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Risks And Uncertainties (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) business segment customer Rate | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) customer | Jan. 01, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) customer | Jan. 01, 2015 USD ($)
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of SBUs | business | 5 |  |  |  |
Number of strategic business units | segment | 5 |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting, Additional Information about Entity's Reportable Segments | business | 2 |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 949 | $ 1,244 | $ 1,218 | $ 1,218 | $ 1,449
Percent of revenue generated outside US | 69.00% |  |  |  |
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries and affiliates | $ 1,197 | $ 621 |  | $ 610 |
Debt Default Amount | $ 1,019 |  |  |  |
Number of customers that accounted for 10% of more of total revenue | customer | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Percentage of total revenues from a single customer (less than) | 10.00% |  |  |  |
AES llumina [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Loss from Catastrophes | $ 2 |  |  |  |
Availability to generate electricity | Rate | 75.00% |  |  |  |
Alto Maipo [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative Liabililty, Amount in Technical Default | $ 132 |  |  |  |
Project Completion Percentage | 61.00% |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | $ 1,400 |  |  |  |
Deferred Tax Assets, Net | 60 |  |  |  |
Project Budgeted Cost | $ 2,000 |  |  |  |
Investment In Affiliate Ownership Percentage | 62.00% |  |  |  |
Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Investment In Affiliate Ownership Percentage | 67.00% |  |  |  |
AES Puerto Rico [Member] | Covenant Violation [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Debt Default, Amount | $ 365 |  |  |  |
Debt Default Amount | 365 |  |  |  |
Alto Maipo [Member] | Covenant Violation [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Debt Default, Amount | 618 |  |  |  |
AES llumina [Member] | Covenant Violation [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Default Amount | 36 |  |  |  |
AES Puerto Rico [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Unusual Risk or Uncertainty [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | 627 |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current | 86 |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable, Past Due | $ 53 |  |  |  |

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