MINNEAPOLIS, March 14, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE)—NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) yesterday closed its sale of 18.4 million shares of common stock at a price of $27 per share and 11.5 million equity units at a price of $25 per unit. The gross proceeds from the offerings were $784.3 million.

"We are pleased with the investment community's strong reception of these offerings," said Leonard A. Bluhm, NRG's chief financial officer. "Investors have demonstrated their faith in NRG's continued growth performance and potential."

NRG Energy is a leading global energy company primarily engaged in the acquisition, development, construction, ownership and operation of power generation facilities. NRG owns all or a portion of 66 power generation projects and its net ownership interest in these projects is 16,704 MW. The company's operations utilize such diverse fuel sources as natural gas, oil, coal and coal seam methane, biomass, landfill gas, and hydro, as well as refuse-derived fuel.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Certain information included in this news release contains statements that are forward-looking. Such forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from expected results expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of NRG Energy. For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties, review NRG Energy's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

More information on NRG Energy is available at www.nrgenergy.com.

Contacts:

NRG Energy, Inc.

Media Relations
Meredith Moore, 612/373-8892

Investor Relations
Rick Huckle, 612/313-8900