XML 96 R66.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Nature of Business - Transformation Plan (Details) $ in Millions |  | 42 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jul. 12, 2017 USD ($) MW | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 MW
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Generation capacity (in MW) | MW |  |  | 30,000
Transformation Plan |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Term of plan | 3 years |  |
Transformation Plan | Scenario, Forecast |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Non-recurring working capital improvements |  | $ 370 |
Costs expected to be spent |  | $ 290 |
Transformation Plan | Operations and Cost Excellence |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Cost savings | $ 1,065 |  |
Transformation Plan | Operations and Cost Excellence | Annual Cost Savings |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Cost savings | 590 |  |
Transformation Plan | Operations and Cost Excellence | Net Margin Enhancement Program |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Cost savings | 215 |  |
Transformation Plan | Operations and Cost Excellence | Annual Reduction in Maintenance Capital Expenditures |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Cost savings | 50 |  |
Transformation Plan | Operations and Cost Excellence | Permanent Selling General and Administrative Reduction Associated with Asset Sales |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Cost savings | $ 210 |  |
Transformation Plan | Portfolio Optimization |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Generation capacity (in MW) | MW | 6 |  |
Transformation Plan | Portfolio Optimization | Maximum |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Effect on cash flows | $ 3,200 |  |
Transformation Plan | Portfolio Optimization | NRG Yield, Inc. |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Ownership interest, percentage | 100.00% |  |
Transformation Plan | Capital Structure and Allocation Enhancements |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |
Effect on cash flows | $ 5,300 |  |
Reduction in consolidated debt, original amount | 19,500 |  |
Reduction in consolidated debt | 18,000 |  |
Consolidated debt original amount reduction | 6,500 |  |
Consolidated debt, net amount reduction | $ 6,000 |  |
Corporate net debt to EBITDA ratio | 3.0 |  |

X
- Definition Corporate Debt to EBITDA Ratio + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_CorporateDebttoEBITDARatio
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Effect on Long-Term Debt, Amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_EffectonLongTermDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Effect on Long-Term Debt, Net Amount Reduction + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_EffectonLongTermDebtNetAmountReduction
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Effect on Long-Term Debt, Original Amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_EffectonLongTermDebtOriginalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Effect on Long-Term Debt, Original Amount ,Reduction + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_EffectonLongTermDebtOriginalAmountReduction
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The generation capacity of the entity's power generation facilities as of the balance sheet date, expressed in megawatts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_PowerGenerationCapacityMegawatts
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | num:powerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Restructuring, Non-recurring working Capital Improvements + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_RestructuringNonRecurringWorkingCapitalImprovements
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Restructuring and Related Activities, Term + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_RestructuringandRelatedActivitiesTerm
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The quantified amount of the future effect on cash flows. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectOnFutureCashFlowsAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount that will be offset against future earnings by anticipated increases or decreases in other expenses or revenues. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectOnFutureEarningsOffsetAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount expected to be recognized in earnings for the specified restructuring cost. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCost1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=nrg_TransformationPlanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=nrg_OperationsandCostExcellenceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectsOnFutureEarningsAndCashFlowsResultingFromExitPlanAxis=nrg_AnnualCostSavingsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectsOnFutureEarningsAndCashFlowsResultingFromExitPlanAxis=nrg_NetMarginEnhancementProgramMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectsOnFutureEarningsAndCashFlowsResultingFromExitPlanAxis=nrg_AnnualReductioninMaintenanceCapitalExpendituresMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectsOnFutureEarningsAndCashFlowsResultingFromExitPlanAxis=nrg_PermanentSellingGeneralandAdministrativeReductionAssociatedwithAssetSalesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=nrg_PortfolioOptimizationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_OwnershipAxis=nrg_NrgYieldIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=nrg_CapitalStructureandAllocationEnhancementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |