XML 130 R112.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Long-term Debt and Finance Leases - Issuance of Convertible Senior Notes (Details) - Convertible Senior Notes Due 2048 - Recourse Debt $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Conversion price per common share (in usd per share) | $ / shares | $ 46.24 | $ 47.74
Conversion ratio | 0.0216242 | 0.0209479
Carrying amount of equity component | $ | $ 503 | $ 491

X
- Definition The carrying amount of the equity component of convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120520924&loc=SL6031897-161870 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120520924&loc=SL6031898-161870 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Ratio applied to the conversion of debt instrument into equity with equity shares divided by debt principal amount. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21521-112644 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21506-112644 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21475-112644 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_ConvertibleSeniorNotesDue2048Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=nrg_RecourseDebtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |