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Debt and Capital Leases - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 21, 2018 | May 26, 2017 | Feb. 17, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Apr. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  | $ 16,584,000,000 |  | $ 16,633,000,000
Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  | 7,177,000,000 |  | 7,182,000,000
Non Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  | 9,407,000,000 |  | 9,451,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Carlsbad Financing Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term construction loan |  | $ 194,000,000 |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Letter of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity |  | 83,000,000 |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Working Capital Facility |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity |  | $ 4,000,000 |  |  |  |
Term loan facility, due 2023 | Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  | $ 1,867,000,000 |  | 1,872,000,000
Term loan facility, due 2023 | Recourse Debt | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in interest rate | 0.50% |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 1.75% |  |  | 1.75% |  |
Term loan facility, due 2023 | Recourse Debt | LIBOR floor |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 0.00% |  |  |  |  |
NRG Yield Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Borrowing outstanding under revolver |  |  |  | $ 75,000,000 |  |
NRG Yield Revolving Credit Facility | Letter of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Letters of credit outstanding under revolver |  |  |  | $ 67,000,000 |  |
NRG Yield Revolving Credit Facility | Non Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount |  |  |  | 2.50% |  |
Agua Caliente Borrower 1, due 2038 | Non Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership |  |  | 51.00% |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of senior secured debt |  |  | $ 130,000,000 |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  | 5.43% | 5.43% |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  | $ 86,000,000 |  | 89,000,000
Carlsbad Energy Project | Non Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 4.12% |  |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of debt |  | $ 407,000,000 |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  | 475,000,000 |  | $ 427,000,000
Carlsbad Energy Project | Notes Payable |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  | $ 475,000,000 |  |
Subsequent Event | NRG Yield Revolving Credit Facility | Non Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount |  |  |  |  | 1.75% |

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- 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
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