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Fair Value (Nonrecurring Measurements) (Details) - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Apr. 12, 2019 | Oct. 01, 2018
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  | $ 849,000,000 |  |  | $ 69,000,000 | $ 116,000,000 |  | $ 864,000,000 | $ 185,000,000 | $ 208,000,000 |  |  |
Other non-operating expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 202,000,000 | 92,000,000 | 147,000,000 |  |  |
Shady Point [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30,000,000 |  |  |
Nejapa [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,000,000 |  |  |
Guacolda Affiliate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 92,000,000 |  |  |  |
Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  | 114,000,000 |  |  |  | 114,000,000 |  |  |  |
OPGC Affiliate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment |  |  | $ 158,000,000 | $ 43,000,000 | 92,000,000 |  |  | 201,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 548,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Guacolda Affiliate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 304,000,000
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Nejapa [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60,000,000 |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 115,000,000 |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 232,000,000 |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | US Generation Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 781,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | AES Panama |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | AES Hawaii |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | OPGC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Asset Impairment Charges |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 158,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Nejapa [Member] | Level 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Nejapa [Member] | Level 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Nejapa [Member] | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [2] |  |  |  | 103,000,000 |  |  |  | 103,000,000 |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Panama |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 44,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Panama | Level 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Panama | Level 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Panama | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Hawaii |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 114,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Hawaii | Level 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Hawaii | Level 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | AES Hawaii | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 76,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | OPGC |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  | 272,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 272,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | OPGC | Level 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | OPGC | Level 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  | 104,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 104,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | OPGC | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Nejapa [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [1],[2] |  |  |  | 163,000,000 |  |  |  | 163,000,000 |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | Guacolda Affiliate [Member] | Level 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | Guacolda Affiliate [Member] | Level 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | Guacolda Affiliate [Member] | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  | 212,000,000 |  |  |  | 212,000,000 |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | OPGC Affiliate [Member] | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  | $ 152,000,000 | 212,000,000 |  |  |  | 212,000,000 |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | OPGC Affiliate [Member] | Level 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | OPGC Affiliate [Member] | Level 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Long Lived Assets Held For Sale [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member] | OPGC Affiliate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 195,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] | Level 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [3] |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] | Level 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 118,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | US Generation Facility [Member] | Level 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | US Generation Facility [Member] | Level 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | US Generation Facility [Member] | Level 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 306,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Kilroot and Ballylumford [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [1],[3] |  |  |  | $ 232,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 232,000,000 |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] | Long Lived Assets Held And Used [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member] | US Generation Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value Assets Measured On Nonrecurring Basis Unobservable Inputs [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets Carrying Amount Disclosure Nonrecurring | [1],[2] |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,087,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
[1] | Represents the carrying values at the dates of initial measurement, before fair value adjustment.
[2] | See Note 22—Asset Impairment Expense for further information.(3)See Note 8—In vestments I n and Advances to Affiliates for further information.
[3] | 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.

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- Definition This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value subject to the equity accounting method. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121548190&loc=d3e32787-111569 + Details
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