Capital Structure (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Equity [Abstract]

Changes in NRG's common shares issued and outstanding

The following table reflects the changes in NRG's common shares issued and outstanding for each period presented:

	Common Shares
	Issued	Treasury	Outstanding
Balance as of December 31, 2018	420,288,886	(136,638,847)	283,650,039
Shares issued under ESPP	—	46,128	46,128
Shares issued under LTIPs	1,601,904	—	1,601,904
Share repurchases	—	(36,301,882)	(36,301,882)
Balance as of December 31, 2019	421,890,790	(172,894,601)	248,996,189
Shares issued under ESPP	—	131,469	131,469
Shares issued under LTIPs	1,167,058	—	1,167,058
Share repurchases	—	(6,062,783)	(6,062,783)
Balance as of December 31, 2020	423,057,848	(178,825,915)	244,231,933
Shares issued under ESPP	—	117,392	117,392
Shares issued under LTIPs	489,326	—	489,326
Share repurchases	—	(1,084,752)	(1,084,752)
Balance as of December 31, 2021	423,547,174	(179,793,275)	243,753,899
Shares issued under LTIPs	288,491	—	288,491
Share repurchases	—	(1,889,151)	(1,889,151)
Balance as of February 24, 2022	423,835,665	(181,682,426)	242,153,239

Summary of shares repurchased

The following table summarizes the shares repurchases made during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021 as well as through February 24, 2022:

	Total number of shares and share equivalents purchased	Average price paid per share and share equivalent		Amounts paid for shares and share equivalents purchased (in millions)
2019 repurchases:
Repurchases under February 28, 2019 Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement	9,438,671			400
Other repurchases(a)	26,863,211			1,008
Equivalent shares purchased in lieu of tax withholdings on equity compensation issuances(b)	936,928			36
Total Share Repurchases during 2019	37,238,810	$	38.79	$	1,444
2020 repurchases:
Repurchases	6,062,783			197
Equivalent shares purchased in lieu of tax withholdings on equity compensation issuances(b)	711,248			27
Total Share Repurchases during 2020	6,774,031	$	33.05	$	224
2021 repurchases:
Repurchases(a)	1,084,752			44
Equivalent shares purchased in lieu of tax withholdings on equity compensation issuances(b)	249,013			9
Total Share Repurchases during 2021	1,333,765	$	40.22	$	53
2022 repurchases:
Repurchases made subsequent to December 31, 2021	1,889,151			76
Equivalent shares purchased in lieu of tax withholdings on equity compensation issuances(b)	130,674			6
Total share repurchases January 1, 2021 through February 24, 2022	2,019,825	$	40.26	$	82

(a)Includes $5 million and $4 million accrued as of December 31, 2021 and December 31,2019, respectively

(b)NRG elected to pay cash for tax withholding on equity awards instead of issuing actual shares to management. The average price per equivalent shares withheld was $43.08, $37.50, $38.23 and $38.78 in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. See Note 21, Stock-Based Compensation, for further discussion of the equity awards