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Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] |
Net Notional Volume Buy/(sell) of NRG's Open Derivative Transactions Broken Out By Commodity | The following table summarizes the net notional volume buy/(sell) of NRG's open derivative transactions broken out by commodity, excluding those derivatives that qualified for the NPNS exception as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. Option contracts are reflected using delta volume. Delta volume equals the notional volume of an option adjusted for the probability that the option will be in-the-money at its expiration date.
(In millions) |  | Total Volume |  |
Commodity | Units | December 31, 2019 |  | December 31, 2018
Emissions | Short Ton | 3 |  |  | (2) |
Renewables Energy Certificates | Certificates | 1 |  |  | 1 |
Coal | Short Ton | 10 |  |  | 13 |
Natural Gas | MMBtu | (181) |  |  | (330) |
Oil | Barrels | — |  |  | 1 |
Power | MWh | 38 |  |  | 1 |
Capacity | MW/Day | (1) |  |  | (1) |
Interest | Dollars | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,000 |
Fair Value Within the Derivative Instrument Valuation On the Balance Sheet | The following table summarizes the fair value within the derivative instrument valuation on the balance sheet:
| Fair Value |  |  |  |  |  |
| Derivative Assets |  |  |  | Derivative Liabilities |  |
(In millions) | December 31, 2019 |  | December 31, 2018 |  | December 31, 2019 |  | December 31, 2018
Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow or Fair Value Hedges: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate contracts current | $ | — |  |  | $ | 17 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Interest rate contracts long-term | — |  |  | 22 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Commodity contracts current | 860 |  |  | 747 |  |  | 781 |  |  | 673 |
Commodity contracts long-term | 310 |  |  | 295 |  |  | 322 |  |  | 304 |
Total Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow or Fair Value Hedges | $ | 1,170 |  |  | $ | 1,081 |  |  | $ | 1,103 |  |  | $ | 977 |
Offsetting of Derivatives by Counterparty Master Agreement Level and Collateral Received Or Paid | The following table summarizes the offsetting derivatives by counterparty master agreement level and collateral received or paid:
| Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position |  |  |  |  |  |
(In millions) | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/Liabilities |  | Derivative Instruments |  | Cash Collateral (Held)/Posted |  | Net Amount
As of December 31, 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative assets | $ | 1,170 |  |  | $ | (909) |  |  | $ | (7) |  |  | $ | 254 |
Derivative liabilities | (1,103) |  |  | 909 |  |  | 73 |  |  | (121) |
Total commodity contracts | $ | 67 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 66 |  |  | $ | 133 |
| Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position |  |  |  |  |  |
(In millions) | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets/Liabilities |  | Derivative Instruments |  | Cash Collateral (Held)/Posted |  | Net Amount
As of December 31, 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative assets | $ | 1,042 |  |  | $ | (778) |  |  | $ | (31) |  |  | $ | 233 |
Derivative liabilities | (977) |  |  | 778 |  |  | 114 |  |  | (85) |
Total commodity contracts | 65 |  |  | — |  |  | 83 |  |  | 148 |
Interest rate contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative assets | 39 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 39 |
Total interest rate contracts | 39 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 39 |
Total derivative instruments | $ | 104 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 83 |  |  | $ | 187 |
Effects on the Company's Accumulated OCI Balance Attributable to Cash Flow Hedge Derivatives, Net of Tax | The following table summarizes the effects on NRG's accumulated OCI balance attributable to cash flow hedge derivatives, net of tax, for the years 2018 and 2017. As of December 31, 2019, NRG had no interest rate derivative instruments as a result of the early termination of such contracts in connection with the repayment of the 2023 Term Loan Facility, as further discussed in Note 13, Debt and Finance Leases.
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Interest Rate Contracts |  |
(In millions) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Accumulated OCI beginning balance |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | (54) |  |  | $ | (66) |
Reclassified from accumulated OCI to income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to realization of previously deferred amounts |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 |  |  | 12 |
Mark-to-market of cash flow hedge accounting contracts |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21 |  |  | — |
Sale of NRG Yield and Renewables |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 25 |  |  | $ | — |
Accumulated OCI ending balance |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (54) |
Pre-tax Effects of Economic Hedges That Have Not Been Designated As Cash Flow Hedges, Ineffectiveness On Cash Flow Hedges And Trading Activity on the Company's Statement of Operations | The following table summarizes the pre-tax effects of economic hedges that have not been designated as cash flow hedges, and trading activity on the Company's statement of operations. The effect of commodity hedges is included within operating revenues and cost of operations and the effect of interest rate hedges is included in interest expense.
| Year Ended December 31, |  |  |  |
(In millions) | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Unrealized mark-to-market results |  |  |  |  |
Reversal of previously recognized unrealized (gains)/losses on settled positions related to economic hedges | $ | (68) |  |  | $ | (73) |  |  | $ | 47 |
Reversal of acquired loss/(gain) positions related to economic hedges | 6 |  |  | (10) |  |  | — |
Net unrealized gains on open positions related to economic hedges | 42 |  |  | 97 |  |  | 159 |
Total unrealized mark-to-market (losses)/gains for economic hedging activities | (20) |  |  | 14 |  |  | 206 |
Reversal of previously recognized unrealized (gains) on settled positions related to trading activity | (11) |  |  | (12) |  |  | (25) |
Net unrealized gains on open positions related to trading activity | 31 |  |  | 29 |  |  | 14 |
Total unrealized mark-to-market gains/(losses) for trading activity | 20 |  |  | 17 |  |  | (11) |
Total unrealized gains | $ | — |  |  | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | 195 |
| Year Ended December 31, |  |  |  |
(In millions) | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Unrealized gains/(losses) included in operating revenues | $ | 53 |  |  | $ | (113) |  |  | $ | 241 |
Unrealized (losses)/gains included in cost of operations | (53) |  |  | 144 |  |  | (46) |
Total impact to statement of operations — energy commodities | $ | — |  |  | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | 195 |
Total impact to statement of operations — interest rate contracts | $ | (38) |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4 |

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