XML 188 R154.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Asset Impairment Expense (Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held and Used by Asset) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | $ (42) | $ (74) | $ (92) | $ (277) | $ (90) | $ (168) | $ (208) | $ (537) | $ (1,096)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 208 | 537 | 1,096
Shady Point [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 157 | 0 | 0
Nejapa [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 37 | 0 | 0
DPL Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 175 | 859
Laurel Mountain [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 121 | 0
Kazakhstan Hydro [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 92 | 0
Kazakhstan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 94 | 0
Kilroot [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 37 | 0
buffalo gap II [Member] [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 159
Buffalo Gap I |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 77
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 14 | $ 18 | $ 1

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: | aes_AssetImpairmentExpenseLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2921-110230 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 958 -SubTopic 220 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873921&loc=SL114875236-224282 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2420-110228 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long-lived assets held for abandonment, exchange or sale. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2611-110228 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The charge against earnings resulting from the write down of long lived assets other than goodwill due to the difference between the carrying value and lower fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2921-110230 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_ShadyPointMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_NejapaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_DplSubsidiaryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_LaurelMountainMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_KazakhstanHydroMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_KazakhstanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_KilrootMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_BuffalogapIIMemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_BuffaloGapMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=aes_OtherImpairmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |