Debt Agreement, Term Extension, Period

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Increase in Borrowing Capacity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nrg_LineOfCreditFacilityIncreaseInBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	nrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the fee for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(13))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126897435&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(19))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_RepurchaseFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrOvernightIndexSwapRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_ReceivableFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nrg_BilateralCreditFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Long-term Debt and Finance Leases - Receivable Securitization Facilities (Details) - Secured Debt - USD ($)					6 Months Ended
	Jul. 26, 2022	May 27, 2022	Apr. 29, 2022	Feb. 09, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Repurchase Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing available				$ 150,000,000	$ 800,000,000	$ 75,000,000
Commitment fee					0
Outstanding borrowing					0
Repurchase Facility \| Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate				1.30%
Receivable Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowing					$ 0
Weighted average interest rate on usage under receivable facility					0.726%
Receivable Facility \| Subsequent Event
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing available	$ 1,000,000,000
Extension of termination, period	1 year
Receivable Facility \| Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Letters of credit issued					$ 400,000,000
Bilateral Credit Facilities
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Increase to existing revolving facility		$ 50,000,000	$ 100,000,000
Bilateral Credit Facilities \| Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing available		$ 625,000,000
Letters of credit issued					$ 608,000,000