NRG ENERGY INC

Previous wording

As you read this discussion and analysis, refer to NRG's condensed consolidated statements of operations to this Form 10-Q, which present the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. Also refer to NRG's 2023 Form 10-K, which includes detailed discussions of various items impacting the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition, including: General section; Strategy section; Business Overview section, including how regulation, weather, and other factors affect NRG's business; and Critical Accounting Estimates section.

Current wording

As you read this discussion and analysis, refer to NRG's condensed consolidated statements of operations to this Form 10-Q, which present the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. Also refer to NRG's 2023 Form 10-K, which includes detailed discussions of various items impacting the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition, including: General section; Strategy section; Business Overview section, including how regulation, weather, and other factors affect NRG's business; and Critical Accounting Estimates section.

Previous wording

NRG Energy, Inc., or NRG or the Company, sits at the intersection of energy and home services. NRG is a leading energy and home services company fueled by market-leading brands, proprietary technologies, and complementary sales channels. Across the U.S. and Canada, NRG delivers innovative, sustainable solutions, predominately under brand names such as NRG, Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy and Vivint, while also advocating for competitive energy markets and customer choice. The Company has a customer base that includes approximately 8.0 million residential consumers in addition to commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers, supported by approximately 13 GW of generation as of March 31, 2024.

Current wording

NRG Energy, Inc., or NRG or the Company, sits at the intersection of energy and home services. NRG is a leading energy and home services company fueled by market-leading brands, proprietary technologies, and complementary sales channels. Across the U.S. and Canada, NRG delivers innovative, sustainable solutions, predominately under brand names such as NRG, Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy and Vivint, while also advocating for competitive energy markets and customer choice. The Company has a customer base that includes approximately 8 million residential consumers in addition to commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers, supported by approximately 13 GW of generation as of June 30, 2024.

Previous wording

Public Utility Commission of Texas’ Actions with Respect to Wholesale Pricing and Market Design —The PUCT continues to analyze and implement multiple options for promoting increased reliability in the wholesale electric market, including the adoption of a reliability standard for resource adequacy and market-based mechanisms to achieve this standard. During the 88th Regular Session, the Texas Legislature authorized implementation of the Performance Credit Mechanism ("PCM"), which will measure real-time contribution to system reliability and provide compensation for resources to be available, subject to certain "guardrails" such as an absolute annual net cost cap, as part of its adoption of the PUCT Sunset Bill (House Bill 1500). The Texas Legislature also directed the PUCT to implement additional market design changes such as the creation of a new ancillary service called Dispatchable Reliability Reserve Service ("DRRS") to further increase ERCOT's capability to manage net load variability and firming requirements for new generation resources which penalize poor performance during periods of low grid reserves. The PUCT directed ERCOT to implement DRRS as a standalone product which will delay implementation until 2026 or 2027.

Current wording

Public Utility Commission of Texas’ Actions with Respect to Wholesale Pricing and Market Design —The PUCT continues to analyze and implement multiple options for promoting increased reliability in the wholesale electric market, including the adoption of a reliability standard for resource adequacy and market-based mechanisms to achieve this standard. The Commission is expected to adopt a reliability standard by the end of 2024. During the 88th Regular Session, the Texas Legislature authorized implementation of the Performance Credit Mechanism ("PCM"), which will measure real-time contribution to system reliability and provide compensation for resources to be available, subject to certain "guardrails" such as an absolute annual net cost cap, as part of its adoption of the PUCT Sunset Bill (House Bill 1500). The Texas Legislature also directed the PUCT to implement additional market design changes such as the creation of a new ancillary service called Dispatchable Reliability Reserve Service ("DRRS") to further increase ERCOT's capability to manage net load variability and firming requirements for new generation resources which penalize poor performance during periods of low grid reserves. The PUCT directed ERCOT to implement DRRS as a standalone product which will delay implementation until 2026 or 2027.

Previous wording

Through Senate Bill 2627, the Texas Legislature created the Texas Energy Fund, which received voter approval in November 2023, and will provide grants and low-interest loans (3%) to incentivize the development of more dispatchable generation and smaller backup generation in ERCOT. The PUCT adopted a rule in March 2024, which establishes the application and participation requirements and the process by which the Texas Energy Fund loan proceeds for dispatchable generation in ERCOT will be distributed. The initial window for submitting loan applications will be open from June 1, 2024 to July 27, 2024. The PUCT adopted a rule for the completion bonus grant program in April 2024, which provides for opportunities for grants of $120,000 per MW for dispatchable generation projects interconnected before June 1, 2026, or $80,000 per MW for dispatchable generation projects interconnected on or after June 1, 2026 but before June 1, 2029, subject to performance requirements.

Current wording

Through Senate Bill 2627, the Texas Legislature created the Texas Energy Fund, which received voter approval in November 2023, and will provide grants and low-interest loans (3%) to incentivize the development of more dispatchable generation and smaller backup generation in ERCOT. The PUCT adopted a rule in March 2024, which establishes the application and participation requirements and the process by which the Texas Energy Fund loan proceeds for dispatchable generation in ERCOT will be distributed. The initial window for submitting loan applications was opened on June 1, 2024 and closed on July 27, 2024. NRG, through its subsidiaries, has filed for loan proceeds for three separate projects, totaling more than 1,500 MWs of capacity. The PUCT also adopted a rule for the completion bonus grant program in April 2024, which provides for opportunities for grants of $120,000 per MW for dispatchable generation projects interconnected before June 1, 2026, or $80,000 per MW for dispatchable generation projects interconnected on or after June 1, 2026 but before June 1, 2029, subject to performance requirements. Applications for completion bonus grants can be submitted beginning in January 2025.

Previous wording

Real-time Co-optimization of Energy and Ancillary Services ("RTC") – ERCOT is progressing with a multi-year project to upgrade their systems to co-optimize the dispatch of energy and ancillary services in real-time. The RTC project will also replace the Operating Reserve Demand Curve with demand curves for each ancillary service product which will act as the primary scarcity pricing mechanism when energy or ancillary services are in shortage. ERCOT anticipates commencing market trials for testing the RTC project in Spring 2026 with production go-live in late 2026.

Current wording

Real-time Co-optimization of Energy and Ancillary Services ("RTC") – ERCOT is progressing with a multi-year project to upgrade their systems to co-optimize the dispatch of energy and ancillary services in real-time. The RTC project will also replace the Operating Reserve Demand Curve with demand curves for each ancillary service product which will act as the primary scarcity pricing mechanism when energy or ancillary services are in shortage. ERCOT anticipates commencing market trials for testing the RTC project in Spring 2025 with production go-live in late 2025 or early 2026.

Previous wording

Ruling on Pricing during Winter Storm Uri — On March 17, 2023, the Third Court of Appeals issued a ruling in Luminant Energy Co. v. PUCT, which is an appeal relating to the validity of two orders issued by the PUCT on February 15 and 16, 2021, respectively, governing scarcity pricing in the ERCOT wholesale electricity market during Winter Storm Uri. The Third Court found that the PUCT exceeded its statutory authority by ordering the market price of energy to be set at the high system wide offer cap due to scarcity conditions as a result of firm load shed occurring in ERCOT. The Third Court reversed the PUCT's orders and remanded the case. On March 23, 2023, the PUCT filed a petition for review to the Supreme Court of Texas seeking reversal of the Third Court's decision, which was granted on September 29, 2023. The Court received briefing on the merits and oral arguments occurred on January 30, 2024. The outcome of this appeal could potentially require a retroactive repricing of the ERCOT market prices during the subject time period.

Current wording

Supreme Court of Texas Ruling on Pricing during Winter Storm Uri — On June 14, 2024, the Supreme Court of Texas issued an order affirming the validity of two orders issued by the PUCT on February 15 and 16, 2021, respectively, governing scarcity pricing in the ERCOT wholesale electricity market during Winter Storm Uri. The Supreme Court's order reversed the judgment of the Third Court of Appeals, which held that the PUCT exceeded its statutory authority by ordering the market price of energy to be set at the high system wide offer cap due to scarcity conditions as a result of firm load shed occurring in ERCOT. In addition to holding that the PUCT's orders were consistent with the agency's statutory authority, the Supreme Court of Texas's order found that the PUCT had substantially complied with the Administrative Procedure Act's procedural rulemaking requirements, which was an issue that the Third Court of Appeals did not reach.

Previous wording

Revisions to PJM Local Deliverability Area Reliability Requirement — The Base Residual Auction for the 2024/2025 delivery year commenced on December 7, 2022 and closed on December 13, 2022. On December 19, 2022, PJM announced that it would delay the publication of the auction results. On December 23, 2022, PJM made a filing at FERC to revise the definition of Locational Deliverability Area ("LDA") Reliability Requirement in the Tariff. This would allow PJM to exclude certain resources from the calculation of the Local Deliverability Area Reliability Requirement. On February 21, 2023, FERC accepted PJM's filing. Multiple parties, including NRG, filed for rehearing. Rehearing was denied by operation of law, and multiple parties, including the Company, filed appeals to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 12, 2024, the court vacated the portion of the FERC orders that allow PJM to apply the Local Deliverability Area Reliability Requirement to the 2024/2025 capacity auction. On March 29, 2024, PJM filed a petition seeking confirmation as to the capacity commitments rules for the 2024/2025 auction. On May 6, 2024, FERC directed PJM to recalculate the 2024/2025 auction results under the Initial LDA Reliability Requirement rules, and further directed PJM to rerun the Third Incremental Auction. As a result, the capacity for the 2024/2025 delivery year in the Delmarva Power and Light South zone will increase and rerunning the Third Incremental Auction is expected to impact that auction's prices.

Current wording

Revisions to PJM Local Deliverability Area Reliability Requirement — The Base Residual Auction for the 2024/2025 delivery year commenced on December 7, 2022 and closed on December 13, 2022. On December 19, 2022, PJM announced that it would delay the publication of the auction results. On December 23, 2022, PJM made a filing at FERC to revise the definition of Locational Deliverability Area ("LDA") Reliability Requirement in the Tariff. This would allow PJM to exclude certain resources from the calculation of the Local Deliverability Area Reliability Requirement. On February 21, 2023, FERC accepted PJM's filing. Multiple parties, including NRG, filed for rehearing. Rehearing was denied by operation of law, and multiple parties, including the Company, filed appeals to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 12, 2024, the court vacated the portion of the FERC orders that allow PJM to apply the Local Deliverability Area Reliability Requirement to the 2024/2025 capacity auction. On March 29, 2024, PJM filed a petition seeking confirmation as to the capacity commitments rules for the 2024/2025 auction. On April 22, 2024, multiple parties filed a complaint seeking to find the revised rate unjust and unreasonable and implement rates consistent with FERC's February 2023 decision, which was denied on July 9, 2024. On May 6, 2024, FERC directed PJM to recalculate the 2024/2025 auction results under the Initial LDA Reliability Requirement rules, and further directed PJM to rerun the Third Incremental Auction. PJM published the revised Base Residual Auction and Third Incremental Auction results on May 8, 2024 and May 23, 2024, respectively. On June 14, 2024, multiple parties filed appeals to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals seeking review of the May 6, 2024 FERC orders approving PJM's petition to restore the original capacity commitment rules for PJM to recalculate the 2024/2025 Base Residual Auction and the rerun of the 2024/2025. As a result, the capacity for the 2024/2025 delivery year in the Delmarva Power and Light South zone resulted in higher prices. This outcome may change depending upon the disposition of the outstanding complaint and appeals.

Previous wording

PJM Base Residual Auction Revisions and Delay —On April 11, 2023, PJM filed, and FERC subsequently approved, to delay the Base Residual Auctions for the 2025/2026 to 2028/2029 delivery years. On October 13, 2023, PJM made two filings proposing to develop market reforms to improve the operation of the capacity market through changes to the Market Seller Offer Cap rules, changes to PJM's resource adequacy risk modeling and capacity accreditation processes, and changes to capacity performance enhancements. On January 30, 2024, FERC accepted certain reforms to PJM's resource adequacy risk modeling and accreditation processes; on February 6, 2024, FERC rejected PJM's proposed changes to certain Market Seller Offer Cap rules and capacity performance enhancements. The approved changes will be in effect for the 2025/2026 Base Residual Auction scheduled to occur in July 2024, and will impact both demand and supply characteristics.

Current wording

PJM Base Residual Auction Revisions and Delay —On April 11, 2023, PJM filed, and FERC subsequently approved, to delay the Base Residual Auctions for the 2025/2026 to 2028/2029 delivery years. On October 13, 2023, PJM made two filings proposing to develop market reforms to improve the operation of the capacity market through changes to the Market Seller Offer Cap rules, changes to PJM's resource adequacy risk modeling and capacity accreditation processes, and changes to capacity performance enhancements. On January 30, 2024, FERC accepted certain reforms to PJM's resource adequacy risk modeling and accreditation processes; on February 6, 2024, FERC rejected PJM's proposed changes to certain Market Seller Offer Cap rules and capacity performance enhancements. The approved changes were in effect for the 2025/2026 Base Residual Auction that occurred in July 2024.

Previous wording

Indian River RMR Proceeding — On June 29, 2021, Indian River notified PJM that it intended to retire Unit 4, effective May 31, 2022, due to expected uneconomic operations. On July 30, 2021, PJM responded to the deactivation notice and stated that PJM had identified reliability violations resulting from the proposed deactivation of Unit 4. NRG filed a cost based RMR rate schedule at FERC on April 1, 2022. FERC accepted the rate schedule with a June 1, 2022 effective date, subject to refund and established hearing and settlement procedures. The Company reached settlement with a number of the intervening parties and the settlement agreement was filed at FERC on April 2, 2024 and is pending FERC review.

Current wording

Indian River RMR Proceeding — On June 29, 2021, Indian River notified PJM that it intended to retire Unit 4, effective May 31, 2022, due to expected uneconomic operations. On July 30, 2021, PJM responded to the deactivation notice and stated that PJM had identified reliability violations resulting from the proposed deactivation of Unit 4. NRG filed a cost based RMR rate schedule at FERC on April 1, 2022. FERC accepted the rate schedule with a June 1, 2022 effective date, subject to refund and established hearing and settlement procedures. The Company reached settlement with a number of the intervening parties and the settlement agreement was filed at FERC on April 2, 2024 and is pending FERC review. Delmarva Power submitted to PJM and the Maryland Public Service Commission an update on its projected completion date for the transmission upgrades that would eliminate the need for the Indian River RMR. The new anticipated date is in December 2024, which is sooner than originally estimated by PJM.

Previous wording

Independent Market Monitor Market Seller Offer Cap Complaint—On March 18, 2021, finding that the calculation of the default Market Seller Offer Cap was unjust and unreasonable, FERC issued an Order, which permitted the PJM May 2021 capacity auction for the 2022/2023 delivery year to continue under the existing rules and set a procedural schedule for parties to file briefs with possible solutions. On September 2, 2021, FERC issued an order in response to a complaint filed by the PJM Independent Market Monitor's proposal, which eliminated the Cost of New Entry-based Market Seller Offer Cap, implemented a limited default cap for certain asset classes based on going-forward costs and provided for unit specific cost review by the Independent Market Monitor for all other non-zero offers into the auctions. On October 4, 2021, as required by the Order, PJM submitted its compliance tariff and certain parties filed a motion for rehearing, which was denied by operation of law. On February 18, 2022, FERC addressed the arguments raised on rehearing and rejected the rehearing requests. Multiple parties filed appeals at the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and on August 15, 2023, the Court denied the petitions for review. On January 12, 2024, the generator trade association filed a petition for review with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the August 15, 2023 judgment.

Current wording

Independent Market Monitor Market Seller Offer Cap Complaint—On March 18, 2021, finding that the calculation of the default Market Seller Offer Cap was unjust and unreasonable, FERC issued an Order, which permitted the PJM May 2021 capacity auction for the 2022/2023 delivery year to continue under the existing rules and set a procedural schedule for parties to file briefs with possible solutions. On September 2, 2021, FERC issued an order in response to a complaint filed by the PJM Independent Market Monitor's proposal, which eliminated the Cost of New Entry-based Market Seller Offer Cap, implemented a limited default cap for certain asset classes based on going-forward costs and provided for unit specific cost review by the Independent Market Monitor for all other non-zero offers into the auctions. On October 4, 2021, as required by the Order, PJM submitted its compliance tariff and certain parties filed a motion for rehearing, which was denied by operation of law. On February 18, 2022, FERC addressed the arguments raised on rehearing and rejected the rehearing requests. Multiple parties filed appeals at the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and on August 15, 2023, the Court denied the petitions for review. On January 12, 2024, the generator trade association filed a petition for review with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the August 15, 2023 judgment. On May 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition for review.

Previous wording

A number of regulations that affect the Company have been and continue to be revised by the EPA, including requirements regarding coal ash, GHG emissions, NAAQS revisions and implementation and effluent limitation guidelines. NRG will evaluate the impact of these regulations as they are revised but cannot fully predict the impact of each until anticipated revisions and legal challenges are finally resolved. The Company’s environmental matters are described in the

Current wording

A number of regulations that affect the Company have been and continue to be revised by the EPA, including requirements regarding coal ash, GHG emissions, NAAQS revisions and implementation and effluent limitation guidelines. NRG will evaluate the impact of these regulations as they are revised but cannot fully predict the impact of each until anticipated revisions and legal challenges are finally resolved. The Company’s environmental matters are described in the Company’s 2023 Form 10-K in Item 1, Business -Environmental Mattersand Item 1A, Risk Factors. These matters have been updated in Note 16, Environmental Matters, to the condensed consolidated financial statements of this Form 10-Q and as follows.

Previous wording

CPP/ACE Rules— The attention in recent years on GHG emissions has resulted in federal and state regulations. In 2019, the EPA promulgated the ACE rule, which rescinded the CPP, which had sought to broadly regulate CO 2 emissions from the power sector. On January 19, 2021, the D.C. Circuit vacated the ACE rule (but on February 22, 2021, at the EPA's request, stayed the issuance of the portion of the mandate that would vacate the repeal of the CPP). On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the "generation shifting" approach in the CPP exceeded the powers granted to the EPA by Congress. The Court did not address the related issues of whether the EPA may adopt only measures applied at each source. On April 25, 2024, the EPA released a prepublication version of a final rule that after publication in the Federal Register will repeal the ACE rule and significantly revise the manner in which new combustion-turbine and existing steam EGU's GHG emissions will be regulated including capturing and storing/sequestering CO 2. The EPA has stated that it will address GHG emissions from existing combustion turbines in a future rule. The Company expects that the rule will be subject to legal challenges in the courts and may be uncertain for several years.

Current wording

CPP/ACE Rules— The attention in recent years on GHG emissions has resulted in federal and state regulations. In 2019, the EPA promulgated the ACE rule, which rescinded the CPP, which had sought to broadly regulate CO 2 emissions from the power sector. On January 19, 2021, the D.C. Circuit vacated the ACE rule (but on February 22, 2021, at the EPA's request, stayed the issuance of the portion of the mandate that would vacate the repeal of the CPP). On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the "generation shifting" approach in the CPP exceeded the powers granted to the EPA by Congress. The Court did not address the related issues of whether the EPA may adopt only measures applied at each source. On May 9, 2024, the EPA promulgated a rule that repealed the ACE rule and significantly revised the manner in which new combustion-turbine and existing steam EGU's GHG emissions will be regulated including capturing and storing/sequestering CO 2 in some instances. This rule has been challenged by numerous parties in the D.C. Circuit including 27 states with 22 states intervening in support of the rule. The EPA has stated that it will address GHG emissions from existing combustion turbines in a future rule.

Previous wording

CSAPR — On March 15, 2023, the EPA signed and released a prepublication of a final rule that sought to significantly revise the CSAPR to address the good-neighbor obligations of the 2015 ozone NAAQS for 23 states after earlier having disapproved numerous state plans to address the issue. Several states, including Texas, challenged the EPA's disapproval of their state plans. On May 1, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit stayed the EPA's disapproval of Texas' and Louisiana's state plans, which disapprovals are a condition precedent to the EPA imposing its plan on Texas and Louisiana. Several other states are also similarly situated because of similar stays. Nonetheless, on June 5, 2023, the EPA published this rule in the Federal Register. On July 31, 2023, the EPA promulgated an interim final rule that addresses the various judicial orders that have stayed several State-Implementation-Plan disapprovals by limiting the effectiveness of certain requirements of the final rule promulgated on June 5, 2023 in Texas and five other states. The final rule decreases, over time, the ozone-season NOx allowances allocated to generators in the states not affected by the judicial stays by assuming that participants in this cap-and-trade program will optimize existing NOx controls and install additional NOx controls. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the legal challenges to the: (i) various state disapprovals; (ii) the final rule promulgated on June 5, 2023; and (iii) the interim final rule promulgated on July 31, 2023 that seeks to address the judicial orders.

Current wording

CSAPR — On March 15, 2023, the EPA signed and released a prepublication of a final rule that sought to significantly revise the CSAPR to address the good-neighbor obligations of the 2015 ozone NAAQS for 23 states after earlier having disapproved numerous state plans to address the issue. Several states, including Texas, challenged the EPA's disapproval of their state plans. On May 1, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit stayed the EPA's disapproval of Texas' and Louisiana's state plans, which disapprovals are a condition precedent to the EPA imposing its plan on Texas and Louisiana. Several other states are also similarly situated because of similar stays. Nonetheless, on June 5, 2023, the EPA promulgated this rule. On July 31, 2023, the EPA promulgated an interim final rule that addresses the various judicial orders that have stayed several State-Implementation-Plan disapprovals by limiting the effectiveness of certain requirements of the final rule promulgated on June 5, 2023 in Texas and several other states. On June 27, 2024, the United States Supreme Court stayed the final rule in the 11 states where the rule had not already been stayed. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the legal challenges to the: (i) various state disapprovals; (ii) the final rule promulgated on June 5, 2023; and (iii) the interim final rule promulgated on July 31, 2023 that seeks to address the judicial orders.

Previous wording

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (“MATS”)— On May 7, 2024, the EPA promulgated a final rule that amends the MATS rule by, among other things, increasing the stringency of the filterable particulate matter standard at coal-burning units. The deadline for complying with this more stringent standard is 2027. The Company expects that the rule will be subject to legal challenges in the courts and may be uncertain for several years.

Current wording

MATS— On May 7, 2024, the EPA promulgated a final rule that amends the MATS rule by, among other things, increasing the stringency of the filterable particulate matter standard at coal-burning units. The deadline for complying with this more stringent standard is 2027. Twenty three states have challenged this rule in the D.C. Circuit. Accordingly, the outcome of this rulemaking may be uncertain for several years.

Previous wording

In April 2015, the EPA finalized the rule regulating byproducts of coal combustion (e.g., ash and gypsum) as solid wastes under the RCRA. On July 30, 2018, the EPA promulgated a rule that amended the ash rule by extending some of the deadlines and providing more flexibility for compliance. On August 21, 2018, the D.C. Circuit found, among other things, that the EPA had not adequately regulated unlined ponds and legacy surface impoundments. On August 28, 2020, the EPA finalized "A Holistic Approach to Closure Part A: Deadline to Initiate Closure," which amended the April 2015 Rule to address the August 2018 D.C. Circuit decision and extend some of the deadlines. On November 12, 2020, the EPA finalized "A Holistic Approach to Closure Part B: Alternative Demonstration for Unlined Surface Impoundments," which further amended the April 2015 Rule to, among other things, provide procedures for requesting approval to operate existing ash impoundments with an alternate liner. On April 25, 2024, the EPA released a prepublication version of a final rule that after publication in the Federal Register will establish requirements for: (i) inactive (or legacy) surface impoundments at inactive facilities and (ii) coal combustion residual ("CCR") management units (regardless of how or when the CCR was placed) at regulated facilities. The rule will also create an obligation to conduct site assessments (at all active and certain inactive facilities) to determine whether CCR management units are present. The Company expects that the rule will be subject to legal challenges in the courts and may be uncertain for several years.

Current wording

In April 2015, the EPA finalized the rule regulating byproducts of coal combustion (e.g., ash and gypsum) as solid wastes under the RCRA. On July 30, 2018, the EPA promulgated a rule that amended the ash rule by extending some of the deadlines and providing more flexibility for compliance. On August 21, 2018, the D.C. Circuit found, among other things, that the EPA had not adequately regulated unlined ponds and legacy surface impoundments. On August 28, 2020, the EPA finalized "A Holistic Approach to Closure Part A: Deadline to Initiate Closure," which amended the April 2015 Rule to address the August 2018 D.C. Circuit decision and extend some of the deadlines. On November 12, 2020, the EPA finalized "A Holistic Approach to Closure Part B: Alternative Demonstration for Unlined Surface Impoundments," which further amended the April 2015 Rule to, among other things, provide procedures for requesting approval to operate existing ash impoundments with an alternate liner. On May 8, 2024, the EPA promulgated a rule that establishes requirements for: (i) inactive (or legacy) surface impoundments at inactive facilities and (ii) coal combustion residual ("CCR") management units (regardless of how or when the CCR was placed) at regulated facilities. The rule also creates an obligation to conduct site assessments (at all active and certain inactive facilities) to determine whether CCR management units are present. The rule has been challenged in the D.C. Circuit and may be uncertain for several years.

Previous wording

Effluent Limitations Guidelines— In 2015, the EPA revised the ELG for Steam Electric Generating Facilities, which imposed more stringent requirements (as individual permits were renewed) for wastewater streams from FGD, fly ash, bottom ash and flue gas mercury control. In 2017, the EPA promulgated a final rule that, among other things, postponed the compliance dates to preserve the status quo for FGD wastewater and bottom ash transport water by two years to November 2020 until the EPA amended the rule. On October 13, 2020, the EPA amended the 2015 ELG rule by: (i) altering the stringency of certain limits for FGD wastewater; (ii) relaxing the zero-discharge requirement for bottom ash transport water; and (iii) changing several deadlines. In October 2021, NRG informed its regulators that the Company intends to comply with the ELG by ceasing combustion of coal by the end of 2028 at its domestic coal units outside of Texas, and installing appropriate controls by the end of 2025 at its two plants that have coal-fired units in Texas. On April 25, 2024, the EPA released a prepublication version of a final rule that after publication in the Federal Register will again revise the ELG by, among other things, further restricting the discharge of (i) FGD wastewater, (ii) bottom ash transport water, and (iii) combustion residual leachate. The Company expects that the rule will be subject to legal challenges in the courts and may be uncertain for several years.

Current wording

ELG— In 2015, the EPA revised the ELG for Steam Electric Generating Facilities, which imposed more stringent requirements (as individual permits were renewed) for wastewater streams from FGD, fly ash, bottom ash and flue gas mercury control. In 2017, the EPA promulgated a final rule that, among other things, postponed the compliance dates to preserve the status quo for FGD wastewater and bottom ash transport water by two years to November 2020 until the EPA amended the rule. On October 13, 2020, the EPA amended the 2015 ELG rule by: (i) altering the stringency of certain limits for FGD wastewater; (ii) relaxing the zero-discharge requirement for bottom ash transport water; and (iii) changing several deadlines. In October 2021, NRG informed its regulators that the Company intends to comply with the ELG by ceasing combustion of coal by the end of 2028 at its domestic coal units outside of Texas, and installing appropriate controls by the end of 2025 at its two plants that have coal-fired units in Texas. On May 9, 2024, the EPA promulgated a rule that revises the ELG by, among other things, further restricting the discharge of (i) FGD wastewater, (ii) bottom ash transport water, and (iii) combustion residual leachate. The rule was challenged in numerous courts, but the cases have been consolidated in the Eighth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals. The Company expects that the outcome of the legal challenges will be uncertain for several years.

Previous wording

Ash Regulation in Illinois — On July 30, 2019, Illinois enacted legislation that required the state to promulgate regulations regarding coal ash at surface impoundments. On April 15, 2021, the state promulgated the implementing regulation, which became effective on April 21, 2021. NRG has applied for initial operating permits and construction permits (for closure and retrofits) as required by the regulation and is waiting for permits to be issued by the Illinois EPA.

Current wording

Ash Regulation in Illinois — On July 30, 2019, Illinois enacted legislation that required the state to promulgate regulations regarding coal ash at surface impoundments. On April 15, 2021, the state promulgated the implementing regulation, which became effective on April 21, 2021. NRG has applied for initial operating permits and construction permits (for closure and retrofits) as required by the regulation and is waiting for most of its permits to be issued by the Illinois EPA.

Previous wording

On April 16, 2024, the Company, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into the Eighth Amendment with, among others, Citicorp North America, Inc., as administrative agent and as the Agent, and certain financial institutions, as lenders, which amended the Credit Agreement, in order to (i) establish a new Term Loan Facility with borrowings of $875 million in aggregate principal amount and the Term Loans and (ii) make certain other modifications to the Credit Agreement as set forth therein. The proceeds from the Term Loans will be used to repay existing indebtedness of the Company, including the Company’s 3.750% senior secured first lien notes due 2024 and a portion of the purchase price for the previously announced repurchases from certain holders of the Company’s Convertible Senior Notes. For further discussion, see Note 7, Long-term Debt and Finance Leases.

Current wording

On April 16, 2024, the Company, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into the Eighth Amendment with, among others, Citicorp North America, Inc., as administrative agent and as the Agent, and certain financial institutions, as lenders, which amended the Credit Agreement, in order to (i) establish a new Term Loan Facility with borrowings of $875 million in aggregate principal amount and the Term Loans and (ii) make certain other modifications to the Credit Agreement as set forth therein. The proceeds from the Term Loans were used to repay a portion of the Company’s Convertible Senior Notes, all of the Company's 3.750% senior secured first lien notes due 2024 and for general corporate purposes. For further discussion, see Note 7, Long-term Debt and Finance Leases.

Previous wording

A component of the Company's strategy is to procure mid to long-term generation through power purchase agreements. As of March 31, 2024, NRG has entered into Renewable PPAs totaling approximately 1.9 GW with third-party project developers and other counterparties, of which approximately 1.6 GW are operational. The average tenure of these agreements is eleven years. The Company expects to continue evaluating and executing similar agreements that support the needs of the business. The total GW procured through Renewable PPAs may be impacted by contract terminations when they occur.

Current wording

A component of the Company's strategy is to procure mid to long-term generation through power purchase agreements. NRG has entered into Renewable PPAs totaling approximately 1.9 GW with third-party project developers and other counterparties, of which all are operational as of July 31, 2024. The average tenure of these agreements is eleven years. The Company expects to continue evaluating and executing similar agreements that support the needs of the business. The total GW procured through Renewable PPAs may be impacted by contract terminations when they occur.

Previous wording

Load Growth —The electric industry is expected to experience a surge in demand driven primarily by new manufacturing, industrial and data center facilities (inclusive of generative artificial intelligence ("gen AI")). The EIA's 2023 Annual Energy Outlook, combined with external forecasts of gen AI, shows the potential for 500 TWh of incremental load across the U.S. through 2030, as compared to 2023. ERCOT's current long term load forecast shows peak demand increasing from 82 GW in 2024 to 87 GW in 2028. In addition to the incremental 5 GW of peak demand load, there is an expectation for significant incremental demand increases from large loads interconnecting to the grid. This load growth will require significant planning and construction of new generation and transmission.

Current wording

Load Growth —The electric industry is expected to experience a surge in demand driven primarily by new manufacturing, industrial and data center facilities (inclusive of generative artificial intelligence ("gen AI")). The EIA's 2023 Annual Energy Outlook, combined with external forecasts of gen AI, shows the potential for 500 TWh of incremental load across the U.S. through 2030, as compared to 2023. ERCOT's current long term load forecast shows peak demand increasing from 86 GW in 2024 to 137 GW in 2028. This load growth will require significant planning and construction of new generation and transmission. ERCOT has announced its New Era of Planning effort to prepare for the possibility of very large and rapid load growth.

Previous wording

NRG continues to evaluate the expansion of flexible dispatchable power plants within the ERCOT market in connection with the creation of the Texas Energy Fund, a loan program created by the Texas Legislature to finance new build of generation assets within their footprint. The Company is eligible to submit the following projects to the Texas Energy Fund to receive financing:

Current wording

NRG continues to evaluate the expansion of flexible dispatchable power plants within the ERCOT market in connection with the creation of the Texas Energy Fund, a loan program created by the Texas Legislature to finance new build of generation assets within their footprint. The Company submitted applications to the Texas Energy Fund to receive financing for the following projects:

Previous wording

Gross margin increased $2.7 billion and economic gross margin increased $325 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Current wording

Gross margin increased $1.0 billion and economic gross margin increased $159 million during the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Previous wording

Mark-to-market for economic hedging activities includes asset-backed hedges that have not been designated as cash flow hedges. Total net mark-to-market results increased by $2.4 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Current wording

Mark-to-market for economic hedging activities includes asset-backed hedges that have not been designated as cash flow hedges. Total net mark-to-market results increased by $811 million during the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Previous wording

Other cost of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 increased by $2 million, when compared to the same period in 2023, due to the following:

Current wording

Other cost of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2024 decreased by $10 million, when compared to the same period in 2023, due to the following:

Previous wording

Selling, general and administrative costs increased by $165 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, due to the following:

Current wording

Selling, general and administrative costs increased by $70 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, due to the following:

Previous wording

Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs of $9 million and $71 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, include:

Current wording

Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs of $6 million and $22 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, include:

Previous wording

A loss on debt extinguishment of $58 million was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2024, driven by the repurchase of portion of the Convertible Senior Notes, as further discussed in Note 7, Long-term Debt and Finance Leases.

Current wording

A loss on debt extinguishment of $202 million was recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2024, driven by the repurchase of a portion of the Convertible Senior Notes, as further discussed in Note 7, Long-term Debt and Finance Leases.

Previous wording

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the $60 million loss in revenues from economic hedge positions was driven primarily by the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains on contracts that settled during the period and a decrease in the value of East open positions as a result of increases in PJM power prices. The $532 million gain in operating costs and expenses from economic hedge positions was driven primarily by the reversal of previously recognized unrealized losses on contracts that settled during the period and an increase in the value of open positions in Texas and East as a result of increases in ERCOT and PJM power prices, partially offset by a decrease in the value of open positions in West/Services/Other as a result of decreases in CAISO and Canada power prices.

Current wording

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, the $24 million gain in revenues from economic hedge positions was primarily driven by an increase in the value of newly executed East open positions and decreases in PJM power prices, partially offset by the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains on contracts that settled during the period. The $1.3 billion gain in operating costs and expenses from economic hedge positions was driven primarily by an increase in the value of Texas open positions as a result of increases in ERCOT power prices, as well as the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains on contracts that settled during the period.

Previous wording

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the $91 million gain in revenues from economic hedge positions was driven primarily by an increase in the value of open positions as a result of decreases in natural gas and power prices. The $2.0 billion loss in operating costs and expenses from economic hedge positions was driven primarily by a decrease in the value of open positions as a result of decreases in natural gas and power prices and the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains on contracts that settled during the period.

Current wording

For the six months ended June 30, 2023, the $166 million gain in revenues from economic hedge positions was driven by an increase in the value of open positions as a result of decreases in power and natural gas prices. The $2.0 billion loss in operating costs and expenses from economic hedge positions was driven primarily by a decrease in the value of East and West open positions as a result of decreases in natural gas and power prices, as well as the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains on contracts that settled during the period. This was partially offset by an increase in the value of Texas open positions as a result of increase in ERCOT power prices and the reversal of acquired loss positions.

Previous wording

Depreciation and amortization increased by $78 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to higher amortization of intangible assets due to the acquisition of Vivint Smart Home in March 2023.

Current wording

Depreciation and amortization increased by $48 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to higher amortization of intangible assets due to the acquisition of Vivint Smart Home in March 2023.

Previous wording

(Loss)/Gain on Sale of Assets

Current wording

Gain on Sale of Assets

Previous wording

The gain on sale of assets of $199 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was related to the sale of land and related assets from the Astoria site.

Current wording

The gain on sale of assets of $202 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was due to the $199 million gain related to the sale of land and related assets from the Astoria site, as well as other assets sales of $3 million.

Previous wording

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, income tax expense of $184 million was recorded on pre-tax income of $695 million. For the same period in 2023, an income tax benefit of $336 million was recorded on a pre-tax loss of $1.7 billion. The effective tax rates were 26.5% and 20.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Current wording

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, an income tax expense of $498 million was recorded on a pre-tax income of $1.7 billion. For the same period in 2023, income tax benefit of $247 million was recorded on pre-tax loss of $1.3 billion. The effective tax rates were 28.5% and 19.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Previous wording

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the effective tax rate was higher than the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the state tax expense. For the same period in 2023, the effective tax rate was lower than the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to current state tax expense and permanent differences which when applied to year-to-date financial statement losses have an inverted effect and reduce the overall effective income tax rate.

Current wording

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, NRG's effective tax rate was higher than the statutory rate of 21%, primarily due to the state tax expense and permanent differences. For the same period in 2023, NRG's overall effective tax rate was lower than the statutory rate of 21%, primarily due to current state tax expense which has an inverted effect and reduces the overall effective tax rate when applied to year-to-date financial statement losses.

Previous wording

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, NRG's total liquidity, excluding funds deposited by counterparties, of approximately $4.8 billion, was comprised of the following:

Current wording

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, NRG's total liquidity, excluding funds deposited by counterparties, of approximately $5.3 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively, was comprised of the following:

Previous wording

(b) Total capacity of Revolving Credit Facility and collective collateral facilities was $7.4 billion as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023

Current wording

(b) Total capacity of Revolving Credit Facility and collective collateral facilities was $7.9 billion and $7.4 billion as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

Previous wording

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, total liquidity, excluding funds deposited by counterparties, decreased by $49 million. Changes in cash and cash equivalent balances are further discussed hereinafter under the heading Cash Flow Discussion. Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2024 were predominantly held in bank deposits.

Current wording

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, total liquidity, excluding funds deposited by counterparties, increased by $499 million. Changes in cash and cash equivalent balances are further discussed hereinafter under the heading Cash Flow Discussion. Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2024 were predominantly held in bank deposits.

Previous wording

On April 16, 2024, the Company, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into the Eighth Amendment with, among others, Citicorp North America, Inc., as administrative agent and as the Agent, and certain financial institutions, as lenders, which amended the Credit Agreement, in order to (i) establish a new Term Loan Facility with borrowings of $875 million in aggregate principal amount and the Term Loans and (ii) make certain other modifications to the Credit Agreement as set forth therein. The proceeds from the Term Loans were used to repay a portion of the Company’s Convertible Senior notes and will be used to repay the Company’s 3.750% senior secured first lien notes due 2024.

Current wording

On April 16, 2024, the Company, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into the Eighth Amendment with, among others, Citicorp North America, Inc., as the Agent and as collateral agent, and certain financial institutions, as lenders, which amended the Credit Agreement, in order to (i) establish a new Term Loan Facility with borrowings of $875 million in aggregate principal amount and the Term Loans and (ii) make certain other modifications to the Credit Agreement as set forth therein. The proceeds from the Term Loans were used to repay a portion of the Company’s Convertible Senior notes, all of the Company’s 3.750% senior secured first lien notes due 2024 and for general corporate purposes.

Previous wording

At the Company’s election, the Term Loans will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either (1) a fluctuating rate equal to the highest of (A) the rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in effect on such day, plus 0.50% (B) the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States, and (C) a rate of one-month Term SOFR (as defined in the Term Loan Facility), plus 1.00%, or (2) Term SOFR (as defined in the Term Loan Facility and which rate will not be less than 0%) for a one-, three- or six-month interest period or such other period as agreed to by the Agent and the lenders, as selected by the Company, plus 2.00%.

Current wording

At the Company’s election, the Term Loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either (1) a fluctuating rate equal to the highest of (A) the rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in effect on such day, plus 0.50%, (B) the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States, and (C) a rate of one-month Term SOFR (as defined in the Credit Agreement) (after giving effect to any floor applicable to Term SOFR), in each case, plus a margin of 1.00% or (2) Term SOFR (as defined in the Credit Agreement) (which Term SOFR shall not be less than 0.00%) for a one-, three- or six-month interest period (or such other period as agreed to by the Agent and the lenders, as selected by the Company), plus a margin of 2.00%.

Previous wording

During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and through April 30, 2024, the Company completed repurchases of a portion of the Convertible Senior Notes using cash on hand and a portion of the proceeds from the Term Loans, as detailed in the table below. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, a $58 million loss on debt extinguishment was recorded.

Current wording

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company completed repurchases of a portion of the Convertible Senior Notes using cash on hand and a portion of the proceeds from the Term Loans, as detailed in the table below. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, a $260 million loss on debt extinguishment was recorded.