v2.4.0.6
Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]      
Schedule of Guarantor Obligations
At December 31, 2012, guarantees of subsidiary debt, standby letters of credit and surety bonds to third parties and guarantees of subsidiary operating lease payments and their respective expiration dates were as follows (in millions):
Guarantee Commitments
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
Thereafter
 
Total
Guarantee of subsidiary debt(1)
 
$
47

 
$
36

 
$
37

 
$
36

 
$
26

 
$
209

 
$
391

Standby letters of credit(2)(4)
 
536

 
41

 
—

 
—

 
19

 
30

 
626

Surety bonds(3)(4)(5)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
4

 
4

 Guarantee of subsidiary operating lease payments(4)
 
7

 
3

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
10

Total
 
$
590

 
$
80

 
$
37

 
$
36

 
$
45

 
$
243

 
$
1,031

____________
(1)
Represents Calpine Corporation guarantees of certain power plant capital leases and related interest. All guaranteed capital leases are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2)
The standby letters of credit disclosed above represent those disclosed in Note 6.
(3)
The majority of surety bonds do not have expiration or cancellation dates.
(4)
These are contingent off balance sheet obligations.
(5)
As of December 31, 2012, $3 million of cash collateral is outstanding related to these bonds.
    
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value $ 3    
Outstanding claims related to guarantees 0    
Royalty Expense 22 22 25
LTSA [Member]
      
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation      
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation 68    
Term of Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Lower Limit P1Y    
Term of Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Upper Limit P5Y    
Public Utilities, Inventory, Fuel [Member]
      
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation      
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation $ 3,000    
Term of Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Lower Limit P1Y    
Term of Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Upper Limit P13Y    
Term of Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Outlier 29 years