XML 201 R157.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Asset Impairment Expense (Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held and Used by Asset) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset impairment expense | $ (849) | $ (69) | $ (116) | $ (864) | $ (185) | $ (208)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  | 864 | 185 | 208
Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  | 0 | 115 | 0
Hawaii Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use | 38 |  |  | 38 | 60 | 0
Shady Point [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 157
Nejapa [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 37
Other |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  | 15 | 10 | 14
AES Gener |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use | $ 781 |  |  | 781 |  | 0
AES Panama |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset Impairment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use |  |  |  | $ 30 | $ 0 | $ 0

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=121586364&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 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 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=121586364&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_KilrootandBallylumfordMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

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

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