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Debt (Non-recourse Debt Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 186 | $ 169 | $ 188
Restricted cash and debt service reserves |  |  |  | $ 372 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 587 | 372 |
Restricted net assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,700 |  |
Finance Lease, Liability, Current |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 | 3 |
AES Panama |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 16 |  |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | AES Southland [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount | [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 283 |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (125) |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | Brazil subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 375 |  |
Repayments of long-term debt | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | [2] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  | $ 90 |  |  |  |  | $ 90 |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8) |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  | $ 555 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 555 |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (520) |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 34 |  |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  | 475 |  |  |  |  | 475 |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  |  | (470) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | Mong Duong Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  | 150 |  |  |  |  | 150 |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | Cochrane Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount | [3] | 485 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 485 |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt | [3] | (445) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | Angamos [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  | (309) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |
Non-Recourse Debt | AES Panama |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  | 1,485 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,485 |  |  |
Repayments of long-term debt |  | (1,228) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |
Nonrecourse [Member] | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 34 |  |  |  |  |
Nonrecourse [Member] | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Nonrecourse [Member] | Colon [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 610 |  |  |
Nonrecourse [Member] | Changuinola [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 171 |  |  |
Nonrecourse [Member] | AES Panama |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 447 |  |  |
4.375% senior notes due 2030 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | AES Panama |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  | $ 1,400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,400 |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 4.375% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.375% |  |  |
Panama Term Loan due 2023 [Member] | Non-Recourse Debt | AES Panama |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  | $ 105 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 105 |  |  |
5.125% Senior Notes Due 2027 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Cochrane Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  | $ 430 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 430 |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  | 5.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.50% |
6.25% Senior Secured Facility Agreement due 2034 [Member] | Credit Facility [Domain] | Cochrane Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  | $ 445 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 445 |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  | 6.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.25% |
6.25% Senior Secured Facility Agreement due 2034 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Cochrane Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  | $ 485 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 485 |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 6.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.25% |  |  |
4.35% Senior Notes due 2029 [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member] | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 400 |  |  | $ 400 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 4.35% |  |  | 4.35% |  |  |  |
7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain] | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 380 | $ 400 |  |  |  |
7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member] | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 780 |  |  | $ 780 |  |  |  |
7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  | 7.25% |  |  | 7.25% |  | 7.25% | 7.25% |  |  |  |
7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 [Domain] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | Non-Recourse Debt | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 43 |  |  |  |
4.125% senior secured notes due 2025 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  | $ 415 |  |  |  |  | $ 415 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  | 4.125% |  |  |  |  | 4.125% |  |  |  |  |
4.25% senior secured notes due 2030 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  | $ 475 |  |  |  |  | $ 475 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  | 4.25% |  |  |  |  | 4.25% |  |  |  |  |
3.45% senior unsecured notes due 2020 [Member] | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 405 |  |  |  |  |
3.45% senior unsecured notes due 2020 [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  | 3.45% |  |  |  |  | 3.45% |  |  |  |  |
IPALCO term loan due 2020 [Member] | Non-Recourse Debt | IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 65 |  |  |  |  |
7.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2079 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 550 |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7.125% |  |  |  |  |  |
8.35% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2073 [Member] | Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8.375% |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 450 |  |  |  |  |  |
6.35% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2079 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  | $ 450 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 450 |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  | 6.35% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.35% |
Senior unsecured notes due 2021 [Member] | Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  | $ 73 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 119 |
Senior unsecured notes due 2025 [Member] | Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  | 55 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
LIBOR 4.15% Senior Notes Due In 2029 [Member] [Member] | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  |  | 4.15% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
LIBOR 4.15% Senior Notes Due In 2029 [Member] [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Non-Recourse Debt | Mong Duong Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  | $ 31 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
LIBOR 2.25% Senior Notes Due In 2029 [Member] | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  |  |  | 2.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
LIBOR 2.25% Senior Notes Due In 2029 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Mong Duong Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  |  | $ 1,100 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
4.41% SPV Loan [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  | 4.41% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
7.18% SPV Loan [Member] [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  | 7.18% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
3.95% Senior Notes due 2049 [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member] | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 425 |  |  | $ 425 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 3.95% |  |  | 3.95% |  |  |  |
Senior Notes [Member] | Cochrane Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 445 |  |  |
Variable Rate Debt | DPL Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 435 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Rate Debt | Cochrane Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 833 |
Variable Rate Debt | Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  |  |  | $ 445 |  |  | $ 445 |  |  |  |
Variable Rate Debt | Senior Notes [Member] | Gener Subsidiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  | $ (29) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Rate Debt | Senior Notes [Member] | Cochrane Subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (24) |
[1] | Issuances relate to the June 2017 long-term non-recourse debt financing to fund the Southland repowering construction projects.
[2] | Includes transactions at DPL and its subsidiary, DP&L.
[3] | Repayments relate to existing obligations at AES Panama, Changuinola, and Colon.

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