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Asset Impairments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Asset Impairment Charges [Abstract] |
Asset Impairments | Asset Impairments 2020 Impairment Losses During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company completed its annual budget and revised its view of long-term power and fuel prices and the corresponding impact on estimated cash flows associated with its long-lives assets. The Cottonwood facility had estimated cash flows that were lower than its carrying amount and the assets were considered impaired. The fair value of the assets was determined using an income approach by applying a discounted cash flow methodology to the long-term budget for the facility. The income approach utilized estimates of after-tax cash flows, which were Level 3 fair value measurements, and included key inputs such as forecasted power prices, fuel costs, operating and maintenance costs, plant investment capital expenditures and discount rates. The Cottonwood facility is being leased through 2025 and the Company recognized an impairment loss of $32 million in 2020 in the West/Other segment associated with the Company's long-term services agreement and related lease payments, as the carrying amounts of the assets from the contract were higher than the estimated operating cash flow though the remaining lease period. The Company also recorded the following impairments in 2020 based on specific triggering events that occurred: Home Solar — In the third quarter of 2020, the Company concluded its Home Solar business was held for sale and recorded an impairment loss of $29 million in the West/Other segment to adjust the carrying amount of the assets and liabilities to fair market value based on indicative sale prices. Petra Nova Parish Holdings — During the first quarter of 2020, due to the decline in oil prices, NRG determined that the carrying amount of the Company’s equity method investment exceeded the fair value of the investment and that the decline is considered to be other-than-temporary. In determining the fair value, the Company utilized an income approach to estimate future project cash flows. The Company recorded an impairment loss of $18 million in the Texas segment, which included the anticipated drawdown of the $12 million letter of credit posted in September 2019 to cover certain project debt reserve requirements. Other Impairments — For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded $14 million of impairment losses related to intangible assets in the Texas segment. 2019 Impairment Losses Petra Nova Parish Holdings — During the third quarter of 2019, NRG contributed $95 million in cash to Petra Nova and posted a $12 million letter of credit to cover certain project debt reserve requirements. The cash portion of the contribution was used by Petra Nova to prepay a significant portion of the project debt. As a result, the previously disclosed guarantee of up to $124 million related to the project level debt provided by NRG was canceled and the remaining project debt became non-recourse to NRG. In relation to this contribution, the Company evaluated the project for impairment and determined that the carrying amount of the Company’s equity method investment exceeded the fair value of the investment and that the decline is considered to be other-than-temporary. In determining the fair value, the Company utilized an income approach and considered project specific assumptions for the estimated future project cash flows. The Company measured the impairment loss as the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the investment and recorded an impairment loss of $101 million. Other Impairments — For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $12 million of impairment losses primarily related to investments and intangibles. 2018 Impairment Losses Guam — During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company concluded its wholly-owned subsidiary, NRG Solar Guam, LLC, was held for sale after board approval and advanced negotiations to sell the business. Accordingly, the Company recorded the assets and liabilities at fair market value as of December 31, 2018 based on the contractual sale price, which resulted in an impairment loss of $12 million. On February 20, 2019, the Company completed the sale of Guam for cash consideration of approximately $8 million. Keystone and Conemaugh — On September 5, 2018, the Company sold its approximately 3.7% interests in the Keystone and Conemaugh generating stations. NRG recorded impairment losses of $14 million for Keystone and $14 million for Conemaugh to adjust the carrying amount of the assets to fair value based on the contractual sale price. Dunkirk — During the second quarter of 2018, NRG ceased its development of the project to add gas capability at the Dunkirk generating station. The project was put on hold in 2015 pending the resolution of a lawsuit filed by Entergy Corporation against the NYPSC, which challenged the legality of its contract with Dunkirk. The lawsuit was later dropped and development continued, but the delay imposed a new requirement on Dunkirk to enter into the NYISO interconnection study process. The NYISO studies have concluded that extensive electric system upgrades would be necessary for the station to return to service. This would cause the Company to incur a material increase in cost and delay the project schedule that would render the project impractical. Consequently, the Company has recorded an impairment loss of $46 million, reducing the carrying amount of the related assets to $0. Other Impairments — As of December 31, 2018, the Company recorded additional asset impairment losses of $13 million and impairment losses on equity method investments of $15 million.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the details of the charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value. Disclosure may also include a description of the impaired asset and facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, amount of the impairment loss and where the loss is located in the income statement, method(s) for determining fair value, and the segment in which the impaired asset is reported. + References No definition available. + Details
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