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Debt and Capital Leases - Recourse Debt Redemption Period (Details) - Recourse Debt | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument |  |
Call feature | Generally, if an event of default occurs, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding series of Senior Notes may declare all of the Senior Notes of such series to be due and payable immediately. |
Senior Notes |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Average Early Redemption Percentage | 25.00% |
Senior Notes, due 2022 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Average Early Redemption Percentage | 35.00% | 94.73%
Senior Notes, due 2022 | Treasury Rate |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage) | 0.50% |
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent) | 1.00% |
Senior Notes 2024 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Average Early Redemption Percentage | 35.00% | 94.52%
Senior Notes 2024 | Treasury Rate |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage) | 0.50% |
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent) | 1.00% |
Senior Notes due 2026 | Treasury Rate |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage) | 0.50% |
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent) | 1.00% |
Senior Notes due 2028 | Treasury Rate |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage) | 0.50% |
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent) | 1.00% |
Redemption Period Prior to January 15, 2021 | Senior Notes due 2026 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 35.00% |
Redemption Period Prior to January 15, 2023 | Senior Notes due 2026 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 105.75% |
Redemption Period Prior to January 15, 2023 | Senior Notes due 2028 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |
Present value of note(as percentage) | 1.02875 |
Redemption Period Prior To 15 July 2017 | Senior Notes, due 2022 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption description | At any time prior to July 15, 2017, NRG may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 106.25% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. |
Redemption percentage | 106.25% |
Redemption Period Prior To 15 July 2018 | Senior Notes, due 2022 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption description | At any time prior to July 15, 2018, NRG may redeem all or a part of the 2022 Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount, accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, plus a premium. The premium is the greater of: (i) 1% of the principal amount of the notes; or (ii) the excess of the principal amount of the note over the following: the present value of 103.125% of the note, plus interest payments due on the note from the date of redemption through July 15, 2018, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 0.50%. |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |
Present value of note(as percentage) | 1.03125 |
July 15, 2018 to July 14, 2019 | Senior Notes, due 2022 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 103.125% |
July 15, 2019 to July 14, 2020 | Senior Notes, due 2022 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 101.563% |
July 15, 2020 and thereafter | Senior Notes, due 2022 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |
Redemption Period Prior To 1 May 2017 | Senior Notes 2024 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption description | At any time prior to May 1, 2017, NRG may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 106.25% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. |
Redemption percentage | 106.25% |
Redemption Period Prior To 1 May 2019 | Senior Notes 2024 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption description | At any time prior to May 1, 2019, NRG may redeem all or a part of the 2024 Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount, accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, plus a premium. The premium is the greater of: (i) 1% of the principal amount of the notes; or (ii) the excess of the principal amount of the note over the following: the present value of 103.125% of the note, plus interest payments due on the note from the date of redemption through May 1, 2019 computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 0.50%. |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |
Present value of note(as percentage) | 1.03125 |
May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020 | Senior Notes 2024 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 103.125% |
May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021 | Senior Notes 2024 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 102.083% |
May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022 | Senior Notes 2024 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 101.042% |
May 1, 2022 and thereafter | Senior Notes 2024 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |
Redemption Period Prior to 15 May 2019 | Senior Notes due 2026 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption description | At any time prior to May 15, 2019, NRG may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 107.25% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings |
Average Early Redemption Percentage | 35.00% |
Redemption percentage | 107.25% |
Redemption Period Prior To 15 May 2021 | Senior Notes due 2026 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption description | At any time prior to May 15, 2021, NRG may redeem all or a part of the 2026 Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount, accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, plus a premium. The premium is the greater of: (i) 1% of the principal amount of the notes; or (ii) the excess of the principal amount of the note over the following: the present value of 103.625% of the note, plus interest payments due on the note from the date of redemption through May 15, 2021 computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 0.50%. |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |
Present value of note(as percentage) | 1.03625 |
May 15, 2021 to May 14, 2022 | Senior Notes due 2026 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 103.625% |
May 15, 2022 to May 14, 2023 | Senior Notes due 2026 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 102.417% |
May 15, 2023 to May 14, 2024 | Senior Notes due 2026 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 101.208% |
May 15, 2024 and thereafter | Senior Notes due 2026 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |
Redemption Period Prior To 15 July 2019 | Senior Notes due 2027 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption description | At any time prior to July 15, 2019, NRG may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 106.625% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, with an amount equal to the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. |
Redemption Period Prior To 15 July 2021 | Senior Notes due 2027 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption description | At any time prior to July 15, 2021 NRG may redeem all or a part of the 2027 Senior Notes, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount, accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, plus a premium. The premium is the greater of: (i) 1% of the principal amount of the notes; or (ii) the excess of the principal amount of the note over the following: the present value of 103.313% of the note, plus interest payments due on the note from the date of redemption through July 15, 2021 computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 0.50%. |
July 15, 2021 to July14, 2022 | Senior Notes due 2027 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 103.313% |
July 15, 2022 to July 14, 2023 | Senior Notes due 2027 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 102.208% |
July 15, 2023 to July 14, 2024 | Senior Notes due 2027 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 101.104% |
July 15, 2024 and thereafter | Senior Notes due 2027 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |
January 15, 2023 to January 14, 2024 | Senior Notes due 2028 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 102.875% |
January 15, 2024 to January 14, 2025 | Senior Notes due 2028 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 101.917% |
January 15, 2025 to January 14, 2026 | Senior Notes due 2028 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 100.958% |
January 15, 2026 and thereafter | Senior Notes due 2028 |  |
Debt Instrument |  |
Redemption percentage | 100.00% |

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- Definition Description of a feature that permits the issuer of the debt to repay or convert it before the stated maturity date (early retirement date). The description may include such items as the call price, the period that the issuer can call the debt, including the earliest call date, and other significant terms of the call feature, which may include the debt holders' ability to convert the debt to equity if the call option is exercised and contingent events that trigger the issuer's ability to call the debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 470 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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