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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]      
Current $ 195us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 203us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue  
Non-current 49us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent 69us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent  
Total 244us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents 272us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents  
Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]      
Cash and cash equivalents subject to project finance facilities and lease agreements 257cpn_CashAndCashEquivalentsSubjectToProjectFinanceFacilitiesAndLeaseAgreements 292cpn_CashAndCashEquivalentsSubjectToProjectFinanceFacilitiesAndLeaseAgreements  
Property, plant and equipment, salvage value (as a percent) 10.00%us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentSalvageValuePercentage    
Property, plant and equipment, salvage value of rotables (as a percent) 0.15%cpn_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentSalvageValuePercentageRotables    
Osprey Energy Center Agreement Term 0 years 27 months    
Impairment losses 123us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges 16us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges 0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Asset retirement obligations 47us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation 44us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation  
Freestone Energy Center [Member]      
Jointly Owned Plants [Abstract]      
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share 75.00%us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantProportionateOwnershipShare
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember
   
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Plant in Service 389us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantGrossOwnershipAmountOfPlantInService
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember
   
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Plant Accumulated Depreciation (140)us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfPlantAccumulatedDepreciation
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember
   
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Construction Work in Progress 0us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfConstructionWorkInProgress
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= cpn_FreestoneEnergyCenterMember
   
Hidalgo Energy Center [Member]      
Jointly Owned Plants [Abstract]      
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share 78.50%us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantProportionateOwnershipShare
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember
   
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Gross Ownership Amount of Plant in Service 257us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantGrossOwnershipAmountOfPlantInService
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember
   
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Plant Accumulated Depreciation (104)us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfPlantAccumulatedDepreciation
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember
   
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Ownership Amount of Construction Work in Progress 0us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantOwnershipAmountOfConstructionWorkInProgress
/ us-gaap_JointlyOwnedUtilityPlantAxis
= cpn_HidalgoEnergyCenterMember
   
Debt Service      
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]      
Current 10us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
11us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
 
Non-current 25us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
41us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
 
Total 35us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
52us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
 
Rent Reserve [Member]      
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]      
Current 4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
3us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
 
Non-current 0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
 
Total 4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
3us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
 
Construction Major Maintenance      
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]      
Current 54us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
35us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
 
Non-current 17us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
20us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
 
Total 71us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
55us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
 
Security Project Insurance      
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]      
Current 127us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
151us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
 
Non-current 5us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
6us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
 
Total 132us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
157us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
 
Other      
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]      
Current 0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
3us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
 
Non-current 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
 
Total $ 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
$ 5us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
 
Greenfield [Member]      
Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]      
Ownership percentage in equity method investment 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cpn_GreenfieldMember
   
Whitby [Member]      
Basis Of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textuals) [Abstract]      
Ownership percentage in equity method investment 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cpn_WhitbyMember