v3.2.0.727

Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments in Power Plants (Tables) | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jun. 30, 2015
Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments [Abstract] |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments | At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our equity method investments included on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets were comprised of the following (in millions):
| Ownership Interest as of June 30, 2015 |  | June 30, 2015 |  | December 31, 2014
Greenfield LP | 50% |  | $ | 78 |  |  | $ | 78 |
Whitby | 50% |  | 9 |  |  | 17 |
Total investments in power plants |  |  | $ | 87 |  |  | $ | 95 |
Income (Loss) 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 June 30, |  | Six Months Ended June 30,
| 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Greenfield LP | $ | (4 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (6 | ) |  | $ | (5 | )
Whitby | (3 | ) |  | (4 | ) |  | (6 | ) |  | (8 | )
Total | $ | (7 | ) |  | $ | (4 | ) |  | $ | (12 | ) |  | $ | (13 | )
Condensed Financial Statements [Table Text Block] | Aggregated summarized financial data for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 are set forth below (in millions): Condensed Combined Statements of Operations of Our Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Unaudited)
|  | Six Months Ended June 30,
|  | 2015 |  | 2014
Revenues |  | $ | 98 |  |  | $ | 149 |
Operating expenses |  | 66 |  |  | 111 |
Income from operations |  | 32 |  |  | 38 |
Interest expense, net of interest income |  | 10 |  |  | 12 |
Other (income) expense, net |  | (1 | ) |  | — |
Net income |  | $ | 23 |  |  | $ | 26 |

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
- Definition Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments Abstract + References No definition available. + 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

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of condensed financial statements, including, but not limited to, the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfCondensedFinancialStatementsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration