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

                                  October 21, 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 October 21, 1997,  announcing  the
Company's third quarter  earnings,  (ii) the press release issued on October 21,
1997,  announcing  that  the  Company  commenced  private  offerings  of  senior
subordinated  notes and  convertible  securities,  and  (iii) the press  release
issued on October 24, 1997,  announcing  pricing of privately placed  offerings.
Each press release is  incorporated  herein by reference to Exhibits 20.1,  20.2
and 20.3 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 20.1

          Description

          News Release announcing the Company's third quarter earnings.

          The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

          Exhibit Number 20.2

          Description

          News Release  announcing the Company's plans for private  offerings of
          senior subordinated notes and convertible securities.

          The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

          Exhibit Number 20.3

          Description

          News Release announcing the Company's pricing of private offerings.


<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:    October 24, 1997





<PAGE>




EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.                         DESCRIPTION


     20.1      News Release announcing the Company's third quarter earnings.

     20.2      News Release announcing the Company's plans for private offerings
               of senior subordinated notes and convertible securities.

     20.3      News  Release   announcing  the  Company's   pricing  of  private
               offerings.
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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

                                  October 21, 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 October 21, 1997,  announcing  the
Company's third quarter  earnings,  (ii) the press release issued on October 21,
1997,  announcing  that  the  Company  commenced  private  offerings  of  senior
subordinated  notes and  convertible  securities,  and  (iii) the press  release
issued on October 24, 1997,  announcing  pricing of privately placed  offerings.
Each press release is  incorporated  herein by reference to Exhibits 20.1,  20.2
and 20.3 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 20.1

          Description

          News Release announcing the Company's third quarter earnings.

          The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

          Exhibit Number 20.2

          Description

          News Release  announcing the Company's plans for private  offerings of
          senior subordinated notes and convertible securities.

          The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

          Exhibit Number 20.3

          Description

          News Release announcing the Company's pricing of private offerings.
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:    October 24, 1997
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                         DESCRIPTION

     20.1      News Release announcing the Company's third quarter earnings.

     20.2      News Release announcing the Company's plans for private offerings
               of senior subordinated notes and convertible securities.

     20.3      News  Release   announcing  the  Company's   pricing  of  private
               offerings.