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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Redeemable Non Controlling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of period | $ 20 | $ 19 | $ 78
Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | (43)
Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | 26
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - continuing operations |  | 3 | 1
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest - discontinued operations |  |  | (27)
Sale of NRG Yield and the Renewables Platform |  |  | (2,548)
Repurchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest | (20) |  |
Balance at end of period | $ 0 | 20 | 19
NRG Yield Inc. And Zephyr Renewables |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Sale of NRG Yield and the Renewables Platform |  |  | (48)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interest |  | $ (2) | (3)
Non-cash adjustments to redeemable noncontrolling interest |  |  | $ (8)

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- Definition Amount after tax of income (loss) from a discontinued operation attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Includes, but is not limited to, the income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, gain (loss) for reversal of write-down (write-down) to fair value, less cost to sell, and adjustments to a prior period gain (loss) on disposal. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222160&loc=d3e1012-107759 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4568447-111683 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5B -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222650&loc=SL51721673-107760 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222650&loc=d3e1361-107760 Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 19 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569616-111683 Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5C -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222650&loc=SL51721675-107760 Reference 7: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222160&loc=SL51721525-107759 Reference 8: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222160&loc=SL51721523-107759 Reference 9: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222160&loc=d3e957-107759 + Details
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- Definition Decrease in noncontrolling interest balance from payment of dividends or other distributions by the non-wholly owned subsidiary or partially owned entity, included in the consolidation of the parent entity, to the noncontrolling interest holders. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
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- Definition Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 23 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569655-111683 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 24 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4616395-111683 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770 + Details
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