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Stock-Based Compensation
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense [Abstract]  
Stock-Based Compensation Stock-Based Compensation
The Company's stock-based compensation consists of awards granted under the NRG LTIP and following the Acquisition in March 2023, the Vivint LTIP.
NRG Energy, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, a total of 25,000,000 shares of NRG common stock were authorized for issuance under the NRG LTIP. There were 7,188,824 and 7,717,139 shares of common stock remaining available for grants under the NRG LTIP as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The NRG LTIP is subject to adjustments in the event of reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, and a combination of shares, merger or similar change in NRG's structure or outstanding shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2024, the outstanding awards under the NRG LTIP include restricted stock units, deferred stock units and relative performance stock units.
Restricted Stock Units
As of December 31, 2024, RSUs granted under the NRG LTIP typically have three-year graded vesting schedules beginning on the grant date. Fair value of the RSUs granted during 2024 and 2023 is derived from the closing price of NRG common stock on the grant date. The following table summarizes the Company's non-vested RSU awards and changes during the year:
UnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Unit
Non-vested at December 31, 20231,210,840 $37.88 
Granted413,872 51.89 
Forfeited(49,082)39.43 
Vested(525,470)38.38 
Non-vested at December 31, 20241,050,160 42.95 
The total fair value of RSUs vested during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $47 million, $20 million and $10 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of RSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $51.89, $35.71 and $41.26, respectively.
Deferred Stock Units
DSUs represent the right of a participant to be paid one share of NRG common stock at the end of a deferral period established under the terms of the award. DSUs granted under the NRG LTIP are fully vested at the date of issuance. Fair value of the DSUs, which is based on the closing price of NRG common stock on the date of grant, is recorded as compensation expense in the period of grant.
The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding DSU awards and changes during the year:
UnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Unit
Outstanding at December 31, 2023443,287 $29.07 
Granted46,617 76.31 
Converted to Common Stock(112,784)30.73 
Outstanding at December 31, 2024377,120 33.91 

The aggregate intrinsic values for DSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $34 million, $23 million and $13 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic values for DSUs converted to common stock for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were $10 million, $3 million and $1 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of DSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $76.31, $34.40 and $45.49, respectively.
Relative Performance Stock Units
RPSUs entitle the recipient to stock upon vesting. The amount of the award is subject to the Company's achievement of certain performance measures over the vesting period. RPSUs are restricted grants where the quantity of shares increases and decreases alongside the Company's Total Shareholder Return ("TSR"), relative to the TSR of the Company's current proxy peer group and the total returns of select indexes, or Peer Group. The peer group consists of the companies that comprise the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index on the first day of the performance period. Each RPSU represents the potential to receive NRG common stock after the completion of the performance period, typically three years of service from the date of grant. The number of shares of NRG common stock to be paid (if any) as of the vesting date for each RPSU will depend on the Company’s percentile rank within the Peer Group. The number of shares of common stock to be paid as of the vesting date for each RPSU is linearly interpolated for TSR performance between the following points: (i) 0% if ranked below the 25th percentile; (ii) 25% if ranked at the 25th percentile; (iii) 100% if ranked at the 55th percentile (or the 65th percentile if the Company's absolute TSR is less than negative 15%); and (iv) 200% if ranked at the 75th percentile or above.
The following table summarizes the Company's non-vested RPSU awards and changes during the year:
UnitsWeighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Unit
Non-vested at December 31, 2023671,889 $46.27 
Granted380,370 62.48 
Forfeited(22,623)52.55 
Vested(316,685)49.50 
Non-vested at December 31, 2024712,951 53.10 
The weighted average grant date fair value of RPSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, was $62.48, $39.46 and $57.41, respectively.
The fair value of RPSUs is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation model and expensed over the service period, which equals the vesting period. Significant assumptions used in the fair value model with respect to the Company's RPSUs are summarized below:
202420232022
Expected volatility34.46 %41.35 %37.54 %
Expected term (in years)333
Risk free rate4.05 %4.18 %0.97 %
The expected volatility is calculated based on NRG's historical stock price volatility data over the period commensurate with the expected term of the RPSU, which equals the vesting period.
NRG Energy, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Legacy Vivint)
Effective March 10, 2023, in connection with the Vivint Smart Home Acquisition, as discussed in Note 4, Acquisitions and Dispositions, NRG assumed the NRG Energy, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Legacy Vivint) (formerly known as Vivint Smart Home, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan) or Vivint LTIP. In addition to the rollover awards converted as part of the Acquisition, the Vivint LTIP provides for issuances of time-based restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, 17,500,000 shares of NRG common stock were authorized for issuance under the Vivint LTIP. There were 12,557,143 and 12,749,736 shares of common stock remaining available for grants under the Vivint LTIP as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units
As of December 31, 2024, RSUs under the Vivint LTIP include RSUs which were granted prior to the Acquisition and were converted into awards that vest as NRG common stock ("Rollover RSUs"). These awards typically had four-year graded vesting schedules beginning on the grant date. The fair value of the Rollover RSUs is based on the fair value of NRG common stock on the Acquisition date after applying the conversion ratio as per the Merger Agreement. The RSUs that were granted following the Acquisition date are typically subject to the same terms as the RSUs under the NRG LTIP.
The following table summarizes the non-vested RSUs under the Vivint LTIP and changes during the year:
Rollover RSUsRSUs granted following the Acquisition
UnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per UnitUnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Unit
Non-vested at December 31, 20232,984,901 $31.63 780,298 $35.24 
Granted following the Acquisition date— — 800,032 56.02 
Forfeited(194,314)31.63 (82,973)41.38 
Vested(1,440,844)31.63 (318,774)39.52 
Non-vested at December 31, 20241,349,743 31.63 1,178,583 47.19 
The total fair value of RSUs vested during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $159 million and $66 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of RSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $56.02 and $35.24, respectively.
Relative Performance Stock Units
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, RPSUs granted under the Vivint LTIP are generally granted under the same terms as the RPSUs granted under the NRG LTIP, and are valued using the same methods and assumptions. The following table summarizes the Company's non-vested RPSUs under the Vivint LTIP and changes during the year:
UnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Unit
Non-vested at December 31, 2023102,837 $44.96 
Granted71,568 66.44 
Forfeited— — 
Vested— — 
Non-vested at December 31, 2024174,405 53.63 
There were no RPSUs vested during the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The weighted average grant date fair value of RPSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $66.44 and $44.96, respectively.
Supplemental Information
The following table summarizes NRG's total compensation expense recognized for the years presented, as well as total non-vested compensation costs not yet recognized and the period over which this expense is expected to be recognized as of December 31, 2024, for each of the types of awards issued under the LTIPs. Minimum tax withholdings of $50 million, $22 million, and $6 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, are reflected as a reduction to additional paid-in capital on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
   Non-vested Compensation Cost
 (In millions, except weighted average data)Compensation Expense
Unrecognized
Total Cost
Weighted Average Recognition Period Remaining (In years)
Year Ended December 31,As of December 31,
Award20242023202220242024
RSUs under NRG LTIP$29 $20 $15 $17 1.52
RSUs under Vivint LTIP56 76 — 48 1.32
DSUs3 2 2 — 0.00
RPSUs under NRG LTIP11 3 11 15 1.17
RPSUs under Vivint LTIP3 2 — 5 1.55
PRSUs(a)
43 20 6 68 1.33
Total$145 $123 $34 $153  
Tax (benefit)/detriment recognized$(14)$2 $3   
(a)Phantom Restricted Stock Units, PRSUs, are liability-classified time-based awards that typically vest ratably over a three-year period. The amount to be paid upon vesting is based on NRG's closing stock price for the period