v2.3.0.11
Debt (Details 2) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 6 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Corporate Revolving Facility
Dec. 31, 2010
Corporate Revolving Facility
Jun. 30, 2011
Calpine Development Holdings, Inc.
Dec. 31, 2010
Calpine Development Holdings, Inc.
Jun. 30, 2011
NDH Project Debt credit facility
Dec. 31, 2010
NDH Project Debt credit facility
Jun. 30, 2011
Various project financing facilities
Dec. 31, 2010
Various project financing facilities
Jun. 30, 2011
Minimum
Jun. 30, 2011
Maximum
Jun. 30, 2011
One Month
Jun. 30, 2011
Two Months
Jun. 30, 2011
Three Months
Jun. 30, 2011
Six Months
Jun. 30, 2011
Nine Months
Jun. 30, 2011
Twelve Months
Amounts issued under letter of credit facilities [Line Items]                                  
Fair value of amounts outstanding   $ 369 [1] $ 443 [1] $ 193 $ 165   [2] $ 34 [2] $ 100 $ 69                
Corporate Revolving Facility Interest Details [Abstract]                                  
Applicable margin range percentage above base rate                   2.00% 2.25%            
Percentage added to Federal Funds Effective Rate to arrive at base rate 0.50%                                
Interest periods for LIBOR rate borrowings                       1 2 3 6 9 12
Applicable margin range percentage added to the British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates                   3.00% 3.25%            
Unused commitment fee range percentage                   0.50% 0.75%            
[1]

When we entered into our $1.0 billion Corporate Revolving Facility on December 10, 2010, the letters of credit issued under our First Lien Credit Facility were either replaced with letters of credit issued by our Corporate Revolving Facility or back-stopped by an irrevocable standby letter of credit issued by a third-party. Our letters of credit under our Corporate Revolving Facility at December 31, 2010 include those that were back-stopped of approximately $83 million. The back-stopped letters of credit were returned and extinguished during the first quarter of 2011.
[2]

We repaid and terminated the NDH Project Debt on March 9, 2011.