v2.4.0.6

Capital Structure (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011
Capital Structure [Abstract] |
Schedule of Common Stock Activity | The table below summarizes our common stock activity for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.
| Shares Issued |  | Shares Held in Treasury |  | Shares Held in Reserve |  | Inter- Creditor Disputes |  | Total
Balance, December 31, 2008 | 429,025,057 |  |  | (65,032 | ) |  | 48,162,203 |  |  | 9,752,261 |  |  | 486,874,489 |
Resolution of claims/inter-creditor disputes | 13,167,420 |  |  | — |  |  | (3,415,159 | ) |  | (9,752,261 | ) |  | — |
Shares issued under Calpine Equity Incentive Plans | 1,133,350 |  |  | (262,540 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 870,810 |
Balance, December 31, 2009 | 443,325,827 |  |  | (327,572 | ) |  | 44,747,044 |  |  | — |  |  | 487,745,299 |
Resolution of claims | 488,612 |  |  | — |  |  | (488,612 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Shares issued under Calpine Equity Incentive Plans | 1,068,917 |  |  | (120,586 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 948,331 |
Balance, December 31, 2010 | 444,883,356 |  |  | (448,158 | ) |  | 44,258,432 |  |  | — |  |  | 488,693,630 |
Resolution of claims | 44,258,432 |  |  | — |  |  | (44,258,432 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Shares issued under Calpine Equity Incentive Plans | 1,327,027 |  |  | (139,846 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,187,181 |
Share repurchase program | — |  |  | (8,137,073 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (8,137,073 | )
Balance, December 31, 2011 | 490,468,815 |  |  | (8,725,077 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 481,743,738 |

X
- Details
Name: | cpn_CapitalStructureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | cpn_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of an entity's stock, including par or stated value per share, number and dollar amount of share subscriptions, shares authorized, shares issued, shares outstanding, number and dollar amount of shares held in an employee trust, dividend per share, total dividends, share conversion features, par value plus additional paid in capital, the value of treasury stock and other information necessary to a fair presentation, and EPS information. Stock by class includes common, convertible, and preferred stocks which are not redeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer. Includes preferred stock with redemption features that are solely within the control of the issuer and mandatorily redeemable stock if redemption is required to occur only upon liquidation or termination of the reporting entity. If more than one issue is outstanding, state the title of each issue and the corresponding dollar amount; dollar amount of any shares subscribed but unissued and the deduction of subscriptions receivable there from; number of shares authorized, issued, and outstanding. + 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 210.5-02.28,29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(d),(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21553-112644 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 5 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21521-112644 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 150 -Paragraph 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 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21538-112644 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802392&loc=d3e177068-122764 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21506-112644 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6403732&loc=d3e21300-112643 Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21484-112644 Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644 Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21488-112644 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfStockByClassTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration