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Fair Value of Financial Instruments | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Fair Value of Financial Instruments This footnote should be read in conjunction with the complete description under Note 4, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, to the Company's 2017 Form 10-K. For cash and cash equivalents, funds deposited by counterparties, accounts and other receivables, accounts payable, restricted cash, and cash collateral paid and received in support of energy risk management activities, the carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of those instruments and are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. The estimated carrying amounts and fair values of NRG's recorded financial instruments not carried at fair market value are as follows:
| As of June 30, 2018 |  | As of December 31, 2017
| Carrying Amount |  | Fair Value |  | Carrying Amount |  | Fair Value
| (In millions)
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes receivable (a) | $ | 21 |  |  | $ | 18 |  |  | $ | 16 |  |  | $ | 15 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt, including current portion (b) | 15,969 |  |  | 16,163 |  |  | 16,603 |  |  | 16,894 |
(a) Includes the current portion of notes receivable which is recorded in prepayments and other current assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. (b) Excludes deferred financing costs, which are recorded as a reduction to long-term debt on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the Company's publicly-traded long-term debt is based on quoted market prices and is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of debt securities, non-publicly traded long-term debt and certain notes receivable of the Company are based on expected future cash flows discounted at market interest rates, or current interest rates for similar instruments with equivalent credit quality and are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. The following table presents the level within the fair value hierarchy for long-term debt, including current portion as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
| As of June 30, 2018 |  | As of December 31, 2017
| Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
| (In millions)
Long-term debt, including current portion | $ | 9,586 |  |  | $ | 6,577 |  |  | $ | 8,934 |  |  | $ | 7,960 |
Recurring Fair Value Measurements Debt securities, equity securities, and trust fund investments, which are comprised of various U.S. debt and equity securities, and derivative assets and liabilities, are carried at fair market value. The following tables present assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets on a recurring basis and their level within the fair value hierarchy:
| As of June 30, 2018
| Fair Value
(In millions) | Total |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
Investments in securities (classified within other non-current assets) | $ | 22 |  |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 19 |
Nuclear trust fund investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 25 |  |  | 25 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
U.S. government and federal agency obligations | 42 |  |  | 42 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Federal agency mortgage-backed securities | 97 |  |  | — |  |  | 97 |  |  | — |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 16 |  |  | — |  |  | 16 |  |  | — |
Corporate debt securities | 101 |  |  | — |  |  | 101 |  |  | — |
Equity securities | 342 |  |  | 342 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Foreign government fixed income securities | 6 |  |  | — |  |  | 6 |  |  | — |
Other trust fund investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. government and federal agency obligations | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Derivative assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity contracts | 1,169 |  |  | 188 |  |  | 481 |  |  | 500 |
Interest rate contracts | 108 |  |  | — |  |  | 108 |  |  | — |
Measured using net asset value practical expedient: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities — nuclear trust fund investments | 65 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | $ | 1,994 |  |  | $ | 601 |  |  | $ | 809 |  |  | $ | 519 |
Derivative liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity contracts | 971 |  |  | 236 |  |  | 388 |  |  | 347 |
Interest rate contracts | 23 |  |  | — |  |  | 23 |  |  | — |
Total liabilities | $ | 994 |  |  | $ | 236 |  |  | $ | 411 |  |  | $ | 347 |
| As of December 31, 2017
| Fair Value
(In millions) | Total |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3
Investments in securities (classified within other non-current assets) | $ | 22 |  |  | $ | 3 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 19 |
Nuclear trust fund investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 47 |  |  | 45 |  |  | 2 |  |  | — |
U.S. government and federal agency obligations | 43 |  |  | 42 |  |  | 1 |  |  | — |
Federal agency mortgage-backed securities | 82 |  |  | — |  |  | 82 |  |  | — |
Commercial mortgage-backed securities | 14 |  |  | — |  |  | 14 |  |  | — |
Corporate debt securities | 99 |  |  | — |  |  | 99 |  |  | — |
Equity securities | 334 |  |  | 334 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Foreign government fixed income securities | 5 |  |  | — |  |  | 5 |  |  | — |
Other trust fund investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. government and federal agency obligations | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Derivative assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity contracts | 745 |  |  | 191 |  |  | 509 |  |  | 45 |
Interest rate contracts | 53 |  |  | — |  |  | 53 |  |  | — |
Measured using net asset value practical expedient: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity securities — nuclear trust fund investments | 68 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total assets | $ | 1,513 |  |  | $ | 616 |  |  | $ | 765 |  |  | $ | 64 |
Derivative liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity contracts | 693 |  |  | 257 |  |  | 359 |  |  | 77 |
Interest rate contracts | 59 |  |  | — |  |  | 59 |  |  | — |
Total liabilities | $ | 752 |  |  | $ | 257 |  |  | $ | 418 |  |  | $ | 77 |
There were no transfers during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 between Levels 1 and 2. The following tables reconcile, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the beginning and ending balances for financial instruments that are recognized at fair value in the condensed consolidated financial statements, at least annually, using significant unobservable inputs:
| Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
| Three months ended June 30, 2018 |  | Six months ended June 30, 2018
(In millions) | Debt Securities |  | Derivatives(a) |  | Total |  | Debt Securities |  | Derivatives(a) |  | Total
Beginning balance | $ | 19 |  |  | $ | (22 | ) |  | $ | (3 | ) |  | $ | 19 |  |  | $ | (32 | ) |  | $ | (13 | )
Contracts acquired in Xoom acquisition | — |  |  | 12 |  |  | 12 |  |  | — |  |  | 12 |  |  | 12 |
Total losses — realized/unrealized: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Included in earnings | — |  |  | (21 | ) |  | (21 | ) |  | — |  |  | (19 | ) |  | (19 | )
Purchases | — |  |  | (4 | ) |  | (4 | ) |  | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | (3 | )
Transfers into Level 3 (b) | — |  |  | 193 |  |  | 193 |  |  | — |  |  | 197 |  |  | 197 |
Transfers out of Level 3 (b) | — |  |  | (5 | ) |  | (5 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2 | ) |  | (2 | )
Ending balance as of June 30, 2018 | $ | 19 |  |  | $ | 153 |  |  | $ | 172 |  |  | $ | 19 |  |  | $ | 153 |  |  | $ | 172 |
Losses for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held as of June 30, 2018 | — |  |  | 20 |  |  | 20 |  |  | — |  |  | 17 |  |  | 17 |
(a) | Consists of derivative assets and liabilities, net.
(b) | Transfers into/out of Level 3 are related to the availability of external broker quotes and are valued as of the end of the reporting period. All transfers in/out are with Level 2.
| Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
| Three months ended June 30, 2017 |  | Six months ended June 30, 2017
(In millions) | Debt Securities |  | Derivatives(a) |  | Total |  | Debt Securities |  | Derivatives(a) |  | Total
Beginning balance | $ | 18 |  |  | $ | (56 | ) |  | $ | (38 | ) |  | $ | 17 |  |  | $ | (68 | ) |  | $ | (51 | )
Total gains — realized/unrealized: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Included in earnings | — |  |  | 40 |  |  | 40 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 46 |  |  | 47 |
Included in nuclear decommissioning obligation | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Purchases | — |  |  | 5 |  |  | 5 |  |  | — |  |  | 9 |  |  | 9 |
Transfers into Level 3 (b) | — |  |  | 3 |  |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | (5 | ) |  | (5 | )
Transfers out of Level 3 (b) | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | (3 | ) |  | — |  |  | 7 |  |  | 7 |
Ending balance as of June 30, 2017 | $ | 18 |  |  | $ | (11 | ) |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | 18 |  |  | $ | (11 | ) |  | $ | 7 |
Gains for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held as of June 30, 2017 | — |  |  | 22 |  |  | 22 |  |  | — |  |  | 7 |  |  | 7 |
(a) | Consists of derivative assets and liabilities, net.
(b) | Transfers into/out of Level 3 are related to the availability of external broker quotes and are valued as of the end of the reporting period. All transfers in/out are with Level 2.
Derivative Fair Value Measurements A portion of NRG's contracts are exchange-traded contracts with readily available quoted market prices. A majority of NRG's contracts are non-exchange-traded contracts valued using prices provided by external sources, primarily price quotations available through brokers or over-the-counter and on-line exchanges. The remainder of the assets and liabilities represent contracts for which external sources or observable market quotes are not available for the whole term or for certain delivery months or the contracts are retail and load following power contracts. These contracts are valued using various valuation techniques including but not limited to internal models that apply fundamental analysis of the market and corroboration with similar markets. As of June 30, 2018, contracts valued with prices provided by models and other valuation techniques make up 39% of the total derivative assets and 35% of the total derivative liabilities. NRG's significant positions classified as Level 3 include physical and financial power executed in illiquid markets as well as financial transmission rights, or FTRs. The significant unobservable inputs used in developing fair value include illiquid power location pricing which is derived as a basis to liquid locations. The basis spread is based on observable market data when available or derived from historic prices and forward market prices from similar observable markets when not available. For FTRs, NRG uses the most recent auction prices to derive the fair value. The following tables quantify the significant unobservable inputs used in developing the fair value of the Company's Level 3 positions as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
| Significant Unobservable Inputs
| June 30, 2018
| Fair Value |  |  |  | Input/Range
| Assets |  | Liabilities |  | Valuation Technique |  | Significant Unobservable Input |  | Low |  | High |  | Weighted Average
| (In millions) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Power Contracts | $ | 481 |  |  | $ | 330 |  |  | Discounted Cash Flow |  | Forward Market Price (per MWh) |  | $ | 6 |  |  | $ | 198 |  |  | $ | 35 |
FTRs | 19 |  |  | 17 |  |  | Discounted Cash Flow |  | Auction Prices (per MWh) |  | (48 | ) |  | 47 |  |  | — |
| $ | 500 |  |  | $ | 347 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Significant Unobservable Inputs
| December 31, 2017
| Fair Value |  |  |  | Input/Range
| Assets |  | Liabilities |  | Valuation Technique |  | Significant Unobservable Input |  | Low |  | High |  | Weighted Average
| (In millions) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Power Contracts | $ | 34 |  |  | $ | 65 |  |  | Discounted Cash Flow |  | Forward Market Price (per MWh) |  | $ | 10 |  |  | $ | 142 |  |  | $ | 33 |
FTRs | 11 |  |  | 12 |  |  | Discounted Cash Flow |  | Auction Prices (per MWh) |  | (28 | ) |  | 46 |  |  | — |
| $ | 45 |  |  | $ | 77 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
The following table provides sensitivity of fair value measurements to increases/(decreases) in significant unobservable inputs as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
Significant Unobservable Input |  | Position |  | Change In Input |  | Impact on Fair Value Measurement
Forward Market Price Power |  | Buy |  | Increase/(Decrease) |  | Higher/(Lower)
Forward Market Price Power |  | Sell |  | Increase/(Decrease) |  | Lower/(Higher)
FTR Prices |  | Buy |  | Increase/(Decrease) |  | Higher/(Lower)
FTR Prices |  | Sell |  | Increase/(Decrease) |  | Lower/(Higher)
The fair value of each contract is discounted using a risk-free interest rate. In addition, the Company applies a credit reserve to reflect credit risk, which is calculated based on published default probabilities. As of June 30, 2018, the credit reserve resulted in a $4 million decrease in fair value which is composed of a $1 million loss in OCI and a $3 million loss in interest expense. As of December 31, 2017, the credit reserve resulted in no change in fair value in operating revenue and cost of operations. Concentration of Credit Risk In addition to the credit risk discussion as disclosed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the Company's 2017 Form 10-K, the following is a discussion of the concentration of credit risk for the Company's contractual obligations. Credit risk relates to the risk of loss resulting from non-performance or non-payment by counterparties pursuant to the terms of their contractual obligations. NRG is exposed to counterparty credit risk through various activities including wholesale sales, fuel purchases and retail supply arrangements, and retail customer credit risk through its retail load activities. Counterparty Credit Risk The Company's counterparty credit risk policies are disclosed in its 2017 Form 10-K. As of June 30, 2018, the Company's counterparty credit exposure, excluding credit risk exposure under certain long term agreements, was $289 million with net exposure of $112 million. NRG held collateral (cash and letters of credit) against those positions of $246 million. Approximately 77% of the Company's exposure before collateral is expected to roll off by the end of 2019. Counterparty credit exposure is valued through observable market quotes and discounted at a risk free interest rate. The following tables highlight net counterparty credit exposure by industry sector and by counterparty credit quality. Net counterparty credit exposure is defined as the aggregate net asset position for NRG with counterparties where netting is permitted under the enabling agreement and includes all cash flow, mark-to-market and NPNS, and non-derivative transactions. The exposure is shown net of collateral held, and includes amounts net of receivables or payables.
| Net Exposure (a) (b)
Category by Industry Sector | (% of Total)
Utilities, energy merchants, marketers and other | 76 | %
Financial institutions | 24 |
Total as of June 30, 2018 | 100 | %
| Net Exposure (a) (b)
Category by Counterparty Credit Quality | (% of Total)
Investment grade | 76 | %
Non-Investment grade/Non-Rated | 24 |
Total as of June 30, 2018 | 100 | %
(a) | Counterparty credit exposure excludes uranium and coal transportation contracts because of the unavailability of market prices.
(b) | The figures in the tables above exclude potential counterparty credit exposure related to RTOs, ISOs, registered commodity exchanges and certain long term contracts.
NRG has counterparty credit risk exposure to certain counterparties, each of which represent more than 10% of total net exposure discussed above. The aggregate of such counterparties' exposure was $49 million as of June 30, 2018. Changes in hedge positions and market prices will affect credit exposure and counterparty concentration. Given the credit quality, diversification and term of the exposure in the portfolio, NRG does not anticipate a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations from nonperformance by any of NRG's counterparties. RTOs and ISOs The Company participates in the organized markets of CAISO, ERCOT, ISO-NE, MISO, NYISO and PJM, known as RTOs or ISOs. Trading in these markets is approved by FERC, or in the case of ERCOT, approved by the PUCT and includes credit policies that, under certain circumstances, require that losses arising from the default of one member on spot market transactions be shared by the remaining participants. As a result, the counterparty credit risk to these markets is limited to NRG’s share of overall market and are excluded from the above exposures. Exchange Traded Transactions The Company enters into commodity transactions on registered exchanges, notably ICE and NYMEX. These clearinghouses act as the counterparty and transactions are subject to extensive collateral and margining requirements. As a result, these commodity transactions have limited counterparty credit risk. Long Term Contracts Counterparty credit exposure described above excludes credit risk exposure under certain long term agreements, including California tolling agreements, Gulf Coast load obligations, and wind and solar PPAs. As external sources or observable market quotes are not available to estimate such exposure, the Company estimates its credit exposure for these contracts based on various techniques including, but not limited to, internal models based on a fundamental analysis of the market and extrapolation of observable market data with similar characteristics. Based on these valuation techniques, as of June 30, 2018, aggregate credit risk exposure managed by NRG to these counterparties was approximately $4.1 billion, including $2.5 billion related to assets of NRG Yield, Inc., for the next five years. This amount excludes potential credit exposures for projects with long-term PPAs that have not reached commercial operations. The majority of these power contracts are with utilities or public power entities with strong credit quality and public utility commission or other regulatory support. However, such regulated utility counterparties can be impacted by changes in government regulations or treatment by regulatory agencies which NRG is unable to predict. Retail Customer Credit Risk The Company is exposed to retail credit risk through the Company's retail electricity providers, which serve C&I customers and the Mass market. Retail credit risk results in losses when a customer fails to pay for services rendered. The losses may result from both nonpayment of customer accounts receivable and the loss of in-the-money forward value. The Company manages retail credit risk through the use of established credit policies that include monitoring of the portfolio and the use of credit mitigation measures such as deposits or prepayment arrangements. As of June 30, 2018, the Company's retail customer credit exposure to C&I and Mass customers was diversified across many customers and various industries, as well as government entities.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2155941 + Details
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