Constructora Nuevo Maipo S.A. (“CNM”), Alto Maipo terminated CNM’s contract and is seeking a permanent replacement contractor to complete CNM’s work. Alto Maipo has hired a temporary replacement contractor to complete a portion of CNM’s work while the search for a permanent replacement contractor continues. As a result of the termination of CNM, Alto Maipo’s construction debt of $623 million and derivative liabilities of $139 million are in technical default and presented as current in the balance sheet as of September 30, 2017. Construction at the project is continuing and Alto Maipo is working to resolve the challenges described above. Alto Maipo is seeking a permanent replacement contractor to complete CNM’s work, and continues to negotiate with lenders and other parties. However, there can be no assurance that Alto Maipo will succeed in these efforts and if there are further delays or cost overruns, or if Alto Maipo is unable to reach an agreement with the non-recourse lenders, there is a risk that these lenders may seek to exercise remedies available as a result of the default noted above, or that Alto Maipo may not be able to meet its contractual or other obligations and may be unable to continue with the project. If any of the above occur, there could be a material impairment for the Company. The carrying value of the long-lived assets and deferred tax assets of Alto Maipo as of September 30, 2017 was approximately $1.4 billion and $60 million, respectively. Through its 67% ownership interest in Gener, the Parent Company has invested approximately $360 million in Alto Maipo and has an additional equity commitment of $55 million to be funded as part of the March 2017 restructuring described above. Even though certain of the construction difficulties have not been formally resolved, construction costs continue to be capitalized as management believes the project is probable of completion. Management believes the carrying value of the long-lived asset group is recoverable and was not impaired as of September 30, 2017. In addition, management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized, they could be reduced if estimates of future taxable income are decreased.

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