v2.4.0.6
Debt (Textuals 2) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross $ 14    
Power generation capacity 11,391 13,656  
Letters of credit issued 581 [1] 588 [1]  
Long-term Debt 10,425 10,256  
Debt extinguishment costs (94) (91) (76)
Loans Payable, New [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 360    
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross 5    
Russell City Project [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 845    
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross 27    
Power generation capacity 619    
Construction Loan Facility 700    
Project Letter of Credit Facility 77    
Debt Service Letter of Credit Facility 68    
Term Loan Period 10    
Applicable Margin Range Percentage Above British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates 2.25%    
Amount Drawn Under Construction Loan 244    
Letters of credit issued 61    
Los Esteros Project [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 373    
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross 12    
Construction Loan Facility 305    
Project Letter of Credit Facility 38    
Debt Service Letter of Credit Facility 30    
Applicable Margin Range Percentage Above British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates 2.25%    
Amount Drawn Under Construction Loan 83    
Letters of credit issued 30    
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Long-term Debt   1,258 [2]  
CCFC Notes [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount     1,000
Deferred Finance Costs, Gross     21
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage     8.00%
Debt extinguishment costs     $ 49
Los Esteros Project [Member]
      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Power generation capacity 188    
Power generation capacity after upgrade 308    
[1] When we entered into our Corporate Revolving Facility on December 10, 2010, the letters of credit issued under our First Lien Credit Facility were either replaced by letters of credit issued under the Corporate Revolving Facility or back-stopped by an irrevocable standby letter of credit issued by a third party. Our letters of credit issued under our Corporate Revolving Facility used for our commodity procurement and risk management activities as of December 31, 2010 include those that were back-stopped of approximately $63 million. The back-stopped letters of credit were returned and extinguished during the first quarter of 2011.
[2] On March 9, 2011, we borrowed $1.3 billion under the Term Loan and repaid and terminated the NDH Project Debt as discussed below.