Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Sale of Accounts Receivables Current Facility	$ 250
Percentage of Accounts Receivables Sold to Third Party	100.00%
Transfer of Financial Assets Accounted for as Sales, Fair Value of Derecognized Assets	$ 211
Goodwill	187	$ 29
Gain on Business Interruption Insurance Recovery	24	2	$ 0
Current	173	216
Non-current	15	12
Total	$ 188	228
Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, salvage value (as a percent)	10.00%
Property, plant and equipment, salvage value of rotables (as a percent)	0.15%
Impairment losses	$ 13	0	$ 123
Asset retirement obligations	53	47
Jointly Owned Plants [Abstract]
Contractually Specified Servicing Fees, Amount	0
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for which Transfer is Accounted as Sale, Gain (Loss) on Sale	0
Continuing Involvement with Continued to be Recognized Transferred Financial Assets, Amount Outstanding	32
Trade Receivables Sold	165
Cash Flows Between Transferor and Transferee, Proceeds from New Transfers	$ 165
Freestone Energy Center [Member]
Jointly Owned Plants [Abstract]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share	75.00%
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Plant in Service	$ 382
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Plant Accumulated Depreciation	(150)
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Construction Work in Progress	$ 0
Hidalgo Energy Center [Member]
Jointly Owned Plants [Abstract]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share	78.50%
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Plant in Service	$ 255
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Plant Accumulated Depreciation	(115)
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Construction Work in Progress	0
Debt Service
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Current	11	28
Non-current	8	8
Total	19	36
Construction Major Maintenance
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Current	45	50
Non-current	6	2
Total	51	52
Security Project Insurance
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Current	114	136
Non-current	0	0
Total	114	136
Other
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Current	3	2
Non-current	1	2
Total	$ 4	4
Greenfield [Member]
Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Ownership percentage in equity method investment	50.00%
Whitby [Member]
Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Ownership percentage in equity method investment	50.00%
Calpine Receivables [Member]
Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Ownership percentage in equity method investment	100.00%
Goodwill [Member]
Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Impairment losses	$ 0	$ 0

Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies textuals abstract

No definition available.

Name:	cpn_BasisOfPresentationAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	cpn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Jointly Owned Plants [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cpn_JointlyOwnedPlantsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	cpn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of Accounts Receivables Sold to Third Party

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cpn_PercentageofAccountsReceivablesSoldtoThirdParty
Namespace Prefix:	cpn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Property, Plant and Equipment, Salvage Value, Percentage Rotables

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cpn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentSalvageValuePercentageRotables
Namespace Prefix:	cpn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sale of Accounts Receivables Current Facility

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cpn_SaleofAccountsReceivablesCurrentFacility
Namespace Prefix:	cpn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Trade Receivables Sold

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cpn_TradeReceivablesSold
Namespace Prefix:	cpn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2420-110228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash Flows between a transferor and a transferee attributable to newly transferred assets related to either a securitization, asset-backed financing arrangement, or similar transfer in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the transferred financial assets underlying the transaction (including, but not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in the transferred financial assets).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowsBetweenTransfereeAndTransferorProceedsFromNewTransfers
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

All amounts that, per contract, are due to the servicer in exchange for servicing the financial asset and would no longer be received by a servicer if the beneficial owners of the serviced assets (or their trustees or agents) were to exercise their actual or potential authority under the contract to shift the servicing to another servicer. Depending on the servicing contract, those fees may include some or all of the difference between the interest rate collected on the asset being serviced and the rate to be paid to the beneficial owners of the asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 50
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68078379&loc=d3e122596-111746

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractuallySpecifiedServicingFeesAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net amount (to the extent disclosed within this portion of the income statement) by which an insurance settlement exceeds incremental costs incurred from the event causing an interruption of business, plus the insurance award for earnings lost from the event, such as a natural catastrophe, explosion or fire.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64839914&loc=d3e16285-107787

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainOnBusinessInterruptionInsuranceRecovery
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64834752&loc=SL49117168-202975

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The period end amount owned by the reporting utility of a jointly owned utility plant in service.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 980
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 10.C)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6500719&loc=d3e659983-123033

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantGrossOwnershipAmountOfPlantInService
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The period end amount of construction work in progress at a jointly owned electricity generation plant.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfConstructionWorkInProgress
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The period end amount of accumulated depreciation in a jointly owned electricity generation plant.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfPlantAccumulatedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The proportionate share of interest (percent) in a jointly owned utility plant.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantProportionateOwnershipShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Stated as a percentage, the estimated or actual value of the asset at the end of its useful life or when it is no longer serviceable (cannot be used for its original purpose) divided by its [historical] capitalized cost.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentSalvageValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- 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_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsItemsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash and equivalents whose use in whole or in part is restricted for the long-term, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects, by transferred financial asset type, the amount of sales proceeds in excess of or deficient from the sum of the carrying amounts of transferred financial assets plus transaction costs, including those transactions in which the seller/transferor has continuing involvement with the financial assets that have been transferred.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64830801&loc=d3e107207-111719

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 10
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65892426&loc=d3e96813-111708

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritizationFinancialAssetForWhichTransferIsAccountedAsSaleGainLossOnSale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transferred financial assets in which the transferor has continuing involvement with the assets underlying the transaction that continue to be recognized in the statement of financial position. Includes, but is not limited to, servicing, recourse, and restrictions on transferor's interests in transferred financial assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64830801&loc=d3e107314-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritizedAssetsAndAnyOtherFinancialAssetsManagedTogetherPrincipalAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of derecognized financial assets from transactions which comprise an initial transfer and an agreement entered into in contemplation of the initial transfer resulting in retention of substantially all of the exposure to the economic return throughout the term of the transaction.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4D
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64830801&loc=SL51823488-111719

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransferOfFinancialAssetsAccountedForAsSalesFairValueOfDerecognizedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis=cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis=cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=cpn_DebtServiceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=cpn_GreenfieldMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=cpn_WhitbyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=cpn_CalpineReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_GoodwillMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: