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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
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3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Mar. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2014
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Current |
$ 162us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue |
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$ 195us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue |
| Non-current |
47us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent |
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49us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent |
| Total |
209us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents |
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244us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents |
| Interest Costs Capitalized |
5us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized |
6us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized |
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| Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired |
9.3us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired |
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| Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method |
202us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod |
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| Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share |
$ 21.57us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare |
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| Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation |
10us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation |
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| Debt Service |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Current |
12us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
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10us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
| Non-current |
24us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
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25us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
| Total |
36us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
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35us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_DebtServiceMember |
| Rent Reserve |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Current |
2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
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4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
| Non-current |
0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
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0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
| Total |
2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
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4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_RentReserveMember |
| Construction Major Maintenance |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Current |
60us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
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54us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
| Non-current |
17us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
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17us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
| Total |
77us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
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71us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember |
| Security Project Insurance |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Current |
88us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
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127us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
| Non-current |
4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
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5us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
| Total |
92us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
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132us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember |
| Other |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Current |
0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
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0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
| Non-current |
2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
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2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
| Total |
$ 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
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$ 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents / us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember |
| Geothermal Properties, Gross [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives |
13 years |
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| Geothermal Properties, Gross [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives |
59 years |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives |
3 years |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives |
47 years |
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| Building, Machinery and Equipment, Gross [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives |
3 years |
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| Building, Machinery and Equipment, Gross [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
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| Accounting Policies [Line Items] |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives |
47 years |
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