v2.4.0.6

Debt (Debt Textuals) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2012 MW | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2012 MW | Sep. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2011 MW
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt | $ 0 | $ 4,000,000 | $ (12,000,000) | $ (94,000,000) |
Power generation capacity | 10,500 |  | 10,500 |  | 11,391
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount | 685,000,000 |  | 685,000,000 |  | 763,000,000
2019 First Lien Term Loan [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Redemption amount percentage |  |  | 10.00% |  |
Debt Instrument Redemption Premium Percentage |  |  | 103.00% |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount | 835,000,000 |  | 835,000,000 |  |
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt |  |  | 18,000,000 |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 4.50% |  | 4.50% |  |
First Lien Term Loans [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Term loan interest rate spread option Federal Funds effective rate |  |  | 0.50% |  |
Term loan interest rate spread option Prime Rate |  |  | 2.25% |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum |  |  | 3.25% |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum |  |  | 1.25% |  |
Percentage of principal amount of Term Loan to be paid quarterly |  |  | 0.25% |  |
BRSP [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount | 218,000,000 |  | 218,000,000 |  |
Russell City Project [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount | 845,000,000 |  | 845,000,000 |  |
Power generation capacity | 619 |  | 619 |  |
Long-term Construction Loan, Noncurrent | 700,000,000 |  | 700,000,000 |  |
Project Letter of Credit Facility | 77,000,000 |  | 77,000,000 |  |
Term Loan Period | 10 years |  | 10 years |  |
Debt Service Letter of Credit Facility | 68,000,000 |  | 68,000,000 |  |
Amount Drawn Under Construction Loan | 468,000,000 |  | 468,000,000 |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent | 75.00% |  | 75.00% |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners | 25.00% |  | 25.00% |  |
Applicable Margin Range Percentage Above British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates |  |  | 2.25% |  |
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount | 61,000,000 |  | 61,000,000 |  |
Los Esteros Project [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount | 373,000,000 |  | 373,000,000 |  |
Power generation capacity | 188 |  | 188 |  |
Power generation capacity after upgrade | 309 |  | 309 |  |
Long-term Construction Loan, Noncurrent | 305,000,000 |  | 305,000,000 |  |
Project Letter of Credit Facility | 38,000,000 |  | 38,000,000 |  |
Term Loan Period | 10 years |  | 10 years |  |
Debt Service Letter of Credit Facility | 30,000,000 |  | 30,000,000 |  |
Amount Drawn Under Construction Loan | 171,000,000 |  | 171,000,000 |  |
Applicable Margin Range Percentage Above British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates |  |  | 2.25% |  |
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount | 30,000,000 |  | 30,000,000 |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Percentage added to Federal Funds Effective Rate to arrive at base rate |  |  | 0.50% |  |
Repayment time for drawings under letters of credit |  |  | 2 days |  |
Excess amount of asset sales requiring mandatory prepayments |  |  | 3,000,000,000 |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] | One Month [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest periods for LIBOR rate borrowings |  |  | 1 month |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] | Two Months [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest periods for LIBOR rate borrowings |  |  | 2 months |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] | Three Months [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest periods for LIBOR rate borrowings |  |  | 3 months |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] | Six Months [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest periods for LIBOR rate borrowings |  |  | 6 months |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] | Nine Months [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest periods for LIBOR rate borrowings |  |  | 9 months |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] | Twelve Months [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest periods for LIBOR rate borrowings |  |  | 12 months |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Applicable margin range percentage above base rate |  |  | 2.00% |  |
Applicable Margin Range Percentage Above British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates |  |  | 3.00% |  |
Unused commitment fee range percentage |  |  | 0.50% |  |
Corporate Revolving Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Applicable margin range percentage above base rate |  |  | 2.25% |  |
Applicable Margin Range Percentage Above British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates |  |  | 3.25% |  |
Unused commitment fee range percentage |  |  | 0.75% |  |
CDHI [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Upsize Facility Total |  |  | $ 300,000,000 |  |
First Lien Notes 2017 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 7.25% |  | 7.25% |  |
First Lien Notes 2019 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 8.00% |  | 8.00% |  |

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- Definition Amount Drawn Under Construction Loan + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Applicable margin range percentage above base rate + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Applicable margin range percentage added to the British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Debt Service Letter of Credit Facility + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Excess amount of asset sales requiring mandatory prepayments + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Interest periods for LIBOR rate borrowings + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage added to Federal Funds Effective Rate to arrive at base rate + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage of the principal amount of the Term Loan to be paid quarterly + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Power generation capacity + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Power generation capacity after upgrade + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Project Letter of Credit Facility + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Redemption amount percentage + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Repayment time for drawings under letters of credit + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Term loan interest rate spread option Federal Funds effective rate + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Term loan interest rate spread option Prime Rate + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Term Loan Period + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Unused commitment fee range percentage + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Upsize Facility Total + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the noncurrent portion of a long-term real estate loan to finance building costs. The funds are disbursed as needed or in accordance with a prearranged plan; generally, a portion of the funds is disbursed at inception and the remainder as construction progresses. The money is repaid on completion of the project (generally one to seven years), usually from the proceeds of a mortgage loan. The rate is normally higher than the prime rate, and there is usually an origination fee. The effective yield on these loans tends to be high, and the lender has a security interest in the real property. + 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 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 21 -Paragraph 16, 20 -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. + Details
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- Definition Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition When presenting a range of interest rates, the highest stated (contractual) rate for funds borrowed under the debt agreement as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition When presenting a range of interest rates, the lowest stated (contractual) rate for funds borrowed under the debt agreement as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 26 -Paragraph 20, 21 -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 50 -Section 40 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629 + Details
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- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
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