EXHIBIT 4.1

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                              THE AES CORPORATION


                                      AND


                         BANK ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


             (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO)


                                   as Trustee

                               ------------------

                          FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE


                          Dated as of February 9, 2001


                                       TO


                                SENIOR INDENTURE


                          Dated as of December 8, 1998

                               ------------------



                          8.875% Senior Notes due 2011


===============================================================================


<PAGE>


     The FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, is dated as of this 9th day of February,
2001 (the "Fifth Supplemental Indenture"), between THE AES CORPORATION, a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware
(hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Company"), and BANK ONE, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION (formerly known as THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO), a national
banking association, as trustee (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the
"Trustee").

     WHEREAS, the Company entered into a Senior Indenture dated as of December
8, 1998 between the Company and the Trustee (the "Indenture") to provide for
the future issuance of its senior debentures, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness (collectively, the "Securities"), said Securities to be issued
from time to time in series as might be determined by the Company pursuant to
the Indenture and, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Company desires to
provide for the establishment of a new series of its Securities to be known as
its 8.875% Senior Notes due 2011 (said series being hereinafter referred to as
the "Series E Senior Notes"), the form and substance of such Series E Senior
Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as
provided in the Indenture and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture; and

     WHEREAS, the Company desires and has requested the Trustee to join with it
in the execution and delivery of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, and all
requirements necessary to make this Fifth Supplemental Indenture a valid
instrument, in accordance with its terms, and to make the Series E Senior
Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee, the valid obligations of the Company;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase and acceptance of the
Series E Senior Notes by the Holders thereof, and for the purpose of setting
forth, as provided in the Indenture, the form and substance of the Series E
Senior Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof, the Company
covenants and agrees with the Trustee as follows:


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                                  ARTICLE ONE

            DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     SECTION 1.1. TERMS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE.

     Each capitalized term used not but defined in this Fifth Supplemental
Indenture shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

     SECTION 1.2. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

     The following definitions are hereby added to the definitions contained in
Section 1.1 of the Indenture, but only with respect to the Series E Senior
Notes issued in accordance with the provisions hereof:

     "Attributable Debt" means the present value (discounted at the rate of
8.875% per annum compounded monthly) of the obligations for rental payments
required to be paid during the remaining term of any lease of more than 12
months.

     "Consolidated Net Assets" means the aggregate amount of assets (less
reserves and other deductible items) after deducting current liabilities, as
shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
contained in the latest annual report to the stockholders of the Company and
prepared in accordance with GAAP.

     "DTC" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1 hereof.

     "Funded Debt" means indebtedness for borrowed money having a maturity of,
or by its terms extendible or renewable for, a period of more than 12 months
after the determination of the amount thereof.

     "Principal Property" means any building, structure or other facility
(together with the land on which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part
thereof) used primarily for manufacturing, processing, research, warehousing or
distribution, owned or leased by the Company and having a net book value in
excess of 2% of Consolidated Net Assets, other than any such building,
structure or other facility or portion thereof which is a pollution control
facility financed by state or local governmental obligations or which the
principal executive officer, president and principal financial officer of the
Company determine in good faith is not of material importance to the total
business conducted or assets owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries as an
entirety.


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                                  ARTICLE TWO

                           THE SERIES E SENIOR NOTES

     SECTION 2.1. FORM.

     The Series E Senior Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto, which is a part of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, with such
appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are
required or permitted by the Indenture and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture,
and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such
legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the
rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be
determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Series E Senior Notes,
as evidenced by their execution of the Series E Senior Notes.

     The Series E Senior Notes will initially be issued as Registered Global
Securities.

     The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and
the Trustee to act as Depositary and custodian, respectively, with respect to
the Series E Senior Notes.

     The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Paying Agent and
Registrar with respect to the Series E Senior Notes.

     SECTION 2.2. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT.

          (a) The Series E Senior Notes shall be entitled the "8.875% Senior
     Notes due 2011" of the Company.

          (b) The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Series E Senior Notes
     for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of
     $600,000,000. The aggregate principal amount of Series E Senior Notes that
     may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture may not exceed the
     amount set forth in the foregoing sentence, except for Series E Senior
     Notes that may be issued under item (d) below or authenticated and
     delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu
     of, other Series E Senior Notes pursuant to Sections 2.7, 2.8, 2.10, 3.3
     or 9.4 of the Indenture.

          (c) The Company may not issue new Series E Senior Notes to replace
     Series E Senior Notes that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for
     cancellation.

          (d) The Company may, subject to Article 4 of this Fifth Supplemental
     Indenture and applicable law, issue additional Series E Senior Notes under
     this Fifth Supplemental Indenture. The Series E Senior Notes issued on the
     Closing Date and any additional Series E Senior Notes subsequently issued
     shall be treated as a single class for all purposes of this Fifth
     Supplemental Indenture.


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     SECTION 2.3. INTEREST.

     Interest on the Series E Senior Notes shall be payable in the amount, on
the dates and in the manner provided for in the form of the Series E Senior
Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

     SECTION 2.4. DENOMINATIONS.

     The Series E Senior Notes shall be Registered Securities in denominations
of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof.

     SECTION 2.5. PLACE OF PAYMENT.

     The place of payment for the Series E Senior Notes shall be the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York. So long as the Series E Senior Notes are in
the form of Registered Global Securities, the Company agrees that payments of
interest on, and any portion of the Principal of, the Series E Senior Notes
shall be made by the Paying Agent, upon receipt from the Company of immediately
available funds, directly to the Depositary (by Federal funds wire transfer).

                                 ARTICLE THREE

                             OPTIONAL REDEMPTION OF
                           THE SERIES E SENIOR NOTES

     SECTION 3.1. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

     The Series E Senior Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company, as
a whole or from time to time in part, at the times and at the Redemption Price
specified in the form of the Series E Senior Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                                 ARTICLE FOUR

                        ADDITIONAL COVENANTS APPLICABLE
                          TO THE SERIES E SENIOR NOTES

     SECTION 4.1. RESTRICTIONS ON SECURED DEBT.

     If the Company shall incur, issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness
for borrowed money represented by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar
evidences of indebtedness, secured by a mortgage, pledge or other lien on any
Principal Property or any capital stock or indebtedness held directly by the
Company of any Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall secure the Series E
Senior Notes equally and ratably with (or prior to) such indebtedness, so long
as such indebtedness shall be so secured, unless after giving effect thereto
the aggregate amount of all such indebtedness so secured, together with all
Attributable Debt in


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respect of sale and leaseback transactions involving Principal Properties,
would not exceed 15% of the Consolidated Net Assets of the Company.

     The foregoing restriction shall not apply to, and there shall be excluded
in computing secured indebtedness for the purpose of such restriction,
indebtedness secured by (a) property of any Subsidiary of the Company, (b)
liens on property of, or on any shares of stock or debt of, any corporation
existing at the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary, (c) liens in favor
of the Company or any Subsidiary, (d) liens in favor of U.S. or foreign
governmental bodies to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments, (e)
liens on property, shares of stock or debt existing at the time of acquisition
thereof (including acquisition through merger or consolidation), purchase money
mortgages and construction cost mortgages existing at or incurred within 180
days of the time of acquisition thereof, (f) liens existing on the first date
on which any Series E Senior Note is authenticated by the Trustee, (g) liens
under one or more credit facilities for indebtedness in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $900,000,000 at any time outstanding, (h) liens incurred
in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue or similar financings,
and (i) any extension, renewal or replacement of any debt secured by any liens
referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (h), inclusive.

     SECTION 4.2. RESTRICTIONS ON SALES AND LEASEBACKS.

     The Company shall not enter into any sale and leaseback transaction
involving any Principal Property, the acquisition or completion of construction
and commencement of full operation of which has occurred more than 180 days
prior thereto, unless (a) the Company could incur a lien on such property under
the restrictions described in Section 4.1 hereof in an amount equal to the
Attributable Debt with respect to the sale and leaseback transaction without
equally and ratably securing the Series E Senior Notes or (b) the Company,
within 180 days after the sale or transfer by the Company, applies to the
retirement of its Funded Debt an amount equal to the greater of (i) the net
proceeds of the sale of the Principal Property sold and leased pursuant to such
arrangement or (ii) the fair market value of the Principal Property so sold and
leased as determined by the board of directors of the Company; provided that
the amount to be applied to the retirement of Funded Debt of the Company shall
be reduced by (A) the principal amount of any Series E Senior Notes delivered
within 180 days after such sale or transfer to the Trustee for retirement and
cancellation, and (B) the principal amount of Funded Debt, other than Series E
Senior Notes, voluntarily retired by the Company within 180 days after such
sale or transfer; provided further that no retirement referred to in this
clause (b) may be effected by payment at maturity or pursuant to any mandatory
sinking fund payment or any mandatory prepayment provision.

                                 ARTICLE FIVE

                    ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT APPLICABLE
                          TO THE SERIES E SENIOR NOTE

     SECTION 5.1. ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

     Pursuant to Section 6.1 (f) of the Indenture, an "Event of Default" shall
be deemed to occur with respect to the Series E Senior Notes if an event of
default, as defined in


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any indenture or instrument evidencing or under which the Company has as of the
date of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture or shall thereafter have outstanding
any indebtedness, shall happen and be continuing and either (a) such default
results from the failure to pay the principal of such indebtedness in excess of
$50 million at final maturity of such indebtedness or (b) as a result of such
default the maturity of such indebtedness shall have been accelerated so that
the same shall be or become due and payable prior to the date on which the same
would otherwise have become due and payable, and such acceleration shall not be
rescinded or annulled within 60 days and the principal amount of such
indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other indebtedness of
the Company in default, or the maturity of which has been accelerated,
aggregates $50 million or more; provided that the Trustee shall not be charged
with knowledge of any such default unless written notice thereof shall have
been given to the Trustee by the Company, by the holder or an agent of the
holder of any such indebtedness, by the trustee then acting under any indenture
or other instrument under which such default shall have occurred, or by the
holders of not less than 25% in the aggregate principal amount of the Series E
Senior Notes at the time outstanding; and provided further that if such default
shall be remedied or cured by the Company or waived by the holder of such
indebtedness, then the Event of Default described under this Fifth Supplemental
Indenture shall be deemed likewise to have been remedied, cured or waived
without further action on the part of the Trustee, any Holder of Series E
Senior Notes or any other person.

                                  ARTICLE SIX

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SECTION 6.1. RATIFICATION.

     The Indenture, as supplemented by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, is in
all respects ratified and confirmed. This Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be
deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent provided herein
and therein.

     SECTION 6.2. COUNTERPARTS.

     This Fifth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.


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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fifth Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed and attested, on the date or dates indicated in
the acknowledgments and as of the day and year first above written.

                                        THE AES CORPORATION, as
                                        the Company


                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:
Attest:

By:
   -------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:

                                        BANK ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (formerly
                                        known as THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
                                        CHICAGO), as Trustee


                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:
Attest:

By:
   -------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:


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<PAGE>


                                                                      EXHIBIT A

                      FORM OF FACE OF SERIES E SENIOR NOTE

     This Series E Senior Note is a Registered Global Security within the
meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name
of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Series E Senior Note is
exchangeable for Series E Senior Notes registered in the name of a person other
than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described
in the Indenture. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for
Securities in definitive registered form, this Security may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of the Depositary or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the
Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary
or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

     Unless this Series E Senior Note is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New
York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or
payment, and any Series E Senior Note issued is registered in the name of Cede
& Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY
TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS
WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.


                                      A-1
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No.                                                         CUSIP NO.: 00130HAU9


                                  $400,000,000

                          8.875% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2011


                      THE AES CORPORATION promises to pay
            to Cede & Co. or registered assigns the principal sum of
                 FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($400,000,000) on
                               February 15, 2011.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing
August 15, 2001

Record Dates: The fifteenth calendar day prior to each Interest Payment Date.


                                          By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                     Authorized Signature


                                          By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                     Authorized Signature

Dated: February 9, 2001

Certificate of Authentication

     This is one of the 8.875% Senior Notes due 2011 referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

                                          Bank One, National Association
                                          (formerly known as The First
                                          National Bank of Chicago), as Trustee


                                          By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                     Authorized Signature


                                      A-2
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                   [FORM OF REVERSE OF SERIES E SENIOR NOTE]

                              THE AES CORPORATION


                          8.875% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2011

     1. Interest. THE AES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company,"
which definition shall include any successor thereto in accordance with the
Indenture (as defined below), promises to pay, until the principal hereof is
paid or made available for payment, interest on the principal amount set forth
on the reverse side hereof at a rate of 8.875% per annum. Interest on the
Series E Senior Notes will accrue from and including the most recent date to
which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from February 9,
2001 through but excluding the date on which interest is paid. Interest shall
be payable in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each an
"Interest Payment Date"), commencing August 15, 2001. Interest will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

     2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Series E Senior
Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of
Series E Senior Notes at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day
prior to each Interest Payment Date (each, a "Regular Record Date"). Holders
must surrender Series E Senior Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal
payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United
States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts. At the Company's option, interest may be paid by check mailed to
the registered address of the Holder of this Series E Senior Note.

     3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Bank One, National Association
(formerly known as The First -------------------------- National Bank of
Chicago) (the "Trustee") will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company
may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice.

     4. Indenture. The Company issued the Series E Senior Notes under an
Indenture dated as of December 8, 1998 between the Company and the Trustee as
supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 9, 2001
between the Company and the Trustee (said Indenture, as so supplemented, the
"Indenture"). This Series E Senior Note is one of an issue of Securities of the
Company issued under the Indenture. The terms of the Series E Senior Notes
include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb)
as amended from time to time. The Series E Senior Notes are subject to all such
terms, and Holders of the Series E Senior Notes are referred to the Indenture
and such Act for a statement of them. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Indenture. The Series E
Senior Notes are general unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the
Company ranking pari passu with all of the Company's unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations, limited in aggregate principal amount to
$600,000,000. The Indenture limits the ability of the Company to incur certain
secured indebtedness and to enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions.


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     5. Optional Redemption. The Series E Senior Notes are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice mailed to each
holder of Series E Senior Notes to be redeemed at its address appearing in the
Security Register, at any time prior to maturity as a whole or in part, at the
election of the Company at a price (the "Redemption Price") equal to the sum of
(i) 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the
redemption date plus (ii) the Make-Whole Amount, if any.

"Make-Whole Amount" means the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate present
value as of the date of such redemption of each dollar of principal being
redeemed and the amount of interest (exclusive of interest accrued to the
redemption date) that would have been payable in respect of such dollar if such
prepayment had not been made, determined by discounting, on a semiannual basis,
such principal and interest at the Reinvestment Rate (determined on the
Business Day preceding the date of such redemption) from the respective dates
on which such principal and interest would have been payable if such payment
had not been made, over (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Series E
Senior Notes being redeemed.

"Reinvestment Rate" means 0.50% (one-half of one percent) plus the arithmetic
mean of the yields under the respective headings "This Week" and "Last Week"
published in the Statistical Release under the caption "Treasury Constant
Maturities" for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to
the maturity of the principal being prepaid. If no maturity exactly corresponds
to such maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely
corresponding to such maturity shall be calculated pursuant to the immediately
preceding sentence and the Reinvestment Rate shall be interpolated or
extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding in each of
such relevant periods to the nearest month. For the purpose of calculating the
Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the
date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount shall be used.

"Statistical Release" means the statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or
any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve
System and which establishes yields on actively traded U.S. government
securities adjusted to constant maturities or, if such statistical release is
not published at the time of any determination under the Indenture, then such
other reasonably comparable index which shall be designated by the Company.

     6. Mandatory Redemption. No sinking fund is provided for the Series E
Senior Notes.

     7. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Series E Senior Notes are in
registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Series E Senior Notes in
accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other
things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay
to it any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The
Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Series E Senior Notes or portion of
a Series E Series Note selected for redemption, or transfer or exchange any
Series E Series Notes for a period of 15 days before selection of such Series E
Series Notes to be redeemed.

     8. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered holder of a Series E Senior Note
may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.


                                      A-4
<PAGE>


     9. Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest
remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent will pay the money
back to the Company at its written request. After that, Holders entitled to the
money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an
"abandoned property" law designates another Person.

     10. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver. The Company and the Trustee may,
without the consent of the holders of any outstanding Series E Senior Notes,
amend, waive or supplement the Indenture or the Series E Senior Notes for
certain specified purposes, including, among other things, curing ambiguities,
defects or inconsistencies, maintaining the qualification of the Indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or making any other change that does not
adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect. Other
amendments and modifications of the Indenture or the Series E Senior Notes may
be made by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not
less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Securities of all series affected, subject to certain exceptions requiring the
consent of the Holders of the particular Series E Senior Notes.

     11. Successor Corporation. When a successor corporation assumes all the
obligations of its predecessor under the Series E Senior Notes and the
Indenture and the transaction complies with the terms of Article 5 of the
Indenture, the predecessor corporation, subject to certain exceptions, will be
released from those obligations.

     12. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default are set forth in the
Indenture. Subject to certain limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of
Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) of
the Indenture with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, then the
holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Series E Senior Notes may, or the Trustee may, declare the principal of, plus
accrued interest, if any, to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) of the Indenture with respect to the
Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued interest on all
of the Series E Senior Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and
payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any
Holder. Holders of the Series E Senior Notes may not enforce the Indenture or
the Series E Senior Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may
require indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it before it enforces the
Indenture or the Series E Senior Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Series E Senior Notes
may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may
withhold from Holders of the Series E Senior Notes notice of any continuing
default (except a default in payment of principal or interest or a failure to
comply with Article 5 of the Indenture) if it determines in good faith that
withholding notice is in their interests. The Company must furnish an annual
compliance certificate to the Trustee.

     13. Trustee Dealing with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any
other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services
for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or
its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

     14. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee, stockholder
or beneficiary, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Series E Senior Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect


                                      A-5
<PAGE>


of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the
Series E Senior Notes by accepting a Series E Senior Note waives and releases
all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for
the issue of the Series E Senior Notes.

     15. Defeasance. The Indenture contains provisions (which provisions apply
to this Series E Senior Note) for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire
indebtedness of the Company in respect of this Series E Senior Note and (b)
certain restrictive covenants and Defaults and Events of Default, in each case
upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.

     16. Authentication. This Series E Senior Note shall not be valid until the
Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this
Series E Senior Note.

     17. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Holder of Series E Senior Notes or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in
common), TENANT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with
right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and
U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

     18. GOVERNING LAW. THE INDENTURE AND THIS SERIES E SENIOR NOTE SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

     The Company will furnish to any Holder of Series E Senior Notes upon
written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be
made to:

                 THE AES CORPORATION
                 1001 North 19th Street, Suite 2000
                 Arlington, Virginia  22209
                 Telephone:  (703) 522-1315
                 Telecopy:  (703) 528-4510

                 Attention:  General Counsel


                                      A-6
<PAGE>


                                ASSIGNMENT FORM

If you the holder want to assign this Series E Senior Note, fill in the form
below and have your signature guaranteed:

     I or we assign and transfer this Series E Senior Note to__________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax ID number)___________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) and irrevocably
appoint________________________________________________________________________
agent to transfer this Series E Senior Note on the books of the Company. The
agent may substitute another to act for him.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Date:______________________    Your signature:_________________________________
                                              (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                              on the other side of this Series E
                                              Senior Note)

Signature Guarantee:___________________________________________________________

     Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include
membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program
("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by
the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance
with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


<PAGE>


                      FORM OF FACE OF SERIES E SENIOR NOTE

     This Series E Senior Note is a Registered Global Security within the
meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name
of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Series E Senior Note is
exchangeable for Series E Senior Notes registered in the name of a person other
than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described
in the Indenture. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for
Securities in definitive registered form, this Security may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of the Depositary or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the
Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary
or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

     Unless this Series E Senior Note is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New
York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or
payment, and any Series E Senior Note issued is registered in the name of Cede
& Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY
TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS
WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.


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<PAGE>


No.                                                        CUSIP NO.: 00130HAU9


                                  $200,000,000

                          8.875% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2011


                      THE AES CORPORATION promises to pay
            to Cede & Co. or registered assigns the principal sum of
                 TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($200,000,000) on
                               February 15, 2011.

Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing
August 15, 2001

Record Dates: The fifteenth calendar day prior to each Interest Payment Date.


                                           By:
                                              ---------------------------------
                                                    Authorized Signature


                                           By:
                                              ---------------------------------
                                                    Authorized Signature

Dated: February 9, 2001

Certificate of Authentication

     This is one of the 8.875% Senior Notes due 2011 referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

                                           Bank One, National Association
                                           (formerly known as The First
                                           National Bank of Chicago), as Trustee


                                           By:
                                              ---------------------------------
                                                    Authorized Signature


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<PAGE>


                   [FORM OF REVERSE OF SERIES E SENIOR NOTE]

                              THE AES CORPORATION


                          8.875% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2011

     19. Interest. THE AES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company,"
which definition shall include any successor thereto in accordance with the
Indenture (as defined below), promises to pay, until the principal hereof is
paid or made available for payment, interest on the principal amount set forth
on the reverse side hereof at a rate of 8.875% per annum. Interest on the
Series E Senior Notes will accrue from and including the most recent date to
which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from February 9,
2001 through but excluding the date on which interest is paid. Interest shall
be payable in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each an
"Interest Payment Date"), commencing August 15, 2001. Interest will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

     20. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Series E
Senior Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered
Holders of Series E Senior Notes at the close of business on the fifteenth
calendar day prior to each Interest Payment Date (each, a "Regular Record
Date"). Holders must surrender Series E Senior Notes to a Paying Agent to
collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in
money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for
payment of public and private debts. At the Company's option, interest may be
paid by check mailed to the registered address of the Holder of this Series E
Senior Note.

     21. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Bank One, National Association
(formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago) (the "Trustee") will act
as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent,
Registrar or co-Registrar without notice.

     22. Indenture. The Company issued the Series E Senior Notes under an
Indenture dated as of December 8, 1998 between the Company and the Trustee as
supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 9, 2001
between the Company and the Trustee (said Indenture, as so supplemented, the
"Indenture"). This Series E Senior Note is one of an issue of Securities of the
Company issued under the Indenture. The terms of the Series E Senior Notes
include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb)
as amended from time to time. The Series E Senior Notes are subject to all such
terms, and Holders of the Series E Senior Notes are referred to the Indenture
and such Act for a statement of them. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Indenture. The Series E
Senior Notes are general unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the
Company ranking pari passu with all of the Company's unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations, limited in aggregate principal amount to
$600,000,000. The Indenture limits the ability of the Company to incur certain
secured indebtedness and to enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions.


                                      A-3
<PAGE>


     23. Optional Redemption. The Series E Senior Notes are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice mailed to each
holder of Series E Senior Notes to be redeemed at its address appearing in the
Security Register, at any time prior to maturity as a whole or in part, at the
election of the Company at a price (the "Redemption Price") equal to the sum of
(i) 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the
redemption date plus (ii) the Make-Whole Amount, if any.

"Make-Whole Amount" means the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate present
value as of the date of such redemption of each dollar of principal being
redeemed and the amount of interest (exclusive of interest accrued to the
redemption date) that would have been payable in respect of such dollar if such
prepayment had not been made, determined by discounting, on a semiannual basis,
such principal and interest at the Reinvestment Rate (determined on the
Business Day preceding the date of such redemption) from the respective dates
on which such principal and interest would have been payable if such payment
had not been made, over (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Series E
Senior Notes being redeemed.

"Reinvestment Rate" means 0.50% (one-half of one percent) plus the arithmetic
mean of the yields under the respective headings "This Week" and "Last Week"
published in the Statistical Release under the caption "Treasury Constant
Maturities" for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to
the maturity of the principal being prepaid. If no maturity exactly corresponds
to such maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely
corresponding to such maturity shall be calculated pursuant to the immediately
preceding sentence and the Reinvestment Rate shall be interpolated or
extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding in each of
such relevant periods to the nearest month. For the purpose of calculating the
Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the
date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount shall be used.

"Statistical Release" means the statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or
any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve
System and which establishes yields on actively traded U.S. government
securities adjusted to constant maturities or, if such statistical release is
not published at the time of any determination under the Indenture, then such
other reasonably comparable index which shall be designated by the Company.

     24. Mandatory Redemption. No sinking fund is provided for the Series E
Senior Notes.

     25. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Series E Senior Notes are in
registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Series E Senior Notes in
accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other
things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay
to it any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The
Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Series E Senior Notes or portion of
a Series E Series Note selected for redemption, or transfer or exchange any
Series E Series Notes for a period of 15 days before selection of such Series E
Series Notes to be redeemed.

     26. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered holder of a Series E Senior Note
may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.


                                      A-4
<PAGE>


     27. Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest
remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent will pay the money
back to the Company at its written request. After that, Holders entitled to the
money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an
"abandoned property" law designates another Person.

     28. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver. The Company and the Trustee may,
without the consent of the holders of any outstanding Series E Senior Notes,
amend, waive or supplement the Indenture or the Series E Senior Notes for
certain specified purposes, including, among other things, curing ambiguities,
defects or inconsistencies, maintaining the qualification of the Indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or making any other change that does not
adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect. Other
amendments and modifications of the Indenture or the Series E Senior Notes may
be made by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not
less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Securities of all series affected, subject to certain exceptions requiring the
consent of the Holders of the particular Series E Senior Notes.

     29. Successor Corporation. When a successor corporation assumes all the
obligations of its predecessor under the Series E Senior Notes and the
Indenture and the transaction complies with the terms of Article 5 of the
Indenture, the predecessor corporation, subject to certain exceptions, will be
released from those obligations.

     30. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default are set forth in the
Indenture. Subject to certain limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of
Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) of
the Indenture with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, then the
holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Series E Senior Notes may, or the Trustee may, declare the principal of, plus
accrued interest, if any, to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) of the Indenture with respect to the
Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued interest on all
of the Series E Senior Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and
payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any
Holder. Holders of the Series E Senior Notes may not enforce the Indenture or
the Series E Senior Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may
require indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it before it enforces the
Indenture or the Series E Senior Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Series E Senior Notes
may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may
withhold from Holders of the Series E Senior Notes notice of any continuing
default (except a default in payment of principal or interest or a failure to
comply with Article 5 of the Indenture) if it determines in good faith that
withholding notice is in their interests. The Company must furnish an annual
compliance certificate to the Trustee.

     31. Trustee Dealing with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any
other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services
for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or
its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

     32. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee, stockholder
or beneficiary, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Series E Senior Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect


                                      A-5
<PAGE>


of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the
Series E Senior Notes by accepting a Series E Senior Note waives and releases
all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for
the issue of the Series E Senior Notes.

     33. Defeasance. The Indenture contains provisions (which provisions apply
to this Series E Senior Note) for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire
indebtedness of the Company in respect of this Series E Senior Note and (b)
certain restrictive covenants and Defaults and Events of Default, in each case
upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.

     34. Authentication. This Series E Senior Note shall not be valid until the
Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this
Series E Senior Note.

     35. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Holder of Series E Senior Notes or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in
common), TENANT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with
right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and
U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

     36. GOVERNING LAW. THE INDENTURE AND THIS SERIES E SENIOR NOTE SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

     The Company will furnish to any Holder of Series E Senior Notes upon
written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be
made to:

                 THE AES CORPORATION
                 1001 North 19th Street, Suite 2000
                 Arlington, Virginia  22209
                 Telephone:  (703) 522-1315
                 Telecopy:  (703) 528-4510

                 Attention:  General Counsel


                                      A-6
<PAGE>


                                ASSIGNMENT FORM

If you the holder want to assign this Series E Senior Note, fill in the form
below and have your signature guaranteed:

     I or we assign and transfer this Series E Senior Note to__________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax ID number)___________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) and irrevocably
appoint________________________________________________________________________
agent to transfer this Series E Senior Note on the books of the Company. The
agent may substitute another to act for him.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Date:_____________________     Your signature:_________________________________
                                              (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                              on the other side of this Series E
                                              Senior Note)

Signature Guarantee:___________________________________________________________

     Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include
membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program
("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by
the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance
with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


                                      A-1