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Debt and Capital Leases - Schedule of Long-term Debt and Capital Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  | 3 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 21, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | May 26, 2017 | Feb. 17, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 16,584 | $ 16,633 |  |
Capital leases |  | 4 | 5 |  |
Subtotal long-term debt and capital leases (including current maturities) |  | 16,588 | 16,638 |  |
Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases |  | (956) | (688) |  |
Less debt issuance costs |  | (201) | (204) |  |
Discounts |  | (25) | (30) |  |
Long-term debt and capital leases |  | $ 15,406 | 15,716 |  |
Alta Wind I - V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 5.696% |  |  |
Alta Wind I - V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 7.015% |  |  |
Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 7,177 | 7,182 |  |
Recourse Debt | Senior notes, due 2022 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 992 | 992 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 6.25% |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Senior notes, due 2024 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 733 | 733 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 6.25% |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Senior notes, due 2026 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 1,000 | 1,000 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 7.25% |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Senior notes, due 2027 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 1,250 | 1,250 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 6.625% |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Senior notes, due 2028 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 870 | 870 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 5.75% |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Term loan facility, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 1,867 | 1,872 |  |
Recourse Debt | Term loan facility, due 2023 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate | 1.75% | 1.75% |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Tax-exempt bonds |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 465 | 465 |  |
Recourse Debt | Tax-exempt bonds | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 4.125% |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Tax-exempt bonds | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 6.00% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 9,407 | 9,451 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | NRG Yield, Inc. Convertible Senior Notes, due 2019 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 345 | 345 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 3.50% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | NRG Yield, Inc. Convertible Senior Notes, due 2020 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 288 | 288 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 3.25% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | NRG Yield, Inc. Convertible Senior Notes, due 2019 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 500 | 500 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 5.375% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | NRG Yield, Inc. Convertible Senior Notes, due 2020 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 350 | 350 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 5.00% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | NRG Yield LLC and NRG Yield Operating LLC Revolving Credit Facility, due 2019 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 75 | 55 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | NRG Yield LLC and NRG Yield Operating LLC Revolving Credit Facility, due 2019 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 2.50% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 369 | 400 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 | LIBOR | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 1.75% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 | LIBOR | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 2.375% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Marsh Landing, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 309 | 318 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Marsh Landing, due 2023 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 2.125% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Alta Wind I - V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 926 | 926 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Walnut Creek, term loans due 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 259 | 267 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Walnut Creek, term loans due 2023 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 1.625% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Utah Portfolio, due 2022 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 278 | 278 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Tapestry, due 2021 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 158 | 162 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Tapestry, due 2021 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 1.625% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | CVSR, due 2037 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 731 | 746 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | CVSR, due 2037 | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 2.339% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | CVSR, due 2037 | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 3.775% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | CVSR HoldCo, due 2037 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 188 | 194 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 4.68% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Alpine, due 2022 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 135 | 135 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Alpine, due 2022 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 1.75% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Energy Center Minneapolis, due 2025 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 83 | 83 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 595.00% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Energy Center Minneapolis, due 2025 | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 3.55% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Energy Center Minneapolis, due 2025 | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 5.95% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Energy Center Minneapolis, due 2031 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 125 | 125 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 3.55% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Viento, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 163 | 163 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Viento, due 2023 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.00% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Buckthorn Solar, due 2018 and 2025 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 183 | 169 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Buckthorn Solar, due 2018 and 2025 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 1.75% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | NRG Yield - other |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 573 | 579 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Subtotal NRG Yield debt (non-recourse to NRG) |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 6,038 | 6,083 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Ivanpah, due 2033 and 2038 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 1,068 | 1,073 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Ivanpah, due 2033 and 2038 | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 2.285% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Ivanpah, due 2033 and 2038 | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 4.256% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Carlsbad Energy Project |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 475 | 427 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  |  | 4.12% |
Non Recourse Debt | Carlsbad Energy Project | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 1.625% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Carlsbad Energy Project | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 4.12% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Agua Caliente, due 2037 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 815 | 818 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Agua Caliente, due 2037 | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 2.395% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Agua Caliente, due 2037 | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 3.633% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Agua Caliente Borrower 1, due 2038 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 86 | 89 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 5.43% |  |  | 5.43%
Non Recourse Debt | Cedro Hill, due 2025 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 149 | 151 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Cedro Hill, due 2025 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 1.75% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Midwest Generation, due 2019 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 132 | 152 |  |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  | 4.39% |  |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Other Renewables Debt |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 466 | 478 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | NRG Other |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 178 | 180 |  |
Non Recourse Debt | Subtotal other NRG non-recourse debt |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | $ 3,369 | $ 3,368 |  |

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