Commitments and Contingencies (Schedule of Guarantor Obligations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Loans Payable [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary	$ 36	[1]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary	37	[1]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary	36	[1]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary	26	[1]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary	31	[1]
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years	178	[1]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	344	[1]
Financial Standby Letter of Credit [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary	562	[2],[3]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary	11	[2],[3]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary	0	[2],[3]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary	20	[2],[3]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary	0	[2],[3]
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years	37	[2],[3]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	630	[2],[3]
Surety Bonds [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary	0	[2],[4],[5]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary	0	[2],[4],[5]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary	0	[2],[4],[5]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary	0	[2],[4],[5]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary	0	[2],[4],[5]
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years	27	[2],[4],[5]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	27	[2],[4],[5]
Greenleaf [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary	7	[2]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary	4	[2]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary	0	[2]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary	0	[2]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary	0	[2]
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years	0	[2]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	11	[2]
Gurantee Obligations Total [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Guarantee Obligations Balance On First Anniversary	605
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Second Anniversary	52
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Third Anniversary	36
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fourth Anniversary	46
Guarantee Obligations Balance On Fifth Anniversary	31
Guarantee Obligations Due After Five Years	242
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted	$ 1,012

[1] Represents Calpine Corporation guarantees of certain power plant capital leases and related interest. All guaranteed capital leases are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[2] These are contingent off balance sheet obligations.

[3] The standby letters of credit disclosed above represent those disclosed in Note 6.

[4] As of December 31, 2013, $4 million of cash collateral is outstanding related to these bonds.

[5] The majority of surety bonds do not have expiration or cancellation dates.