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Capital Structure (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Equity [Abstract] |
Changes in NRG's common shares issued and outstanding | The following table reflects the changes in NRG's common shares issued and outstanding for each period presented:
| Common
| Issued |  | Treasury |  | Outstanding
Balance as of December 31, 2014 | 415,506,176 |  |  | (78,843,552 | ) |  | 336,662,624 |
Shares issued under ESPP | — |  |  | 283,139 |  |  | 283,139 |
Shares issued under LTIPs | 1,433,774 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,433,774 |
Share repurchases | — |  |  | (24,189,495 | ) |  | (24,189,495 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2015 | 416,939,950 |  |  | (102,749,908 | ) |  | 314,190,042 |
Shares issued under ESPP | — |  |  | 609,094 |  |  | 609,094 |
Shares issued under LTIPs | 643,875 |  |  | — |  |  | 643,875 |
Balance as of December 31, 2016 | 417,583,825 |  |  | (102,140,814 | ) |  | 315,443,011 |
Shares issued under ESPP | — |  |  | 560,769 |  |  | 560,769 |
Shares issued under LTIPs | 739,309 |  |  | — |  |  | 739,309 |
Balance as of December 31, 2017 | 418,323,134 |  |  | (101,580,045 | ) |  | 316,743,089 |
NRG's common stock reserved for the maximum number of shares potentially issuable based on the conversion and redemption features of outstanding equity instruments and the long-term incentive plans | The following table summarizes NRG's common stock reserved for the maximum number of shares potentially issuable based on the conversion and redemption features of the long-term incentive plans as of December 31, 2017:
Equity Instrument | Common Stock Reserve Balance
Long-term incentive plans | 19,597,433 |
Dividends paid per common share | The following table lists the dividends paid per common share during 2017, 2016 and 2015:
| Fourth Quarter |  | Third Quarter |  | Second Quarter |  | First Quarter
2017 | $ | 0.030 |  |  | $ | 0.030 |  |  | $ | 0.030 |  |  | $ | 0.030 |
2016 | $ | 0.030 |  |  | $ | 0.030 |  |  | $ | 0.030 |  |  | $ | 0.145 |
2015 | $ | 0.145 |  |  | $ | 0.145 |  |  | $ | 0.145 |  |  | $ | 0.145 |
Class of Treasury Stock | Share Repurchases — During 2015 and 2014, the Company's board of directors authorized share repurchases of $481 million of its common stock, which were made as follows:
| Total number of shares purchased |  | Average price paid per share (a) |  | Amounts paid for shares purchased (in millions) (a)
Board Authorized Share Repurchases |  |  |  |  |
Fourth Quarter 2014 | 1,624,360 |  |  | $ | 26.95 |  |  | $ | 44 |
First Quarter 2015 | 3,146,484 |  |  | 25.15 |  |  | 79 |
Second Quarter 2015 | 4,379,907 |  |  | 24.53 |  |  | 107 |
Third Quarter 2015 | 11,104,184 |  |  | 15.06 |  |  | 167 |
Fourth Quarter 2015 | 5,558,920 |  |  | 15.03 |  |  | 84 |
Total Board Authorized Share Repurchases | 25,813,855 |  |  |  |  | $ | 481 |
(a) The average price paid per share and amounts paid for shares purchased exclude the commissions of $0.015 per share paid in connection with the share repurchase.
Temporary Equity | The following table reflects the changes in the Company's redeemable preferred stock balance for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015:
| (In millions)
Balance as of December 31, 2014 | $ | 291 |
Accretion to redemption value | 11 |
Balance as of December 31, 2015 | 302 |
Accretion to redemption value | 2 |
Repurchase of 2.822% redeemable preferred stock | (226 | )
Gain on redemption of 2.822% redeemable preferred stock | (78 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2016 | — |
Balance as of December 31, 2017 | $ | — |

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of treasury stock, including, but not limited to, average cost per share, description of share repurchase program, shares repurchased, shares held for each class of treasury stock. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405834&loc=d3e23315-112656 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405834&loc=d3e23285-112656 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405834&loc=d3e23309-112656 + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of temporary equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65877616&loc=d3e177068-122764 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (27) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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