XML 136 R106.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Debt and Capital Leases - Recourse Debt, Senior Credit Facility, Tax Exempt Bonds (Details) $ in Millions |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 24, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 16,633 | $ 16,704 |
Net (loss)/gain on debt extinguishment |  |  | (53) | (142) | $ 10
Senior Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Securitization threshold |  | 66.00% |  |  |
Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | 7,182 | 7,795 |
Recourse Debt | Term loan facility, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 1,900 | 1,872 | 1,891 |
Percent of face value |  | 99.50% |  |  |
Periodic payment, percentage of principal |  | 0.0025 |  |  |
Net (loss)/gain on debt extinguishment |  | $ (21) |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Indian River Power tax exempt bonds, due 2040 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 57 | 57 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  | 6.00% |  |
Recourse Debt | Indian River Power LLC, tax exempt bonds, due 2045 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 190 | 190 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  | 5.375% |  |
Recourse Debt | Dunkirk Power LLC, tax exempt bonds, due 2042 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 59 | 59 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  | 5.875% |  |
Recourse Debt | City of Texas City, tax exempt bonds, due 2045 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 32 | 22 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  | 4.125% |  |
Recourse Debt | Fort Bend County, tax exempt bonds, due 2038 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 54 | 54 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  | 4.75% |  |
Recourse Debt | Fort Bend County, tax exempt bonds, due 2042 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 73 | 73 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  | 4.75% |  |
Recourse Debt | Tax-exempt bonds |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 465 | $ 455 |
Recourse Debt | LIBOR | Term loan facility, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent) | 2.25% | 2.75% | 2.25% |  |
Recourse Debt | LIBOR floor | Term loan facility, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent) |  | 0.75% |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | 2016 Tranche A Revolving Credit Facility due 2018 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Revolving credit facility |  | $ 289 |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | 2016 Tranche B Revolving Credit Facility due 2021 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent) |  | 2.25% |  |  |
Revolving credit facility |  | $ 2,200 |  |  |

X
- Definition Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Percentage of Principal + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentPercentageofPrincipal
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Debt Instrument, Securitization Threshold + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_DebtInstrumentSecuritizationThreshold
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percent of face value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nrg_Percentoffacevalue
Namespace Prefix: | nrg_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: 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)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
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_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: 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)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_SeniorCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=nrg_RecourseDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_TermLoanFacilityDue2023Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_IndianRiverPowerLlcTaxExemptBondsDue2040Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_IndianRiverPowerLlcTaxExemptBondsDue2045Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_DunkirkPowerLlcTaxExemptBondsDue2042Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_FortBendCountytaxexemptbondsdue2045Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_FortBendCountytaxexemptbondsdue2038Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_FortBendCountytaxexemptbondsdue2042Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_TaxexemptBondsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=nrg_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORfloorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=nrg_A2016TrancheARevolvingCreditFacilitydue2018Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=nrg_A2016TrancheBRevolvingCreditFacilitydue2021MemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |