—Fast start plant to help ensure reliability while integrating renewables—

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2015-- Today, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved the SDG&E Power Purchase and Tolling Agreement for the NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) Carlsbad Energy Center. The 500 megawatt five unit natural gas peaking plant expects to help ensure reliability in southern California following the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in 2013 and the impending retirement of the Encina Generating Station due to California’s Once-Through-Cooling ban.

“We appreciate the CPUC’s vote of confidence that the Carlsbad Energy Center is the best approach to have the appropriate, flexible capacity online by 2017 to enable California to reach its greenhouse gas reduction goals through building additional renewable generation while preserving the reliability of the grid,” said John Chillemi, president of NRG Energy’s West region. “We appreciate the CAISO’s recognition of the project’s contribution to the grid and SDG&E’s continued support of the project and the benefits it will bring to all of southern California. And we appreciate the City of Carlsbad’s focus on the environmental benefits of the project to build a smaller, more efficient plant that complies with the State’s once-through-cooling policies, and enables the demolition of Encina and development of the underlying coastline property.”

The Carlsbad Energy Center is expected to come online in conjunction with the retirement of the Encina station at the end of 2017. Once the new units are online, NRG expects to begin the process of demolishing the retired Encina plant.

The Carlsbad Energy Center is being developed by NRG and is part of the Right of First Offer Agreement between NRG and NRG Yield.

About NRG

NRG is leading customer-driven change in the U.S. energy industry by delivering cleaner and smarter energy choices, while building on the strength of the nation’s largest and most diverse competitive power portfolio. A Fortune 250 company, we create value through reliable and efficient conventional generation while driving innovation in solar and renewable power, electric vehicle ecosystems, carbon capture technology and customer-centric energy solutions. Our retail electricity providers serve almost 3 million residential and commercial customers throughout the country. More information is available at www.nrg.com. Connect with NRG Energy on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgenergy and @NRGMedia.

NRG Safe Harbor Disclosure

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions and include NRG’s expectations regarding the Carlsbad Energy Center project and forward-looking statements typically can be identified by the use of words such as “will,” “expect,” “believe,” and similar terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, competition in wholesale power markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale power markets, changes in government regulation of markets and of environmental emissions, and our ability to achieve the expected benefits and timing of Carlsbad Energy Center. NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG’s future results included in NRG’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

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Source: NRG Energy, Inc.

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