v2.4.0.8

Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments (Tables) | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments [Abstract] |
Income (Loss) From Unconsolidated Investments in Power Plants | Our equity interest in the net income from Greenfield LP and Whitby for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, is recorded in (income) from unconsolidated investments in power plants. The following table sets forth details of our (income) from unconsolidated investments in power plants for the periods indicated (in millions):
| Three Months Ended March 31,
| 2014 |  | 2013
Greenfield LP | $ | (5 | ) |  | $ | (4 | )
Whitby | (4 | ) |  | (4 | )
Total | $ | (9 | ) |  | $ | (8 | )
Schedule of Equity Method Investments | At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our equity method investments included on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets were comprised of the following (in millions):
| Ownership Interest as of March 31, 2014 |  | March 31, 2014 |  | December 31, 2013
Greenfield LP | 50% |  | $ | 77 |  |  | $ | 76 |
Whitby | 50% |  | 8 |  |  | 17 |
Total investments in power plants |  |  | $ | 85 |  |  | $ | 93 |

X
- Definition Income (Loss) From Unconsolidated Investments in Power Plants and Distributions. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cpn_IncomeLossFromUnconsolidatedInvestmentsInPowerPlantsAndDistributionsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | cpn_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of equity method investments including, but not limited to, name of each investee or group of investments, percentage ownership, difference between recorded amount of an investment and the value of the underlying equity in the net assets, and summarized financial information. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration