v3.2.0.727

Debt (First Lien Notes) (Details) - Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] - USD ($) $ in Millions | Jun. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | ---
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Long-term Debt |  | $ 11,398 | $ 11,122
2022 First Lien Notes [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Long-term Debt |  | 745 | 745
First Lien Notes 2023 [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Long-term Debt | [1] | 693 | 840
2024 First Lien Notes [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Long-term Debt |  | 490 | 490
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Long-term Debt |  | $ 1,928 | $ 2,075
[1] | On February 3, 2015, we repurchased approximately $147 million of our 2023 First Lien Notes with the proceeds from our 2024 Senior Unsecured Notes, as described in further detail above.

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=cpn_A2022FirstLienNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=cpn_FirstLienNotes2023Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=cpn_A2024FirstLienNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |