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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items] | |||
| Current | $ 195us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | $ 203us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | |
| Non-current | 49us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent | 69us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent | |
| Total | 244us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents | 272us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents | |
| Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract] | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents subject to project finance facilities and lease agreements | 257cpn_CashAndCashEquivalentsSubjectToProjectFinanceFacilitiesAndLeaseAgreements | 292cpn_CashAndCashEquivalentsSubjectToProjectFinanceFacilitiesAndLeaseAgreements | |
| Property, plant and equipment, salvage value (as a percent) | 10.00%us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentSalvageValuePercentage | ||
| Property, plant and equipment, salvage value of rotables (as a percent) | 0.15%cpn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentSalvageValuePercentageRotables | ||
| Osprey Energy Center Agreement Term | 0 years 27 months | ||
| Impairment losses | 123us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges | 16us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges | 0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges |
| Asset retirement obligations | 47us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | 44us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | |
| Freestone Energy Center [Member] | |||
| Jointly Owned Plants [Abstract] | |||
| Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share | 75.00%us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantProportionateOwnershipShare / us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis = cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember |
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| Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Plant in Service | 389us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantGrossOwnershipAmountOfPlantInService / us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis = cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember |
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| Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Plant Accumulated Depreciation | (140)us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfPlantAccumulatedDepreciation / us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis = cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember |
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| Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Construction Work in Progress | 0us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfConstructionWorkInProgress / us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis = cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember |
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| Hidalgo Energy Center [Member] | |||
| Jointly Owned Plants [Abstract] | |||
| Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share | 78.50%us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantProportionateOwnershipShare / us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis = cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember |
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| Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Plant in Service | 257us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantGrossOwnershipAmountOfPlantInService / us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis = cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember |
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| Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Plant Accumulated Depreciation | (104)us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfPlantAccumulatedDepreciation / us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis = cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember |
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| Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Construction Work in Progress | 0us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfConstructionWorkInProgress / us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis = cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember |
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| Debt Service | |||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items] | |||
| Current | 10us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
11us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
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| Non-current | 25us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
41us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
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| Total | 35us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
52us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
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| Rent Reserve [Member] | |||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items] | |||
| Current | 4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
3us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
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| Non-current | 0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
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| Total | 4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
3us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
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| Construction Major Maintenance | |||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items] | |||
| Current | 54us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
35us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
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| Non-current | 17us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
20us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
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| Total | 71us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
55us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
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| Security Project Insurance | |||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items] | |||
| Current | 127us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
151us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
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| Non-current | 5us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
6us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
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| Total | 132us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
157us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
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| Other | |||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items] | |||
| Current | 0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
3us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
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| Non-current | 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
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| Total | $ 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
$ 5us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
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| Greenfield [Member] | |||
| Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract] | |||
| Ownership percentage in equity method investment | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = cpn_GreenfieldMember |
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| Whitby [Member] | |||
| Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract] | |||
| Ownership percentage in equity method investment | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = cpn_WhitbyMember |
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- Definition
Cash and cash equivalents subject to project finance facilities and lease agreements No definition available.
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- Definition
Osprey Energy Center Agreement Term No definition available.
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- Definition
Property, Plant and Equipment, Salvage Value, Percentage Rotables No definition available.
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- Definition
Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The period end amount owned by the reporting utility of a jointly owned utility plant in service. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The period end amount of construction work in progress at a jointly owned electricity generation plant. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The period end amount of accumulated depreciation in a jointly owned electricity generation plant. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The proportionate share of interest (percent) in a jointly owned utility plant. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Stated as a percentage, the estimated or actual value of the asset at the end of its useful life or when it is no longer serviceable (cannot be used for its original purpose) divided by its [historical] capitalized cost. No definition available.
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- Definition
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Cash and equivalents whose use in whole or in part is restricted for the long-term, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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