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Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Disclosure of net notional volume buy/(sell) of entity derivative transactions
The following table summarizes the net notional volume buy/(sell) of NRG's open derivative transactions broken out by commodity, excluding those derivatives that qualified for the NPNS exception as of September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011. Option contracts are reflected using delta volume. Delta volume equals the notional volume of an option adjusted for the probability that the option will be in-the-money at its expiration date.
 
 
Total Volume
Commodity
Units
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
(In millions)
Emissions
Short Ton
(1
)
 
(2
)
Coal
Short Ton
34

 
37

Natural Gas
MMBtu
(244
)
 
13

Oil
Barrel
—

 
1

Power
MWh
12

 
4

Interest
Dollars
$
2,251

 
$
2,121
Schedule of derivative instruments in Statement of Financial Position, fair value
The following table summarizes the fair value within the derivative instrument valuation on the balance sheet:
 
Fair Value
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts current
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
11

 
$
39

Interest rate contracts long-term
—

 
—

 
96

 
68

Commodity contracts current
1

 
318

 
2

 
—

Commodity contracts long-term
—

 
—

 
1

 
1

Total Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
1

 
318

 
110

 
108

Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate contracts current
—

 
—

 
13

 
—

Interest rate contracts long-term
—

 
—

 
14

 
1

Commodity contracts current
2,676

 
3,898

 
2,436

 
3,712

Commodity contracts long-term
309

 
450

 
450

 
394

Total Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
2,985

 
4,348

 
2,913

 
4,107

Total Derivatives
$
2,986

 
$
4,666

 
$
3,023

 
$
4,215
Schedule of cash flow hedge OCI activity
The following table summarizes the effects of ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC 815, on the Company's accumulated OCI balance attributable to cash flow hedge derivatives, net of tax:
 
Three months ended September 30, 2012
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2012
 
Energy Commodities
 
Interest Rate
 
Total
 
Energy Commodities
 
Interest Rate
 
Total
 
(In millions)
Accumulated OCI beginning balance
$
111

 
$
(68
)
 
$
43

 
$
188

 
$
(56
)
 
$
132

Reclassified from accumulated OCI to income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due to realization of previously deferred amounts
(30
)
 
3

 
(27
)
 
(106
)
 
11

 
(95
)
Mark-to-market of cash flow hedge accounting contracts
(1
)
 
(15
)
 
(16
)
 
(2
)
 
(35
)
 
(37
)
Accumulated OCI ending balance, net of $12 tax
$
80

 
$
(80
)
 
$
—

 
$
80

 
$
(80
)
 
$
—

Gains/(losses) expected to be realized from OCI during the next 12 months, net of $38 tax
$
77

 
$
(11
)
 
$
66

 
$
77

 
$
(11
)
 
$
66

Losses recognized in income from the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(51
)
 
$
—

 
$
(51
)

 
Three months ended September 30, 2011
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2011
 
Energy Commodities
 
Interest Rate
 
Total
 
Energy Commodities
 
Interest Rate
 
Total
 
(In millions)
Accumulated OCI beginning balance
$
332

 
$
(40
)
 
$
292

 
$
488

 
$
(47
)
 
$
441

Reclassified from accumulated OCI to income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due to realization of previously deferred amounts
(91
)
 
—

 
(91
)
 
(281
)
 
11

 
(270
)
Mark-to-market of cash flow hedge accounting contracts
19

 
(4
)
 
15

 
53

 
(8
)
 
45

Accumulated OCI ending balance, net of $136 tax
$
260

 
$
(44
)
 
$
216

 
$
260

 
$
(44
)
 
$
216

Gains/(losses) expected to be realized from OCI during the next 12 months, net of $107 tax
$
186

 
$
(2
)
 
$
184

 
$
186

 
$
(2
)
 
$
184

Gains recognized in income from the ineffective portion of cash flow hedges
$
9

 
$
—

 
$
9

 
$
8

 
$
3

 
$
11
Disclosure of pre-tax effects of economic hedges included in operating revenues and cost of operations

The following table summarizes the pre-tax effects of economic hedges that have not been designated as cash flow hedges, ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges, and trading activity on the Company's statement of operations. The effect of commodity hedges is included within operating revenues and cost of operations and the effect of interest rate hedges is included in interest expense.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(In millions)
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Unrealized mark-to-market results
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reversal of previously recognized unrealized (gains)/losses on settled positions related to economic hedges
$
(85
)
 
$
50

 
$
(160
)
 
$
72

Reversal of (gain)/loss positions acquired as part of the Reliant Energy and Green Mountain Energy acquisitions
(15
)
 
(11
)
 
5

 
60

Net unrealized (losses)/gains on open positions related to economic hedges
(159
)
 
(7
)
 
(78
)
 
77

Gains/(losses) on ineffectiveness associated with open positions treated as
    cash flow hedges
—

 
9

 
(51
)
 
8

Total unrealized mark-to-market (losses)/gains for economic hedging activities
(259
)
 
41

 
(284
)
 
217

Reversal of previously recognized unrealized (gains)/losses on settled positions related to trading activity
(15
)
 
8

 
(45
)
 
22

Net unrealized (losses)/gains on open positions related to trading activity
(3
)
 
—

 
33

 
22

Total unrealized mark-to-market(losses)/gains for trading activity
(18
)
 
8

 
(12
)
 
44

Total unrealized (losses)/gains
$
(277
)
 
$
49

 
$
(296
)
 
$
261


 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(In millions)
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
Revenue from operations — energy commodities
$
(395
)
 
$
89

 
$
(470
)
 
$
193

Cost of operations
118

 
(40
)
 
174

 
68

Total impact to statement of operations — energy commodities
$
(277
)
 
$
49

 
$
(296
)
 
$
261

Total impact to statement of operations — interest rate contracts
$
—

 
$
(1
)
 
$
(12
)
 
$
2