EXHIBIT 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We  consent  to  the   incorporation  by  reference  in  The  AES  Corporation's
Registration  Statement  No.  33-44498 on Form S-8,  Registration  Statement No.
33-49262  on Form  S-8,  Registration  Statement  No.  333-26225  on  Form  S-8,
Registration  Statement  No.  33-28883 on Form S-8,  Registration  Statement No.
333-28885 on Form S-8, and  Registration  Statement No. 33-95046 on Form S-3, of
our reports dated January 30, 1997, except for the penultimate paragraph of Note
6, as to which the date is March 13, 1997,  and Note 13, as to which the date is
June  30,  1997,  appearing  in this  Current  Report  on Form  8-K/A of The AES
Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1996.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Washington, DC
August 4, 1997