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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Current $ 162us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue   $ 195us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Non-current 47us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent   49us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
Total 209us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents   244us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
Interest Costs Capitalized 5us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized 6us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized  
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired 9.3us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired    
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method 202us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod    
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share $ 21.57us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare    
Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation 10us-gaap_AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation    
Debt Service      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Current 12us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
  10us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
Non-current 24us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
  25us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
Total 36us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
  35us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_DebtServiceMember
Rent Reserve      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Current 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
  4us-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 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
  4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_RentReserveMember
Construction Major Maintenance      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Current 60us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
  54us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
Non-current 17us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
  17us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
Total 77us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
  71us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_ConstructionMajorMaintenanceMember
Security Project Insurance      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Current 88us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
  127us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
Non-current 4us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
  5us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
Total 92us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
  132us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_SecurityProjectInsuranceMember
Other      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Current 0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
  0us-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
  $ 2us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cpn_OtherRestrictedCashMember
Geothermal Properties, Gross [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 13 years    
Geothermal Properties, Gross [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 59 years    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 3 years    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 47 years    
Building, Machinery and Equipment, Gross [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 3 years    
Building, Machinery and Equipment, Gross [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 47 years