|
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
3 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mar. 31, 2015
|
Mar. 31, 2014
|
Dec. 31, 2014
|
|
| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |||
| Interest Costs Capitalized | $ 5us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized | $ 6us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized | |
| Buildings, machinery and equipment | 16,092cpn_BuildingsMachineryAndEquipmentGross | 16,059cpn_BuildingsMachineryAndEquipmentGross | |
| Geothermal properties | 1,314cpn_GeothermalPropertiesGross | 1,294cpn_GeothermalPropertiesGross | |
| Other | 205us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther | 203us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther | |
| Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross | 17,611us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross | 17,556us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross | |
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | 5,122us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment | 4,984us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment | |
| Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Less Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment | 12,489cpn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossLessAccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment | 12,572cpn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGrossLessAccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment | |
| Land | 119us-gaap_Land | 120us-gaap_Land | |
| Construction in progress | 570us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross | 498us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross | |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | $ 13,178us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet | $ 13,190us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet | |
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Buildings, machinery and equipment, gross No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Geothermal Properties, Gross No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Less Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Amount of structure or a modification to a structure under construction. Includes recently completed structures or modifications to structures that have not been placed into service. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Amount of interest capitalized during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Amount before accumulated depletion of real estate held for productive use, excluding land held for sale. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Details
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
|
- Definition
Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of other physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|