Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ($70 and $242 attributable to VIEs)	$ 515	$ 941
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $5 and $5	627	552
Margin deposits and other prepaid expense	293	309
Restricted cash, current ($115 and $100 attributable to VIEs)	195	203
Derivative assets, current	655	445
Inventory and other current assets	417	406
Total current assets	2,702	2,856
Property, plant and equipment, net ($4,568 and $4,191 attributable to VIEs)	13,598	12,995
Restricted cash, net of current portion ($70 and $68 attributable to VIEs)	71	69
Investments in power plants	85	93
Long-term derivative assets	174	105
Other assets	437	441
Total assets	17,067	16,559
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	607	462
Accrued interest payable	93	162
Debt, current portion ($129 and $140 attributable to VIEs)	189	204
Derivative liabilities, current	728	451
Other current liabilities	256	252
Total current liabilities	1,873	1,531
Debt, net of current portion ($3,322 and $2,923 attributable to VIEs)	11,286	10,908
Long-term derivative liabilities	230	243
Other long-term liabilities	266	309
Total liabilities	13,655	12,991
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 11)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share; authorized 100,000,000 shares, none issued and outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; authorized 1,400,000,000 shares, 499,765,622 and 497,841,056 shares issued, respectively, and 423,242,107 and 429,038,988 shares outstanding, respectively	1	1
Treasury stock, at cost, 76,523,515 and 68,802,068 shares, respectively	(1,378)	(1,230)
Additional paid-in capital	12,400	12,389
Accumulated deficit	(7,503)	(7,486)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(166)	(160)
Total Calpine stockholders’ equity	3,354	3,514
Noncontrolling interest	58	54
Total stockholders’ equity	3,412	3,568
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 17,067	$ 16,559