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Debt and Capital Leases - Senior Credit Facility and Tax Exempt Bonds (Details) |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 05, 2018 USD ($) | Mar. 21, 2018 | Jan. 24, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 6,691,000,000 | $ 9,494,000,000 |
Loss on debt extinguishment |  |  |  |  | 44,000,000 | 49,000,000 | $ 142,000,000
Recourse Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | 6,523,000,000 | 7,182,000,000 |
Recourse Debt | Term loan facility, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | $ 260,000,000 |  |  | $ 1,900,000,000 | $ 1,698,000,000 | 1,872,000,000 |
Percent of face value |  |  |  | 99.50% |  |  |
Periodic payment, percentage of principal |  |  |  | 0.0025 |  |  |
Prepaid amount | 155,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on debt extinguishment | 3,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Write off of deferred debt issuance cost | 2,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Term loan facility, due 2023 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent) |  | 1.75% | 2.25% | 2.75% | 1.75% |  |
Decrease in interest rate margin |  | 50.00% | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Term loan facility, due 2023 | LIBOR floor |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent) |  | 0.00% | 0.75% | 0.75% |  |  |
Recourse Debt | Indian River Power, tax exempt bonds, due 2040 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 57,000,000 | 57,000,000 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  |  |  | 6.00% |  |
Recourse Debt | Indian River Power LLC, tax exempt bonds, due 2045 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 190,000,000 | 190,000,000 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  |  |  | 5.375% |  |
Recourse Debt | Dunkirk Power LLC, tax exempt bonds, due 2042 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 59,000,000 | 59,000,000 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  |  |  | 5.875% |  |
Recourse Debt | City of Texas City, tax exempt bonds, due 2045 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 33,000,000 | 32,000,000 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  |  |  | 4.125% |  |
Recourse Debt | Fort Bend County, tax exempt bonds, due 2038 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 54,000,000 | 54,000,000 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  |  |  | 4.75% |  |
Recourse Debt | Fort Bend County, tax exempt bonds, due 2042 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 73,000,000 | 73,000,000 |
Interest rate, stated percentage |  |  |  |  | 4.75% |  |
Recourse Debt | Tax-exempt bonds |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  | $ 466,000,000 | $ 465,000,000 |
Senior Credit Facility | Term loan facility, due 2023 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | $ 105,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | 2016 Tranche A Revolving Credit Facility due 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving credit facility |  |  |  | $ 289,000,000 |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | 2016 Tranche B Revolving Credit Facility due 2021 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent) |  |  |  | 2.25% |  |  |
Revolving credit facility |  |  |  | $ 2,200,000,000.0 |  |  |

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