UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

   Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

                                  July 14, 1997
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                         Commission File Number: 0-19281

                               THE AES CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Delaware
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                   54-1163725
                        (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                               1001 N. 19th Street
                               Arlington, VA 22209
                     (Address of principal executive office)

                         Telephone Number (703) 522-1315
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




<PAGE>



Item 5.   Other Events.

          This report is filed solely to file with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (i) the press release issued on July 14, 1997,  announcing  that the
Company had priced its private  offering of Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007
and  increased  the size of the  offering  to $325  million,  and (ii) the press
release  issued  on July 15,  1997,  announcing  the  Company's  second  quarter
earnings  and also a 2 for 1 stock  split.  Each press  release is  incorporated
herein by  reference  to Exhibits  20.7 and 20.8  listed in Item 7 and  attached
hereto.


Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits

          The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

          Exhibit Number 20.7

          Description

          News Release  announcing the Company's pricing of its private offering
          of Senior  Subordinated Notes due 2007 and the increase in the size of
          the offering to $325 million.

          The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

          Exhibit Number 20.8

          Description

          News Release  announcing the Company's second quarter earnings and the
          announcement of a 2 for 1 stock split.




<PAGE>




                                   SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

The AES Corporation
(Registrant)



BY:       /s/  WILLIAM R. LURASCHI
          ------------------------------
          WILLIAM R. LURASCHI
          GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY

Dated:    July 15, 1997




<PAGE>




EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.                         DESCRIPTION


     20.7      News  Release  Announcing  the  Company's  pricing of its private
               offering of Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007 and the increase
               in the size of the offering to $325 million.

     20.8      News Release Announcing the Company's second quarter earnings and
               the announcement of a 2 for 1 stock split.
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UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

   Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

                                  July 14, 1997
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                         Commission File Number: 0-19281

                               THE AES CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Delaware
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                   54-1163725
                        (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                               1001 N. 19th Street
                               Arlington, VA 22209
                     (Address of principal executive office)

                         Telephone Number (703) 522-1315
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Item 5.   Other Events.

          This report is filed solely to file with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission  (i) the press release issued on July 14, 1997,  announcing  that the
Company had priced its private  offering of Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007
and  increased  the size of the  offering  to $325  million,  and (ii) the press
release  issued  on July 15,  1997,  announcing  the  Company's  second  quarter
earnings  and also a 2 for 1 stock  split.  Each press  release is  incorporated
herein by  reference  to Exhibits  20.7 and 20.8  listed in Item 7 and  attached
hereto.

Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits

          The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

          Exhibit Number 20.7

          Description

          News Release  announcing the Company's pricing of its private offering
          of Senior  Subordinated Notes due 2007 and the increase in the size of
          the offering to $325 million.

          The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

          Exhibit Number 20.8

          Description

          News Release  announcing the Company's second quarter earnings and the
          announcement of a 2 for 1 stock split.
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

The AES Corporation
(Registrant)

BY:       /s/  WILLIAM R. LURASCHI
          ------------------------------
          WILLIAM R. LURASCHI
          GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY

Dated:    July 15, 1997
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                         DESCRIPTION

     20.7      News  Release  Announcing  the  Company's  pricing of its private
               offering of Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007 and the increase
               in the size of the offering to $325 million.

     20.8      News Release Announcing the Company's second quarter earnings and
               the announcement of a 2 for 1 stock split.