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Income Taxes (Effective Income Tax Reconciliation) (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract] |  |  |
Statutory Federal tax rate | 21.00% | 21.00% | 21.00%
State taxes, net of Federal tax benefit | (6.00%) | 6.00% | 2.00%
Taxes on foreign earnings | 15.00% | 12.00% | 9.00%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Percent |  | 0.06 |
Valuation allowance | 16.00% | (2.00%) | (2.00%)
Change in tax law | 3.00% | (1.00%) | 6.00%
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | $ 216,000,000 | $ 352,000,000 | $ 708,000,000
Other—net | 3.00% | (1.00%) | (1.00%)
Effective tax rate | 44.00% | 35.00% | 35.00%
Investment Tax Credit | $ (0.08) | $ 0 | $ 0
Federal | Latest Tax Year |  |  |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Limitations on Use | 1.2 billion |  |
Guacolda Affiliate [Member] |  |  |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract] |  |  |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | $ 20,000,000 | 19,000,000 |
Na Pua Makani Power Partners [Member] |  |  |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract] |  |  |
Investment Tax Credit | $ (35,000,000) |  |
AES Southland [Domain] |  |  |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract] |  |  |
Uncertain tax positions | 35.00% |  |
Investment Tax Credit | $ (75,000,000) |  |
UNITED STATES |  |  |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract] |  |  |
Statutory Federal tax rate | 21.00% |  |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Transition Tax for Accumulated Foreign Earnings, Income Tax Expense | $ 124,000,000 |  |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Income Tax Expense (Benefit) |  | 194,000,000 |
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Measurement Period Adjustment, Income Tax Expense (Benefit) |  | $ 77,000,000 |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Percent |  | 0.09 |
Effective tax rate | 35.00% |  |
Non-US [Member] |  |  |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract] |  |  |
Income Tax Expense (Benefit) | $ 33,000,000 | $ 26,000,000 | $ 35,000,000

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