$NRG
NRG Energy Inc Stock $nrg

$nrg Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000101387122000010 Filed on February 24, 2022

Income Statement

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
Revenue	$7.046B	$26.99B	$2.027B
YoY Change	247.61%	196.81%	-7.65%
Cost Of Revenue	$6.986B	$20.48B	$1.615B
YoY Change	332.57%	213.18%	-2.36%
Gross Profit	$60.00M	$6.507B	$412.0M
YoY Change	-85.44%	154.88%	-23.84%
Gross Profit Margin	0.85%	24.11%	20.33%
Selling, General & Admin	$303.0M	$1.293B	$246.0M
YoY Change	23.17%	59.63%	16.04%
% of Gross Profit	505.0%	19.87%	59.71%
Research & Development			$2.000M
YoY Change			0.0%
% of Gross Profit			0.49%
Depreciation & Amortization	$223.0M	$785.0M	$141.0M
YoY Change	58.16%	80.46%	5.22%
% of Gross Profit	371.67%	12.06%	34.22%
Operating Expenses	$519.0M	$1.293B	$365.0M
YoY Change	42.19%	58.07%	11.96%
Operating Profit	-$459.0M	$3.341B	$47.00M
YoY Change	-1076.6%	202.35%	-77.51%
Interest Expense	-$117.0M	$485.0M	-$129.0M
YoY Change	-9.3%	20.95%	27.72%
% of Operating Profit		14.52%	-274.47%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$21.00M	-$482.0M	$15.00M
YoY Change	40.0%	40.12%	-11.76%
Pretax Income	-$595.0M	$2.859B	-$138.0M
YoY Change	331.16%	275.69%	-215.0%
Income Tax	-$168.0M	$672.0M	$35.00M
% Of Pretax Income		23.5%
Net Earnings	-$427.0M	$2.187B	-$173.0M
YoY Change	146.82%	328.82%	-105.11%
Net Earnings / Revenue	-6.06%	8.1%	-8.53%
Basic Earnings Per Share		$8.93
Diluted Earnings Per Share	-$1.743M	$8.93	-$714.9K
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	244.8M shares	245.0M shares	244.2M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		245.0M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$250.0M	$250.0M	$3.905B
YoY Change	-93.6%	-93.6%	1031.88%
Cash & Equivalents	$250.0M	$250.0M	$3.905B
Short-Term Investments
Other Short-Term Assets	$6.848B	$6.848B	$892.0M
YoY Change	667.71%	667.71%	-33.18%
Inventory	$498.0M	$498.0M	$327.0M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$3.245B	$3.245B	$904.0M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$10.84B	$10.84B	$6.028B
YoY Change	79.84%	79.84%	95.21%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$1.959B	$1.959B	$2.848B
YoY Change	-31.21%	-31.21%	9.83%
Goodwill	$1.800B		$579.0M
YoY Change	210.88%		0.0%
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$157.0M	$157.0M	$346.0M
YoY Change	-54.62%	-54.62%	-10.82%
Other Assets	$229.0M	$5.919B	$216.0M
YoY Change	6.02%	33.52%	-10.0%
Total Long-Term Assets	$12.34B	$12.34B	$8.874B
YoY Change	39.07%	39.07%	-6.03%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$10.84B	$10.84B	$6.028B
Total Long-Term Assets	$12.34B	$12.34B	$8.874B
Total Assets	$23.18B	$23.18B	$14.90B
YoY Change	55.56%	55.56%	18.92%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$2.274B	$2.274B	$649.0M
YoY Change	250.39%	250.39%	-10.11%
Accrued Expenses	$1.405B	$1.405B	$747.0M
YoY Change	88.09%	88.09%	1.49%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$4.000M	$4.000M	$1.000M
YoY Change	300.0%	300.0%	-98.86%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$7.915B	$7.915B	$1.915B
YoY Change	313.32%	313.32%	-18.82%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$7.966B	$7.966B	$8.691B
YoY Change	-8.34%	-8.34%	49.77%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$993.0M	$3.628B	$1.066B
YoY Change	-6.85%	39.7%	-1.66%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$11.67B	$11.59B	$11.31B
YoY Change	3.18%	2.71%	33.12%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$7.915B	$7.915B	$1.915B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$11.67B	$11.59B	$11.31B
Total Liabilities	$19.58B	$19.58B	$13.22B
YoY Change	48.1%	48.1%	21.83%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$464.0M		-$1.403B
YoY Change	-133.07%		-13.18%
Common Stock	$8.535B		$8.521B
YoY Change	0.16%		0.19%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$5.273B		$5.232B
YoY Change	0.78%		3.83%
Treasury Stock Shares	179.8M shares		178.8M shares
Shareholders Equity	$3.600B	$3.600B	$1.680B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$23.18B	$23.18B	$14.90B
YoY Change	55.56%	55.56%	18.92%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	-$427.0M	$2.187B	-$173.0M
YoY Change	146.82%	328.82%	-105.11%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$223.0M	$785.0M	$141.0M
YoY Change	58.16%	80.46%	5.22%
Cash From Operating Activities	-$1.362B	$493.0M	$451.0M
YoY Change	-402.0%	-73.16%	-12.6%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$50.00M	$269.0M	-$63.00M
YoY Change	-20.63%	16.96%	40.0%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$596.0M	$0.00	$53.00M
YoY Change	1024.53%		-507.69%
Cash From Investing Activities	$546.0M	-$3.039B	-$10.00M
YoY Change	-5560.0%	515.18%	-82.76%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net		$47.00M
YoY Change		-79.39%
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-95.00M	-$272.0M	2.771B
YoY Change	-103.43%	-112.34%	-891.71%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	-1.362B	$493.0M	451.0M
Cash From Investing Activities	546.0M	-$3.039B	-10.00M
Cash From Financing Activities	-95.00M	-$272.0M	2.771B
Net Change In Cash	-911.0M	-$2.820B	3.212B
YoY Change	-128.36%	-179.55%	2874.07%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	-$1.362B	$493.0M	$451.0M
Capital Expenditures	-$50.00M	$269.0M	-$63.00M
Free Cash Flow	-$1.312B	$224.0M	$514.0M
YoY Change	-355.25%	-86.06%	-8.38%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2021	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001013871
CY2021	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2021	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2021
CY2021	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2021	nrg	Estimated Counterparty Credit Risk Exposure To Certain Counterparties Period EstimatedCounterpartyCreditRiskExposureToCertainCounterpartiesPeriod	P5Y
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseLiabilityStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
CY2021	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List FinanceLeaseLiabilityStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
CY2021	nrg	Periodofretrospectivepremiumadjustments Periodofretrospectivepremiumadjustments	P24M
CY2021	nrg	Insurance Coverage For Lost Revenue Waiting Period InsuranceCoverageForLostRevenueWaitingPeriod	P56D
CY2021	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2021	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2021-12-31
CY2021	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2021	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2021	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-15891
CY2021	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	NRG Energy, Inc
CY2021	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2021	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	41-1724239
CY2021	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	910 Louisiana Street
CY2021	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Houston
CY2021	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	TX
CY2021	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	77002
CY2021	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	713
CY2021	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	537-3000
CY2021	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common Stock, par value $0.01
CY2021	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	NRG
CY2021	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NYSE
CY2021	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2021	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2021	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2021	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2021	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2021	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2021	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2021	dei	Icfr Auditor Attestation Flag IcfrAuditorAttestationFlag	true
CY2021	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2021Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	8611281553	USD
CY2022Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	242153239	shares
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CY2021	dei	Auditor Firm AuditorFirmId	185
CY2021	dei	Auditor Name AuditorName	KPMG LLP
CY2021	dei	Auditor Location AuditorLocation	Philadelphia, PA
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CY2021	us-gaap	Impairment Of Investments ImpairmentOfInvestments	0	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	67000000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	0	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	2267000000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Collateral Obligation To Return Cash DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash	19000000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	1915000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	7966000000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Noncurrent LiabilitiesNoncurrent	11307000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	19582000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	13222000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	423547174	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	423057848	shares
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1680000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4120000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments Net Of Dividends Or Distributions IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsNetOfDividendsOrDistributions	-14000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	698000000	USD
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CY2021	nrg	Amortization Of Nuclear Fuel AmortizationOfNuclearFuel	51000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	21000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	20000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	261000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	23000000	USD
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CY2021	nrg	Asset Impairment Charges Including Equity Method Investments AssetImpairmentChargesIncludingEquityMethodInvestments	544000000	USD
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CY2019	nrg	Asset Impairment Charges Including Equity Method Investments AssetImpairmentChargesIncludingEquityMethodInvestments	113000000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxes	228000000	USD
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CY2020	nrg	Changes In Collateral Deposits Supporting Energy Risk Management Activities ChangesInCollateralDepositsSupportingEnergyRiskManagementActivities	127000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Changes In Collateral Deposits Supporting Energy Risk Management Activities ChangesInCollateralDepositsSupportingEnergyRiskManagementActivities	105000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Changes In Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Liability ChangesInNuclearDecommissioningTrustLiability	40000000	USD
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CY2021	nrg	Oil Inventory Lower Of Cost Or Market Adjustment OilInventoryLowerOfCostOrMarketAdjustment	0	USD
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CY2019	nrg	Oil Inventory Lower Of Cost Or Market Adjustment OilInventoryLowerOfCostOrMarketAdjustment	0	USD
CY2021	nrg	Gain Loss On Storm Securitization GainLossOnStormSecuritization	689000000	USD
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CY2019	nrg	Gain Loss On Storm Securitization GainLossOnStormSecuritization	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	1232000000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Discontinued Operations CashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Discontinued Operations CashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations	8000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	751000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Other Productive Assets ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherProductiveAssets	1294000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Investments In Proceeds From Sales Of Unconsolidated Affiliates InvestmentsInProceedsFromSalesOfUnconsolidatedAffiliates	0	USD
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CY2021	nrg	Net Contributions To Distributions From Discontinued Operations NetContributionsToDistributionsFromDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Shares Paid For Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	36000000	shares
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CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-6000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-3039000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-494000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	558000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Discontinued Operations CashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Discontinued Operations CashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Discontinued Operations CashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations	-2000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-3039000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-494000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	556000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Senior Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt	1100000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Senior Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt	3234000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Senior Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt	1833000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Repayments Of Other Debt RepaymentsOfOtherDebt	1861000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Repayments Of Other Debt RepaymentsOfOtherDebt	335000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Other Debt RepaymentsOfOtherDebt	2571000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	319000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	295000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	32000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Derivative Instrument Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities	-938000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Derivative Instrument Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities	7000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Derivative Instrument Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities	4000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	48000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	229000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	1440000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Extinguishment Costs PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts	65000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Extinguishment Costs PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Extinguishment Costs PaymentsOfDebtExtinguishmentCosts	26000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	18000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	75000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	35000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Lines Of Credit ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Lines Of Credit ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	-83000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Lines Of Credit ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	83000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	3000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments To Minority Shareholders ProceedsFromPaymentsToMinorityShareholders	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments To Minority Shareholders ProceedsFromPaymentsToMinorityShareholders	-2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments To Minority Shareholders ProceedsFromPaymentsToMinorityShareholders	-2000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-272000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	2204000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-2191000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Discontinued Operations CashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Discontinued Operations CashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Discontinued Operations CashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations	43000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-272000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	2204000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-2148000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	-2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	-2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Discontinued Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Discontinued Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInDiscontinuedOperations	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Discontinued Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInDiscontinuedOperations	49000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-2820000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	3545000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-228000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	3930000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	385000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	613000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	1110000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	3930000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	385000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-1234000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Including Portion Attributable To Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossIncludingPortionAttributableToNonredeemableNoncontrollingInterest	4438000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-98000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	1409000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	-16000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues	6000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	32000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1658000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Including Portion Attributable To Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossIncludingPortionAttributableToNonredeemableNoncontrollingInterest	510000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-14000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther	18000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther	18000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	4000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	197000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	-3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	297000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	1680000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Including Portion Attributable To Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossIncludingPortionAttributableToNonredeemableNoncontrollingInterest	2187000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	80000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	4000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	44000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	12000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues	1000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	320000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	3600000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Shares Paid For Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	9000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Shares Paid For Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	27000000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	1.30
CY2020	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	1.20
CY2019	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.12
CY2021	us-gaap	Nature Of Operations NatureOfOperations	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Nature of Business</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </span><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">General</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">NRG Energy, Inc., or NRG or the Company, is a consumer services company built on dynamic retail brands. NRG brings the power of energy to customers by producing and selling energy and related products and services, nation-wide in the U.S. and Canada in a manner that delivers value to all of NRG's stakeholders. NRG sells power, natural gas, home and power services, and develops innovative, sustainable solutions, predominately under the brand names NRG, Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Stream, and XOOM Energy. The Company has a customer base that includes approximately 6 million Home customers as well as commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers, supported by approximately 18,000 MW of generation. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">On January 5, 2021, the Company acquired Direct Energy, which had been a North American subsidiary of Centrica. Direct Energy is a leading retail provider of electricity, natural gas, and home and business energy related products and services in North America, with operations in all 50 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces. The acquisition increases NRG's retail portfolio by over 3 million customers and complements its integrated model. It also broadens the Company's presence in the Northeast and into states and locales where it does not currently operate, supporting NRG's objective to diversify its business. See Note 4, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Acquisitions, Discontinued Operations and Dispositions</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the acquisition of Direct Energy.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">On December 1, 2021, the Company sold approximately 4,850 MWs of fossil generating assets from its East and West regions to Generation Bridge, an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners. NRG received $623 million of net proceeds, after purchase price adjustments pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement entered into on February 28, 2021. As part of the transaction, NRG entered into a tolling agreement for the 866 MW Arthur Kill plant in New York City through April 2025.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:5pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">During the second quarter of 2021, the results of the PJM Base Residual Auction for the 2022/2023 delivery year were released, leading the Company to announce the near-term retirement of approximately 1,600 MW of its PJM coal generating assets in June 2022. On July 30, 2021, PJM identified reliability impacts resulting from the proposed deactivation of one of those assets, Indian River Unit 4. On August 27, 2021 the Company notified PJM that it would continue operations at Indian River Unit 4 until the reliability upgrades identified by PJM were completed, provided that the unit receives a satisfactory and compensatory reliability must run arrangement. See Item 15 </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">—</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> Note 11, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Asset Impairments, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. The Company is continuing to evaluate the viability of the remaining PJM generating assets.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Company manages its operations based on the combined results of the retail and wholesale generation businesses with a geographical focus. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">The Company's business is segmented as follows:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-13.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:10pt">Texas, which includes all activity related to customer, plant and market operations in Texas; </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-13.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:10pt">East, which includes all activity related to customer, plant and market operations in the East; </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:3pt;padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-13.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">•</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:10pt">West/Services/Other, which includes the following assets and activities: (i) all activity related to plant and market operations in the West and Canada, (ii) the Services businesses (iii) activity related to the Cottonwood facility, (iv) the remaining renewables activity, including the Company’s equity method investment in Ivanpah Master Holdings, LLC, and (v) activity related to the Company’s equity method investment for the Gladstone power plant in Australia; and</span></div>•Corporate activities.
CY2021Q4	nrg	Power Generation Capacity Megawatts PowerGenerationCapacityMegawatts	18000	MW
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Term Of Contract LessorOperatingLeaseTermOfContract	P20Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	67000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	43000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Acquired In Acquisition AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossAcquiredInAcquisition	112000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Acquired In Acquisition AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossAcquiredInAcquisition	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	698000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	108000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Write Offs AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs	224000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Write Offs AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs	101000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Recoveries AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries	30000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Recoveries AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries	17000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	683000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	67000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Increase Due Finance Hedge Risk AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossIncreaseDueFinanceHedgeRisk	403000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Increase Due Finance Hedge Risk AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossIncreaseDueFinanceHedgeRisk	403000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Increase Due To Counterparty Credit Risk AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossIncreaseDueToCounterpartyCreditRisk	126000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Increase Due To Shortfall Payments AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossIncreaseDueToShortfallPayments	67000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	250000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	3905000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	345000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Funds Deposited By Counterparties FundsDepositedByCounterparties	845000000	USD
CY2020Q4	nrg	Funds Deposited By Counterparties FundsDepositedByCounterparties	19000000	USD
CY2019Q4	nrg	Funds Deposited By Counterparties FundsDepositedByCounterparties	32000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	15000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	6000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	8000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	1110000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	3930000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations	385000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	1600000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	1400000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Collateral Held Cash And Letters Of Credit CollateralHeldCashAndLettersOfCredit	598000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Gross Receipts Tax GrossReceiptsTax	184000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Gross Receipts Tax GrossReceiptsTax	107000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Gross Receipts Tax GrossReceiptsTax	109000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Cost Of Services Energy Services Unbilled CostOfServicesEnergyServicesUnbilled	189000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Cost Of Services Energy Services Unbilled CostOfServicesEnergyServicesUnbilled	98000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Cost Of Services Energy Services Unbilled CostOfServicesEnergyServicesUnbilled	103000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-8000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-13000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk ConcentrationRiskCreditRisk	<div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Concentrations of Credit Risk</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trust funds, accounts receivable, notes receivable, derivatives, and investments in debt securities. Trust funds are held in accounts managed by experienced investment advisors. Certain accounts receivable, notes receivable, and derivative instruments are concentrated within entities engaged in the energy industry. These industry concentrations may impact the Company's overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that the customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic, industry or other conditions. Receivables and other contractual arrangements are subject to collateral requirements under the terms of enabling agreements. However, the Company believes that the credit risk posed by industry concentration is offset by the diversification and creditworthiness of its customer base. See Note 5, </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Fair Value of Financial Instruments,</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> for a further discussion of derivative concentrations.</span></div>
CY2020	nrg	Common Stock Quarterly Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockQuarterlyDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.30
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	19000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest	3000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	20000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Redemptions MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions	20000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	109000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	74000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	66000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Common Stock Quarterly Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockQuarterlyDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.03
CY2021	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	1.30
CY2021	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Use of Estimates</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In recording transactions and balances resulting from business operations, the Company uses estimates based on the best information available. Estimates are used for such items as plant depreciable lives, tax provisions, uncollectible accounts, actuarially determined benefit costs, the valuation of energy commodity contracts, environmental liabilities, legal costs incurred in connection with recorded loss contingencies, and assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, among others. In addition, estimates are used to test long-lived assets and goodwill for impairment and to determine the fair value of impaired assets. As better information becomes available or actual amounts are determinable, the recorded estimates are revised. Consequently, operating results can be affected by revisions to prior accounting estimates.</span></div>
CY2021	us-gaap	Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment Description PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustmentDescription	<div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Reclassifications</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:6pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:22.5pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified for comparative purposes. The reclassifications did not affect results from operations, net assets or cash flows.</span></div>
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	258000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	48000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	1000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	8000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	26777000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	18000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	8690000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	20000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	7991000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Amount Of Credit Exposure To Significant Portion Of All Counterparties AmountOfCreditExposureToSignificantPortionOfAllCounterparties	2200000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	133000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	113000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net AccountsReceivableNet	3245000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net AccountsReceivableNet	904000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Contracts Receivable UnbilledContractsReceivable	1574000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Contracts Receivable UnbilledContractsReceivable	393000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	227000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	60000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Contractwith Customer Liability Increase For Cash Payments Received ContractwithCustomerLiabilityIncreaseForCashPaymentsReceived	224000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Contractwith Customer Liability Increase For Cash Payments Received ContractwithCustomerLiabilityIncreaseForCashPaymentsReceived	31000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	23000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	13000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Business Combination Acquisition Related Costs BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts	25000000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Number Of States In Which Entity Operates NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates	9	state
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	32000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	295000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Financial Instruments Owned Us Government And Agency Obligations At Fair Value FinancialInstrumentsOwnedUSGovernmentAndAgencyObligationsAtFairValue	1000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure AssetsFairValueDisclosure	8188000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	4799000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	25000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Financial Instruments Owned Us Government And Agency Obligations At Fair Value FinancialInstrumentsOwnedUSGovernmentAndAgencyObligationsAtFairValue	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure AssetsFairValueDisclosure	1745000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	884000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Derivative Asset Fair Value Determined Using Valuation Techniques Percentage DerivativeAssetFairValueDeterminedUsingValuationTechniquesPercentage	0.06
CY2021Q4	nrg	Derivative Liability Fair Value Determined Using Valuation Techniques Percentage DerivativeLiabilityFairValueDeterminedUsingValuationTechniquesPercentage	0.03
CY2021	nrg	Change In Credit Reserve ChangeInCreditReserve	-11000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Change In Credit Reserve ChangeInCreditReserve	2000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash	291000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Collateral Obligation To Return Cash DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash	845000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Net Credit Exposure NetCreditExposure	1600000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Credit Derivative Maximum Net Exposure Percentage CreditDerivativeMaximumNetExposurePercentage	1
CY2021Q4	nrg	Credit Derivative Maximum Net Exposure Percentage CreditDerivativeMaximumNetExposurePercentage	1
CY2021	nrg	Counterparty Credit Risk Exposure Percentage Threshold CounterpartyCreditRiskExposurePercentageThreshold	0.10
CY2021	nrg	Estimated Counterparty Credit Risk Exposure To Certain Counterparties EstimatedCounterpartyCreditRiskExposureToCertainCounterparties	1100000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	698000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	108000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	95000000	USD
CY2019Q4	nrg	Long Term Capital Allocation Target Allocation Cash Generated Allocated Returned To Shareholders Percentage LongTermCapitalAllocationTargetAllocationCashGeneratedAllocatedReturnedToShareholdersPercentage	0.50
CY2021Q1	nrg	Common Stock Dividends Proposed Annual Amount Per Share CommonStockDividendsProposedAnnualAmountPerShare	1.30
CY2021Q4	nrg	Fair Valueof Gross Derivative Assets Liabilities Net FairValueofGrossDerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesNet	2341000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Derivative Asset Fair Value Gross Liability Net Of Derivative Liability Fair Value Gross Asset DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiabilityNetOfDerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossAsset	0	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Derivative Collateral Obligation To Return Cash Net Of Derivative Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCashNetOfDerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash	-814000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Derivative Asset Fair Value Amount Offset Against Collateral Net Of Derivative Liability Fair Value Amount Offset Against Collateral DerivativeAssetFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateralNetOfDerivativeLiabilityFairValueAmountOffsetAgainstCollateral	1527000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Reversal Previously Recognized Unrealized Gains Losses Settled Positions Economic Hedges ReversalPreviouslyRecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesSettledPositionsEconomicHedges	41000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Reversal Previously Recognized Unrealized Gains Losses Settled Positions Economic Hedges ReversalPreviouslyRecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesSettledPositionsEconomicHedges	55000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Reversal Previously Recognized Unrealized Gains Losses Settled Positions Economic Hedges ReversalPreviouslyRecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesSettledPositionsEconomicHedges	68000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Reversal Previously Recognized Unrealized Gains Losses Acquiredas Partof Acquisition Economic Hedges ReversalPreviouslyRecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesAcquiredasPartofAcquisitionEconomicHedges	-256000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Reversal Previously Recognized Unrealized Gains Losses Acquiredas Partof Acquisition Economic Hedges ReversalPreviouslyRecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesAcquiredasPartofAcquisitionEconomicHedges	-4000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Reversal Previously Recognized Unrealized Gains Losses Acquiredas Partof Acquisition Economic Hedges ReversalPreviouslyRecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesAcquiredasPartofAcquisitionEconomicHedges	-6000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	2501000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	-68000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	42000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Mark To Market Economic Hedging Activities UnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesMarkToMarketEconomicHedgingActivities	2716000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Mark To Market Economic Hedging Activities UnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesMarkToMarketEconomicHedgingActivities	-119000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Mark To Market Economic Hedging Activities UnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesMarkToMarketEconomicHedgingActivities	-20000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Reversal Previously Unrecognized Unrealized Gains Losses Settled Positions Trading Activity ReversalPreviouslyUnrecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesSettledPositionsTradingActivity	18000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Reversal Previously Unrecognized Unrealized Gains Losses Settled Positions Trading Activity ReversalPreviouslyUnrecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesSettledPositionsTradingActivity	20000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Reversal Previously Unrecognized Unrealized Gains Losses Settled Positions Trading Activity ReversalPreviouslyUnrecognizedUnrealizedGainsLossesSettledPositionsTradingActivity	11000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Reversal Of Acquired Gain Positions Related To Trading Activity ReversalOfAcquiredGainPositionsRelatedToTradingActivity	1000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Reversal Of Acquired Gain Positions Related To Trading Activity ReversalOfAcquiredGainPositionsRelatedToTradingActivity	0	USD
CY2019	nrg	Reversal Of Acquired Gain Positions Related To Trading Activity ReversalOfAcquiredGainPositionsRelatedToTradingActivity	0	USD
CY2021	nrg	Derivative Unrealized Gains On Open Positions Related To Trading Activity Net DerivativeUnrealizedGainsOnOpenPositionsRelatedToTradingActivityNet	-13000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Derivative Unrealized Gains On Open Positions Related To Trading Activity Net DerivativeUnrealizedGainsOnOpenPositionsRelatedToTradingActivityNet	15000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Derivative Unrealized Gains On Open Positions Related To Trading Activity Net DerivativeUnrealizedGainsOnOpenPositionsRelatedToTradingActivityNet	31000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Unrealized Gain Losson Derivatives Mark To Market Trading Activities UnrealizedGainLossonDerivativesMarkToMarketTradingActivities	-32000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Unrealized Gain Losson Derivatives Mark To Market Trading Activities UnrealizedGainLossonDerivativesMarkToMarketTradingActivities	-5000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Unrealized Gain Losson Derivatives Mark To Market Trading Activities UnrealizedGainLossonDerivativesMarkToMarketTradingActivities	20000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives UnrealizedGainLossOnDerivatives	2684000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives UnrealizedGainLossOnDerivatives	-124000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives UnrealizedGainLossOnDerivatives	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	2500000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	-68000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments Gain Loss Net DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	42000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Net Liability Position Aggregate Fair Value DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue	70000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Additional Collateral Aggregate Fair Value AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue	1000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Decommissioning Trust Assets Amount DecommissioningTrustAssetsAmount	1008000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Decommissioning Fund Investments Unrealized Gains DecommissioningFundInvestmentsUnrealizedGains	471000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Decommissioning Fund Investments Unrealized Loss DecommissioningFundInvestmentsUnrealizedLoss	2000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Decommissioning Trust Assets Amount DecommissioningTrustAssetsAmount	890000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Decommissioning Fund Investments Unrealized Gains DecommissioningFundInvestmentsUnrealizedGains	398000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Decommissioning Fund Investments Unrealized Loss DecommissioningFundInvestmentsUnrealizedLoss	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	47000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	34000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	18000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedLoss	9000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedLoss	13000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedLoss	9000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	710000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	439000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	381000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Petroleum EnergyRelatedInventoryPetroleum	8000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Petroleum EnergyRelatedInventoryPetroleum	37000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Coal EnergyRelatedInventoryCoal	83000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Coal EnergyRelatedInventoryCoal	73000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Natural Gas In Storage EnergyRelatedInventoryNaturalGasInStorage	206000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P3Y7M6D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Energy Related Inventory Natural Gas In Storage EnergyRelatedInventoryNaturalGasInStorage	22000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Inventory Spare Parts And Finished Goods Gross InventorySparePartsAndFinishedGoodsGross	201000000	USD
CY2020Q4	nrg	Inventory Spare Parts And Finished Goods Gross InventorySparePartsAndFinishedGoodsGross	195000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	498000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	327000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Plant In Service PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService	2996000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Plant In Service PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService	4483000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Accumulated Depreciation PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAccumulatedDepreciation	1308000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Accumulated Depreciation PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAccumulatedDepreciation	1936000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Net PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	1688000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Net PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2547000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	384000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	271000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	4000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	91000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	100000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	109000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	3000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	9000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	6000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	6000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Sublease Income SubleaseIncome	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Sublease Income SubleaseIncome	17000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Sublease Income SubleaseIncome	17000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	105000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	95000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	101000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	102000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	101000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	104000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	6000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	16000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	47000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	215000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	1.20
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P1Y1M6D
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0246
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0479
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P4Y8M12D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P5Y3M18D
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0544
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.0563
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	96000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	89000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	76000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	52000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	11000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	48000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	372000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	55000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	317000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Asset Impairment Charges OtherAssetImpairmentCharges	12000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	579000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	1250000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	35000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Goodwill Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss	1000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1795000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	2025000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Purchases FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchases	348000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.12
CY2021	us-gaap	Finitelived Intangible Assets Acquired1 FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	2352000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Usage And Retirements FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsUsageAndRetirements	365000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Write Off Of Fully Amortized Intangible Assets FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWriteOffOfFullyAmortizedIntangibleAssets	216000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Other Changes FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsOtherChanges	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	4147000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	1636000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	2511000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	2051000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Purchases FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPurchases	70000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finitelived Intangible Assets Acquired1 FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	22000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Usage And Retirements FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsUsageAndRetirements	35000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Write Off Of Fully Amortized Intangible Assets FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWriteOffOfFullyAmortizedIntangibleAssets	74000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	14000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Other Changes FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsOtherChanges	5000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	2025000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	1357000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	668000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	495000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	168000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	134000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	495000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	421000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	297000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	229000000	USD
CY2020Q1	nrg	Common Stock Dividends Proposed Annual Amount Per Share CommonStockDividendsProposedAnnualAmountPerShare	1.20
CY2019	nrg	Common Stock Dividends Proposed Annual Amount Per Share CommonStockDividendsProposedAnnualAmountPerShare	0.12
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	206000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	8100000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	8855000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	13000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	4000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	8113000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	8859000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	4000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	1000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Finance Costs Net DeferredFinanceCostsNet	83000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Finance Costs Net DeferredFinanceCostsNet	93000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	60000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	74000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	7966000000	USD
CY2019Q4	nrg	Long Term Capital Allocation Target Allocation Cash Generated Allocated To Growth Investments Percentage LongTermCapitalAllocationTargetAllocationCashGeneratedAllocatedToGrowthInvestmentsPercentage	0.50
CY2019Q4	nrg	Long Term Capital Allocation Target Allocation Cash Generated Allocated Returned To Shareholders Percentage LongTermCapitalAllocationTargetAllocationCashGeneratedAllocatedReturnedToShareholdersPercentage	0.50
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	8691000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	60000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	74000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	4000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	603000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	502000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	7001000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	8113000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Repurchased Face Amount DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount	1900000000	USD
CY2021Q3	us-gaap	Repayments Of Senior Debt RepaymentsOfSeniorDebt	1900000000	USD
CY2021Q3	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	77000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Write Off Of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost	12000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Repurchased Face Amount DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount	1855000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Repayments Of Senior Debt RepaymentsOfSeniorDebt	1949000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Interest Payable Current InterestPayableCurrent	29000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	760000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	-36000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Costs Incurred Asset Retirement Obligation Incurred CostsIncurredAssetRetirementObligationIncurred	5000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	51000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	42000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Mutual Lost Revenue Insurance Maximum Weekly Recovery MutualLostRevenueInsuranceMaximumWeeklyRecovery	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	720000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Number Of Defined Benefit Plans NumberOfDefinedBenefitPlans	3	benefitPlan
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	36301882	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	6062783	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Recognized Net Gain Loss Due To Curtailments DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToCurtailments	8000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Curtailments DefinedBenefitPlanCurtailments	-32000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	1084752	shares
CY2021	nrg	Common Stock Quarterly Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockQuarterlyDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.325
CY2021	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	25000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	22000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	22000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Shares Authorized TemporaryEquitySharesAuthorized	10000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Shares Authorized TemporaryEquitySharesAuthorized	10000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Shares Authorized TemporaryEquitySharesAuthorized	10000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Temporary Equity Shares Authorized TemporaryEquitySharesAuthorized	10000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2019Q1	nrg	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Minimum Percentageof Compensation Eligible EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMinimumPercentageofCompensationEligible	0.01
CY2019Q1	nrg	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Maximum Percentage Of Compensation Eligible EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMaximumPercentageOfCompensationEligible	0.10
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Discount From Market Price Purchase Date ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate	0.95
CY2019Q1	nrg	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Exercise Price As Percentage Of Fair Value EmployeeStockPurchasePlanExercisePriceAsPercentageOfFairValue	0.95
CY2021Q4	nrg	Common Stock Capital Shares Reserved For Employee Stock Purchase Plan CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	2636199	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	157000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Difference Between Carrying Amount And Underlying Equity EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity	116000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Undistributed Earnings From Equity Method Investees RetainedEarningsUndistributedEarningsFromEquityMethodInvestees	33000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Undistributed Earnings From Equity Method Investees RetainedEarningsUndistributedEarningsFromEquityMethodInvestees	30000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2187000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	510000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	4438000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	245000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	245000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	262000000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	8.93
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.08
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	16.94
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2187000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	510000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	4438000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	245000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	245000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	262000000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	0	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	2000000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	245000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	246000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	246000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	264000000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	8.93
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.07
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	16.81
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CY2021	nrg	Costofrevenueincludingsellingmarketingandgeneraladministrative Costofrevenueincludingsellingmarketingandgeneraladministrative	22566000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	785000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	544000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	23895000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	247000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	3341000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	17000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	63000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	-77000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	485000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	2859000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	672000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2187000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	157000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Capital Expenditures CapitalExpenditures	269000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	1795000000	USD
CY2021Q4	nrg	Additional Mutual Lost Revenue Insurance Weekly Maximum AdditionalMutualLostRevenueInsuranceWeeklyMaximum	2000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	23182000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	9093000000	USD
CY2020	nrg	Costofrevenueincludingsellingmarketingandgeneraladministrative Costofrevenueincludingsellingmarketingandgeneraladministrative	7481000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	435000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	75000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	7991000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	1105000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	17000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Investments ImpairmentOfInvestments	18000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	67000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	-9000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	401000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	761000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	251000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	510000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	346000000	USD
CY2020Q4	nrg	Capital Expenditures CapitalExpenditures	230000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	579000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	14902000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	9821000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Costofrevenueincludingsellingmarketingandgeneraladministrative Costofrevenueincludingsellingmarketingandgeneraladministrative	8160000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	373000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	8538000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	7000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	1290000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Investments ImpairmentOfInvestments	108000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	66000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	-51000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	413000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	786000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3334000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4120000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	321000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	4441000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	4438000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	48000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	22000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	2000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	3000000	USD
CY2021	nrg	Number Of Years Board Of Directors Of Industry Mutual Insurance Company Can Adjust Policy After Policy Expires NumberOfYearsBoardOfDirectorsOfIndustryMutualInsuranceCompanyCanAdjustPolicyAfterPolicyExpires	P6Y
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	4000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	51000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	26000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	569000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3000000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	36000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	60000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-340000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	16000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	225000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	672000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	251000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3334000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.235
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CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-3500000000	USD
CY2019	nrg	Net Operating Loss Carryforwards Utilized NetOperatingLossCarryforwardsUtilized	593000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	2759000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	749000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	771000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	100000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	15000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	2859000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	761000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	786000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	2859000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	761000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	786000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	600000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	160000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	165000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	0	USD
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$NRG
NRG Energy Inc Stock $nrg

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000101387122000010 Filed on February 24, 2022

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$NRG NRG Energy Inc Stock $nrg

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000101387122000010 Filed on February 24, 2022

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$NRG
NRG Energy Inc Stock $nrg