v3.3.0.814

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] |
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block] | A summary of our restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity for the Calpine Equity Incentive Plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, is as follows:
| Number of Restricted Stock Awards |  | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested — December 31, 2014 | 4,201,868 |  |  | $ | 18.01 |
Granted | 1,577,932 |  |  | $ | 21.40 |
Forfeited | 240,259 |  |  | $ | 19.64 |
Vested | 1,589,073 |  |  | $ | 16.54 |
Nonvested — September 30, 2015 | 3,950,468 |  |  | $ | 19.85 |
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Activity | A summary of our performance share unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, is as follows:
| Number of Performance Share Units |  | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested — December 31, 2014 | 867,479 |  |  | $ | 21.93 |
Granted | 365,667 |  |  | $ | 23.91 |
Forfeited | 89,117 |  |  | $ | 22.33 |
Vested(1) | 8,254 |  |  | $ | 22.56 |
Nonvested — September 30, 2015 | 1,135,775 |  |  | $ | 22.53 |
___________
(1) | In accordance with the applicable performance share unit agreements, performance share units granted to employees who meet the retirement eligibility requirements stipulated in the Equity Plan are fully vested upon the later of the date on which the employee becomes eligible to retire or one-year anniversary of the grant date.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DisclosureOfCompensationRelatedCostsSharebasedPaymentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of share-based compensation plans that may be presented in a single table for outstanding, vested and expected to vest, and exercisable awards. The information that may be disclosed in this table may include, but is not limited to, number of shares, weighted average exercise price, weighted average remaining contractual life, and aggregate intrinsic value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationActivityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure of the number and weighted-average grant date fair value for restricted stock and restricted stock units that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, and the number of restricted stock and restricted stock units that were granted, vested, or forfeited during the year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfSharebasedCompensationRestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsActivityTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration