Financial Highlights

• $1,145 million of Adjusted EBITDA¹ in the third quarter and $2,714 million¹ in the first nine months of 2015
• $1,135 million of Free Cash Flow (FCF) before growth investments in the first nine months of 2015

Business and Operational Highlights

• $225 million Adjusted EBITDA from NRG Home Retail, best quarterly EBITDA performance since 2010
• $251 million of shares repurchased in September and October for a total of $437 million repurchased year-to-date or approximately 7% of shares outstanding
• $210 million in total cash consideration received on November 3, 2015 for the sale of 75% of the equity interests in a portfolio of wind projects to NRG Yield

NRG Strategic Reset Update

• $150 million per year of General and Administrative/Development/Marketing cost reduction program underway and on target
• $100 million per year Operations and Maintenance (O&M) cost reduction program for 2016, across NRG’s three O&M platforms (Business/Wholesale, Renew and Home), announced today, bringing aggregate cost reduction programs to $250 million
• Asset Rebalancing Program on track with internal modifications to capital investment program and launched select asset disposition process
• “GreenCo” reorganization as part of $125 million NRG Runway (the “Runway”) is finalized and will be effective January 1, 2016
• "GreenCo" strategic alternative process for a majority sell down is underway

Financial Guidance

• Narrowing Full Year 2015 Guidance:
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $3,250-$3,350 million, excluding negative contribution from NRG Home Solar which continues to be projected at $175 million
  • FCF before growth investments of $1,125-$1,225 million
• Initiating Full Year 2016 Guidance²:
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $3,000-$3,200 million
  • FCF before growth investments (Consolidated) of $1,000-$1,200 million

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 2015-- NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) today reported third quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $1,145 million.¹ Year-to-date adjusted cash flow from operations totaled $1,728 million. Net loss for the first nine months of 2015 was ($78) million, or ($0.25) per diluted common share compared to net income of $35 million, or $0.02 per diluted common share for the first nine months of 2014.

“Strong operational performance across our wholesale, retail and renewable platforms, including near record results at Home Retail and strong performance in Commercial Operations, paved the way for a solid third quarter and provides the foundation to support our efforts under the NRG Reset to free up capital for shrinking and enhancing the balance sheet as part of our ongoing capital allocation plan.” said David Crane, NRG’s Chief Executive Officer. “The strategic processes associated with a majority sell down of the GreenCo businesses and asset sales are all underway. We expect to be able to announce a series of additional outcomes over the next several months that will both streamline the Company and simplify the investor proposition.”

Segment Results

Table 1: Adjusted EBITDA

(1) In accordance with GAAP, 2014 results have been restated to include the full impact of the NRG Yield drop down transactions which closed on January 2, 2015 and June 30, 2014.
(2) See Appendices A-6 through A-9 for NRG Business regional details.
(3) See Appendices A-1 through A-4 for Operating Segment Reg G reconciliations; excludes negative contribution of $42 million and $129 million from Home Solar for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and $24 million and $31 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

Table 2: Net Income/(Loss)

(1) In accordance with GAAP, 2014 results have been restated to include full impact of the assets in the NRG Yield drop down transactions which closed on January 2, 2015 and June 30, 2014.
(2) Includes mark-to-market gains and losses of economic hedges.

NRG Business: Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $670 million; $33 million higher than in the third quarter 2014 primarily driven by:

• Gulf Coast Region: $69 million increase due to higher average realized prices in Texas reflecting ERCOT hedge gains, higher realized energy margins at South Central gas plants, and higher gas plant generation across the Gulf Coast region
• East Region: $35 million lower due to lower energy margins caused by declining gas prices and dark spreads, partially offset by higher capacity revenues from increase in PJM cleared auction capacity prices and lower operating costs from reduced scope of outages and decreased run times across the fleet

NRG Home Retail: Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $225 million, $58 million higher than third quarter 2014 driven primarily by favorable supply costs as well as effective margin and cost management across the portfolio.

NRG Renew: Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $81 million, $5 million higher than third quarter 2014 primarily due to the ramp up of Ivanpah as generation continues to increase year over year, partially offset by higher development costs.

NRG Yield: Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $198 million, $32 million higher than third quarter 2014 primarily due to the Desert Sunlight and Alta Wind acquisitions.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Table 3: Corporate Liquidity

NRG-level cash as of September 30, 2015, was $955 million, an increase of $294 million over the end of 2014, and $1,449 million was available under the Company’s credit facilities at the end of the current quarter. Total liquidity was $4,211 million including restricted cash and cash at non-guarantor subsidiaries (primarily GenOn and NRG Yield)³.

NRG Reset - Update

NRG has begun implementation of a company-wide cost reduction program of $150 million across its general and administrative, marketing and development expenses in connection with which the Company expects to incur one-time severance and associated costs of approximately $60 million⁴ in 2015 and 2016.

In addition, to supplement this cost reduction program, NRG is announcing today an additional $100 million per year cost reduction initiative associated with the O&M spend across its wholesale/business, retail and renewable businesses to be achieved on a recurring basis beginning in 2016, measured against projected 2015 aggregate O&M spend. The impact of this program is reflected in the Company's financial guidance for 2016 also announced today and brings the aggregate cost savings expected in 2016 to $250 million.

The Company continues to make progress with respect to the asset rebalancing component of the NRG Reset program, which is aimed at freeing up the balance of the $1.1 billion in 2016 available capital for allocation through the elimination of capital expenditures, asset dispositions, and targeted non-recourse financings. The Company has already reduced 2016 growth capital expenditures by over $100 million by suspending or modifying its fuel conversion plans at two coal facilities. NRG is now fully prepared to launch the process to raise non-recourse debt financing to fund the remaining capital required to complete the environmental capital expenditures for its Midwest Generation fleet, which is expected to result in an increase of $250 million in available NRG capital previously intended to fund these expenditures.

Finally, the "GreenCo" Runway for the clean energy businesses included within the Runway (NRG Home Solar, NRG Renew (C&I solar business) and NRG EVgo), which will operate under a $125 million defined limit of financial support from NRG beginning in 2016 is established and will be effective January 1, 2016. In addition, the Company has launched strategic processes with respect to the “GreenCo” businesses aimed at attracting a majority partner that can further enhance those businesses prospects for short, medium and long term success.

Closing of Drop Down to NRG Yield

On November 3, 2015, NRG completed the sale of a 75% interest in an 814 net megawatt (MW) portfolio of twelve wind facilities, representing 611 net MW to NRG Yield for $210 million in total cash consideration (subject to working capital adjustments).

Outlook for 2015 and Initiation of 2016 Guidance

NRG has narrowed the range of its Adjusted EBITDA and FCF before growth investments guidance for 2015 and is also initiating guidance for fiscal year 2016 as set forth below.

As in previous quarters, the Company’s guidance assumes normalized weather in its core markets.

Table 4: 2015 and 2016 Adjusted EBITDA and FCF before Growth Investments Guidance

(1) 2015 guidance excludes expected negative contribution of $175 million from NRG Home Solar.
(2) 2016 guidance excludes “GreenCo” entities which are limited to the $125 million revolver facility. 2016 guidance includes the impact of the recently announced $150 million expense reductions across general & administrative, marketing and development expenses and the $100 million of operation and maintenance costs across the Business segment.

2015 Capital Allocation Update

During September and October, NRG repurchased $251 million of its common stock at an average cost of $15.05 per share. Together with repurchases completed during the first half of 2015, NRG has purchased a total of $437 million of NRG common stock since December 31, 2014, or approximately 7% of shares outstanding⁵.

On October 12, 2015, NRG declared a quarterly dividend on the Company's common stock of $0.145 per share, payable November 16, 2015, to stockholders of record as of November 2, 2015, representing $0.58 on an annualized basis.

The Company's common stock dividend and share repurchases are subject to available capital, market conditions and compliance with associated laws and regulations.

Earnings Conference Call

On November 4, 2015, NRG will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern to discuss these results. Investors, the news media and others may access the live webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials by logging on to NRG’s website at http://www.nrg.com and clicking on “Investors.” The webcast will be archived on the site for those unable to listen in real time.

About NRG

NRG is leading a 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 200 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 on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgenergy.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

In addition to historical information, the information presented in this communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can typically be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “objective,” “projection,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “plan,” “think,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “target,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s future revenues, income, indebtedness, capital structure, plans, expectations, objectives, projected financial performance and/or business results and other future events, and views of economic and market conditions.

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, weather conditions, 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, the condition of capital markets generally and the ability to refinance the Midwest Generation fleet, our ability to access capital markets, unanticipated outages at our generation facilities, adverse results in current and future litigation, failure to identify or successfully implement acquisitions and repowerings, our ability to implement value enhancing improvements to plant operations and companywide processes, our ability to obtain federal loan guarantees, the inability to maintain or create successful partnering relationships with NRG Yield and other third parties, our ability to operate our businesses efficiently including NRG Yield, our ability to retain retail customers, our ability to realize value through our commercial operations strategy and the creation of NRG Yield, the ability to successfully integrate the businesses of acquired companies, the ability to find third party investment in GreenCo and realize the associated benefits of a sale of a majority interest in the GreenCo businesses , the ability to realize anticipated benefits of acquisitions (including expected cost savings and other synergies) and the ability to sell assets to NRG Yield, Inc. or the risk that anticipated benefits may take longer to realize than expected and our ability to pay dividends and initiate share repurchases under our capital allocation plan, which may be made from time to time subject to market conditions and other factors, including as permitted by United States securities laws. Furthermore, any common stock dividend is subject to available capital and market conditions.

NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow guidance are estimates as of November 4, 2015. These estimates are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of that date. NRG disclaims any current intention to update such guidance, except as required by law. 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 Earnings Presentation 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.

*Excludes merger and integration CapEx of $11 million in YTD Q3 2015 and $18 million in YTD Q3 2014

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. These measurements are not recognized in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that NRG’s future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

EBITDA represents net income before interest (including loss on debt extinguishment), taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because NRG considers it an important supplemental measure of its performance and believes debt-holders frequently use EBITDA to analyze operating performance and debt service capacity. EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

• EBITDA does not reflect cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments;
• EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs;
• EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on debt or cash income tax payments;
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
• Other companies in this industry may calculate EBITDA differently than NRG does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

Because of these limitations, EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to use to invest in the growth of NRG’s business. NRG compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally. See the statements of cash flow included in the financial statements that are a part of this news release.

Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a further supplemental measure of operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for mark-to-market gains or losses, asset write offs and impairments; and factors which we do not consider indicative of future operating performance. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons NRG considers it appropriate for supplemental analysis. As an analytical tool, Adjusted EBITDA is subject to all of the limitations applicable to EBITDA. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, the reader should be aware that in the future NRG may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this news release.

Adjusted cash flow from operating activities is a non-GAAP measure NRG provides to show cash from operations with the reclassification of net payments of derivative contracts acquired in business combinations from financing to operating cash flow, as well as the add back of merger and integration related costs. The Company provides the reader with this alternative view of operating cash flow because the cash settlement of these derivative contracts materially impact operating revenues and cost of sales, while GAAP requires NRG to treat them as if there was a financing activity associated with the contracts as of the acquisition dates. The Company adds back merger and integration related costs as they are one time and unique in nature and do not reflect ongoing cash from operations and they are fully disclosed to investors.

Free cash flow (before Growth investments) is adjusted cash flow from operations less maintenance and environmental capital expenditures, net of funding, and preferred stock dividends and is used by NRG predominantly as a forecasting tool to estimate cash available for debt reduction and other capital allocation alternatives. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each of these adjustments and the reasons NRG considers them appropriate for supplemental analysis. Because we have mandatory debt service requirements (and other non-discretionary expenditures) investors should not rely on free cash flow before Growth investments as a measure of cash available for discretionary expenditures.

Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) is adjusted EBITDA plus cash dividends from unconsolidated affiliates, less maintenance capital expenditures, pro-rata adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates, cash interest paid, income taxes paid, principal amortization of indebtedness and changes in others assets. Management believes cash available for distribution is a relevant supplemental measure of the Company’s ability to earn and distribute cash returns to investors.

¹ Excludes negative contribution from NRG Home Solar of $42 million for third quarter of 2015 and $129 million for YTD 2015

² Excludes impact of “GreenCo” businesses subject to $125 million Runway, which will be included in 2016 capital allocation

³ See Appendix A-10 for the YTD Third Quarter Sources and Uses of Liquidity detail.

⁴ Severance and associated costs excluded from 2015 and 2016 EBITDA guidance.

⁵ Based upon 336.7 million shares outstanding as of December 31, 2014

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Source: NRG Energy, Inc.

NRG Energy, Inc.
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