EXHIBIT 23.1



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
The AES Corporation on Form S-3 of our report dated February 3, 2000 (February
22, 2000, as to the last paragraph of Note 2), appearing in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K of The AES Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1999, and
to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is
part of this Registration Statement.

                                                     /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

McLean, Virginia
August 28, 2000