v3.19.1

Revenue From Contracts with Customers Performance Obligations and Contract Balances (Details) - Environmental Credits [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue, Current	$ 19		$ 14
Deferred Revenue, Revenue Recognized	$ 2	$ 5

X

- Definition

The carrying amount of consideration received or receivable as of the balance sheet date on potential earnings that were not recognized as revenue in conformity with GAAP, and which are expected to be recognized as such within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, including sales, license fees, and royalties, but excluding interest income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6935-107765

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously reported as deferred or unearned revenue.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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

X

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=cpn_EnvironmentalCreditsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: