Capital Structure (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

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, 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 ESPP	—	142,825	142,825
Shares issued under LTIPs	349,827	—	349,827
Share repurchases	—	(14,685,521)	(14,685,521)
Balance as of December 31, 2022	423,897,001	(194,335,971)	229,561,030
Shares issued under LTIPs	213,208	—	213,208
Balance as of February 15, 2023	424,110,209	(194,335,971)	229,774,238

Summary of shares repurchased

The following table summarizes the shares repurchases made during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 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)
2020 repurchases:
Repurchases	6,062,783			197
Equivalent shares purchased in lieu of tax withholdings on equity compensation issuances(a)	711,248			27
Total Share Repurchases during 2020	6,774,031	$	33.05	$	224
2021 repurchases:
Repurchases(b)	1,084,752			44
Equivalent shares purchased in lieu of tax withholdings on equity compensation issuances(a)	249,013			9
Total Share Repurchases during 2021	1,333,765	$	40.22	$	53
2022 repurchases:
Repurchases	14,685,521			595
Equivalent shares purchased in lieu of tax withholdings on equity compensation issuances(a)	151,241			6
Total Share Repurchases during 2022	14,836,762	$	40.50	$	601

(a)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 $42.74, $37.50 and $38.23 in 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. See Note 21, Stock-Based Compensation, for further discussion of the equity awards

(b)Includes $5 million accrued as of December 31, 2021