PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2005--NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) is seeking proposals for up to 600 megawatts of supply to supplement existing resources in its South Central Region. NRG, through its wholly owned subsidiary (LaGen) operates a NERC-Certified Control Area in Louisiana and provides wholesale power to cooperatives, municipalities, and investor-owned utilities.

The proposal terms must begin no earlier than June 1, 2005 and may range from one year to life of unit. The Company will evaluate proposals including, but not limited to, capacity, energy, tolling, and call options with priority criteria including reliability, costs, dispatch flexibility and transmission access. In addition to power purchase proposals, NRG will also accept and evaluate proposals for the outright sale of generation assets. Proposals for the sale of generation assets may be for units currently in operation or units that are incomplete with an estimated cost of completion.

All bids must identify the specific asset designated to deliver unit contingent firm capacity, energy, and associated products to be delivered to LaGen. NRG may choose to include the asset as a designated network resource within the LaGen control area.

NRG is requesting Notice of Intent to Bid by 5:00 PM CST on January 14, 2005 with indicative proposals due by 5:00 PM CST January 28, 2005. This request for proposals may be canceled at any time and does not represent an obligation to transact.

Interested parties should submit letters of intent and proposals to Billy Wallace, NRG's Director of Business Development and Origination at billy.wallace@nrgenergy.com or 225.618.4427.

NRG Energy, Inc. owns and operates a diverse portfolio of power-generating facilities, primarily in the Northeast, South Central and West Coast 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.

Certain statements included in this news 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. Forward-looking statements above include, but are not limited to, the Company's interest in acquiring additional power supply resources, the proposed terms and conditions for such acquisitions, and the Company's anticipated timetable for reviewing proposals. 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 NRG's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements above include, among others, changes in market conditions for the acquisition of additional power supply resources, changes in the Company's plans regarding the procurement of additional supplies, and changes in the Company's timetable for reviewing proposals.

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 not be construed as exhaustive. For more information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG's future results, review NRG's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.