Long-term Debt - Debt Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 9 Months Ended | |
Sep. 30, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 6,792 | $ 6,858 |
Current portion of long-term debt | (361) | (1,824) |
Debt issuance costs, net | (79) | (78) |
Add premiums | 5 | 0 |
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities | 6,357 | 4,956 |
2020 Convertible Notes | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | 45 |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 3.25% | |
2024 Senior Notes | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | 88 |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 5.375% | |
2025 Senior Notes | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 600 | 600 |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 5.75% | |
2026 Senior Notes | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 350 | 350 |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 5.00% | |
2028 Senior Notes | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 850 | 600 |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 4.75% | |
Clearway Energy LLC and Clearway Energy Operating LLC Revolving Credit Facility, due 2023 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.00% | |
Clearway Energy LLC and Clearway Energy Operating LLC Revolving Credit Facility, due 2023 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | 0 |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | 59 | |
Subtotal project-level debt: | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | 4,992 | 5,175 |
Alpine, due 2022 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | 119 |
Alpine, due 2022 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.00% | |
Alpine, due 2022 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 0 | |
Alta Wind I-V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 816 | 844 |
Alta Wind I-V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 | Minimum | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 5.696% | |
Alta Wind I-V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 | Maximum | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 7.015% | |
Alta Wind I-V lease financing arrangements, due 2034 and 2035 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 29 | |
Buckthorn Solar, due 2025 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 127 | 129 |
Buckthorn Solar, due 2025 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 1.75% | |
Buckthorn Solar, due 2025 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 26 | |
Carlsbad Holdco, due 2038 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 215 | 216 |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 4.21% | |
Carlsbad Holdco, due 2038 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 9 | |
Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, due 2027 and 2038 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | 568 | 582 |
Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, due 2027 and 2038 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | 67 | |
Chestnut Borrower, LLC, due 2024 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 109 | 0 |
Chestnut Borrower, LLC, due 2024 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.50% | |
Chestnut Borrower, LLC, due 2024 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 8 | |
CS4 Borrower, due 2026 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 103 | 0 |
CS4 Borrower, due 2026 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.00% | |
CS4 Borrower, due 2026 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 4 | |
CVSR, due 2037 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 675 | 696 |
CVSR, due 2037 | Minimum | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 2.339% | |
CVSR, due 2037 | Maximum | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 3.775% | |
CVSR, due 2037 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 0 | |
CVSR Holdco Notes, due 2037 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 176 | 182 |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 4.68% | |
CVSR Holdco Notes, due 2037 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 13 | |
Duquesne, due 2059 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 95 | 95 |
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage | 4.62% | |
Duquesne, due 2059 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 0 | |
El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 250 | 303 |
El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 | Minimum | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 1.875% | |
El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 | Maximum | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.50% | |
El Segundo Energy Center, due 2023 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 138 | |
Energy Center Minneapolis Series D, E, F, G, H Notes, due 2025-2037 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | 327 | 328 |
Energy Center Minneapolis Series D, E, F, G, H Notes, due 2025-2037 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | 0 | |
Laredo Ridge, due 2028 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 80 | 84 |
Laredo Ridge, due 2028 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.125% | |
Laredo Ridge, due 2028 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 10 | |
Kansas South, due 2030 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 23 | 24 |
Kansas South, due 2030 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.25% | |
Kansas South, due 2030 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 2 | |
Kawailoa Solar Holdings LLC, due 2026 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 82 | 82 |
Kawailoa Solar Holdings LLC, due 2026 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 1.375% | |
Kawailoa Solar Holdings LLC, due 2026 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 13 | |
Marsh Landing, due 2023 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 164 | 206 |
Marsh Landing, due 2023 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.125% | |
Marsh Landing, due 2023 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 38 | |
NIMH Solar, due 2024 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 193 | 0 |
NIMH Solar, due 2024 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.00% | |
NIMH Solar, due 2024 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 11 | |
Oahu Solar Holdings LLC, due 2026 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 90 | 91 |
Oahu Solar Holdings LLC, due 2026 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 1.375% | |
Oahu Solar Holdings LLC, due 2026 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 11 | |
Repowering Partnership Holdco LLC, due 2020 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | 228 |
Repowering Partnership Holdco LLC, due 2020 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 0.85% | |
Repowering Partnership Holdco LLC, due 2020 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 0 | |
South Trent, due 2028 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 39 | 43 |
South Trent, due 2028 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 1.35% | |
South Trent, due 2028 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 12 | |
Tapestry, due 2031 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 147 | 156 |
Tapestry, due 2031 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 1.375% | |
Tapestry, due 2031 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 18 | |
Utah Solar Holdings, due 2036 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 296 | 0 |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 3.59% | |
Utah Solar Holdings, due 2036 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 9 | |
Utah Solar Portfolio, due 2022 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | 254 |
Utah Solar Portfolio, due 2022 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 1.625% | |
Utah Solar Portfolio, due 2022 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 0 | |
Viento, due 2023 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 35 | 42 |
Viento, due 2023 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 2.00% | |
Viento, due 2023 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 12 | |
Walnut Creek, due 2023 | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | $ 140 | 175 |
Walnut Creek, due 2023 | LIBOR | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 1.75% | |
Walnut Creek, due 2023 | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 80 | |
Other | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | 242 | 296 |
Other | Letter of Credit | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Letters of credit outstanding, amount | $ 29 | |
Blythe | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | | 14 |
Roadrunner | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | |
Long-term debt | | $ 28 |