EXHIBIT 23.1


                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


     We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this  Amendment  No. 1 to
Registration  Statement No.  333-46189 of The AES Corporation on Form S-3 of our
report dated January 30, 1997,  except for the penultimate  paragraph of Note 6,
as to which the date is March 13, 1997, the pre-penultimate paragraph of Note 6,
as to which the date is August 8, 1997, the subsequent  event  paragraph of Note
7, as to which the date is July 15,  1997,  and Note 13, as to which the date is
October 27, 1997,  appearing in the Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
November 6, 1997, and to the reference to us under the heading  "Experts" in the
Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
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Washington, DC
March 25, 1998