NRG Energy, Inc.Selects New Jersey as Preferred Site for New Headquarters

MINNEAPOLIS (April 27, 2004) -- NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), a wholesale power generation company announced today that it has selected West Windsor, New Jersey, as the Company's preferred site for its new corporate headquarters.

In March, the Company implemented a new regional business strategy and outlined a corporate structure that called for moving its headquarters to the northeast from Minnesota in order to be closer to its primary power facilities and better serve the Company's stakeholders. A substantial portion of NRG's assets are located in the Northeast.

“While the decision to relocate our headquarters was not easy, it is the right move for the long-term success of this Company,” said David Crane, NRG Energy President and Chief Executive Officer. “We conducted a lengthy and thorough search of five states in the Northeast region and ultimately determined that New Jersey 's top-notch transportation system, central location in the East, excellent education system and competitive business incentive programs made it our preferred choice for NRG's new home.”

“We are delighted to have a distinguished employer such as NRG join the ranks of the successful businesses that call New Jersey home,” said New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey. “NRG's decision to relocate to New Jersey is reflective of the state's dedication and commitment to job creation and business investment - and yet another proof that New Jersey 's economy is on the right track.”

To help finance the transition, NRG will receive a Business Employment Incentive grant that could total $7.5 million over 10 years from the New Jersey Economic Authority. The Company will also benefit from a customized worker training program sponsored by the State.

NRG's new corporate headquarters is scheduled to open officially near the end of the third quarter. NRG's current office in Minneapolis will remain open throughout the transition to the new location.

NRG Energy, Inc. owns and operates a diverse portfolio of power-generating facilities, primarily in the United States . Its operations include baseload, intermediate, peaking, and cogeneration facilities, thermal energy production and energy resource recovery facilities.

Certain statements included in this Press Release are 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, and typically can be identified by words such as “should”, “expect”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “forecast”, “plan”, “believe” and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and include, but are not limited to, implementation of our new regional business structure, our ability to better serve our stakeholders, our long term success, and receipt of a Business Employment Incentive grant.  Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. Factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the failure of our new business structure to work as planned, disruptions caused by the move and failure to secure the full amount of the Business Employment Incentive Grant.

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  Press Release  should  be read in conjunction with the risks and uncertainties  contained in NRG's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Contacts:

Investor Inquiries Katy Sullivan, 612.373.8875 Media Inquiries Lesa Bader, 612.373.6992