v2.3.0.15

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Restricted cash table |
|  | September 30, 2011 |  |  | December 31, 2010 |
|  | Current |  |  | Non-Current |  |  | Total |  |  | Current |  |  | Non-Current |  |  | Total |
Debt service |  | $ | 22 |  |  | $ | 27 |  |  | $ | 49 |  |  | $ | 44 |  |  | $ | 25 |  |  | $ | 69 |
Rent reserve |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | 22 |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  | 27 |
Construction/major maintenance |  |  | 46 |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 50 |  |  |  | 35 |  |  |  | 14 |  |  |  | 49 |
Security/project/insurance |  |  | 112 |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  | 120 |  |  |  | 75 |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  | 82 |
Other |  |  | 13 |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 17 |  |  |  | 19 |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | 21 |
Total |  | $ | 195 |  |  | $ | 43 |  |  | $ | 238 |  |  | $ | 195 |  |  | $ | 53 |  |  | $ | 248 |
Components of PP&E table |
|  | September 30, 2011 |  |  | December 31, 2010 |
Buildings, machinery and equipment |  | $ | 14,972 |  |  | $ | 14,578 |
Geothermal properties |  |  | 1,146 |  |  |  | 1,102 |
Other |  |  | 259 |  |  |  | 273 |
|  |  | 16,377 |  |  |  | 15,953 |
Less: Accumulated depreciation |  |  | 4,046 |  |  |  | 3,690 |
|  |  | 12,331 |  |  |  | 12,263 |
Land |  |  | 93 |  |  |  | 93 |
Construction in progress |  |  | 586 |  |  |  | 622 |
Property, plant and equipment, net |  | $ | 13,010 |  |  | $ | 12,978 |

X
- Definition Components of Property, Plant and Equipment Table Text Block + Details
Name: | cpn_ComponentsOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | cpn
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the cash and cash items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. The provisions of any restrictions are described in a note to the financial statements. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 8, 9 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfRestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration