Segment Reporting (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

The Company's segment structure reflects how management currently makes financial decisions and allocates resources. During January 2017, the Company's businesses are segregated as follows: Generation, which includes generation, international and BETM (previously part of Corporate); Retail which includes Mass customers (previously Retail Mass), and Business Solutions, which includes C&I customers and other distributed and reliability products (previously in the Generation segment); Renewables, which includes solar and wind assets, excluding those in NRG Yield; NRG Yield; and corporate activities. The Company's corporate segment includes residential solar and electric vehicle services. Intersegment sales are accounted for at market. The financial information for years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 have been recast to reflect these changes.

NRG Yield includes certain of the Company's contracted generation assets. On September 1, 2016 NRG Yield acquired the remaining 51.05% interest in CVSR Holdco LLC, which indirectly owns the CVSR solar facility, from the Company. This acquisition was accounted for as transfers of entities under common control and accordingly, all historical periods have been recast to reflect this change.

NRG’s chief operating decision maker, its chief executive officer, evaluates the performance of its segments based on operational measures including adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and capital for allocation, as well as net income/(loss) and net income/(loss) attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.

During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company had one customer in the East region within Generation which comprised more than 10% of the Company's consolidated revenues.

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
	Generation(a)			Retail (a)			Renewables(a)			NRG Yield(a)			Corporate(a)			Eliminations			Total
	(In millions)
Operating revenues(a)	$	5,679		$	6,336		$	417		$	1,021		$	77		$	(1,179	)	$	12,351
Operating expenses	4,922			5,169			215			322			212			(1,184		)	9,656
Depreciation and amortization	702			115			190			297			63			—			1,367
Impairment losses	645			1			56			183			33			—			918
Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs	—			—			—			1			7			—			8
Development costs	22			4			40			—			24			—			90
Total operating cost and expenses	6,291			5,289			501			803			339			(1,184		)	12,039
Gain/(loss) on sale of assets	294			(1		)	—			—			(78		)	—			215
Operating (loss)/income	(318		)	1,046			(84		)	218			(340		)	5			527
Equity in (losses)/earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(5		)	—			(30		)	37			7			18			27
Impairment losses on investments	(142		)	—			(105		)	—			(21		)	—			(268		)
Other income, net	36			1			1			3			62			(61		)	42
Loss on debt extinguishment	—			—			—			—			(142		)	—			(142		)
Interest expense	(79		)	(1		)	(108		)	(274		)	(658		)	59			(1,061		)
(Loss)/income before income taxes	(508		)	1,046			(326		)	(16		)	(1,092		)	21			(875		)
Income tax (benefit)/expense	(1		)	1			(20		)	(1		)	37			—			16
Net (loss)/income	$	(507	)	$	1,045		$	(306	)	$	(15	)	$	(1,129	)	$	21		$	(891	)
Less: Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	—			—			(13		)	(54		)	16			(66		)	(117		)
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(507	)	$	1,045		$	(293	)	$	39		$	(1,145	)	$	87		$	(774	)
Balance sheet
Equity investments in affiliates	$	204		$	—		$	372		$	710		$	91		$	(257	)	$	1,120
Capital expenditures (b)	767			12			330			23			110			—			1,242
Goodwill	199			340			12						111						662
Total assets	$	13,256		$	1,977		$	5,280		$	8,383		$	15,590		$	(14,131	)	$	30,355

(a) Inter-segment sales and net derivative gains and losses included in operating revenues $ 955 $ 4 $ 23 $ 8 $ 189 $ — $ 1,179

(b) Includes accruals.

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Generation(a)			Retail (a)			Renewables(a)			NRG Yield(a)			Corporate(a)			Eliminations			Total
	(In millions)
Operating revenues(a)	$	7,546		$	6,914		$	392		$	953		$	39		$	(1,170	)	$	14,674
Operating expenses	6,210			6,113			185			333			291			(1,149		)	11,983
Depreciation and amortization	896			133			181			297			59			—			1,566
Impairment losses	4,827			36			13			—			132			22			5,030
Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs	—			1			—			3			6			—			10
Development costs	27			4			52			—			63			—			146
Total operating cost and expenses	11,960			6,287			431			633			551			(1,127		)	18,735
Gain on postretirement benefits curtailment	21			—			—			—			—			—			21
Operating (loss)/income	(4,393		)	627			(39		)	320			(512		)	(43		)	(4,040		)
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	10			—			9			26			—			(9		)	36
Impairment losses on investments	(14		)	—			—			—			(42		)	—			(56		)
Other income, net	48			(1		)	3			3			78			(98		)	33
(Loss)/gain on debt extinguishment	—			—			—			(9		)	84			—			75
Loss on sale of equity method investment	—			—			—			—			(14		)	—			(14		)
Interest expense	(97		)	(1		)	(83		)	(263		)	(779		)	95			(1,128		)
(Loss)/income before income taxes	(4,446		)	625			(110		)	77			(1,185		)	(55		)	(5,094		)
Income tax expense/(benefit)	—			1			(18		)	12			1,347			—			1,342
Net (loss)/income	(4,446		)	624			(92		)	65			(2,532		)	(55		)	(6,436		)
Less: Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	—			—			6			19			(37		)	(42		)	(54		)
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(4,446	)	$	624		$	(98	)	$	46		$	(2,495	)	$	(13	)	$	(6,382	)
Balance sheet
Equity investments in affiliates	$	334		$	—		$	134		$	697		$	127		$	(247	)	$	1,045
Capital expenditures(b)	792			36			163			30			246			—			1,267
Goodwill	536			340			12			—			111			—			999
Total assets	$	17,625		$	2,017		$	5,142		$	8,689		$	19,720		$	(20,311	)	$	32,882

(a) Inter-segment sales and net derivative gains and losses included in operating revenues $ 898 $ 6 $ 25 $ 29 $ 212 $ — $ 1,170

(b) Includes accruals.

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
	Generation(a)			Retail(a)			Renewables(a)			NRG Yield(a)			Corporate(a)			Eliminations			Total
	(In millions)
Operating revenues(a)	$	9,288		$	7,393		$	344		$	828		$	19		$	(2,004	)	$	15,868
Operating expenses	6,985			7,270			191			285			151			(2,058		)	12,824
Depreciation and amortization	957			134			164			233			35			—			1,523
Impairment losses	87			—			32			—			(22		)	—			97
Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs	1			3			—			4			76			—			84
Development costs	12			1			40			—			35			—			88
Total operating costs and expenses	8,042			7,408			427			522			275			(2,058		)	14,616
Gain on sale of assets	19			—			—			—			—			—			19
Operating income/(loss)	1,265			(15		)	(83		)	306			(256		)	54			1,271
Equity in earnings/(losses)of unconsolidated affiliates	23			—			(4		)	17			—			2			38
Other income, net	39			—			1			6			75			(99		)	22
Gain on sale of equity method investment	18			—			—			—			—			—			18
Loss on debt extinguishment	—			—			(1		)	(1		)	(93		)	—			(95		)
Interest expense	(94		)	(2		)	(97		)	(216		)	(806		)	96			(1,119		)
Income/(loss) before income taxes	1,251			(17		)	(184		)	112			(1,080		)	53			135
Income tax expense/(benefit)	3			1			—			4			(5		)	—			3
Net income/(loss)	$	1,248		(18		)	(184		)	108			(1,075		)	53			132
Less: Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(1		)	—			2			16			5			(24		)	(2		)
Net income/(loss) attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	1,249		$	(18	)	$	(186	)	$	92		$	(1,080	)	$	77		$	134

(a) Inter-segment sales and net derivative gains and losses included in operating revenues $ 1,873 $ 7 $ 25 $ 12 $ 85 $ — $ 2,002

As of December 31, 2016, the Company's businesses were segregated as follows: Generation (previously named Generation/Business), which includes generation, international and business solutions; Retail Mass (previously NRG Home Retail); Renewables (previously named NRG Renew), which includes solar and wind assets, excluding those in NRG Yield; NRG Yield; and corporate activities. The Company's corporate segment included BETM, residential solar (previously part of NRG Home) and electric vehicle services. During 2016, the Company began reporting the results of its residential solar business in its corporate segment and its international business in its Generation segment. The financial information for years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 have been recast to reflect these changes.

NRG Yield includes certain of the Company's contracted generation assets. On September 1, 2016 NRG Yield acquired the remaining 51.05% interest in CVSR Holdco LLC, which indirectly owns the CVSR solar facility, from the Company. This acquisition was accounted for as transfers of entities under common control and accordingly, all historical periods have been recast to reflect this change.

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
	Generation(a)			Retail Mass(a)		Renewables(a)			NRG Yield(a)			Corporate(a)			Eliminations			Total
	(In millions)
Operating revenues(a)	$	6,927		$	4,966	$	417		$	1,021		$	137		$	(1,117	)	$	12,351
Operating expenses	6,020			3,987		215			322			235			(1,123		)	9,656
Depreciation and amortization	712			104		190			297			64			—			1,367
Impairment losses	646			—		56			183			33			—			918
Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs	—			—		—			1			7			—			8
Development costs	26			—		40			—			24			—			90
Total operating cost and expenses	7,404			4,091		501			803			363			(1,123		)	12,039
Gain/(loss) on sale of assets	293			—		—			—			(78		)	—			215
Operating (loss)/income	(184		)	875		(84		)	218			(304		)	6			527
Equity in (losses)/earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(5		)	—		(30		)	37			7			18			27
Impairment losses on investments	(142		)	—		(105		)	—			(21		)	—			(268		)
Other income, net	37			—		1			3			62			(61		)	42
Loss on debt extinguishment	—			—		—			—			(142		)	—			(142		)
Interest expense	(80		)	—		(108		)	(274		)	(658		)	59			(1,061		)
(Loss)/income before income taxes	(374		)	875		(326		)	(16		)	(1,056		)	22			(875		)
Income tax (benefit)/expense	—			—		(20		)	(1		)	37			—			16
Net (loss)/income	$	(374	)	$	875	$	(306	)	$	(15	)	$	(1,093	)	$	22		$	(891	)
Less: Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	—			—		(13		)	(54		)	16			(66		)	(117		)
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(374	)	$	875	$	(293	)	$	39		$	(1,109	)	$	88		$	(774	)
Balance sheet
Equity investments in affiliates	$	204		$	—	$	372		$	710		$	91		$	(257	)	$	1,120
Capital expenditures (b)	779			59		330			23			51			—			1,242
Goodwill	199			340		12			—			111			—			662
Total assets	$	13,234		$	1,589	$	5,280		$	8,383		$	15,734		$	(13,865	)	$	30,355

(a) Inter-segment sales and net derivative gains and losses included in operating revenues $ 893 $ 2 $ 23 $ 8 $ 191 $ — $ 1,117

(b) Includes accruals.

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Generation(a)			Retail Mass (a)		Renewables(a)			NRG Yield(a)			Corporate(a)			Eliminations			Total
	(In millions)
Operating revenues(a)	$	9,097		$	5,389	$	392		$	953		$	14		$	(1,171	)	$	14,674
Operating expenses	7,744			4,561		184			333			310			(1,149		)	11,983
Depreciation and amortization	907			123		180			297			59			—			1,566
Impairment losses	4,827			36		13			—			132			22			5,030
Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs	—			1		—			3			6			—			10
Development costs	31			—		52			—			63			—			146
Total operating cost and expenses	13,509			4,721		429			633			570			(1,127		)	18,735
Gain on postretirement benefits curtailment	21			—		—			—			—			—			21
Operating (loss)/income	(4,391		)	668		(37		)	320			(556		)	(44		)	(4,040		)
Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliates	10			—		9			26			(3		)	(6		)	36
Impairment losses on investments	(14		)	—		—			—			(42		)	—			(56		)
Other income, net	48			—		3			3			77			(98		)	33
(Loss)/gain on debt extinguishment	—			—		—			(9		)	84			—			75
Loss on sale of equity method investment	—			—		—			—			(14		)	—			(14		)
Interest expense	(98		)	—		(83		)	(263		)	(779		)	95			(1,128		)
(Loss)/income before income taxes	(4,445		)	668		(108		)	77			(1,233		)	(53		)	(5,094		)
Income tax expense/(benefit)	1			—		(18		)	12			1,347			—			1,342
Net (loss)/income	(4,446		)	668		(90		)	65			(2,580		)	(53		)	(6,436		)
Less: Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	—			—		6			19			(37		)	(42		)	(54		)
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(4,446	)	$	668	$	(96	)	$	46		$	(2,543	)	$	(11	)	$	(6,382	)
Balance sheet
Equity investments in affiliates	$	334		$	—	$	134		$	697		$	127		$	(247	)	$	1,045
Capital expenditures(b)	798			30		163			30			246			—			1,267
Goodwill	536			340		12			—			111			—			999
Total assets	$	17,324		$	1,876	$	5,142		$	8,689		$	19,926		$	(20,075	)	$	32,882

(a) Inter-segment sales and net derivative gains and losses included in operating revenues $ 898 $ 6 $ 25 $ 29 $ 213 $ — $ 1,171

(b) Includes accruals.

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
	Generation(a)			Retail Mass (a)			Renewables(a)			NRG Yield(a)			Corporate(a)			Eliminations			Total
	(In millions)
Operating revenues(a)	$	11,113		$	5,503		$	344		$	828		$	82		$	(2,002	)	$	15,868
Operating expenses	8,993			5,236			191			285			171			(2,052		)	12,824
Depreciation and amortization	966			122			164			233			38			—			1,523
Impairment losses	87			—			32			—			(22		)	—			97
Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs	1			3			—			4			76			—			84
Development costs	13			—			40			—			35			—			88
Total operating costs and expenses	10,060			5,361			427			522			298			(2,052		)	14,616
Gain on sale of assets	19			—			—			—			—			—			19
Operating income/(loss)	1,072			142			(83		)	306			(216		)	50			1,271
Equity in earnings/(losses)of unconsolidated affiliates	23			—			(4		)	17			—			2			38
Other income, net	39			—			1			6			75			(99		)	22
Gain on sale of equity method investment	18			—			—			—			—			—			18
Loss on debt extinguishment	—			—			(1		)	(1		)	(93		)	—			(95		)
Interest expense	(95		)	(1		)	(97		)	(216		)	(806		)	96			(1,119		)
Income/(loss) before income taxes	1,057			141			(184		)	112			(1,040		)	49			135
Income tax expense/(benefit)	4			—			—			4			(5		)	—			3
Net income/(loss)	1,053			141			(184		)	108			(1,035		)	49			132
Less: Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(1		)	—			2			16			5			(24		)	(2		)
Net income/(loss) attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	1,054		$	141		$	(186	)	$	92		$	(1,040	)	$	73		$	134

(a) Inter-segment sales and net derivative gains and losses included in operating revenues $ 1,873 $ 7 $ 25 $ 12 $ 85 $ — $ 2,002