XML 132 R114.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.20.4

Long-term Debt and Finance Leases - Recourse Debt Redemption Period (Details) - Recourse Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 02, 2020	May 24, 2019	May 14, 2019	Dec. 07, 2017	Aug. 02, 2016	May 23, 2016
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage of principal	25.00%
7.250% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	7.25%						7.25%
7.250% Senior Notes due 2026 | Redemption Period Prior To 15 May 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
Present value of note (as percentage)	1.03625
7.250% Senior Notes due 2026 | May 15, 2021 to May 14, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	103.625%
7.250% Senior Notes due 2026 | May 15, 2022 to May 14, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	102.417%
7.250% Senior Notes due 2026 | May 15, 2023 to May 14, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	101.208%
7.250% Senior Notes due 2026 | May 15, 2024 and thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
7.250% Senior Notes due 2026 | Treasury Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent)	1.00%
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage)	0.50%
6.625% Senior Notes due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	6.625%					6.625%
6.625% Senior Notes due 2027 | Redemption Period Prior To 15 July 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
Present value of note (as percentage)	1.03313
6.625% Senior Notes due 2027 | July 15, 2021 to July 14, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	103.313%
6.625% Senior Notes due 2027 | July 15, 2022 to July 14, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	102.208%
6.625% Senior Notes due 2027 | July 15, 2023 to July 14, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	101.104%
6.625% Senior Notes due 2027 | July 15, 2024 and thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
6.625% Senior Notes due 2027 | Treasury Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent)	1.00%
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage)	50.00%
5.750% Senior Notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	35.00%
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.75%				5.75%
5.750% Senior Notes due 2028 | Redemption Period Prior to January 15, 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	105.75%
5.750% Senior Notes due 2028 | Redemption Period Prior to January 15, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
Present value of note (as percentage)	1.02875
5.750% Senior Notes due 2028 | January 15, 2023 to January 14, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	102.875%
5.750% Senior Notes due 2028 | January 15, 2024 to January 14, 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	101.917%
5.750% Senior Notes due 2028 | January 15, 2025 to January 14, 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.958%
5.750% Senior Notes due 2028 | January 15, 2026 and thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
5.750% Senior Notes due 2028 | Treasury Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent)	1.00%
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage)	50.00%
5.25% Senior Notes due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	40.00%
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.25%		5.25%	5.25%
5.25% Senior Notes due 2029 | Redemption Period Prior to June 15, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	105.25%
Outstanding principal after redemption, percentage (at least)	50.00%
5.25% Senior Notes due 2029 | Redemption Period Prior to June 15, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent)	1.00%
Present value of note (as percentage)	1.02625
5.25% Senior Notes due 2029 | June 15, 2024 to June 14, 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	102.625%
5.25% Senior Notes due 2029 | June 15, 2025 to June 14, 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	101.75%
5.25% Senior Notes due 2029 | June 15, 2026 to June 14, 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.875%
5.25% Senior Notes due 2029 | June 15, 2027 and thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
5.25% Senior Notes due 2029 | Treasury Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage)	0.50%
3.375% Senior Notes Due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	40.00%
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.375%	3.375%
3.375% Senior Notes Due 2029 | Redemption Period Prior to February 15, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	103.375%
Outstanding principal after redemption, percentage (at least)	50.00%
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent)	1.00%
Present value of note (as percentage)	1.01688
3.375% Senior Notes Due 2029 | February 15, 2024 to February 14, 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	101.688%
3.375% Senior Notes Due 2029 | February 15, 2025 to February 14, 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.844%
3.375% Senior Notes Due 2029 | February 15, 2026 and thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
3.375% Senior Notes Due 2029 | Treasury Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage)	0.50%
3.625% Senior Notes due 2031
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	40.00%
Interest rate, stated percentage		3.625%
3.625% Senior Notes due 2031 | Redemption Period Prior to February 15, 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	103.625%
Outstanding principal after redemption, percentage (at least)	50.00%
Premium percentage of principal amount of note discount factor (as percent)	1.00%
3.625% Senior Notes due 2031 | February 15, 2026 to February 14, 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	101.813%
Present value of note (as percentage)	1.01813
3.625% Senior Notes due 2031 | February 15, 2027 to February 14, 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	101.208%
3.625% Senior Notes due 2031 | February 15, 2028 to February 14, 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.604%
3.625% Senior Notes due 2031 | February 15, 2029 and thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption percentage	100.00%
3.625% Senior Notes due 2031 | Treasury Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Treasury rate redemption (as percentage)	0.50%

X

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Outstanding Amount After Redemption, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nrg_DebtInstrumentOutstandingAmountAfterRedemptionPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Present Value Of Note, Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nrg_DebtInstrumentPresentValueOfNoteRate
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage above the Treasury rate over the principal amount of the note used as a discount factor in determining the redemption price of Senior Notes prior to maturity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nrg_PremiumPercentageOfPrincipalOfSeniorNotesDiscountFactor
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: 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)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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

- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage of principal amount of debt redeemed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmountRedeemed
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_SeniorNotesdue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodPriorTo15May2021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15May2021to14May2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15May2022to14May2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15May2023to14May2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15May2024AndThereafterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=nrg_TreasuryRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_SeniorNotesdue2027Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodPriorTo15July2021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15July2021to14July2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15July2022to14July2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15July2023to14July2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15July2024AndThereafterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_SeniorNotesdue2028Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodPriortoJanuary152021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodPriortoJanuary152023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15January2023to14January2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15January2024to14January2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15January2025to14January2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15January2026AndThereafterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_A525SeniorNotesDue2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodPriorToJune152022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodPriorToJune152024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15June2024To14June2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15June2025To14June2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFrom15June2026To14June2027Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFromJune152027AndThereafterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_A3375SeniorUnsecuredNotesDue2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodPriorToFebruary152024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFebruary152024ToFebruary142025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFebruary152025ToFebruary142026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFebruary152026AndThereafterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_A3625SeniorUnsecuredNotesDueFebruary2031Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodPriorToFebruary152026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFebruary152026ToFebruary142027Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFebruary152027ToFebruary142028Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFebruary152028ToFebruary142029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=nrg_RedemptionPeriodFebruary152029AndThereafterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: