$AES
AES CORP Stock $aes

$aes Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2009 Q4 Form 8-K Financial Statement

#000119312511155517 Filed on June 01, 2011

Income Statement

Concept	2009 Q4	2009 Q3	2009 Q2
Revenue	$3.665B	$3.529B	$3.163B
YoY Change	6.57%	-18.78%	-23.34%
Cost Of Revenue	$2.962B	-$2.685B	-$2.488B
YoY Change	6.89%	-179.27%	-180.34%
Gross Profit	$822.0M	$961.0M	$790.0M
YoY Change	23.05%	0.31%	-23.23%
Gross Profit Margin	22.43%	27.23%	24.98%
Selling, General & Admin	$88.00M	$81.00M	$87.00M
YoY Change	4.76%	-10.0%	-12.12%
% of Gross Profit	10.71%	8.43%	11.01%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$282.0M	$252.0M	-$235.0M
YoY Change	17.01%	-3.08%	-191.8%
% of Gross Profit	34.31%	26.22%	-29.75%
Operating Expenses	-$81.00M	$59.00M	$95.00M
YoY Change	2600.0%	-181.94%	-37.5%
Operating Profit	$903.0M	$902.0M	$695.0M
YoY Change	34.58%	-12.43%	-20.75%
Interest Expense	-$219.0M	$406.0M	$368.0M
YoY Change	-50.9%	-11.35%	-27.42%
% of Operating Profit	-24.25%	45.01%	52.95%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$0.00	$15.00M	$30.00M
YoY Change	-100.0%	-16.67%
Pretax Income	$509.0M	$599.0M	$558.0M
YoY Change	294.57%	13.02%	-62.22%
Income Tax	$117.0M	$203.0M	$105.0M
% Of Pretax Income	22.99%	33.89%	18.82%
Net Earnings	-$48.00M	$185.0M	$303.0M
YoY Change	2.13%	27.59%	-66.45%
Net Earnings / Revenue	-1.31%	5.24%	9.58%
Basic Earnings Per Share	-$0.07	$0.28	$0.45
Diluted Earnings Per Share	-$0.07	$0.28	$0.45
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding		667.0M shares	667.0M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		671.0M shares	684.0M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2009 Q4	2009 Q3	2009 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$3.436B	$3.377B	$2.887B
YoY Change	51.83%	6.87%	-12.36%
Cash & Equivalents	$1.745B	$1.960B	$1.700B
Short-Term Investments	$1.691B	$1.357B	$1.152B
Other Short-Term Assets	$1.534B	$2.358B	$2.244B
YoY Change	-36.37%	93.44%	-4.96%
Inventory	$479.0M	$578.0M	$577.0M
Prepaid Expenses	$152.0M
Receivables	$2.078B	$2.415B	$2.314B
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$8.787B	$8.728B	$8.022B
YoY Change	20.11%	3.99%	-9.91%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$23.09B	$24.23B	$23.05B
YoY Change	10.58%	9.67%	-0.2%
Goodwill	$1.299B
YoY Change	-8.59%
Intangibles	$333.0M
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$1.157B	$1.109B	$1.043B
YoY Change	28.41%	23.77%	17.32%
Other Assets	$1.523B	$3.288B	$3.383B
YoY Change	-59.8%	86.61%	5.32%
Total Long-Term Assets	$30.75B	$30.53B	$29.40B
YoY Change	11.85%	8.04%	0.63%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$8.787B	$8.728B	$8.022B
Total Long-Term Assets	$30.75B	$30.53B	$29.40B
Total Assets	$39.54B	$39.26B	$37.42B
YoY Change	13.59%	7.12%	-1.83%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$1.826B	$1.223B	$1.038B
YoY Change	76.77%	7.19%	-8.55%
Accrued Expenses	$2.296B	$3.444B	$2.975B
YoY Change	-20.39%	3.73%	-14.83%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$1.932B	$1.571B	$1.384B
YoY Change	80.39%	64.68%	15.62%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$6.621B	$6.238B	$5.397B
YoY Change	27.77%	15.2%	-7.35%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$17.61B	$18.09B	$17.84B
YoY Change	5.93%	2.26%	-0.39%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$3.095B	$4.993B	$4.657B
YoY Change	-35.56%	38.12%	-6.28%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$23.97B	$23.08B	$22.49B
YoY Change	11.91%	-0.95%	-1.67%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$6.621B	$6.238B	$5.397B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$23.97B	$23.08B	$22.49B
Total Liabilities	$30.60B	$34.68B	$33.03B
YoY Change	-1.74%	20.75%	-2.37%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$650.0M
YoY Change
Common Stock	$7.000M
YoY Change
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$126.0M
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares	9.535M shares
Shareholders Equity	$4.675B	$4.583B	$4.392B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$39.54B	$39.26B	$37.42B
YoY Change	13.59%	7.12%	-1.83%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2009 Q4	2009 Q3	2009 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	-$48.00M	$185.0M	$303.0M
YoY Change	2.13%	27.59%	-66.45%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$282.0M	$252.0M	-$235.0M
YoY Change	17.01%	-3.08%	-191.8%
Cash From Operating Activities	$316.0M	$1.003B	$517.0M
YoY Change	-44.95%	24.91%	64.65%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$755.0M	-$572.0M	-$619.0M
YoY Change	-14.88%	-1.04%	-17.69%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$118.0M	-$88.00M	$158.0M
YoY Change	-53.91%	-60.89%	-30.4%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$873.0M	-$660.0M	-$461.0M
YoY Change	-23.62%	-17.81%	-12.19%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	367.0M	-88.00M	418.0M
YoY Change	-283.5%	-344.44%	112.18%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	316.0M	1.003B	517.0M
Cash From Investing Activities	-873.0M	-660.0M	-461.0M
Cash From Financing Activities	367.0M	-88.00M	418.0M
Net Change In Cash	-190.0M	255.0M	474.0M
YoY Change	-75.29%	608.33%	-3485.71%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$316.0M	$1.003B	$517.0M
Capital Expenditures	-$755.0M	-$572.0M	-$619.0M
Free Cash Flow	$1.071B	$1.575B	$1.136B
YoY Change	-26.69%	14.05%	6.57%

Facts In Submission

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CY2008	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	175000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-33000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	34000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-183000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Expense OtherNonoperatingExpense	7000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Expense OtherNonoperatingExpense	12000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Expense OtherNonoperatingExpense	15000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1914000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2316000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2533000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	596000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	580000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	719000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	183000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	92000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	33000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1501000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1828000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1847000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	-506000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	77000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	179000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss On Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax	64000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss On Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax	-150000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss On Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax	6000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	1059000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	1755000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	2032000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Attributable To Noncontrolling Entity IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsAttributableToNoncontrollingEntity	1006000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Attributable To Noncontrolling Entity IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsAttributableToNoncontrollingEntity	1099000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Attributable To Noncontrolling Entity IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsAttributableToNoncontrollingEntity	759000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	44000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-2000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	39000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.98	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.82	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	1088000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	729000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	495000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	-486000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	-71000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	146000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriod	-287000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1050000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1097000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	798000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	9000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	658000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1234000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.64	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.09	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.62	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.63	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.10	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.22	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.01	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.99	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.84	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.64	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.09	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.61	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.63	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.11	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.21	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.01	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriod	22000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriod	59000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperation	132000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperation	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperation	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	1178000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments And Impairment Charges GainLossOnSaleOfInvestmentsAndImpairmentCharges	-1313000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax	209000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-418000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual Carrying Value Period Increase Decrease LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease	37000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	-34000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Undistributed Gain From Sale Of Equity Method Investment UndistributedGainFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestment	106000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Noncontrolling Interest Of Discontinued Operations NoncontrollingInterestOfDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	-31000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	98000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-10000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-430000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	248000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	136000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Net IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesNet	166000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	257000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Liabilities Assumed LiabilitiesAssumed	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	3510000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	2310000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses And Interest In Affiliates PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates	254000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses And Interests In Affiliates ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesAndInterestsInAffiliates	595000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Productive Assets ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets	23000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	5786000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	5795000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash	104000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Decrease Increase In Debt Service Reserves And Other Assets DecreaseIncreaseInDebtServiceReservesAndOtherAssets	56000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Advance To Affiliate PaymentsForAdvanceToAffiliate	97000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Proceeds From Loan Advance Repayments ProceedsFromLoanAdvanceRepayments	132000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Loan Advances LoanAdvances	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-40000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-2040000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	1567000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Repayments Of Proceeds From Revolving Credit Facilities RepaymentsOfProceedsFromRevolvingCreditFacilities	78000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Proceeds From Issuance Of Recourse Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfRecourseDebt	0	USD
CY2010	aes	Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfNonrecourseDebt	1940000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Repayments Of Recourse Debt RepaymentsOfRecourseDebt	914000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Repayments Of Nonrecourse Debt RepaymentsOfNonrecourseDebt	1945000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments Of Financing Costs PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	61000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Minority Shareholders PaymentsToMinorityShareholders	1245000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Minority Shareholders ProceedsFromMinorityShareholders	0	USD
CY2010	aes	Payments For Financed Capital Expenditures PaymentsForFinancedCapitalExpenditures	23000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	99000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-4000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-706000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	8000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	772000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1462000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	698000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Fair Value Of Assets Acquired FairValueOfAssetsAcquired	0	USD
CY2010	aes	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Nonrecourse Debt Assumed NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNonrecourseDebtAssumed	0	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Assets Acquired In Noncash Asset Exchange AssetsAcquiredInNoncashAssetExchange	42000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	1049000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments And Impairment Charges GainLossOnSaleOfInvestmentsAndImpairmentCharges	-57000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax	-150000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	15000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual Carrying Value Period Increase Decrease LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease	-122000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	6000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Undistributed Gain From Sale Of Equity Method Investment UndistributedGainFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestment	0	USD
CY2009	aes	Noncontrolling Interest Of Discontinued Operations NoncontrollingInterestOfDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	-99000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-62000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	34000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-137000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	177000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-308000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Net IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesNet	88000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	2520000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses And Interest In Affiliates PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	-366000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	2201000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Assets Acquired In Noncash Asset Exchange AssetsAcquiredInNoncashAssetExchange	111000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Depreciation And Amortization DepreciationAndAmortization	1001000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments And Impairment Charges GainLossOnSaleOfInvestmentsAndImpairmentCharges	712000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax	7000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	484000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Fair Value Of Assets Acquired FairValueOfAssetsAcquired	0	USD
CY2009	aes	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Nonrecourse Debt Assumed NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNonrecourseDebtAssumed	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Liabilities Assumed LiabilitiesAssumed	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses And Interests In Affiliates ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesAndInterestsInAffiliates	2000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Productive Assets ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets	17000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	4526000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	4248000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash	-302000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Decrease Increase In Debt Service Reserves And Other Assets DecreaseIncreaseInDebtServiceReservesAndOtherAssets	-185000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Advance To Affiliate PaymentsForAdvanceToAffiliate	155000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Proceeds From Loan Advance Repayments ProceedsFromLoanAdvanceRepayments	0	USD
CY2009	aes	Loan Advances LoanAdvances	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	26000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1917000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2009	aes	Repayments Of Proceeds From Revolving Credit Facilities RepaymentsOfProceedsFromRevolvingCreditFacilities	11000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Proceeds From Issuance Of Recourse Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfRecourseDebt	503000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfNonrecourseDebt	1997000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Repayments Of Recourse Debt RepaymentsOfRecourseDebt	154000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Repayments Of Nonrecourse Debt RepaymentsOfNonrecourseDebt	1008000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments Of Financing Costs PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	91000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Minority Shareholders PaymentsToMinorityShareholders	846000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Minority Shareholders ProceedsFromMinorityShareholders	190000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Payments For Financed Capital Expenditures PaymentsForFinancedCapitalExpenditures	18000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	26000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	610000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	22000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	916000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1395000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	160000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual Carrying Value Period Increase Decrease LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease	52000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	-56000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Undistributed Gain From Sale Of Equity Method Investment UndistributedGainFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestment	0	USD
CY2008	aes	Noncontrolling Interest Of Discontinued Operations NoncontrollingInterestOfDiscontinuedOperations	4000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	127000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	451000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	83000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	57000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	467000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	260000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Net IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesNet	226000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	32000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	2165000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	2850000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses And Interest In Affiliates PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates	1135000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses And Interests In Affiliates ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesAndInterestsInAffiliates	1328000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Productive Assets ProceedsFromSaleOfProductiveAssets	105000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	5150000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	5469000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Divestiture Amount Of Consideration Received NoncashOrPartNoncashDivestitureAmountOfConsiderationReceived	4000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash	295000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Decrease Increase In Debt Service Reserves And Other Assets DecreaseIncreaseInDebtServiceReservesAndOtherAssets	100000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Payments For Advance To Affiliate PaymentsForAdvanceToAffiliate	240000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Loan Advances LoanAdvances	173000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Proceeds From Loan Advance Repayments ProceedsFromLoanAdvanceRepayments	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-98000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-3581000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2008	aes	Repayments Of Proceeds From Revolving Credit Facilities RepaymentsOfProceedsFromRevolvingCreditFacilities	298000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Proceeds From Issuance Of Recourse Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfRecourseDebt	625000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Proceeds From Issuance Of Nonrecourse Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfNonrecourseDebt	2158000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Repayments Of Recourse Debt RepaymentsOfRecourseDebt	1037000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Repayments Of Nonrecourse Debt RepaymentsOfNonrecourseDebt	1260000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Payments Of Financing Costs PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	82000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Payments To Minority Shareholders PaymentsToMinorityShareholders	597000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Proceeds From Minority Shareholders ProceedsFromMinorityShareholders	410000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Payments For Financed Capital Expenditures PaymentsForFinancedCapitalExpenditures	47000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	143000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	37000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	362000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	-96000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-1150000000	USD
CY2007Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	2014000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	864000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1615000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	465000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Fair Value Of Assets Acquired FairValueOfAssetsAcquired	1097000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Nonrecourse Debt Assumed NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNonrecourseDebtAssumed	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Liabilities Assumed LiabilitiesAssumed	49000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Assets Acquired In Noncash Asset Exchange AssetsAcquiredInNoncashAssetExchange	18000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Noncash Or Part Noncash Divestitures Liabilities Extinguished Due To Sale Of Assets NoncashOrPartNoncashDivestituresLiabilitiesExtinguishedDueToSaleOfAssets	0	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Noncash Or Part Noncash Divestitures Liabilities Extinguished Due To Sale Of Assets NoncashOrPartNoncashDivestituresLiabilitiesExtinguishedDueToSaleOfAssets	0	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Noncash Or Part Noncash Divestitures Liabilities Extinguished Due To Sale Of Assets NoncashOrPartNoncashDivestituresLiabilitiesExtinguishedDueToSaleOfAssets	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Divestiture Amount Of Consideration Received NoncashOrPartNoncashDivestitureAmountOfConsiderationReceived	0	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Divestiture Amount Of Consideration Received NoncashOrPartNoncashDivestitureAmountOfConsiderationReceived	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	USE OF ESTIMATES—The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Items subject to such estimates and assumptions include: the carrying value and estimated useful lives of long-lived assets; impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets and equity method investments; valuation allowances for receivables and deferred tax assets; the recoverability of deferred regulatory assets; the valuation of certain financial instruments; the determination of noncontrolling interest using the hypothetical liquidation at book value (“HLBV”) method for certain wind generation partnerships; pension liabilities; environmental liabilities; and potential litigation claims and settlements.
CY2010	us-gaap	Guarantees Indemnifications And Warranties Policies GuaranteesIndemnificationsAndWarrantiesPolicies	GUARANTOR ACCOUNTING—In accordance with the accounting standards on guarantees, at the inception of a guarantee, the Company records the fair value of a guarantee as a liability, with the offset dependent on the circumstances under which the guarantee was issued.
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials InventoryRawMaterials	276000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Inventory Spare Parts And Supplies InventorySparePartsAndSupplies	286000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials InventoryRawMaterials	229000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Inventory Spare Parts And Supplies InventorySparePartsAndSupplies	250000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Percentage Of Fifo Inventory PercentageOfFIFOInventory	0.23	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Useful Life Maximum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsUsefulLifeMaximum	89	years
CY2010	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Useful Life Minimum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsUsefulLifeMinimum	1	years
CY2010	us-gaap	Description Of New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted DescriptionOfNewAccountingPronouncementsNotYetAdopted	Accounting Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Effective The following accounting standards have been issued, but as of December 31, 2010 are not yet effective for and have not been adopted by AES. Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-28, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), “When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts” In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-28, which amends the accounting guidance related to goodwill. The amendments in ASU No. 2010-28 modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, eliminating an entity’s ability to assert that a reporting unit is not required to perform Step 2 because the carrying amount of the reporting unit is zero or negative despite the existence of qualitative factors that indicate the goodwill is more likely than not impaired. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. ASU No. 2010-28 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010, or January 1, 2011 for AES. Early adoption is prohibited. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
CY2010Q4	aes	Balance Sheet Amount Recognized Adoption Of New Accounting Pronouncement For Transfers Of Financial Assets BalanceSheetAmountRecognizedAdoptionOfNewAccountingPronouncementForTransfersOfFinancialAssets	40000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Transfers Accounted For As Secured Borrowings Assets Carrying Amount TransfersAccountedForAsSecuredBorrowingsAssetsCarryingAmount	50000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Maximum Interest Transferred To Purchasers Through Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility MaximumInterestTransferredToPurchasersThroughAccountsReceivableSecuritizationFacility	50000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Accounts Receivable Government Noncurrent AccountsReceivableGovernmentNoncurrent	151000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Cumulative Effect Of Initial Adoption Of Consolidation Accounting Guidance CumulativeEffectOfInitialAdoptionOfConsolidationAccountingGuidance	47000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Net CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet	178000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Amortization CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization	51000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Amortization CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization	48000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Amortization CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization	41000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	5000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	1000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Percentage Of Weighted Average Cost Inventory PercentageOfWeightedAverageCostInventory	0.75	pure
CY2009Q4	aes	Property Plant And Equipment Electric Generation Distribution Assets And Other Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentElectricGenerationDistributionAssetsAndOtherNet	17396000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Property Plant And Equipment Electric Generation Distribution Assets And Other Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentElectricGenerationDistributionAssetsAndOtherNet	19027000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Property Plant And Equipment Electric Generation Distribution Assets And Other Net Related To Discontinued Operations PropertyPlantAndEquipmentElectricGenerationDistributionAssetsAndOtherNetRelatedToDiscontinuedOperations	1493000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Property Plant And Equipment Electric Generation Distribution Assets And Other Net Related To Discontinued Operations PropertyPlantAndEquipmentElectricGenerationDistributionAssetsAndOtherNetRelatedToDiscontinuedOperations	7000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Interest Capitalized During Development And Construction On Qualifying Assets InterestCapitalizedDuringDevelopmentAndConstructionOnQualifyingAssets	193000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Interest Capitalized During Development And Construction On Qualifying Assets InterestCapitalizedDuringDevelopmentAndConstructionOnQualifyingAssets	183000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Interest Capitalized During Development And Construction On Qualifying Assets InterestCapitalizedDuringDevelopmentAndConstructionOnQualifyingAssets	172000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Property Plant And Equipment Net Of Accumulated Depreciation Mortgaged Pledged Or Subject To Liens PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetOfAccumulatedDepreciationMortgagedPledgedOrSubjectToLiens	12200000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	1100000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	944000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	899000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Net CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet	170000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	47000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	17000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	3000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	0	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	67000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	19000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	92000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Legally Restricted Assets Fair Value AssetRetirementObligationLegallyRestrictedAssetsFairValue	12000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Legally Restricted Assets Fair Value AssetRetirementObligationLegallyRestrictedAssetsFairValue	0	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Fair Value Percent Threshold For Significant Assumption FairValuePercentThresholdForSignificantAssumption	0.1	pure
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	1676000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Trading Securities Fair Value Disclosure TradingSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	7000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Derivative Financial Instruments Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssets	120000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Financial Assets Total FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFinancialAssetsTotal	1803000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Derivative Financial Instruments Liabilities FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilities	303000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Financial Liabilities Total FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFinancialLiabilitiesTotal	303000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	1762000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Trading Securities Fair Value Disclosure TradingSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	10000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Derivative Financial Instruments Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssets	124000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Financial Assets Total FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFinancialAssetsTotal	1896000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Derivative Financial Instruments Liabilities FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilities	423000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Fair Value Measured On Recurring Basis Financial Liabilities Total FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFinancialLiabilitiesTotal	423000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesGainLossIncludedInEarnings	51000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Gain Loss Included In Other Comprehensive Income FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	1000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Fair Value Measurments With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Regulatory Assets Liabilities FairValueMeasurmentsWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisRegulatoryAssetsLiabilities	-2000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Purchases Sales Issuances Settlements FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesPurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlements	-17000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Transfers In FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesTransfersIn	-2000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Transfers Out FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesTransfersOut	-18000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesValue	49000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gain Loss Included In Other Income FairValueDerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInOtherIncome	40000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Fair Value Derivative Assets Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Change In Unrealized Gain Loss Included In Other Income FairValueDerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInOtherIncome	-2000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesValue	0	USD
CY2009	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Transfers Out FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesTransfersOut	77000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Transfers In FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesTransfersIn	1000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Purchases Sales Issuances Settlements FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesPurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlements	31000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Fair Value Measurments With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Regulatory Assets Liabilities FairValueMeasurmentsWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisRegulatoryAssetsLiabilities	0	USD
CY2009	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Gain Loss Included In Other Comprehensive Income FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	134000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesGainLossIncludedInEarnings	-18000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Assets Liabilities Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetsLiabilitiesValue	-71000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale Unsecured Debentures AvailableForSaleUnsecuredDebentures	727000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale Certificates Of Deposit AvailableForSaleCertificatesOfDeposit	877000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale Government Debt Securities AvailableForSaleGovernmentDebtSecurities	47000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale Other Debt Securities AvailableForSaleOtherDebtSecurities	42000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	1693000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale Mutual Funds AvailableForSaleMutualFunds	62000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale Common Stock AvailableForSaleCommonStock	7000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale Money Market Funds AvailableForSaleMoneyMarketFunds	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Equity Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities	69000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities AvailableForSaleSecurities	1762000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Trading Securities Mutual Funds TradingSecuritiesMutualFunds	10000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Trading Securities TradingSecurities	10000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale And Trading Securities Total AvailableForSaleAndTradingSecuritiesTotal	1772000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Held To Maturity Securities HeldToMaturitySecurities	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities MarketableSecurities	1772000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Available For Sale Unsecured Debentures AvailableForSaleUnsecuredDebentures	667000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Available For Sale Certificates Of Deposit AvailableForSaleCertificatesOfDeposit	652000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Available For Sale Government Debt Securities AvailableForSaleGovernmentDebtSecurities	152000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Available For Sale Other Debt Securities AvailableForSaleOtherDebtSecurities	42000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	1513000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Available For Sale Mutual Funds AvailableForSaleMutualFunds	117000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Available For Sale Common Stock AvailableForSaleCommonStock	16000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Available For Sale Money Market Funds AvailableForSaleMoneyMarketFunds	30000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Equity Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities	163000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities AvailableForSaleSecurities	1676000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Trading Securities Mutual Funds TradingSecuritiesMutualFunds	7000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Trading Securities TradingSecurities	7000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Available For Sale And Trading Securities Total AvailableForSaleAndTradingSecuritiesTotal	1683000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Other Derivative Assets Noncurrent OtherDerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	85000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	120000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Held To Maturity Securities HeldToMaturitySecurities	8000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities MarketableSecurities	1691000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Available For Sale Securities Common Stock Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesCommonStockAmortizedCost	6000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsAmortizedCost	42000000	USD
	aes	Government Bonds Received In Exchange For Accounts Receivable GovernmentBondsReceivedInExchangeForAccountsReceivable	110000000	USD
CY2009Q3	aes	Sovereign Bonds Used To Settle Third Party Liabilities SovereignBondsUsedToSettleThirdPartyLiabilities	31000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	10000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment For Sale Of Securities Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	2000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	4466000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gain AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGain	3000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-2000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment For Sale Of Securities Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	5006000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gain AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGain	0	USD
CY2010	aes	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gain AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGain	2000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	5888000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment For Sale Of Securities Included In Net Income Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentForSaleOfSecuritiesIncludedInNetIncomeBeforeTax	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	2000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivatives Basis And Use Of Derivatives Use Of Derivatives DerivativesBasisAndUseOfDerivativesUseOfDerivatives	Risk Management Objectives The Company is exposed to market risks associated with its enterprise-wide business activities, namely the purchase and sale of fuel and electricity as well as foreign currency risk and interest rate risk. In order to manage the market risks associated with these business activities, we enter into contracts that incorporate derivatives and financial instruments, including forwards, futures, options, swaps or combinations thereof, as appropriate. The Company applies hedge accounting for all contracts as long as they are eligible under the accounting standards for derivatives and hedging. While derivative transactions are not entered into for trading purposes, some contracts are not eligible for hedge accounting.
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivatives Basis And Use Of Derivatives Basis DerivativesBasisAndUseOfDerivativesBasis	Derivative assets and liabilities are recognized at their fair value.
CY2010Q4	aes	Foreign Exchange Derivative Assets Current ForeignExchangeDerivativeAssetsCurrent	7000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	12000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Derivative Assets Noncurrent InterestRateDerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	49000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Foreign Exchange Derivative Assets Noncurrent ForeignExchangeDerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	31000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Cross Currency Derivative Assets Noncurrent CrossCurrencyDerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	12000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Other Derivative Assets Noncurrent OtherDerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	20000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	112000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	124000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities Current InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	137000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Cross Currency Derivative Liabilities Current CrossCurrencyDerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Foreign Exchange Derivative Liabilities Current ForeignExchangeDerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	13000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	152000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	247000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Cross Currency Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent CrossCurrencyDerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Foreign Exchange Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent ForeignExchangeDerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	23000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	271000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	423000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Foreign Exchange Derivative Assets Current ForeignExchangeDerivativeAssetsCurrent	6000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	35000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Interest Rate Derivative Assets Noncurrent InterestRateDerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	85000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Foreign Exchange Derivative Assets Noncurrent ForeignExchangeDerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Cross Currency Derivative Assets Noncurrent CrossCurrencyDerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities Current InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	125000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Cross Currency Derivative Liabilities Current CrossCurrencyDerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	0	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Foreign Exchange Derivative Liabilities Current ForeignExchangeDerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	3000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	130000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent InterestRateDerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	157000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Cross Currency Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent CrossCurrencyDerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	12000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Foreign Exchange Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent ForeignExchangeDerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	2000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	173000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	303000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Other Derivative Assets Current OtherDerivativeAssetsCurrent	5000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Other Derivative Liabilities Current OtherDerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	0	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Other Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent OtherDerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	1000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Other Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent OtherDerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	2000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Other Derivative Liabilities Current OtherDerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Other Derivative Assets Current OtherDerivativeAssetsCurrent	29000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Gain Loss Reclassified Into Earnings Discontinuance Of Cash Flow Hedge Net GainLossReclassifiedIntoEarningsDiscontinuanceOfCashFlowHedgeNet	-1000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Gain Loss Reclassified Into Earnings Discontinuance Of Cash Flow Hedge Net GainLossReclassifiedIntoEarningsDiscontinuanceOfCashFlowHedgeNet	0	USD
CY2008	aes	Gain Loss Reclassified Into Earnings Discontinuance Of Cash Flow Hedge Net GainLossReclassifiedIntoEarningsDiscontinuanceOfCashFlowHedgeNet	-1000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet	-249000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeEffectivePortionNet	219000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Reclassified From Accumulated Oci Into Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet	-115000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Reclassified From Accumulated Oci Into Income Effective Portion Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet	-24000000	USD
CY2007Q4	aes	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net CashFlowHedgeGainLossInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNet	-232000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net CashFlowHedgeGainLossInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNet	-263000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss Reclassified To Earnings Net CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToEarningsNet	76000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss Change In Fair Value Net CashFlowHedgeGainLossChangeInFairValueNet	-107000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Ineffective Portion And Amount Excluded From Effectiveness Testing Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet	-10000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Ineffective Portion And Amount Excluded From Effectiveness Testing Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet	-20000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Ineffective Portion And Amount Excluded From Effectiveness Testing Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet	45000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Distributions Received From Minority Owned Affiliates DistributionsReceivedFromMinorityOwnedAffiliates	35000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Distributions Received From Minority Owned Affiliates DistributionsReceivedFromMinorityOwnedAffiliates	50000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Goodwill Gross GoodwillGross	1493000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss	-72000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	-19000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	-92000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	11000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Change In Regulatory Asset Resulting From Change In Derivative Fair Value ChangeInRegulatoryAssetResultingFromChangeInDerivativeFairValue	3000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Change In Regulatory Asset Resulting From Change In Derivative Fair Value ChangeInRegulatoryAssetResultingFromChangeInDerivativeFairValue	0	USD
CY2010	aes	Change In Regulatory Liability Resulting From Change In Derivative Fair Value ChangeInRegulatoryLiabilityResultingFromChangeInDerivativeFairValue	1000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Change In Regulatory Liability Resulting From Change In Derivative Fair Value ChangeInRegulatoryLiabilityResultingFromChangeInDerivativeFairValue	-4000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Undistributed Earnings Of Minority Owned Affiliates Included In Retained Earnings UndistributedEarningsOfMinorityOwnedAffiliatesIncludedInRetainedEarnings	168000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Distributions Received From Minority Owned Affiliates DistributionsReceivedFromMinorityOwnedAffiliates	49000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1421000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Goodwill Gross GoodwillGross	1493000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss	-194000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	-2000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Goodwill Translation Adjustments And Other GoodwillTranslationAdjustmentsAndOther	2000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Goodwill Translation Adjustments And Other GoodwillTranslationAdjustmentsAndOther	-7000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Goodwill Gross GoodwillGross	1486000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss	-215000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	604000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	408000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	447000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	268000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	64000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	65000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	668000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	473000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Acquired Intangible Asset Total Amount AcquiredIntangibleAssetTotalAmount	227000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Acquired Intangible Asset Total Amount AcquiredIntangibleAssetTotalAmount	9000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year One FutureAmortizationExpenseYearOne	22000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Two FutureAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	21000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Three FutureAmortizationExpenseYearThree	19000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Four FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFour	18000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Five FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFive	18000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Intangible Assets Reclassified From Other Assets IntangibleAssetsReclassifiedFromOtherAssets	42000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpense	14000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpense	17000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpense	11000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets Current RegulatoryAssetsCurrent	212000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets Current RegulatoryAssetsCurrent	395000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets Noncurrent RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent	470000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets Noncurrent RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent	450000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets RegulatoryAssets	682000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Assets RegulatoryAssets	845000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Liability Current RegulatoryLiabilityCurrent	286000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Liability Current RegulatoryLiabilityCurrent	296000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Liability Noncurrent RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent	1137000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Liability Noncurrent RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent	982000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Liabilities RegulatoryLiabilities	1423000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Regulatory Liabilities RegulatoryLiabilities	1278000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Remaining Amounts Of Noncurrent Regulatory Assets For Which No Return On Investment During Recovery Period Is Provided RemainingAmountsOfNoncurrentRegulatoryAssetsForWhichNoReturnOnInvestmentDuringRecoveryPeriodIsProvided	95000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Remaining Amounts Of Noncurrent Regulatory Assets For Which No Return On Investment During Recovery Period Is Provided RemainingAmountsOfNoncurrentRegulatoryAssetsForWhichNoReturnOnInvestmentDuringRecoveryPeriodIsProvided	90000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Brazil Tariff Recoveries Number Of Installments BrazilTariffRecoveriesNumberOfInstallments	24	integer
CY2010	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Fair Value Basis For Measurement DebtInstrumentFairValueBasisForMeasurement	Recourse and non-recourse debt are carried at amortized cost. The fair value of recourse debt is estimated based on quoted market prices. The fair value of non-recourse debt is estimated differently based upon the type of loan. The fair value of fixed rate loans is estimated using quoted market prices, if available or a discounted cash flow analysis. In the discounted cash flow analysis, the discount rate is based on the credit rating of the individual debt instruments if available, or the credit rating of the subsidiary. If the subsidiary’s credit rating is not available, a synthetic credit rating is determined using certain key metrics, including cash flow ratios and interest coverage, as well as other industry specific factors. For subsidiaries located outside of the U.S., in the event that the country rating is lower than the credit rating previously determined, the country rating is used for the purposes of the discounted cash flow analysis. The fair value of recourse and non-recourse debt excludes accrued interest at the valuation date.
CY2010Q4	aes	Non Recourse Debt Total NonRecourseDebtTotal	14939000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Non Recourse Debt Total NonRecourseDebtTotal	13828000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Derivatives Range Of Expiration Dates InterestRateDerivativesRangeOfExpirationDates	The agreements expire at various dates from 2016 through 2027.
CY2010Q4	aes	Debt Default Amount DebtDefaultAmount	1408000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Recourse Debt Total RecourseDebtTotal	4612000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Recourse Debt Total RecourseDebtTotal	5515000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Restrictive Covenants DebtInstrumentRestrictiveCovenants	Recourse Debt Covenants and Guarantees Certain of the Company’s obligations under the senior secured credit facility are guaranteed by its direct subsidiaries through which the Company owns its interests in the AES Shady Point, AES Hawaii, AES Warrior Run and AES Eastern Energy businesses. The Company’s obligations under the senior secured credit facility are, subject to certain exceptions, secured by: (i)         all of the capital stock of domestic subsidiaries owned directly by the Company and 65% of the capital stock of certain foreign subsidiaries owned directly or indirectly by the Company; and (ii)         certain intercompany receivables, certain intercompany notes and certain intercompany tax sharing agreements. The senior secured credit facility is subject to mandatory prepayment under certain circumstances, including the sale of a guarantor subsidiary. In such a situation, the net cash proceeds from the sale of a Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries must be applied pro rata to repay the term loan using 60% of net cash proceeds, reduced to 50% when and if the parent’s recourse debt to cash flow ratio is less than 5:1. The lenders have the option to waive their pro rata redemption. The senior secured credit facility contains customary covenants and restrictions on the Company’s ability to engage in certain activities, including, but not limited to, limitations on other indebtedness, liens, investments and guarantees; limitations on restricted payments such as shareholder dividends and equity repurchases; restrictions on mergers and acquisitions, sales of assets, leases, transactions with affiliates and off-balance sheet or derivative arrangements; and other financial reporting requirements. The senior secured credit facility also contains financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain certain financial ratios including a cash flow to interest coverage ratio, calculated quarterly, which provides that a minimum ratio of the Company’s adjusted operating cash flow to the Company’s interest charges related to recourse debt of 1.3× must be maintained at all times and a recourse debt to cash flow ratio, calculated quarterly, which provides that the ratio of the Company’s total recourse debt to the Company’s adjusted operating cash flow must not exceed a maximum at any time of calculation, or 7.5× at December 31, 2010.   The terms of the Company’s senior unsecured notes and senior secured credit facility contain certain covenants including, without limitation, limitation on the Company’s ability to incur liens or enter into sale and leaseback transactions.
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Notional Amount Of Interest Rate Derivatives NotionalAmountOfInterestRateDerivatives	4300000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Non Recourse Debt Held For Sale Or Discontinued Operations NonRecourseDebtHeldForSaleOrDiscontinuedOperations	902000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Construction Line Of Credit Facility Remaining Borrowing Capacity ConstructionLineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity	432000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Other Line Of Credit Facility Remaining Borrowing Capacity OtherLineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity	664000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate At Period End LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd	0.0324	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Restricted Cash And Debt Service Reserves RestrictedCashAndDebtServiceReserves	693000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Restricted Cash And Debt Service Reserves RestrictedCashAndDebtServiceReserves	548000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Restricted Net Assets RestrictedNetAssets	4600000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Current Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity	800000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	1400000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Margin Percent Above Libor InterestRateMarginPercentAboveLibor	0.0300	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	First Lien Debt Cap Amount FirstLienDebtCapAmount	3000000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Swaps Range Of Interest Rates Fixed Minimum InterestRateSwapsRangeOfInterestRatesFixedMinimum	0.0071	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Swaps Range Of Interest Rates Fixed Maximum InterestRateSwapsRangeOfInterestRatesFixedMaximum	0.0698	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Options Range Of Interest Rates Fixed Minimum InterestRateOptionsRangeOfInterestRatesFixedMinimum	0.0403	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Interest Rate Options Range Of Interest Rates Fixed Maximum InterestRateOptionsRangeOfInterestRatesFixedMaximum	0.0700	pure
CY2010	aes	Term Convertible Preferred Securities Issued By Special Purpose Business Trust Total Proceeds TermConvertiblePreferredSecuritiesIssuedBySpecialPurposeBusinessTrustTotalProceeds	517000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Junior Subordinated Convertible Debentures Purchased With Proceeds Fromissuance Of Term Convertible Preferred Securities JuniorSubordinatedConvertibleDebenturesPurchasedWithProceedsFromissuanceOfTermConvertiblePreferredSecurities	517000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Term Convertible Preferred Securities Common Stock Conversion Ratio TermConvertiblePreferredSecuritiesCommonStockConversionRatio	1.4216	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Term Convertible Preferred Securities Dividend Rate TermConvertiblePreferredSecuritiesDividendRate	0.0675	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Term Convertible Preferred Securities Number Of Quarters Dividends May Be Deferred TermConvertiblePreferredSecuritiesNumberOfQuartersDividendsMayBeDeferred	20	integer
CY2010Q4	aes	Current Redemption Value Of Term Convertible Preferred Securities Issued By Special Purpose Business Trust CurrentRedemptionValueOfTermConvertiblePreferredSecuritiesIssuedBySpecialPurposeBusinessTrust	50
CY2010Q4	aes	Term Convertible Preferred Securities Common Stock Conversion Price Per Share TermConvertiblePreferredSecuritiesCommonStockConversionPricePerShare	35.17
CY2010Q4	aes	Term Convertible Preferred Securities Issued By Special Purpose Business Trust TermConvertiblePreferredSecuritiesIssuedBySpecialPurposeBusinessTrust	10350000	integer
CY2010Q4	aes	Term Convertible Preferred Securities Issued By Special Purpose Business Trust Par Per Share TermConvertiblePreferredSecuritiesIssuedBySpecialPurposeBusinessTrustParPerShare	3.375	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Percent LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercent	0.00625	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Non Recourse Debt Held For Sale Or Discontinued Operations NonRecourseDebtHeldForSaleOrDiscontinuedOperations	182000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	56000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	55000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	56000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	54000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	50000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Long Term Purchase Commitment Amount Actual LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmountActual	1500000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	647000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	918000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Operating Lease And Rental Expense OperatingLeaseAndRentalExpense	58000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Operating Lease And Rental Expense OperatingLeaseAndRentalExpense	62000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Operating Lease And Rental Expense OperatingLeaseAndRentalExpense	73000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	17000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	14000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	12000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	11000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	10000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	142000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	206000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Interest Included In Payments CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsInterestIncludedInPayments	127000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Present Value Of Net Minimum Payments CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPayments	79000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leased Assets Gross CapitalLeasedAssetsGross	98000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leased Assets Gross CapitalLeasedAssetsGross	106000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Long Term Purchase Commitment Amount Actual LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmountActual	2100000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Long Term Purchase Commitment Amount Actual LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmountActual	2400000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual At Carrying Value LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue	480000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Defined Contribution Plan Contributions DefinedContributionPlanContributions	22000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Defined Contribution Plan Contributions DefinedContributionPlanContributions	22000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Defined Contribution Plan Contributions DefinedContributionPlanContributions	21000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Effect On Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Due To Change In Measurement Date Net Of Tax EffectOnRetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficitDueToChangeInMeasurementDateNetOfTax	1000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrual For Environmental Loss Contingencies AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies	21000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Term GuaranteeObligationsTerm	The expiration dates of these guarantees vary from less than one year to more than 16 years.
CY2010Q4	aes	Contingent Contractual Obligations Associated With Nonrecourse Debt ContingentContractualObligationsAssociatedWithNonrecourseDebt	101000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Letter Of Credit Fee Range Minimum LetterOfCreditFeeRangeMinimum	0.0319	pure
CY2010	aes	Letter Of Credit Fee Range Maximum LetterOfCreditFeeRangeMaximum	0.0375	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Obligations Maximum Exposure Total ObligationsMaximumExposureTotal	500000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Obligations Number Of Agreements ObligationsNumberOfAgreements	54	integer
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual At Carrying Value LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue	448000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Defined Benefit Plan Number Of Plans Disclosure DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlansDisclosure	28	integer
CY2010	aes	Defined Benefit Plan Effect Of One Percent Increase In Discount Rate On Pension Expense DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentIncreaseInDiscountRateOnPensionExpense	-34000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Defined Benefit Plan Effect Of One Percent Decrease In Discount Rate On Pension Expense DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentDecreaseInDiscountRateOnPensionExpense	43000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Defined Benefit Plan Effect Of One Percent Increase In Rate Of Return On Pension Expense DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentIncreaseInRateOfReturnOnPensionExpense	-42000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Defined Benefit Plan Effect Of One Percent Decrease In Rate Of Return On Pension Expense DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentDecreaseInRateOfReturnOnPensionExpense	42000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-34000000	USD
CY2010Q1	aes	Shares Of Common Stock Sold Under Stock Purchase Agreement SharesOfCommonStockSoldUnderStockPurchaseAgreement	125468788	shares
CY2010Q1	aes	Price Per Share Of Common Stock Sold Under Stock Purchase Agreement PricePerShareOfCommonStockSoldUnderStockPurchaseAgreement	12.60
CY2010Q1	aes	Aggregate Proceeds From Shares Of Common Stock Sold Under Stock Purchase Agreement AggregateProceedsFromSharesOfCommonStockSoldUnderStockPurchaseAgreement	1580000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Investor Ownership Percentage Under Stock Purchase Agreement InvestorOwnershipPercentageUnderStockPurchaseAgreement	0.15	pure
CY2010	aes	Investory Ownership Percentage Board Of Directors InvestoryOwnershipPercentageBoardOfDirectors	0.05	pure
CY2010	aes	Investory Ownership Percentage Voting Rights InvestoryOwnershipPercentageVotingRights	0.05	pure
CY2010	aes	Investor Ownership Percentage At Which Restrictions Terminate InvestorOwnershipPercentageAtWhichRestrictionsTerminate	0.05	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Stock Repurchase Plan Amount Authorized Total StockRepurchasePlanAmountAuthorizedTotal	500000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	8382825	shares
CY2010	aes	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method Excluding Commissions TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethodExcludingCommissions	99000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Commissions TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCommissions	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	11.86
CY2008Q4	aes	Stock Repurchase Plan Amount Authorized Total StockRepurchasePlanAmountAuthorizedTotal	400000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	10691267	shares
CY2008	aes	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method Excluding Commissions TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethodExcludingCommissions	143000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Commissions TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCommissions	300000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Acquired Average Cost Per Share TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare	13.41
CY2010Q4	aes	Stock Repurchase Plan Amount Remaining Total StockRepurchasePlanAmountRemainingTotal	401000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-1052000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	90000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-158000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-68000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-149000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-1269000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	763000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	169000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	594000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax	-53000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	-19000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	29000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	-77000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	-69000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	-41000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax	78000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	4000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	6000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	742000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	-141000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	214000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	73000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-139000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	682000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	2437000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1485000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	952000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-5000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	468000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeNetOfTax	91000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-242000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-151000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-88000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	224000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	1283000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1038000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	245000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-3000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax	11000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification Adjustment On Derivatives Included In Net Income Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax	-30000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-56000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	-45000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	1824000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax	344000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	216000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-1000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-6000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	194000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cumulative Changes In Net Gain Loss From Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax	224000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	2312000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Redemptions MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions	25000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Redemptions MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions	0	USD
CY2010	aes	Net Transfers To From Noncontrolling Interests NetTransfersToFromNoncontrollingInterests	-25000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Net Transfers To From Noncontrolling Interests NetTransfersToFromNoncontrollingInterests	0	USD
CY2010	aes	Change In Net Income Attributable To Parent Due To Transfers To From Noncontrolling Interests ChangeInNetIncomeAttributableToParentDueToTransfersToFromNoncontrollingInterests	-16000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Change In Net Income Attributable To Parent Due To Transfers To From Noncontrolling Interests ChangeInNetIncomeAttributableToParentDueToTransfersToFromNoncontrollingInterests	658000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Revenue SegmentReportingInformationRevenue	16181000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Revenue SegmentReportingInformationRevenue	13440000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Revenue SegmentReportingInformationRevenue	14508000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Intersegment Revenue SegmentReportingInformationIntersegmentRevenue	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Intersegment Revenue SegmentReportingInformationIntersegmentRevenue	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Intersegment Revenue SegmentReportingInformationIntersegmentRevenue	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Revenue From External Customers SegmentReportingInformationRevenueFromExternalCustomers	16181000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Revenue From External Customers SegmentReportingInformationRevenueFromExternalCustomers	13440000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Segment Reporting Information Revenue From External Customers SegmentReportingInformationRevenueFromExternalCustomers	14508000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	1096000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	936000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	899000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	34806000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Capital Expenditures Total CapitalExpendituresTotal	2333000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Capital Expenditures Total CapitalExpendituresTotal	2538000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Capital Expenditures Total CapitalExpendituresTotal	2897000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	901000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Entity Wide Disclosure On Geographic Areas Revenue From External Customers Attributed To Foreign Countries Percent EntityWideDisclosureOnGeographicAreasRevenueFromExternalCustomersAttributedToForeignCountriesPercent	0.86	pure
CY2010	aes	Entity Wide Disclosure On Geographic Areas Revenue From Discontinued Operations Attributed To Foreign Countries Percent EntityWideDisclosureOnGeographicAreasRevenueFromDiscontinuedOperationsAttributedToForeignCountriesPercent	0.56	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.66	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.38	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.37	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	6	years
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	6	years
CY2008	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	6	years
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.0286	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.0201	years
CY2008	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.0304	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Stock Option Grant Price As Percent Of Market Price StockOptionGrantPriceAsPercentOfMarketPrice	1	pure
CY2010Q4	aes	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Authorized Shares Available For Future Issuanance ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAuthorizedSharesAvailableForFutureIssuanance	20	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	5.08
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	4.08
CY2008	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	7.65
CY2008Q4	aes	Other Income Compensation For Impairment OtherIncomeCompensationForImpairment	18000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Other Income Gain On Extinguishment Of Gross Receipts Tax Liability OtherIncomeGainOnExtinguishmentOfGrossReceiptsTaxLiability	117000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Other Income Gain On Legal Contingency OtherIncomeGainOnLegalContingency	75000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Other Income Gain On Extinguishment Of Tax Liabilities Brazil OtherIncomeGainOnExtinguishmentOfTaxLiabilitiesBrazil	165000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	195000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Temporary Equity Annual Dividend Requirement TemporaryEquityAnnualDividendRequirement	3000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Temporary Equity Minimum Redemption Price Per Share TemporaryEquityMinimumRedemptionPricePerShare	100000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Temporary Equity Maximum Redemption Price Per Share TemporaryEquityMaximumRedemptionPricePerShare	118000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Other Income Gain On Extinguishment Of Brazil Swap Liability OtherIncomeGainOnExtinguishmentOfBrazilSwapLiability	62000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Other Income Gain On Extinguishment Of Brazil Swap Liability After Tax And Noncontrolling Interests OtherIncomeGainOnExtinguishmentOfBrazilSwapLiabilityAfterTaxAndNoncontrollingInterests	9000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Other Income Tax Credit Settlement After Noncontrolling Interests OtherIncomeTaxCreditSettlementAfterNoncontrollingInterests	44000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Other Income Cash Proceeds From Favorable Legal Settlement OtherIncomeCashProceedsFromFavorableLegalSettlement	32000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Other Income From Insurance Recoveries OtherIncomeFromInsuranceRecoveries	29000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Other Income Gain On Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment OtherIncomeGainOnSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	23000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Bonds Received To Settle Accounts Receivable Par Value BondsReceivedToSettleAccountsReceivableParValue	110000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Other Expense Loss On Bonds Received To Settle Accounts Receivable OtherExpenseLossOnBondsReceivedToSettleAccountsReceivable	13000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Subsidiary Debt Refinanced Resulting In Other Expense SubsidiaryDebtRefinancedResultingInOtherExpense	375000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Disposition Of Business EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness	0.04	pure
CY2010	aes	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Withholding Tax Reversals EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWithholdingTaxReversals	-0.03	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	0	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.31	pure
CY2010	aes	Cost Method Investments Other Than Temporary Impairment CostMethodInvestmentsOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	1000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Cost Method Investments Other Than Temporary Impairment CostMethodInvestmentsOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	12000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Cost Method Investments Other Than Temporary Impairment CostMethodInvestmentsOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	15000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-8000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-118000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	1000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-19000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	699000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	41000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	3000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-160000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-10000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	552000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	12000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	72000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	-1000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-10000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	611000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	35000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-0.02	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.06	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.03	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-0.01	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.05	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Disposition Of Business EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness	-0.03	pure
CY2009	aes	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Withholding Tax Reversals EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWithholdingTaxReversals	0	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	0	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.01	pure
CY2009	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.25	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.04	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.03	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Disposition Of Business EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness	-0.13	pure
CY2008	aes	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Withholding Tax Reversals EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWithholdingTaxReversals	0	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	0.06	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.01	pure
CY2008	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.28	pure
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	520000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable Noncurrent IncomeTaxesReceivableNoncurrent	21000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	541000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	701000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	8000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes AccruedIncomeTaxes	709000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	434000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable Noncurrent IncomeTaxesReceivableNoncurrent	22000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	456000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	508000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	11000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes AccruedIncomeTaxes	519000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1694000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	310000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	1804000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other Comprehensive Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOtherComprehensiveIncome	94000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other Comprehensive Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOtherComprehensiveIncome	-200000000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate Portion With Attributes Warranting Full Valuation Allowance UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRatePortionWithAttributesWarrantingFullValuationAllowance	131000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities Portion Resulting From Noncash Audit Settlement UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthoritiesPortionResultingFromNoncashAuditSettlement	105000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	14000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	51000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	-46000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	1697000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Capital Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalLossCarryforwards	107000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	561000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefits	283000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	426000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	3142000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	1670000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	1472000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	-332000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1246000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	392000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	1732000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	1655000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Capital Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalLossCarryforwards	93000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	543000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefits	315000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	413000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	3079000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	1334000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	1745000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	13000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Change In Amount ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount	336000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Change In Amount ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount	261000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards Gross DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsGross	60000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards Gross DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsGross	68000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates TaxBenefitsRelatedToTaxStatusOfOperationsInCountriesSubjectToReducedTaxRates	60000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	-517000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	2431000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	-1015000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	3331000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates TaxBenefitsRelatedToTaxStatusOfOperationsInCountriesSubjectToReducedTaxRates	35000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates TaxBenefitsRelatedToTaxStatusOfOperationsInCountriesSubjectToReducedTaxRates	23000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	-460000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	2993000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates Per Share TaxBenefitsRelatedToTaxStatusOfOperationsInCountriesSubjectToReducedTaxRatesPerShare	0.04
CY2010	aes	Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates Per Share TaxBenefitsRelatedToTaxStatusOfOperationsInCountriesSubjectToReducedTaxRatesPerShare	0.07
CY2008	aes	Tax Benefits Related To Tax Status Of Operations In Countries Subject To Reduced Tax Rates Per Share TaxBenefitsRelatedToTaxStatusOfOperationsInCountriesSubjectToReducedTaxRatesPerShare	0.03
CY2008	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	-3000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	555000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Anticipated To Result In Net Decrease Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Within12 Months Of Balance Sheet Date Minimum UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsAnticipatedToResultInNetDecreaseOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsWithin12MonthsOfBalanceSheetDateMinimum	4000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Anticipated To Result In Net Decrease Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Within12 Months Of Balance Sheet Date Maximum UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsAnticipatedToResultInNetDecreaseOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsWithin12MonthsOfBalanceSheetDateMaximum	8000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	412000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	484000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	527000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate Portion With Attributes Warranting Full Valuation Allowance UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRatePortionWithAttributesWarrantingFullValuationAllowance	51000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate Portion With Attributes Warranting Full Valuation Allowance UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRatePortionWithAttributesWarrantingFullValuationAllowance	55000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	15000000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesExpense	-1000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesExpense	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesExpense	-2000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense	-10000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense	4000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense	2000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued	12000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Interest On Income Taxes Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued	21000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAccrued	4000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAccrued	5000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Decreases Net Resulting From Foreign Currency Translation UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesDecreasesNetResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation	-3000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-67000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	-23000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	437000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	72000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	7000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	-9000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Decreases Net Resulting From Foreign Currency Translation UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesDecreasesNetResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation	6000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-104000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	-16000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	511000000	USD
CY2007Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	590000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	6000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	80000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	-26000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Decreases Net Resulting From Foreign Currency Translation UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesDecreasesNetResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation	-74000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-18000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Revenue From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax RevenueFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	958000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Revenue From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax RevenueFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	1251000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Revenue From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax RevenueFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	1662000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	-793000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	99000000	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax	238000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Performance Incentive Bonus Received DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationPerformanceIncentiveBonusReceived	80000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Termination Payment Received DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationTerminationPaymentReceived	102000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Revenue Generated DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationRevenueGenerated	114000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Estimated Total Consideration Received DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationEstimatedTotalConsiderationReceived	1100000	USD
CY2008Q4	aes	Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Net Income Generated DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationNetIncomeGenerated	61000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Letter Of Credit Provided To Secure Termination Payment DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationLetterOfCreditProvidedToSecureTerminationPayment	102000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Gain Loss On Disposal DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal	98500000	USD
CY2009	aes	Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Gain Loss On Disposal From Reversal Of Tax Contingency DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalFromReversalOfTaxContingency	13000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest On Convertible Debt Net Of Tax InterestOnConvertibleDebtNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest On Convertible Debt Net Of Tax InterestOnConvertibleDebtNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2008	us-gaap	Interest On Convertible Debt Net Of Tax InterestOnConvertibleDebtNetOfTax	22000000	USD
CY2010	aes	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Diluted IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsDiluted	495000000	USD
CY2009	aes	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Diluted IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsDiluted	729000000	USD
CY2008	aes	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Diluted IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsDiluted	1110000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	769000000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	667000000	shares
CY2008	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	669000000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	0	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	0	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	2000000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	1000000	shares
CY2008	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	4000000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	3000000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	2000000	shares
CY2008	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	774000000	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	670000000	shares
CY2008	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	689000000	shares
CY2010	aes	Interest On Convertible Debt Net Of Tax Per Share InterestOnConvertibleDebtNetOfTaxPerShare	0
CY2009	aes	Interest On Convertible Debt Net Of Tax Per Share InterestOnConvertibleDebtNetOfTaxPerShare	0
CY2008	aes	Interest On Convertible Debt Net Of Tax Per Share InterestOnConvertibleDebtNetOfTaxPerShare	-0.01
CY2009	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	18035813	shares
CY2008	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	11150853	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	16618137	shares
CY2010	aes	Range Of Remaining Terms Of Power Sales Contracts RangeOfRemainingTermsOfPowerSalesContracts	The remaining term of the power sales contracts related to the Company’s power plants range from less than one to 38 years.
CY2010Q4	aes	Number Of Countries In Which Entity Operates NumberOfCountriesInWhichEntityOperates	28	integer
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Electric Utility Revenue ElectricUtilityRevenue	3920000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Electric Utility Revenue ElectricUtilityRevenue	3923000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Electric Utility Revenue ElectricUtilityRevenue	4020000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	961000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	1002000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	982000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	1043000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Electric Utility Revenue ElectricUtilityRevenue	4318000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	381000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	429000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	300000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	391000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	21000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	97000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	-560000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	402000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	429000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	397000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	-169000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	187000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	114000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-436000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.24	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.19	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.06	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.16	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.03	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.01	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.08	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.71	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.27	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.18	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.14	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.55	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.24	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.19	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.06	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.16	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.03	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.01	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.08	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.71	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.27	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.18	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.14	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.55	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Electric Utility Revenue ElectricUtilityRevenue	3665000000	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Electric Utility Revenue ElectricUtilityRevenue	3529000000	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Electric Utility Revenue ElectricUtilityRevenue	3163000000	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Electric Utility Revenue ElectricUtilityRevenue	3083000000	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	833000000	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	790000000	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	961000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	822000000	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	481000000	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	513000000	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	422000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	412000000	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	21000000	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	17000000	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	18000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	-129000000	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	502000000	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	530000000	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	440000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	283000000	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	218000000	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	303000000	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	185000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-48000000	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.31	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.44	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.27	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.07	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.02	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.01	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.01	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.14	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.33	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.45	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.28	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.07	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.31	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.44	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.27	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.07	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.02	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.01	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.01	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.14	USD
CY2009Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.33	USD
CY2009Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.45	USD
CY2009Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.28	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.07	USD
CY2010Q3	aes	Impairment Expense Pre Tax Total ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal	315000000	USD
CY2010Q4	aes	Impairment Expense Pre Tax Total ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal	96000000	USD
CY2009Q4	aes	Impairment Expense Pre Tax Total ImpairmentExpensePreTaxTotal	140000000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001193125-11-155517-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-11-155517-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-11-155517.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-11-155517-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
aes-20101231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
aes-20101231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
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aes-20101231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
aes-20101231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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$AES
AES CORP Stock $aes

2009 Q4 Form 8-K Financial Statement

#000119312511155517 Filed on June 01, 2011

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$AES AES CORP Stock $aes

2009 Q4 Form 8-K Financial Statement

#000119312511155517 Filed on June 01, 2011

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$AES
AES CORP Stock $aes