CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference into 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.  333-28883  on Form  S-8,
Registration  Statement No.  333-28885 on Form S-8,  Registration  Statement No.
333-38535  on Form  S-8,  Registration  Statement  No.  33-95046  on  Form  S-3,
Registration Statement No. 333-39857 on Form S-3, and Registration Statement No.
333-81953 on Form S-3, of our report dated  January 27, 1999,  covering  CILCORP
Inc.'s consolidated  financial  statements for the year ended December 31, 1998,
included  in this  Current  Report  on Form  8-K of The  AES  Corporation  dated
September 30, 1999.

                                                     ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Chicago, Illinois,
September 30, 1999.