CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 2,996	$ 2,960	$ 7,626	$ 7,486
Operating Costs and Expenses
Cost of operations	2,153	2,238	5,649	5,512
Depreciation and amortization	91	99	261	331
Impairment losses	0	0	1	74
Selling, general and administrative	210	211	615	587
Reorganization costs	1	27	16	70
Development costs	1	1	5	9
Total operating costs and expenses	2,456	2,576	6,547	6,583
Gain on sale of assets	0	14	2	30
Operating Income/(Loss)	540	398	1,081	933
Other Income/(Expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	29	20	8	26
Impairment losses on investments	107	1	107	16
Other income, net	17	19	49	12
Loss on debt extinguishment, net	0	(19)	(47)	(22)
Interest expense	(99)	(122)	(318)	(361)
Total other income/(expense)	(160)	(103)	(415)	(361)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	380	295	666	572
Income tax expense	6	8	9	19
Income from Continuing Operations	374	287	657	553
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax	(2)	(336)	399	(272)
Net Income/(Loss)	372	(49)	1,056	281
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest and redeemable interests	0	23	1	1
Net income/(loss) attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$ 372	$ (72)	$ 1,055	$ 280
Earnings per Share Attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic (in shares)	254	299	266	309
Income from continuing operations per weighted average common share — basic (in usd per share)	$ 1.47	$ 0.88	$ 2.47	$ 1.79
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations per weighted average common share — basic (in usd per share)	(0.01)	(1.12)	1.50	(0.88)
Earnings/Loss per Weighted Average Common Share — Basic (in usd per share)	$ 1.46	$ (0.24)	$ 3.97	$ 0.91
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted (in shares)	256	299	268	313
Income from continuing operations per weighted average common share — diluted (in usd per share)	$ 1.46	$ 0.88	$ 2.45	$ 1.76
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations per weighted average common share — diluted (in usd per share)	(0.01)	(1.12)	1.49	(0.87)
Earnings/(Loss) per Weighted Average Common Share — Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 1.45	$ (0.24)	$ 3.94	$ 0.89