Investments Accounted for by the Equity Method and Variable Interest Entities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Summary NRG's equity method investments

The following table summarizes NRG's equity method investments as of December 31, 2018:

Name	Economic Interest		Investment Balance
			(In millions)
Agua Caliente	35.0	%	200
Gladstone	37.5	%	140
Ivanpah Master Holdings, LLC	54.5	%	37
Watson Cogeneration Company	49.0	%	17
Midway-Sunset Cogeneration Company	50.0	%	12
Other(a)	Various		6
Total equity investments in affiliates			$	412

(a) Refer to Note 9, Asset Impairments, for discussion of NRG's investment in Petra Nova Parish Holdings, LLC

Undistributed earnings by equity investment

	As of December 31,
	2018		2017
	(In millions)
Undistributed earnings from equity investments	$	34	$	38

Summary of Financial Information for Consolidated VIEs

The summarized financial information for the Company's consolidated VIEs consisted of the following:

(In millions)	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Current assets	$	3	$	6
Net property, plant and equipment	76		80
Other long-term assets	28		36
Total assets	107		122
Current liabilities	2		3
Long-term debt	29		30
Other long-term liabilities	7		7
Total liabilities	38		40
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	19		19
Net assets less noncontrolling interests	$	50	$	63