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Equity Equity - Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The AES Corporation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation | $ (1,342) | $ 152 | $ 53 | $ (24) | $ (949) | $ 175 | $ (482) | $ 126 |  | $ (1,161) | $ (1,130) |  | $ 306 |
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in The AES Corporation's paid-in-capital for purchase of subsidiary shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 240 | (2) |  |  |
Net transfers (to) from noncontrolling interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 253 | (2) |  | (54) |
Change from net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation and transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (908) | (1,132) |  | 252 |
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13 | 84 |  | 323 |
Increase (decrease) in The AES Corporation's paid-in-capital for purchase of subsidiary shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 240 | (2) |  | 0 |
Retained Earnings [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (84) |  | (377) |
Increase (decrease) in The AES Corporation's paid-in-capital for purchase of subsidiary shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | 0 |  |  |
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (84) | $ (377) |  | $ (84) | [1] | $ (377) | [1]
[1] | See Note 17—Redeemable stock of subsidiaries for further information on increase in paid-in-capital transferred to redeemable stock of subsidiaries.

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