v3.6.0.2
Commitments and Contingencies (Schedule of Guarantor Obligations) (Details)
$ in Millions
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Loans Payable [Member]  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary $ 26 [1]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary 31 [1]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary 30 [1]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary 30 [1]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary 29 [1]
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years 90 [1]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted 236 [1]
Financial Standby Letter of Credit [Member]  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary 855 [2],[3],[4]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary 98 [2],[3],[4]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary 0 [2],[3],[4]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary 0 [2],[3],[4]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary 0 [2],[3],[4]
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years 38 [2],[3],[4]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted 991 [2],[3],[4]
Surety Bonds [Member]  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary 15 [4],[5],[6]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary 0 [4],[5],[6]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary 0 [4],[5],[6]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary 0 [4],[5],[6]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary 0 [4],[5],[6]
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years 11 [4],[5],[6]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted 26 [4],[5],[6]
Accounts Receivable Sales Program [Member]  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary 211 [7]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary 0 [7]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary 0 [7]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary 0 [7]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary 0 [7]
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years 0 [7]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted 211 [7]
Gurantee Obligations Total [Member]  
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]  
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary 1,107
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary 129
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary 30
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary 30
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary 29
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years 139
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted $ 1,464
[1] Represents Calpine Corporation guarantees of certain power plant capital leases and related interest. All guaranteed capital leases are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
[2] Letters of credit are renewed annually and as such all amounts are reflected in the year of letter of credit expiration. The related commercial obligations extend for multiple years, therefore, renewal of the letter of credit will likely follow the term of the associated commercial obligation.
[3] The standby letters of credit disclosed above represent those disclosed in Note 6.
[4] These are contingent off balance sheet obligations.
[5] As of December 31, 2016, no cash collateral is outstanding related to these bonds.
[6] The majority of surety bonds do not have expiration or cancellation dates.
[7] Calpine has guaranteed the performance of Calpine Solutions under the Accounts Receivable Sales Program. The Accounts Receivable Sales Program expires on December 1, 2017.