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Investments In and Advances To Affiliates - Effective Equity Ownership Interest and Carrying Values (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Apr. 18, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
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Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates |  | $ 835 |  | $ 966 |  |  | $ 1,114
sPower [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates |  | $ 551 |  | $ 442 |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage |  | 50.00% |  | 50.00% | 26.00% | 50.00% |
Uplight |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates |  | $ 85 |  | $ 91 |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage |  | 32.00% |  | 32.00% |  |  |
Eolica Mesa La Paz [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates | [1] | $ 60 |  | $ 66 |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | [1] | 50.00% |  | 50.00% |  |  |
Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates |  | $ 49 |  | $ 48 |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage |  | 43.00% |  | 43.00% |  |  |
OPGC Affiliate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates |  | $ 0 |  | $ 212 |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage |  | 49.00% | 49.00% | 49.00% |  |  |
Guacolda Affiliate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates |  | $ 0 |  | $ 74 |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage |  | 34.00% |  | 33.00% |  |  |
Barry |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates | [2] | $ 0 |  | $ 0 |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage | [2] | 100.00% |  | 100.00% |  |  |
Other Affiliates [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in and advances to affiliates | [3] | $ 90 |  | $ 33 |  |  |
[1] | The Company's ownership in Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom is held through AES Andres, an 85%-owned consolidated subsidiary. AES Andres owns 50% of Energía Natural Dominicana Enadom, resulting in an AES effective ownership of 43%.(3)The Company's ownership in Guacolda is held through AES Gener, a 67%-owned consolidated subsidiary. AES Gener owns 50% of Guacolda, resulting in an AES effective ownership of 34%.
[2] | Represents a VIE in which the Company holds a variable interest, but is not the primary beneficiary.
[3] | Includes Bosforo, Fluence, and Tucano equity method investments, and others, as well as a $67 million loan facility granted from Colon to an equity method affiliate in 2020.

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