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Income Taxes - Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]    
U.S. federal statutory rate (as a percent) 35.00% 35.00%
Deferred tax liabilities:    
Emissions allowances $ 15 $ 31
Derivatives, net 15 0
Cumulative translation adjustments 0 11
Investment in projects 231 378
Discount/premium on notes 2 5
Deferred financing costs 2 2
Discontinued operations 0 6
Total deferred tax liabilities (265) (433)
Deferred tax assets:    
Deferred compensation, accrued vacation and other reserves 141 256
Difference between book and tax basis of property 596 530
Goodwill 38 83
Differences between book and tax basis of contracts 68 60
Pension and other postretirement benefits 74 122
Equity compensation 10 11
Bad debt reserve 14 12
U.S. capital loss carryforwards 1 1
U.S. Federal net operating loss carryforwards 596 728
Foreign net operating loss carryforwards 66 63
State net operating loss carryforwards 140 106
Foreign capital loss carryforwards 1 1
Federal and state tax credit carryforwards 376 446
Federal benefit on state uncertain tax positions 7 12
Intangibles amortization (excluding goodwill) 101 115
Derivatives, net 0 106
Inventory obsolescence 12 5
Other 0 7
Discontinued operations 0 2,093
Total deferred tax assets 2,241 4,757
Valuation allowance (1,863) (2,032)
Discontinued operations 0 (2,087)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance 378 638
NRG's net deferred tax position    
Net deferred tax asset — noncurrent 134 225
Net deferred tax liability — noncurrent (21) (20)
Net deferred tax asset $ 113 $ 205