Name:	nrg_DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNetOfDerivativeLiabilityFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Derivative Asset Fair Value Gross Liability Net Of Derivative Liability Fair Value Gross Asset

No definition available.

Name:	nrg_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityNetOfDerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossAsset
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Derivative, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash Net Of Derivative, Collateral, Right to Reclaim Cash

No definition available.

Name:	nrg_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCashNetOfDerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value of gross derivative assets less fair value of gross derivative liabilities.

No definition available.

Name:	nrg_FairValueofGrossDerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

[Line Items] for Offsetting Assets and Liabilities [Table]

No definition available.

Name:	nrg_OffsettingAssetsAndLiabilitiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Fair value of liability associated with financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-SubTopic 20
-Topic 210
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483466/210-20-50-3

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-SubTopic 20
-Topic 210
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-8

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4B

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4B

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5C
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-13C(Column F))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477271/946-320-S99-5C

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5B
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-13B(Column E))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477271/946-320-S99-5B

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative assets.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 13
-SubTopic 20
-Topic 210
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 20
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-20

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (d)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483466/210-20-50-3

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-8

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of right to receive cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative liabilities.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4B

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4B

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 22
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-22

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483466/210-20-50-3

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 7
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483444/210-20-55-7

Reference 6: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-SubTopic 20
-Topic 860
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481326/860-20-50-4D

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, after effect of master netting arrangement and deduction of obligation to return financial collateral not offset and financial instrument subject to master netting arrangement not offset, of financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and contract can be net settled by means outside contract or delivery of asset. Includes derivative not subject to master netting arrangement or similar agreement.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value, after effect of master netting arrangement and deduction of obligation to return financial collateral not offset and financial instrument subject to master netting arrangement not offset, of financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and contract can be net settled by means outside contract or delivery of asset. Includes derivative not subject to master netting arrangement or similar agreement.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value of asset associated with financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset.

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: