PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2005--NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) is seeking proposals for the uncommitted output from its fourth unit at the Powder River Basin coal-fueled Big Cajun II generating station in Pointe Coupee Parish, La. The expansion will add 675 megawatts (MW) to Big Cajun II, bringing the station total from 1,730 MW to 2,405 MW. The Company anticipates a late 2009 commercial operation date for the fourth unit.

Proposals should be focused on long term power purchase obligations (at least 10 years, up to and preferably 20 years) in increments of at least 100 megawatts baseload but may also include proposals with respect to equity ownership. Bidders must have an investment grade credit rating or otherwise make satisfactory proposals with respect to the provision of collateral or other credit arrangements. There is a preference for proposals which are unit contingent but firm bids will also be entertained. Proposals are due October 28 on or before 5:00 p.m. eastern. NRG expects to conclude an agreement with any selected party or parties, on mutually satisfactory terms and conditions, by January 1, 2006. NRG reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals.

NRG has received its Title V air permit for the project and has selected the Washington Group as the program manager for the project. The Washington Group would assist in the preparation and evaluation of engineering, procurement and construction turnkey bid packages and would then ensure NRG's performance criteria are met. The new unit is designed with a supercritical boiler and best available control technology.

Interested parties should contact Ken Foladare, Treasury, 609.524.4718 or Martin Buckley, Project Director at 609.524.4608, to obtain the requisite confidentiality agreement, a project description and proposal requirements.

Louisiana Generating, LLC, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc., operates and provides wholesale power to cooperatives, municipalities, and investor-owned utilities. Louisiana Generating owns the Big Cajun I and Big Cajun II power generating plants that serve 11 cooperatives.

NRG Energy, Inc. owns and operates a diverse portfolio of power-generating facilities, primarily in the Northeast, South Central and Western regions of the United States. Its operations include baseload, intermediate, peaking, and cogeneration facilities, thermal energy production and energy resource recovery facilities. NRG also has ownership interests in generating facilities in Australia and Germany.

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, but are not limited to statements regarding the expected timing of construction and the expected timing of execution of project agreements, and can be identified by the use of words such as "will," "would," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "forecast," "plan," "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.

NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 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.

    CONTACT: NRG Energy, Inc., Princeton
             Investor Relations:
             Nahla Azmy, 609-524-4526
             or
             Katy Sullivan, 609-524-4527
             or
             Media Relations:
             Meredith Moore, 609-524-4522
             or
             Jay Mandel, 609-524-4525

    SOURCE: NRG Energy, Inc.