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Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits
NRG sponsors and operates defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans.
NRG pension benefits are available to eligible non-union and union employees through various defined benefit pension plans. These benefits are based on pay, service history and age at retirement. Most pension benefits are provided through tax-qualified plans. NRG also provides postretirement health and welfare benefits for certain groups of employees. Cost sharing provisions vary by the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
NRG maintains two separate qualified pension plans, the NRG Pension Plan for Bargained Employees and the NRG Pension Plan. Participation in the NRG Pension Plan for Bargained Employees depends upon whether an employee is covered by a bargaining agreement.
NRG expects to contribute $30 million to the Company's pension plans in 2021, of which $14 million relates to the GenOn plan.
NRG Defined Benefit Plans
The annual net periodic benefit cost/(credit) related to NRG's pension and other postretirement benefit plans include the following components:
 Year Ended December 31,
 Pension Benefits
 (In millions)202020192018
Service cost benefits earned$10 $10 $23 
Interest cost on benefit obligation38 46 44 
Expected return on plan assets(61)(59)(62)
Amortization of unrecognized net loss5 3 — 
Settlement/curtailment expense— — 7 
Net periodic benefit (credit)/cost$(8)$— $12 
 Year Ended December 31,
 Other Postretirement Benefits
(In millions)202020192018
Service cost benefits earned$— $1 $1 
Interest cost on benefit obligation3 3 4 
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost(14)(13)(10)
Amortization of unrecognized net loss1 — — 
Curtailment gain— — (10)
Net periodic benefit credit$(10)$(9)$(15)
A comparison of the pension benefit obligation, other postretirement benefit obligations and related plan assets for NRG's plans on a combined basis is as follows:
 As of December 31,
 Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement
Benefits
(In millions)2020201920202019
Benefit obligation at January 1$1,397 $1,222 $93 $83 
Service cost10 10 — 1 
Interest cost38 46 3 3 
Plan amendments— — — (2)
Actuarial loss126 207 — 16 
Employee and retiree contributions— — 3 4 
Benefit payments(82)(88)(9)(12)
Benefit obligation at December 311,489 1,397 90 93 
Fair value of plan assets at January 11,150 981 — — 
Actual return on plan assets193 216 — — 
Employee and retiree contributions— — 3 4 
Employer contributions11 41 6 7 
Benefit payments(82)(88)(9)(11)
Fair value of plan assets at December 311,272 1,150 — — 
Funded status at December 31 — excess of obligation over assets
$(217)$(247)$(90)$(93)

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the actuarial loss of $126 million on pension benefits was driven by decreasing discount rates and demographic assumptions, partially offset by gains from life expectancy projection updates.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the actuarial loss of $207 million on pension benefits was driven by decreasing discount rates, assumption changes to reflect current market conditions and actual experience different than assumed, partially offset by gains from life expectancy projection updates.
Amounts recognized in NRG's balance sheets were as follows:
 As of December 31,
 Pension Benefits
Other Postretirement
Benefits
(In millions)2020201920202019
Other current liabilities$— $— $5 $7 
Other non-current liabilities217 247 85 86 

Amounts recognized in NRG's accumulated OCI that have not yet been recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost were as follows:
 As of December 31,
 Pension Benefits
Other Postretirement
Benefits
(In millions)2020201920202019
Net loss$127 $138 $6 $7 
Prior service cost/(credit)2 2 (29)(43)
Total accumulated OCI$129 $140 $(23)$(36)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in OCI were as follows:
 Year Ended December 31,
 
Pension
Benefits
Other Postretirement
Benefits
(In millions)2020201920202019
Net actuarial (gain)/loss$(6)$50 $— $16 
Amortization of net actuarial (gain)(5)(3)(1)— 
Prior service credit— — — (2)
Amortization of prior service cost— — 14 12 
Total recognized in OCI$(11)$47 $13 $26 
Net periodic benefit credit
(8)— (10)(9)
Net recognized in net periodic pension credit and OCI
$(19)$47 $3 $17 

The following table presents the balances of significant components of NRG's pension plan:
 As of December 31,
 Pension Benefits
(In millions)20202019
Projected benefit obligation$1,489 $1,397 
Accumulated benefit obligation1,455 1,362 
Fair value of plan assets1,272 1,150 

NRG's market-related value of its plan assets is the fair value of the assets. The fair values of the Company's pension plan assets by asset category and their level within the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
 Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020
(In millions)
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Total
Common/collective trust investment — U.S. equity$— $284 $284 
Common/collective trust investment — non-U.S. equity— 113 113 
Common/collective trust investment — non-core assets— 151 151 
Common/collective trust investment — fixed income— 258 258 
Short-term investment fund13 — 13 
Subtotal fair value$13 $806 $819 
Measured at net asset value practical expedient:
Common/collective trust investment — non-U.S. equity45 
Common/collective trust investment — fixed income289 
Common/collective trust investment — non-core assets84 
Partnerships/joint ventures35 
Total fair value$1,272 
 Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2019
(In millions)
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Total
Common/collective trust investment — U.S. equity$— $233 $233 
Common/collective trust investment — non-U.S. equity— 73 73 
Common/collective trust investment — non-core assets— 143 143 
Common/collective trust investment — fixed income— 272 272 
Short-term investment fund12 — 12 
Subtotal fair value$12 $721 $733 
Measured at net asset value practical expedient:
Common/collective trust investment — non-U.S. equity84 
Common/collective trust investment — fixed income279 
Common/collective trust investment — non-core assets24 
Partnerships/joint ventures30 
Total fair value$1,150 
In accordance with ASC 820, the Company determines the level in the fair value hierarchy within which each fair value measurement in its entirety falls, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The fair value of the common/collective trust investments is valued at fair value which is equal to the sum of the market value of all of the fund's underlying investments. Certain common/collective trust investments have readily determinable fair value as they publish daily net asset value, or NAV, per share and are categorized as Level 2. Certain other common/collective trust investments and partnerships/joint ventures use NAV per share, or its equivalent, as a practical expedient for valuation, and thus have been removed from the fair value hierarchy table.
The following table presents the significant assumptions used to calculate NRG's benefit obligations:
 As of December 31,
 Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement Benefits
Weighted-Average Assumptions2020201920202019
Discount rate2.56 %3.26 %2.54 %3.26 %
Interest crediting rate3.12 %— 1.62 %— 
Rate of compensation increase3.00 %3.00 %— %— %
Health care trend rate— — 
 7.2% grading to 4.5% in 2028
7.5% grading to 4.5% in 2028
The following table presents the significant assumptions used to calculate NRG's benefit expense:
 As of December 31,
 Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement Benefits
Weighted-Average Assumptions202020192018202020192018
Discount rate3.26 %
4.38%/4.20%
3.71%/4.04%
3.26%
4.37%
3.71% /4.08%
Interest crediting rate3.66 %— — 2.28 %— — 
Expected return on plan assets
5.93 %6.35 %6.17 %— — — 
Rate of compensation increase
3.00 %3.00 %3.00 %— — — 
Health care trend rate— — — 
 7.5% grading to 4.5% in 2028
 7.8% grading to 4.5% in 2025
8.2% grading to 4.5% in 2025
NRG uses December 31 of each respective year as the measurement date for the Company's pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The Company sets the discount rate assumptions on an annual basis for each of NRG's defined benefit retirement plans as of December 31. The discount rate assumptions represent the current rate at which the associated liabilities could be effectively settled at December 31. The Company utilizes the Aon AA Above Median, or AA-AM, yield curve to select the appropriate discount rate assumption for each retirement plan. The AA-AM yield curve is a hypothetical AA yield curve represented by a series of annualized individual spot discount rates from 6 months to 99 years. Each bond issue used to build this yield curve must be non-callable, and have an average rating of AA when averaging available Moody's Investor Services, Standard & Poor's and Fitch ratings.
NRG employs a total return investment approach, whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets for a prudent level of risk. Risk tolerance is established through careful consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status, and corporate financial condition. The Investment Committee reviews the asset mix periodically and as the plan assets increase in future years, the Investment Committee may examine other asset classes such as real estate or private equity. NRG employs a building block approach to determining the long-term rate of return assumption for plan assets, with proper consideration given to diversification and rebalancing. Historical markets are studied and long-term historical relationships between equities and fixed income are preserved, consistent with the widely accepted capital market principle that assets with higher volatility generate a greater return over the long run. Current factors such as inflation and interest rates are evaluated before long-term capital market assumptions are determined. Peer data and historical returns are reviewed to check for reasonableness and appropriateness.
The target allocations of NRG's pension plan assets were as follows for the year ended December 31, 2020:
U.S. equity20 %
Non-U.S. equity13 %
Non-core assets17 %
U.S. fixed income50 %
Plan assets are currently invested in a diversified blend of equity and fixed-income investments. Furthermore, equity investments are diversified across U.S., non-U.S., global, and emerging market equities, as well as among growth, value, small and large capitalization stocks.
Investment risk and performance are monitored on an ongoing basis through quarterly portfolio reviews of each asset fund class to a related performance benchmark, if applicable, and annual pension liability measurements. Performance benchmarks are composed of the following indices:
Asset ClassIndex
U.S. equitiesDow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index
Non-U.S. equities
MSCI All Country World Ex-U.S. IMI Index
Non-core assets(a)
Various (per underlying asset class)
Fixed income securities
Barclays Short, Intermediate and Long Credits/Barclays Strips 20+ Index
(a)Non-Core Assets are defined as diversifying asset classes approved by the Investment Committee that are intended to enhance returns and/or reduce volatility of the U.S. and non-U.S. equities. Asset classes considered Non-Core include, but may not be limited to: Emerging Market Equity, Emerging Market Debt, Non-US Developed Market Small Cap, High Yield Fixed Income, Real Estate, Bank Loans, Global Infrastructure and other Alternatives.
NRG's expected future benefit payments for each of the next five years, and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter, are as follows:
  Other Postretirement Benefit
 (In millions)
Pension
Benefit Payments
Benefit PaymentsMedicare Prescription Drug Reimbursements
2021$90 $6 $— 
202289 6 — 
202387 5 — 
202485 5 — 
202583 5 — 
2026-2030386 19 2 
STP Defined Benefit Plans
NRG has a 44% undivided ownership interest in STP, as discussed further in Note 29, Jointly Owned Plants. STPNOC, which operates and maintains STP, provides its employees a defined benefit pension plan, as well as postretirement health and welfare benefits. Although NRG does not sponsor the STP plan, it reimburses STPNOC for 44% of the contributions made towards its retirement plan obligations.
During the third quarter of 2019, STPNOC announced that the defined benefit pension plan will be frozen for non-union employees on December 31, 2021, This resulted in the curtailment of benefits, thereby requiring a remeasurement, including an update to the discount rate used to determine benefit obligations. As a result, during 2019, NRG recognized a gain of $8 million related to the curtailment of benefits and an increase of $32 million to the pension liability was recorded to other comprehensive income. The Company measures the fair value of its pension assets in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, or ASC 820.
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, NRG reimbursed STPNOC $8 million and $24 million, respectively, for its contribution to the plans. In 2021, NRG expects to reimburse STPNOC $18 million for its contribution to the plan.
The Company has recognized the following in its statement of financial position, statement of operations and accumulated OCI related to its 44% interest in STP:
 As of December 31,
 Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement Benefits
(In millions)2020201920202019
Funded status — STPNOC benefit plans$(99)$(77)$(20)$(20)
Net periodic benefit cost/(credit)7 9 (4)(4)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income/(loss)
22 (13)5 6 
Defined Contribution Plans
NRG's employees are also eligible to participate in defined contribution 401(k) plans.
The Company's contributions to these plans were as follows:
 Year Ended December 31,
(In millions)202020192018
Company contributions to defined contribution plans$22 $22 $28