XML 132 R155.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Asset Impairment Expense (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 185 | $ 208 | $ 537 |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  | $ 69 | $ 116 | $ 42 | $ 74 | $ 92 | 185 | 208 | 537 |
Hawaii Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 | 0 | 0 |
Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 115 | 0 | 37 |
Assets carrying amount |  | 114 |  |  |  |  | 114 |  |  |
Shady Point [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 157 | 0 |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  | 30 |  |  |  | 30 |  |
Nejapa [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 37 | 0 |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  | $ 5 |  |  |  | 5 |  |
DPL Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 175 |
Laurel Mountain [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 121 |
Kazakhstan Hydro [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 92 |
Kazakhstan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 94 |
Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges | [1] |  |  |  |  |  | 115 |  |  |
Assets carrying amount |  |  | $ 232 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Stuart Station [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Killen Station [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | DPL Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 66 |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | DPL Peaking Generation [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 109 |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 346 |
Fair Value Less Costs To Sell |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 237 |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Kazakhstan Hydro [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 92 |
Assets carrying amount |  | 190 |  |  |  |  | 190 |  |  |
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Foreign Currency Translation Gains (Losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100 |
Fair Value Less Costs To Sell |  | 92 |  |  |  |  | 92 |  |  |
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Kazakhstan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 94 |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 171
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Foreign Currency Translation Gains (Losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 92 |
Fair Value Less Costs To Sell |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 29
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Hawaii Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 |  |  |
Assets carrying amount |  | 103 |  |  |  |  | 103 |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Kilroot [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 37 |  |
Assets carrying amount |  | $ 20 |  |  |  |  | $ 20 |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Shady Point [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges | [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 157 |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Nejapa [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 37 |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Laurel Mountain [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 121 |
Assets carrying amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 33 |
[1] | Per the Company's policy, pre-tax loss is limited to the impairment of long-lived assets. Any additional loss will be recognized on completion of the sale. See Note 22—Asset Impairment Expense and Note 25—Held-for-Sale and Dispositions for further information.
[2] | See Note 22—Asset Impairment Expense for further information.

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 This element represents the aggregate carrying amount of the assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity before the recognition of impairment charges. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_AssetsCarryingAmountDisclosureNonrecurring
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value less costs to sell by the entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_FairValueLessCostsToSell
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) in the disposal group, including discontinued operation, recognized in the statement of income as a result of the sale or complete or substantially complete liquidation of an investment in a foreign entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118261656&loc=d3e32211-110900 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationForeignCurrencyTranslationGainsLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
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=118932676&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=118932676&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=118932676&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_HawaiiSubsidiaryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

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: | us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=aes_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupHeldforsaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

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

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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=aes_LongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedMember
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: |