UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

NRG Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

(609) 524-4500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Timothy W.J. O’Brien

Vice President and General Counsel

NRG Energy, Inc.

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, NJ 08540

Tel.: (609) 524-4500

Fax: (609) 524-4589

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

Michael P. Rogan, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

1440 New York Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20005-2111

Tel.: (202) 371-7000

Fax: (202) 393-5760

        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.    o

    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.    þ

    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.    o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

    The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. DATED MARCH 30, 2005.

NRG Energy, Inc.

420,000 Shares of 4% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock

10,500,000 Shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock

        This prospectus relates to the offer and resale, from time to time, of up to 420,000 shares of 4% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01, and the shares of our common stock, par value $0.01, issuable upon the conversion of the preferred stock. These shares are being offered to the public market by those individuals named in the section of this prospectus entitled “Selling Stockholders,” as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Plan of Distribution.” We originally issued the preferred stock in a private placement on December 21, 2004. The selling stockholders will receive the proceeds from the sale of the preferred stock and common stock, but we will bear the costs relating to the registration of the preferred stock and common stock.

      For a more detailed description of the preferred stock, see “Description of the Preferred Stock” beginning on page 27.

      Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NRG.” At March 29, 2005, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $34.15 per share. The shares of preferred stock issued in the initial private placement are eligible for trading in the Portal^sm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. The preferred stock sold using this prospectus, however, will no longer be eligible for trading in the Portal^sm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. We do not intend to list the preferred stock on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

       An investment in the preferred stock or common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 7 of this prospectus and any other information in this prospectus before deciding to purchase the preferred stock or common stock.

       The securities offered in this prospectus have not been recommended by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state or foreign securities commission or any regulatory authority. These authorities have not confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This prospectus is dated                     , 2005.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

      You should rely on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects may have changed since that date.

      You should read the entire prospectus, especially the risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors,” and complete your own examination before making an investment decision.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

      We file reports, proxy and information statements and other information with the SEC. We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, and you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits and any related prospectus supplement to read that information. References in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement to any of our contracts or other documents are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to or incorporated by reference in the registration statement for copies of the actual contract or document.

      You may read and copy the registration statement, the related exhibits and the other material we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. You can also request copies of those documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. The SEC also maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file with the SEC. The site’s address is www.sec.gov.

      The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we later file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Accordingly, we incorporate by reference:

      All documents which we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the termination of an offering pursuant to this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the date of filing of such documents. These documents are or will be available for inspection or copying at the locations identified above.

      We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should direct requests for documents by writing to:

NRG Energy, Inc.

211 Carnegie Center

Princeton, New Jersey 08540

(609) 524-4500

Attention: General Counsel

Preferred Stock Offered by the Selling Holders		Up to 420,000 shares of 4% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Common Stock Offered by the Selling Holders		Up to 10,500,000 shares, based upon an initial conversion price of $40 per share of common stock. The conversion price is subject to adjustment as described in “Description of the Preferred Stock — Adjustments of Conversion Rate.”
Liquidation preference		$1,000 per share of preferred stock.
Dividend		Holders of preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available therefor, cash dividends at the rate of 4% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing March 15, 2005. Dividends on the preferred stock will be cumulative from the date of initial issuance. Accumulated but unpaid dividends cumulate dividends at the annual rate of 4%.
		For so long as the preferred stock remains outstanding, (1) we will not declare, pay or set apart funds for the payment of any dividend or other distribution with respect to any junior stock or parity stock, and (2) neither we, nor any of our subsidiaries, will, subject to certain exceptions, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration junior stock or parity stock through a sinking fund or otherwise, in each case, unless we have paid or set apart funds for the payment of all accumulated and unpaid dividends, including liquidated damages, if any, with respect to the shares of preferred stock and any parity stock for all preceding dividend periods. See “Description of the Preferred Stock — Dividends.”
		We have not declared or paid dividends on our common stock, and the payment of dividends is limited by our credit agreement. On March 15, 2005, we paid dividends on our preferred stock.

Conversion of preferred stock		The preferred stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion price of $40.00 per share, which is equal to an approximate conversion rate of 25 shares of our common stock per share of preferred stock.
		The conversion price may be adjusted for certain reasons, including for any future common stock dividends, but will not be adjusted for accumulated and unpaid dividends or liquidated damages, if any. Upon conversion, holders will not receive any cash payment representing accumulated dividends, if any. Instead, accumulated dividends, if any, will be deemed paid by the issuance of the common stock received by holders on conversion.
		If a fundamental change occurs, we will adjust the conversion price as described under “Description of the Preferred Stock — Adjustments to the Conversion Price — Adjustment for a Fundamental Change” or “— Public Acquirer Fundamental Change,” as applicable.
		If we declare a cash dividend or cash distribution to holders of our common stock, the conversion price shall be decreased to equal the price determined by multiplying the conversion price in effect immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or distribution by the following fraction:
		(Pre-Dividend Sale Price - Dividend Adjustment Amount)

		“Pre-Dividend Sale Price” means the average common stock price for the three consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the record date for such dividend or distribution.
		“Dividend Adjustment Amount” means the full amount of the dividend or distribution to the extent payable in cash applicable to one common share. See “Description of the Preferred Stock — Adjustments to the Conversion Price.”
Optional redemption of preferred stock		We may not redeem any shares of preferred stock at any time before December 20, 2009. On or after December 20, 2009, we may redeem some or all of the preferred stock with cash at a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends, including liquidated damages, if any, to the redemption date. The terms of the indenture governing our senior secured notes and our senior credit facility could restrict our ability to redeem shares of preferred stock for cash.
		If full cumulative dividends on the preferred stock have not been paid, the preferred stock may not be redeemed, and we may not purchase or acquire any shares of preferred stock other than pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of preferred stock.
		The preferred stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption or sinking fund provision.

Fundamental change with respect to preferred stock		If we become subject to a fundamental change, each holder of shares of preferred stock will have the right to require us to purchase any or all of its shares with cash at a purchase price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, including liquidated damages, if any, to the date of purchase. Our ability to purchase all or a portion of preferred stock for cash is subject to our obligation to repay or repurchase any outstanding debt required to be repaid or repurchased in connection with a fundamental change and to any contractual restrictions then contained in our debt.
		We will not be required to repurchase any shares of preferred stock if the closing stock price of our common stock for the five trading days within the 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately before the later of the fundamental change or the public announcement thereof equals or exceeds 105% of the applicable conversion price of the preferred stock immediately before the fundamental change or public announcement.
		In addition, holders of shares of preferred stock shall not have the right to require us to repurchase shares of preferred stock upon a fundamental change (i) unless such purchase complies with the indenture governing our senior secured notes and our anticipated amended and restated credit facility and (ii) unless and until our board of directors has approved such fundamental change or elected to take a neutral position with respect to such fundamental change.
Voting rights		Each holder of preferred stock will have one vote for each share held by the holder on all matters voted upon by the holders of our common stock, as well as voting rights specifically provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as otherwise from time to time required by law. In addition, whenever (1) dividends on the preferred stock or any other class or series of stock ranking on a parity with the preferred stock with respect to the payment of dividends are in arrears for dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, containing in the aggregate a number of days equivalent to six calendar quarters, or (2) we fail to pay the redemption price on the date shares of preferred stock are called for redemption or the purchase price on the purchase date for shares of preferred stock following a change of control, then, in each case, the holders of preferred stock (voting separately as a class with all other series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote for the election of two of the authorized number of our directors at the next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting until all dividends accumulated or the redemption price on the preferred stock have been fully paid or set apart for payment. The term of office of all directors elected by the holders of preferred stock will terminate immediately upon the termination of the rights of the holder of preferred stock to vote for directors. Upon election of any additional directors, the number of directors that comprise our board will be increased by the number of such additional directors. Holders of

		shares of preferred stock will have one vote for each share of preferred stock held.
Ranking		The preferred stock will be, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding up or dissolution:
		• junior to all our existing and future debt obligations;
		• junior to each other class or series of our capital stock other than (1) our common stock and any other class or series of our capital stock the terms of which provide that such class or series will rank junior to the preferred stock and (2) any other class or series of our capital stock the terms of which provide that such class or series will rank on a parity with the preferred stock;
		• on a parity with any other class or series of our capital stock the terms of which provide that such class or series will rank on a parity with the preferred stock;
		• senior to our common stock and any other class or series of our capital stock the terms of which provide that such class or series will rank junior to the preferred stock; and
		• effectively junior to all of our subsidiaries’ (1) existing and future liabilities and (2) capital stock held by others.
Use of proceeds		All of the shares of preferred stock and common stock offered hereby are being sold by the selling stockholders. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of preferred stock and common stock in this offering.
Absence of a public market for the preferred stock		The shares of preferred stock issued in the initial private placement are eligible for trading in the Portalsm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. The preferred stock sold using this prospectus, however, will no longer be eligible for trading in the Portalsm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. We do not intend to list the preferred stock on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.
Listing of our Common Stock		Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NRG.” At March 29, 2005, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $34.15 per share.
Risk factors		See “Risk Factors” and the other information in this prospectus and our SEC filings for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the preferred stock.

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preference Dividends

		Ratio
Reorganized NRG
Year Ended December 31, 2004			1.77	x
December 6, 2003 Through December 31, 2003			1.63	x
Predecessor Company
January 1, 2003 Through December 5, 2003			9.82	x(1)
Year Ended December 31, 2002			—	(2)
Year Ended December 31, 2001			1.26	x
Year Ended December 31, 2000			1.81	x

(1)	For the period January 1, 2003 through December 5, 2003, the earnings include a one time earning of $4,118,636,000 due to Fresh Start adjustments.
(2)	For the year ended December 31, 2002, the deficiency of earnings to fixed charges was $3,023,467,000.

RISK FACTORS

      Investing in our preferred stock and common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, contained in our SEC filings or derived from your own examination of us and the terms of the preferred stock and common stock, before making your decision to invest in shares of our preferred stock and common stock.

Risks Related to Our Business

      Certain of our facilities, particularly our coal generation assets, are currently benefiting from higher electricity prices in their respective markets as a result of high gas prices compared to historical levels. Gas-fired facilities set the marginal cost of energy in most of our domestic markets. A decrease in gas prices may lead to a corresponding decrease in electricity prices in these markets, which could materially and adversely impact our financial performance.

      Most of our facilities operate as “merchant” facilities without long-term agreements. An oversupply of generating capacity has depressed wholesale power prices in many regions of the country and increased the difficulty of obtaining long-term contracts. Without the benefit of long-term power purchase agreements, we cannot be sure that we will be able to sell any or all of the power generated by our facilities at commercially attractive rates or that our facilities will be able to operate profitably. This could lead to future impairments of our property, plant and equipment or to the closing of certain of our facilities resulting in economic losses and liabilities.

      We sell all or a portion of the energy, capacity and other products from many of our facilities to wholesale power markets, including energy markets operated by independent system operators, or ISOs, or regional transmission organizations, or RTOs. The prices of energy products in those markets are influenced by many factors outside of our control, including fuel prices, transmission constraints, supply and demand, weather, economic conditions and the rules, regulations and actions of the ISOs or RTOs and state and federal regulators. In addition, unlike most other commodities, electric power can only be stored on a very limited basis and generally must be produced concurrently with its use. As a result, the wholesale power markets are subject to significant and unpredictable price fluctuations over relatively short periods.

      We have numerous competitors in all aspects of our business, and additional competitors may enter the industry. Our wholesale energy operations compete with other providers of electric energy in the procurement of fuel and transportation services, and the sale of capacity, energy and related products. In order to successfully compete, we seek to aggregate fuel supplies at competitive prices from different sources and locations and to efficiently utilize transportation services from third-party pipelines, railways and other fuel transporters and transmission services from electric utilities.

      We also compete against other energy merchants on the basis of our relative skills, financial position and access to credit sources. Energy customers, wholesale energy suppliers and transporters often seek financial guarantees and other assurances that their energy contracts will be satisfied. As a result, our business is constrained by our liquidity, our access to credit and the reduction in market liquidity. Other companies with which we compete may have greater resources in these areas.

      Other factors may contribute to increased competition in wholesale power markets. The future of the wholesale power generation industry is unpredictable, but may include consolidation within the industry, the sale, bankruptcy or liquidation of certain competitors, the re-regulation of certain markets or a long-term reduction in

new investment into the industry. New capital and competitors have entered the industry in the last three years, including financial investors who perceive that asset values may have bottomed out at levels below their true replacement value. A number of generation facilities in the United States are now in the hands of lenders. Under any scenario, we anticipate that we will continue to face competition from numerous companies in the industry. We anticipate that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, will continue its efforts to facilitate the competitive energy marketplace throughout the country on several fronts but particularly by encouraging utilities to voluntarily participate in RTOs or ISOs.

      Many companies in the regulated utility industry, with which the wholesale power industry is closely linked, are also restructuring or reviewing their strategies. Several of those companies are discontinuing their unregulated activities, seeking to divest their unregulated subsidiaries or attempting to have their regulated subsidiaries acquire assets out of their or other companies’ unregulated subsidiaries. This may lead to increased competition between the regulated utilities and the unregulated power producers within certain markets.

      In March 2001, certain affiliates of West Coast Power entered into a contract with the California Department of Water Resources, or CDWR, pursuant to which the affiliates agreed to sell up to 2,300 MW from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004, any of which may be resold by the CDWR to utilities such as Southern California Edison Company, PG&E Corp. and San Diego Gas and Electric Company. This contract contributed $108.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 and $102.6 million for the full year 2003 to our reported equity earnings in West Coast Power, which were decreased by the non-cash impact of fresh start accounting of $115.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 and $8.8 million for the period December 6, 2003 through December 31, 2003. West Coast Power made distributions to NRG Energy of $114.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 and $122.2 million during calendar year 2003. The contract and the corresponding earnings and cash flow terminated on December 31, 2004. The CDWR contract accounted for a majority of West Coast Power’s revenues during these periods. Beginning January 2005, all of the West Coast Power assets have been negotiated and will operate under reliability must-run, or RMR, agreements. In January 2005, the El Segundo generating facility entered into a tolling arrangement for its entire gross generating capacity of 670 MW commencing May 1, 2005 and extending through December 31, 2005. During the term of this agreement, the purchaser will be entitled to primary energy dispatch rights for the facility’s generating capacity. The agreement is subject to the amendment of the El Segundo RMR agreement to switch to RMR Condition I and to otherwise allow the purchaser to exercise its primary dispatch rights under this agreement while preserving Cal ISO’s ability to call on the El Segundo facility as a reliability resource under the RMR agreement, if necessary.

      Many of our facilities are old. Newer plants owned by our competitors are often more efficient than our aging plants, which may put some of our plants at a competitive disadvantage. Over time, our plants may be squeezed out of their markets, or be unable to compete, because of the construction of new, more efficient plants. Older equipment, even if maintained in accordance with good engineering practices, may require significant capital expenditures to keep it operating at optimum efficiency. This equipment is also likely to require periodic upgrading and improvement. Any unexpected failure, including failure associated with breakdowns, forced outages or any unanticipated capital expenditures could result in reduced profitability. In addition, if we make any “major modifications” to our power generation facilities, as defined under the new source review provisions of the federal Clean Air Act, we may be required to install “best available control technology” or to achieve the “lowest achievable emissions rate.” Any such modifications would likely result in substantial additional capital expenditures.

      In general, environmental laws and regulations, particularly with respect to air emissions, are becoming more stringent, which may require us to install expensive plant upgrades and/or restrict or modify our operations to meet more stringent standards. An example of this is RGGI, the regional greenhouse gas initiative in the

Northeast. There are many key unknowns with respect to this initiative, including the applicable baseline, initial allocations, required emissions reductions, availability of offsets, the extent to which states will adopt the program, and the timing for implementation. There can be no assurance at this time that a carbon dioxide cap-and-trade program, if implemented by the states in which we operate, would not have a material adverse effect on our operations in this region.

      We cannot predict the level of capital expenditures that will be required due to frequently changing environmental and safety laws and regulations, deteriorating facility conditions and unexpected events (such as natural disasters or terrorist attacks). The unexpected requirement of large capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and condition. Further, the construction, expansion, modification and refurbishment of power generation facilities involve many risks, including:

      The ongoing operation of our facilities involves all of the risks described above, as well as risks relating to the breakdown or failure of equipment or processes, performance below expected levels of output or efficiency and the inability to transport our product to our customers in an efficient manner due to a lack of transmission capacity. While we maintain insurance, obtain warranties from vendors and obligate contractors to meet certain performance levels, the proceeds of such insurance, warranties or performance guarantees may not be adequate to cover our lost revenues, increased expenses or liquidated damages payments should we experience equipment breakdown or non-performance by contractors. Any of these risks could cause us to operate below expected capacity or availability levels, which in turn could result in lost revenues, increased expenses, higher maintenance costs and penalties.

      Most of our domestic natural gas-, coal- and oil-fired power generation facilities purchase their fuel requirements under short-term contracts or on the spot market. Although we attempt to purchase fuel based on our known fuel requirements, we still face the risks of supply interruptions and fuel price volatility as fuel deliveries may not exactly match energy sales due in part to our need to prepurchase fuel inventories for reliability and dispatch requirements. The price we can obtain for the sale of energy may not rise at the same rate, or may not rise at all, to match a rise in fuel costs. This may have a material adverse effect on our financial performance. Moreover, changes in market prices for natural gas, coal and oil may result from the following:

      The volatility of fuel prices could materially and adversely affect our financial results and operations.

      Our plant operating characteristics and equipment often dictate the specific fuel quality to be combusted. The availability and price of specific fuel qualities may vary due to supplier financial or operational disruptions, transportation disruptions and force majeure. At times, coal of specific quality may not be available at any price, or we may not be able to transport such coal to our facilities on a timely basis. In such case, we may not be able to run a coal facility even if it would be profitable. Operating a coal plant with lesser quality coal can lead to emission problems. If we had contracted the power from the facility, we could be required to supply or purchase power from alternate sources, perhaps at a loss. This could have a material adverse impact on the financial results of specific plants and on our results of operations.

      We often rely on a single contracted supplier for the provision of transportation of fuel and other services required for the operation of our facilities. If these suppliers cannot perform, we utilize the marketplace to provide these services. At times, we rely on a single customer or a few customers to purchase all or a significant portion of a facility’s output, in some cases under long-term agreements that provide the support for any project debt used to finance the facility. For the year ended December 31, 2004, we derived 49.8% of our revenues from majority-owned operations from four customers: New York Independent System Operator, or NYISO, accounted for 28.5%, ISO New England accounted for 9.1%, National Electricity Market Management Co. Ltd (Australia) accounted for 6.8% and Vattenfall Europe (Germany) accounted for 5.4%. For the period December 6, 2003 through December 31, 2003, we derived 39.0% of our revenues from majority-owned operations from two customers: NYISO accounted for 26.5% and ISO New England accounted for 12.5%. During the period January 1, 2003 through December 5, 2003, we derived 33.4% of our revenues from majority-owned operations from NYISO. During 2002, we derived approximately 26.0% of our revenues from majority-owned operations from NYISO. The failure of any supplier or customer to fulfill its contractual obligations to a facility could have a material adverse effect on such facility’s financial results. Consequently, the financial performance of any such facility is dependent on the credit quality of, and continued performance by, suppliers and customers.

      Our operations are subject to many hazards associated with the power generation industry, which may expose us to significant liabilities for which we may not have adequate insurance coverage. Power generation involves hazardous activities, including acquiring, transporting and unloading fuel, operating large pieces of rotating equipment and delivering electricity to transmission and distribution systems. In addition to natural risks such as earthquake, flood, lightning, hurricane and wind, hazards, such as fire, explosion, collapse and machinery failure, are inherent risks in our operations. These and other hazards can cause significant personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property, plant and equipment, contamination of, or damage to, the environment and suspension of operations. The occurrence of any one of these events may result in our being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting claims for substantial damages, including for environmental cleanup

costs, personal injury and property damage and fines and/or penalties. We maintain an amount of insurance protection that we consider adequate, but we cannot assure you that our insurance will be sufficient or effective under all circumstances and against all hazards or liabilities to which we may be subject. A successful claim for which we are not fully insured could hurt our financial results and materially harm our financial condition. Further, due to rising insurance costs and changes in the insurance markets, we cannot assure you that insurance coverage will continue to be available at all or at rates or on terms similar to those presently available to us.

      We are exposed to market risks through our power marketing business, which involves the sale of energy, capacity and related products and procurement of fuel, transmission services and emission allowances. These market risks include, among other risks, volatility arising from the timing differences associated with buying fuel, converting fuel into energy and delivering the energy to a buyer. We seek to manage this volatility by entering into forward and other contracts that hedge our exposure for our net transactions. The effectiveness of our hedging strategy may be dependent on the amount of collateral available to enter into these hedging contracts, and liquidity requirements may be greater than we anticipate or are able to meet. Without a sufficient amount of working capital to post as collateral in support of performance guarantees or as cash margin, we may not be able to effectively manage price volatility. Factors which could lead to an increase in our required collateral include volatile commodity prices, adverse changes in our industry, credit rating downgrades and the secured nature of our Amended Credit Facility. Under certain unfavorable commodity price scenarios, it is possible that we could experience inadequate liquidity as a result of the posting of additional collateral.

      Further, if our facilities experience unplanned outages, we may be required to procure replacement power in the open market to minimize our exposure to liquidated damages. Without adequate liquidity to post margin and collateral requirements, we may be exposed to significant losses and may miss significant opportunities, and we may have increased exposure to the volatility of spot markets.

      We engage in commodity-related marketing and price-risk management activities in order to economically hedge our exposure to market risk with respect to (i) electricity sales from our generation assets, (ii) fuel utilized by those assets and (iii) emission allowances. We generally attempt to balance our fixed-price physical and financial purchases and sales commitments in terms of contract volumes and the timing of performance and delivery obligations, through the use of financial and physical derivative contracts. These derivatives are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended by SFAS No. 137, SFAS No. 138 and SFAS No. 149. SFAS No. 133 requires us to record all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value with changes in the fair value resulting from fluctuations in the underlying commodity prices immediately recognized in earnings, unless the derivative qualifies for hedge accounting treatment. Whether a derivative qualifies for hedge accounting depends upon it meeting specific criteria used to determine if hedge accounting is and will remain appropriate for the term of the derivative. Economic hedges will not necessarily qualify for hedge accounting treatment. As a result, we are unable to predict the impact that our risk management decisions may have on our quarterly operating results or financial position.

      Our facilities and related properties may become subject to decommissioning and/or site remediation obligations that may require material unplanned expenditures or otherwise materially affect the value of those assets. While we meet all site remediation obligations currently applicable to our assets (largely through the provision of various forms of financial assurance), more onerous obligations apply to sites where a plant is to be dismantled, which could negatively affect our ability to economically undertake power redevelopments or alternate uses at existing power plant sites. Further, laws and regulations may change to impose material additional decommissioning and remediation obligations on us in the future, negatively impacting the value of our assets and /or our ability to undertake redevelopment projects.

      Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and will continue to do so in the future as a result of a number of factors, including seasonal variations in demand and corresponding electricity and fuel price volatility and variations in levels of production.

      We have limited control over the operation of some project investments and joint ventures because our investments are in projects where we beneficially own less than a majority of the ownership interests. We seek to exert a degree of influence with respect to the management and operation of projects in which we own less than a majority of the ownership interests by negotiating to obtain positions on management committees or to receive certain limited governance rights such as rights to veto significant actions. However, we may not always succeed in such negotiations. We may be dependent on our co-venturers to operate such projects. Our co-venturers may not have the level of experience, technical expertise, human resources management and other attributes necessary to operate these projects optimally. The approval of co-venturers also may be required for us to receive distributions of funds from projects or to transfer our interest in projects.

      We may require additional capital from outside sources from time to time. Our ability to arrange financing, either at the corporate level or on a non-recourse project-level basis, and the costs of such capital are dependent on numerous factors, including:

      We may not be successful in obtaining additional capital for these or other reasons. The failure to obtain additional capital from time to time may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

      Our business is subject to extensive foreign, federal, state and local energy, environmental and other laws and regulations. We generally are required to obtain and comply with a wide variety of licenses, permits and other approvals in order to construct, operate or modify our facilities. We may incur significant additional costs because of our need to comply with these requirements. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we could be subject to civil or criminal liability and the imposition of liens or fines. We could also be required to shut down any facilities that do not comply with these requirements. In addition, we are at risk for liability for past, current or future contamination at our former and existing facilities or with respect to off-site waste disposal sites that we have used in our operations. Existing regulations may be revised or reinterpreted and new laws and regulations may be adopted or become applicable to us or our facilities in a manner that may have a detrimental effect on our

business. With the continuing trend toward stricter standards, greater regulation and more extensive permitting requirements, we expect that our environmental expenditures will be substantial in the future.

      Our operations are potentially subject to the provisions of various energy laws and regulations, including the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or PUHCA, the Federal Power Act or FPA, and state and local utility laws and regulations. Under the FPA, FERC regulates our wholesale sales of electric power (other than sales by our qualifying facilities, which are exempt from FERC rate regulation). The ability to sell energy at market-based rates is predicated on the absence of market power in either generation or transmission, the inability to create barriers to entry and the inability to engage in abusive affiliate transactions and filing of certain reports with FERC. The market power analysis includes not only generation and transmission owned by a particular applicant but also assets owned by affiliated companies. Holders of market-based rate authority must comply with obligations imposed by FERC and with certain FERC filing requirements such as the requirement to file quarterly reports detailing wholesale sales. Although a number of our direct and indirect subsidiaries have obtained market-based rate authority from FERC, these authorizations could be revoked if we fail in the future to satisfy the applicable criteria, if FERC modifies the criteria, or if FERC eliminates or further restricts the ability of wholesale sellers to make sales at market-based rates.

      In addition, under PUHCA, registered holding companies and their subsidiaries (i.e., companies with 10% or more of their voting securities held by registered holding companies) are subject to extensive regulation by the SEC. We will not be considered a holding company or subject to PUHCA as long as we do not become a subsidiary of another registered holding company and the projects in which we have an interest (1) qualify as a qualifying facility, or QF, under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA, (2) obtain and maintain exempt wholesale generator, or EWG, status under Section 32 of PUHCA, (3) obtain and maintain foreign utility company, or FUCO, status under Section 33 of PUHCA, or (4) are subject to another exemption or waiver. If our projects were to cease to be exempt and we were to become subject to SEC and FERC regulation under PUHCA, it would be difficult for us to comply with PUHCA absent a substantial corporate restructuring.

      We face regulatory risk imposed by the various transmission providers, ISOs and RTOs and their corresponding market rules. These market rules are subject to revisions, and such revisions may not benefit us. Transmission providers, ISOs and RTOs have FERC-approved tariffs that govern access to their transmission system. These tariffs may contain provisions that limit access to the transmission grid or allocate scarce transmission capacity in a particular manner.

      We presently operate in the following ISO or RTO markets: California (through the West Coast Power joint venture and individually), New England, New York and PJM (the Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland Interconnection). The chief regulatory risk is the lack of, or uncertainty regarding, market mechanisms that effectively compensate generating units for providing reliability services and installed capacity.

      We are dependent on access to transmission systems to sell our energy. In the northeastern ISO and RTO markets, we have a significant amount of generation located in load pockets. Expansion of the transmission system to reduce or eliminate these load pockets could negatively impact our existing facilities in these areas.

      Our facilities located in the Entergy franchise territory face a different transmission risk, in that restrictions on transmission access may limit our ability to sell energy or to service new customers.

      The nature of our business frequently subjects us to litigation. Many of the largest claims against us prior to the date of the bankruptcy filing were satisfied and discharged in accordance with the terms of the NRG plan of

reorganization or the plan of reorganization for certain subsidiaries or in connection with settlement agreements that were approved by the bankruptcy court prior to our emergence from bankruptcy. Circumstances in which pre-bankruptcy filing claims have not been discharged include, among others, where we have agreed with a given claimant to preserve their claims, as well as, potentially, instances where a claimant had no notice of the bankruptcy filing. The ultimate resolution of certain remaining or future claims may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and profitability. In addition, claims made against subsidiaries that did not file for chapter 11, and claims arising after the date of our bankruptcy filing, were not discharged in the bankruptcy cases. See Item 15 — Note 27 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year ended December 31, 2004, for a description of the significant legal proceedings and investigations in which we are presently involved.

      Under the NRG plan of reorganization, we have established disputed claims reserves, which we will utilize to make distributions to holders of disputed claims in our bankruptcy cases as and when their claims are resolved. If these reserves prove inadequate, we will be required to finance any further cash distributions from other resources, and doing so could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, and, in addition, we could be required to issue new common stock, which would dilute existing shareholders. In particular, the State of California’s disputed claims against us are capped at $1.35 billion. There are also a number of private claims springing from the California energy crisis for which there is no cap. We have made no reserves for these claims, because we believe they are without merit; however, if the State of California or these private litigants prevail, then payment of the distributions to which the State of California or these private litigants would be entitled under the NRG plan of reorganization could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition.

      Our generation facilities and the facilities of third parties on which they rely may be targets of terrorist activities, as well as events occurring in response to or in connection with them, that could cause environmental repercussions and/or result in full or partial disruption of their ability to generate, transmit, transport or distribute electricity or natural gas. Strategic targets, such as energy-related facilities, may be at greater risk of future terrorist activities than other domestic targets. Any such environmental repercussions or disruption could result in a significant decrease in revenues or significant reconstruction or remediation costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

      We have investments in power projects in Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany and Brazil. International investments are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to the political, social and economic structures of the countries in which we invest. Risks specifically related to our investments in international projects may include:

Risks Related to the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock

      The preferred stock ranks junior to all of our liabilities. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or winding-up, our assets will be available to pay obligations on the preferred stock, including the purchase of your shares of the preferred stock for cash upon a fundamental change, only after all our indebtedness and other liabilities have been paid. In addition, the preferred stock will effectively rank junior to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries and any capital stock of our subsidiaries held by others. The rights of holders of the

preferred stock to participate in the distribution of assets of our subsidiaries will rank junior to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors and any other equity holders. Consequently, if we are forced to liquidate our assets to pay our creditors, we may not have sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the preferred stock then outstanding. We and our subsidiaries may incur substantial amounts of additional debt and other obligations that will rank senior to the preferred stock.

      In the event of a fundamental change you will have the right to require us to purchase with cash all your shares of preferred stock. However, we may not have sufficient cash to purchase your shares of preferred stock upon a fundamental change or may be otherwise unable to pay the purchase price in cash.

      In addition, holders of shares of preferred stock shall not have the right to require us to repurchase shares of preferred stock upon a fundamental change (i) unless such purchase complies with our indenture governing our senior secured notes and our anticipated amended and restated credit facility and (ii) unless and until our board of directors has approved such fundamental change or elected to take a neutral position with respect to such fundamental change. Also, the terms of the indenture governing our senior secured notes, our existing credit facility and our anticipated amended and restated credit facility contain or will contain, as applicable, limitations on our ability to pay the purchase price of the preferred stock in cash. In addition, they contain restrictions that could limit our ability to pay dividends on the shares of preferred stock. Even if the terms of the instruments governing our indebtedness allow us to pay cash dividends and to redeem and purchase the preferred stock in cash, we can only make such payments from legally available funds, as determined by our board of directors, and such funds may not be available to pay cash dividends to you or to redeem or purchase your shares of preferred stock. Dividends on the preferred stock will only be paid when, as and if declared by our board of directors. The board of directors may elect not to declare dividends on the preferred stock.

      Further, because we are a holding company, our ability to purchase the preferred stock for cash or to pay dividends on the preferred stock may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain funds for such repurchase through dividends from our subsidiaries.

      The shares of preferred stock issued in the initial private placement are eligible for trading in the Portal^sm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. The preferred stock sold using this prospectus, however, will no longer be eligible for trading in the Portal^sm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. We do not intend to list the preferred stock on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system. Consequently, a liquid trading market for the preferred stock may not develop and the market price of the preferred stock may be volatile. As a result, you may be unable to sell your shares of preferred stock at a price equal to or greater than that which you paid, if at all.

      If you convert your shares of preferred stock into shares of common stock, you will experience immediate dilution because the per share conversion price of the preferred stock immediately after this offering will be higher than the net tangible book value per share of the outstanding common stock. In addition, you will also experience dilution when and if we issue additional shares of common stock, which we may be required to issue pursuant to options, warrants, our stock option plan or other employee or director compensation plans.

      The price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange constantly changes. We expect that the market price of our common stock will continue to fluctuate. Because the preferred stock is convertible into our common stock, volatility or depressed prices for our common stock could have a similar effect on the trading price of the preferred stock. Holders who have received common stock upon conversion will also be subject to the risk of volatility and depressed prices.

      Our stock price can fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include:

      In addition, the stock market in general has experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of a particular company. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

      We are prohibited by the terms of our senior credit facility from paying dividends to the holders of our common stock, and we are restricted in our ability to pay such dividends by the terms of the indenture governing our senior secured notes. In the future, we may agree to further restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. In addition, to maintain our credit ratings, we may be limited in our ability to pay dividends so that we can maintain an appropriate level of debt.

      If a fundamental change occurs, we will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate of our preferred stock by a number of additional shares of common stock. The number of additional shares of our common stock will be determined based on the date on which the fundamental change becomes effective, and the price paid per share of common stock in the fundamental change transaction as described under “Description of the Preferred Stock — Adjustments to the Conversion Price — Adjustment for a Fundamental Change.” While

the increase in the conversion rate upon conversion is designed to compensate you for the lost option time value of your shares of preferred stock as a result of the fundamental change, the increase is only an approximation of this lost value and may not adequately compensate you for your loss. If the price paid per share of common stock in the fundamental change transaction is less than the price per share of the common stock at the date of issuance of our preferred stock or above a specified price, there will be no increase in the conversion rate. In addition, in certain circumstances, upon a fundamental change arising from our acquisition by a public company, we may elect to adjust the conversion rate as described under “Description of the Preferred Stock — Adjustments to the Conversion Price — Public Acquirer Fundamental Change” and, if we so elect, holders of shares of our preferred stock will not be entitled to the increase in the conversion rate described above.

      Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designation for the preferred stock do not prohibit us from issuing additional series of preferred stock that would rank equally to the preferred stock as to dividend payments and liquidation preference. Including the 420,000 shares of the preferred stock subject to this prospectus, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we have the authority to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The issuances of other series of preferred stock could have the effect of reducing the amounts available to the preferred stock in the event of our liquidation. It may also reduce dividend payments on the preferred stock if we do not have sufficient funds to pay dividends on all preferred stock outstanding and outstanding parity preferred stock.

      Additional issuances and sales of preferred stock, or the perception that such issuances and sales could occur, may cause prevailing market prices for our common stock to decline and may adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital in the financial markets at a time and price favorable to us.

      The dividends paid by us may exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This will result in the amount of the dividends that exceeds such earnings and profits being treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the preferred stock, and the excess as capital gain. Such treatment will generally be unfavorable for corporate holders and may also be unfavorable to certain other holders.

      Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger or acquisition involving us that our stockholders may consider favorable. For example, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock to which special rights are attached, including voting and dividend rights. With these rights, preferred stockholders could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for a staggered board of directors, whereby directors serve for three-year terms, with approximately one third of the directors coming up for reelection each year. Having a staggered board of directors will make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of our board of directors through a proxy contest, which may be a necessary step in an acquisition of us that is not favored by our board of directors.

      We are also subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under these provisions, if anyone becomes an “interested stockholder,” we may not enter into a “business combination” with that person for three years without special approval, which could discourage a third party

from making a takeover offer and could delay or prevent a change of control. For purposes of Section 203, “interested stockholder” means, generally, someone owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock or an affiliate of ours that owned 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock during the past three years, subject to certain exceptions as described in Section 203.

      Upon any change in control, the lenders under our existing credit facility will have the right to require us to repay all of our outstanding obligations under the facility. Upon the occurrence of a change in control, the holders of our senior secured notes will have the right, subject to certain conditions, to require us to repurchase their notes at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages, if any, to the date of repurchase.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

      This prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The words “believes,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement. These factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors described under “Risk Factors” on page 7 herein or in our SEC filings, and the following:

      Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly 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 our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements included in this prospectus should not be construed as exhaustive.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERENCE DIVIDENDS

      The ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preference dividends for the periods indicated are stated below. For this purpose, “earnings” include pre-tax income (loss) before adjustments for minority interest in our consolidated subsidiaries and income or loss from equity investees, plus fixed charges and distributed income of equity investees, reduced by interest capitalized. “Fixed charges” include interest, whether expensed or capitalized, amortization of debt expense and the portion of rental expense that is representative of the interest factor in these rentals. “Preference dividends” equals the amount of pre-tax earnings that is required to pay the dividends on outstanding preference securities.

USE OF PROCEEDS

      All of the shares of preferred stock and common stock offered hereby are being sold by the selling stockholders. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of preferred stock and common stock in this offering.

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

      Information about the selling stockholders may change over time. Any changed information will be set forth in a post-effective amendment or, if permissible, a prospectus supplement to the extent we are advised of such changes. From time to time, additional information concerning ownership of the shares may rest with certain holders thereof not named in the table below and of whom we are unaware. All information in the following tables and related footnotes has been supplied to us by the selling stockholders, and we have relied on their representations.

      The following table and accompanying notes set forth certain information provided to us by the selling stockholders. Under this prospectus, the selling stockholders and any of their respective transferees, assignees, donees, distributees, pledgees, or other successors-in-interest may offer and sell from time to time up to an aggregate of 420,000 shares of preferred stock, or 10,500,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the preferred stock. The shares listed below are being registered to permit public sales of these securities by the selling stockholders, and the selling stockholders may offer all, some or none of their securities.

      The number of shares of preferred stock and common stock that may be actually purchased by certain selling stockholders and the number of shares of preferred stock and common stock that may be actually sold by each selling stockholder will be determined by such selling stockholder. Because certain selling stockholders may purchase all, some or none of the shares of preferred stock or common stock that can be purchased upon conversion of the preferred stock and each selling stockholder may sell all, some or none of the shares of preferred stock and common stock that each holds, and because the offering contemplated by this prospectus is not currently being underwritten, no estimate can be given as to the number of shares of preferred stock and common stock that will be held by the selling stockholders upon termination of the offering. In addition, the selling stockholders listed below may have acquired, sold or transferred, in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, some or all of their shares of preferred stock and common stock since the date as of which the information in the tables is presented.

      The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock by the selling stockholders as of the date of this prospectus, and the number of shares of preferred stock and common stock covered by this prospectus. Except as otherwise noted below, none of the selling stockholders has held any position or office, or has had any other material relationship with us or any of our affiliates within the past three years.

      The information set forth in the following table regarding the beneficial ownership after resale of shares is based on the assumption that each selling stockholder will sell all of the shares of preferred stock and common stock owned by the selling stockholder and covered by the prospectus. If all of the shares of our preferred stock and common stock listed below are sold pursuant to this prospectus, then the selling stockholders will sell 420,000 shares of Preferred Stock, or 10,500,000 shares of our common stock.

(1) Based on 87,045,104 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 28, 2005.

(2) Citigroup Global Markets Inc. was a co-placement agent on the issuance of the preferred stock.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

      We are registering a total of 420,000 shares of our preferred stock, and 10,500,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the preferred stock. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of the preferred stock or common stock. A selling stockholder is a person named in the section of this prospectus entitled “Selling Stockholders” and also includes any donee, pledgee, transferee, or other successor-in-interest selling shares of our preferred stock or common stock received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution, or other non-sale related transfer.

      We will bear all costs, fees and expenses in connection to our obligation to register the shares of the preferred stock and common stock offered by this prospectus. If the shares of preferred stock or common stock are sold through broker-dealers or agents, the selling stockholders will be responsible for any compensation to such broker-dealers or agents.

      The selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of preferred stock or common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of preferred stock or common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of preferred stock or common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors-in-interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purpose of this prospectus.

      The selling stockholders will sell their shares of preferred stock and common stock subject to the following:

      In connection with such sales through one or more broker-dealers or agents, such broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders and receive commissions from the purchasers of the shares of preferred stock or common stock for whom they act as broker-agent or to whom they sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular broker-dealers or agents may be excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved).

      The selling stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares of preferred stock and common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any profits realized by the selling stockholder, and commissions paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to any broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act of 1933. If the selling stockholders were deemed to be underwriters, the selling stockholders could be subject to certain statutory liabilities under the federal securities laws, including under Sections 11, 12 and 17 of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act. In addition, any shares of preferred stock and

common stock covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

      The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the offered securities offered by them will be the purchase price of such preferred stock or common stock less discounts and commissions, if any, payable by them. Each of the selling stockholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their broker-dealers or agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of the offered securities to be made directly or through broker-dealers or agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the offering of the offered securities.

      If required at the time a particular offering of the shares of preferred stock and common stock is made, a prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of preferred stock and common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling stockholder and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.

      Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of preferred stock and common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of preferred stock and common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with. There can be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of preferred stock or common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

      The selling stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of preferred stock and common stock by the selling stockholders and participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of preferred stock and common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of preferred stock and common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of preferred stock and common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of preferred stock and common stock.

      In that regard, the selling stockholders are required to acknowledge that they understand their obligations to comply with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder relating to stock manipulation, particularly Regulation M thereunder (or any successor rules or regulations), in connection with the offering made by this prospectus. Each selling stockholder is required to agree that neither it nor any person acting on its behalf will engage in any transaction in violation of such provisions.

      Pursuant to the registration rights agreements described below under “Description of the Preferred Stock — Registration Rights,” we and the selling stockholders have agreed, subject to exceptions, to indemnify each other against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be entitled to contribution from each other in respect of those liabilities. Once sold under this registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of preferred stock and common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than affiliates.

      The preferred stock issued in the initial private placement are eligible for trading in the Portal^sm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. The preferred stock sold using this prospectus, however, will no longer be eligible for trading in the Portal^sm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. We do not intend to list the preferred stock on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

      Under the registration rights agreement, we may be required from time to time to require holders of offered securities to discontinue the sale or other disposition of those debentures and shares of common stock under specified circumstances. See “Description of the Preferred Stock — Registration Rights.”

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED STOCK

      The shares of preferred stock were issued pursuant to a certificate of designations dated as of December 20, 2004. The preferred stock, and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the preferred stock, are covered by a certificate of designations and a registration rights agreement, both of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You may request a copy of the certificate of designations and the registration rights agreement by writing or telephoning us at: NRG Energy, Inc., 211 Carnegie Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540; (609) 524-4500; Attention: General Counsel.

      The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the preferred stock, the certificate of designations and the registration rights agreement. It does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to, and is qualified by, reference to all the provisions of the certificate of designations, including the definitions of terms used in the certificate of designations, and the registration rights agreement. We urge you to read the certificate of designations because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of shares of preferred stock.

      As used in this “Description of the Preferred Stock” section, references to “NRG,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer solely to NRG Energy, Inc. and not to our subsidiaries.

General

      Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized, without further stockholder action, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of serial preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, in one or more series, with such voting powers or, subject to certain limitations, without voting powers, and with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions, as shall be set forth in the resolutions providing therefor. All shares of authorized serial preferred stock are currently undesignated.

      Pursuant to the certificate of designations dated December 20, 2004, we issued 420,000 shares of our 4% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and $1,000 liquidation preference per share. The shares of preferred stock have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of the shares of preferred stock have no preemptive rights or preferential rights to purchase or subscribe for stock, obligations, warrants or any other of our securities.

      The preferred stock issued in the initial private placement are eligible for trading in the Portal^sm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. The preferred stock sold using this prospectus, however, will no longer be eligible for trading in the Portal^sm Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. We do not intend to list the preferred stock on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

      Our corporate documents and Delaware law contain provisions that could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company even if some stockholders might consider such a development favorable, which may adversely affect the price of our preferred and common stock. These provisions are described above under “Risk Factors–Risks Related to this Offering.”

Ranking

      The preferred stock, with respect to dividend rights and upon liquidation, winding up and dissolution, ranks:

      The term “senior stock” includes warrants, rights, calls or options exercisable for or convertible into that type of stock.

Dividends

      Holders of the shares of preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available for payment, cumulative cash dividends on each outstanding share of preferred stock at the annual rate of 4% of the liquidation preference per share. The dividend rate is initially equivalent to $40.00 per share annually. The right of holders of the shares of preferred stock to receive dividend payments is subject to the rights of any holders of shares of senior stock and parity stock.

      Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2005. If any of those dates is not a business day, then dividends will be payable on the next succeeding business day. Dividends will accumulate from the most recent date as to which dividends will have been paid or, if no dividends have been paid, from the date of original issuance of the preferred stock. Dividends are payable to holders of record as they appear in our stock records at the close of business on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year or on a record date that may be fixed by our board of directors and that will be not more than 60 days nor fewer than 10 days before the applicable quarterly dividend payment date. Dividends will be cumulative from each quarterly dividend payment date, whether or not we have funds legally available for the payment of those dividends.

      Dividends payable on the shares of preferred stock for any period shorter than a full quarterly period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends on the shares of preferred stock, including liquidated damages, if any, will be payable in cash. Accumulated unpaid dividends cumulate dividends at the annual rate of 4% and are payable in the manner provided above.

      For so long as the preferred stock is outstanding, (1) we will not declare, pay or set apart funds for the payment of any dividend or other distribution with respect to any junior stock or parity stock and (2) neither we, nor any of our subsidiaries, will redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration junior stock or parity stock through a sinking fund or otherwise, unless, in each case, we have paid or set apart funds for the payment of all accumulated and unpaid dividends, including liquidated damages, if any, with respect to the shares of the preferred stock and any parity stock for all preceding dividend periods. As an exception to clause (2), we will be able to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration parity stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on similar terms to all holders of preferred stock and such parity stock.

      Holders of the preferred stock will not have any right to receive dividends that we may declare on our common stock. The right to receive dividends declared on our common stock will be realized only after conversion of such holder’s shares of preferred stock into shares of our common stock.

Conversion Rights

      Each share of preferred stock is convertible at any time and from time to time, at the option of the holder, into fully paid and nonassessable shares of our common stock at an initial conversion price of $40.00 per share, which is equal to an approximate conversion rate of 25 shares per share of preferred stock, subject to adjustments as described under “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price.”

      If and only to the extent you elect to convert your shares of our preferred stock in connection with a fundamental change as described below under “— Fundamental Change Requires Us to Purchase Shares of Preferred Stock at the Option of the Holder,” pursuant to which 10% or more of the fair market value of the consideration for the common stock in the transaction consists of (i) cash, (ii) other property or (iii) securities that

are not traded or scheduled to be traded immediately following such transaction on a U.S. national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, we will increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares as described under ‘–Adjustments to the Conversion Price–Adjustment for a Fundamental Change,” or, in lieu thereof, we may in certain circumstances elect to adjust the conversion rate and related conversion obligation so that shares of our preferred stock are convertible into shares of the acquiring or surviving entity as described under “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price–Public Acquirer Fundamental Change.” We must give notice to all holders at least 15 trading days prior to the anticipated effective date of such fundamental change and whether we will elect to increase the conversion rate as described in “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price–Adjustment for a Fundamental Change” or adjust the conversion rate as described in “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price–Public Acquirer Fundamental Change.” We must also give notice to all holders that such fundamental change has become effective. To receive the additional shares upon conversion, if applicable, holders may surrender shares of our preferred stock for conversion and receive the additional shares described under “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price–Adjustment for a Fundamental Change” at any time from and after the date that is 15 days prior to the anticipated effective date of such fundamental change until and including the date that is 15 days after the actual effective date.

      A holder of shares of the preferred stock may convert any or all of those shares by surrendering to us at our principal office or at the office of the transfer agent, as may be designated by our board of directors, the certificate or certificates for those shares of the preferred stock accompanied by a written notice stating that the holder elects to convert all or a specified whole number of those shares in accordance with the provisions described in this prospectus and specifying the name or names in which the holder wishes the certificate or certificates for shares of common stock to be issued. In case the notice specifies a name or names other than that of the holder, the notice will be accompanied by payment of all transfer taxes payable upon the issuance of shares of common stock in that name or names. Other than those taxes, we will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be payable in respect of any issuance or delivery of shares of common stock upon conversion of shares of the preferred stock. As promptly as practicable after the surrender of that certificate or certificates and the receipt of the notice relating to the conversion and payment of all required transfer taxes, if any, or the demonstration to our satisfaction that those taxes have been paid, we will deliver or cause to be delivered (a) certificates representing the number of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable full shares of our common stock to which the holder, or the holder’s transferee, of shares of the preferred stock being converted will be entitled along with cash payment for any fractional shares, and (b) if less than the full number of shares of preferred stock evidenced by the surrendered certificate or certificates is being converted, a new certificate or certificates, of like tenor, for the number of shares evidenced by the surrendered certificate or certificates less the number of shares being converted along with cash payment for any fractional shares. This conversion will be deemed to have been made at the close of business on the date of giving the notice and of surrendering the certificate or certificates representing the shares of preferred stock to be converted so that the rights of the holder thereof as to the shares being converted will cease except for the right to receive shares of common stock, and the person entitled to receive the shares of common stock will be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder of those shares of common stock at that time.

      In lieu of the foregoing procedures, if the preferred stock is held in global form, you must comply with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) procedures to convert your beneficial interest in respect of preferred stock evidenced by a global certificate for the preferred stock.

      If a holder of shares of preferred stock exercises conversion rights, upon delivery of the shares for conversion, those shares will cease to cumulate dividends as of the end of the day immediately preceding the date of conversion. Holders of shares of preferred stock who convert their shares into our common stock will not be entitled to, nor will the conversion rate be adjusted for, any accumulated and unpaid dividends. Accordingly, shares of preferred stock surrendered for conversion after the close of business on any record date for the payment of dividends declared and before the opening of business on the dividend payment date relating to that record date must be accompanied by a payment in cash of an amount equal to the dividend payable in respect of those shares for the dividend period in which the shares are converted. A holder of shares of preferred stock on a

dividend payment record date who converts such shares into shares of our common stock on the corresponding dividend payment date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable on such shares of preferred stock on such dividend payment date, and the converting holder need not include payment of the amount of such dividend upon surrender of shares of preferred stock for conversion.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of preferred stock are converted during the period between the close of business on any dividend payment record date and the opening of business on the corresponding dividend payment date, and we have called such shares of preferred stock for redemption during such period or we have specified a fundamental change purchase date during such period, the holder who tenders such shares for conversion will receive the dividend payable on such dividend payment date and need not include payment of the amount of such dividend upon surrender of shares of preferred stock for conversion.

      In case any shares of preferred stock are to be redeemed, the right to convert those shares of the preferred stock will terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption unless we default in the payment of the redemption price of those shares.

      In connection with the conversion of any shares of preferred stock, no fractional shares of common stock will be issued, but we will pay a cash adjustment in respect of any fractional interest in an amount equal to the fractional interest multiplied by the closing sale price (as defined below under “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price”) of our common stock on the date the shares of preferred stock are surrendered for conversion. If more than one share of preferred stock will be surrendered for conversion by the same holder at the same time, the number of full shares of common stock issuable on conversion of those shares will be computed on the basis of the total number of shares of preferred stock so surrendered. Our ability to pay cash in lieu of fractional shares is subject to limitations set forth in the indenture governing our senior secured notes.

      We will at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, for issuance upon the conversion of shares of preferred stock a number of our authorized but unissued shares of common stock or shares of common stock held in treasury that will from time to time be sufficient to permit the conversion of all outstanding shares of preferred stock.

      Before the delivery of any securities that we will be obligated to deliver upon conversion of the preferred stock, we will comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations that require action to be taken by us. All shares of common stock delivered upon conversion of the preferred stock will upon delivery be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free of all liens and charges and not subject to any preemptive rights.

      The conversion price (as well as the share price (as defined below) used to determine the number of additional shares described under “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price–Adjustment for a Fundamental Change”) is subject to adjustment from time to time if any of the following events occur, except that we will not make any adjustments to the conversion price (or the share price used to determine the number of additional shares) if holders of shares of our preferred stock participate in any of the following events:

(Pre-Dividend Sale Price - Dividend Adjustment Amount)

(Pre-Dividend Sale Price)

      In the event of:

in which holders of our common stock would be entitled to receive stock, other securities, other property, assets or cash for their common stock, upon conversion of your preferred stock you will be entitled to receive the same type of consideration that you would have been entitled to receive if you had converted the preferred stock into our common stock immediately prior to any of these events. In such a case, any increase in the conversion rate by additional shares as described under “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price–Adjustment for a Fundamental Change,” will not be payable in shares of our common stock, but will represent a right to the aggregate amount of securities, cash and other property into which the additional shares would convert upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, if we elect to adjust the conversion rate and our conversion obligations as described in “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price–Public Acquirer Fundamental Change,” the provisions described in that section will apply instead of the provisions described in the first sentence of this paragraph.

      The “closing sale price” on any date means the closing sale price per stock (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on such date for our common stock as reported in composite transactions on the principal United States securities exchange on which our common stock is traded or, if our common stock is not listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.

      A “trading day” means any regular or abbreviated trading day on the New York Stock Exchange.

      To the extent that we adopt any shareholder rights plan, upon conversion of shares of our preferred stock into shares of our common stock, you will receive, in addition to shares of our common stock, the rights under the rights plan unless the rights have separated from shares of our common stock at the time of conversion, in which case the conversion rate will be adjusted as if we distributed to all holders of shares of our common stock, shares of our capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or assets as described above, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

      No adjustment to the conversion rate or the ability of a holder of shares of our preferred stock to convert will be made if the holder will otherwise participate in the distribution without conversion solely as a holder of shares of our preferred stock.

      You may in certain situations be deemed to have received a distribution subject to United States federal income tax as a dividend in the event of any taxable distribution to holders of common stock or in certain other situations requiring a conversion rate adjustment. See “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

      We may, from time to time, increase the conversion rate if our board of directors has made a determination that this increase would be in our best interests. Any such determination by our board will be conclusive. In addition, we may increase the conversion rate if our board of directors deems it advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of common stock resulting from any stock or rights distribution. See “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.” We will not be required to make an adjustment in the conversion rate unless the adjustment would require a change of at least 1% in the conversion rate, provided that such adjustments will be made in the event of a redemption of preferred stock by us. However, we will carry forward any adjustments that are less than 1% of the conversion rate. Except as described above in this section, we will not adjust the conversion rate for any issuance of our common stock or convertible or exchangeable securities or rights to purchase our common stock or convertible or exchangeable securities. In particular, we will not adjust the conversion rate:

      If a fundamental change as described below under “— Fundamental Change Requires Us to Purchase Shares of Preferred Stock at the Option of the Holder” occurs and 10% or more of the fair market value of the consideration for the common stock in the transaction consists of (i) cash, (ii) other property or (iii) securities that are not traded or scheduled to be traded immediately following such transaction on a U.S. national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, we will decrease the conversion price for the preferred stock, which will increase the number of shares of common stock issuable upon a conversion (the “additional shares”) during the conversion period specified above under “— Conversion Rights–General” as described below. After such conversion period, the conversion price and the conversion rate will be readjusted so as not to include the additional shares.

      The number of additional shares will be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which such fundamental change becomes effective (the “effective date”) and the share price (the “share price”) paid per share of common stock in the transaction constituting a fundamental change. If holders of our common stock receive only cash in the transaction constituting a fundamental change, the share price shall be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the share price shall be the average of the closing sale prices of our common stock on the five trading days prior to but not including the effective date of the transaction constituting a fundamental change.

      The share prices set forth in the first row of the table below (i.e., column headers) will be adjusted as of any date on which the conversion price of the preferred stock is adjusted, as described above. The adjusted share prices will equal the share prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the conversion price as so adjusted and the denominator of which is the conversion price immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the share price adjustment. The number of additional shares will be adjusted in the same manner as the conversion price as set forth above.

      The following table sets forth the hypothetical share price and number of additional shares of common stock to be received per share of preferred stock:

      The share prices and additional share amounts set forth above are based upon a closing sale price of $32.12 per share at December 14, 2004 and an initial conversion price of $40.00.

      The maximum amount of additional stock payable is 6.7137 per share of preferred stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the total number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion exceed approximately 31.1333 per share of preferred stock, subject to adjustments in the same manner as the conversion price as set forth above “— Adjustments to Conversion Price.”

      The exact share prices and effective dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

      Notwithstanding the provisions set forth above under “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price-Adjustment for a Fundamental Change,” in the case of a public acquirer fundamental change (as defined below), we may, in lieu of increasing the conversion rate by additional shares as described above, elect to adjust the conversion rate and the related conversion obligation such that, from and after the effective date of such public acquirer fundamental change, holders of the preferred stock will be entitled to convert their preferred stock into a number of shares of public acquirer common stock (as defined below) that have been registered, or the resale of which will be registered, under the Securities Act, by multiplying the conversion rate in effect immediately before the public acquirer fundamental change by a fraction:

      A “public acquirer fundamental change” means any fundamental change that would otherwise obligate us to increase the conversion rate as described above and the acquirer (or any entity that is a directly or indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the acquirer) has a class of common stock traded on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or which will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such fundamental change (the “public acquirer common stock”). If an acquirer does not itself have a class of common stock satisfying the foregoing requirement, it will be deemed to have “public acquirer common stock” if a corporation that directly or indirectly owns at least a majority of the acquirer, has a class of common stock satisfying the foregoing requirement, and in each case such person has taken all necessary action to ensure that upon conversion of the shares of our preferred stock into such class of common stock, such class of common stock will not be treated as “restricted securities” and will otherwise be eligible for immediate sale in the public market by non-affiliates of ours absent a registration statement, and all references to public acquirer common stock will refer to such class of common stock. Majority owned for these purposes means having the “beneficial ownership” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of the respective entity’s capital stock that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

      Upon our decision to adjust the conversion rate and related conversion obligation upon a public acquirer fundamental change, holders may convert their preferred stock at the adjusted conversion rate described in the preceding paragraph but will not be entitled to the increased conversion rate as described above under “— Adjustment for a Fundamental Change.” The registered shares of public acquirer common stock, or the shares of public acquirer common stock registered for resale, as the case may be, shall be listed, or approved for

listing subject only to the official notice of issuance, on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market.

Optional Redemption

      We may not redeem any shares of preferred stock before December 20, 2009. On or after December 20, 2009, we will have the option to redeem some or all the shares of preferred stock with cash at a redemption price of 100% of the liquidation preference, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, including liquidated damages, if any, to the redemption date. If full cumulative dividends on the preferred stock have not been paid, the preferred stock may not be redeemed and we may not purchase or acquire any shares of preferred stock otherwise than pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of preferred stock and any parity stock.

      In the event of an optional redemption, we will send a written notice by first class mail to each holder of record of the preferred stock at such holder’s registered address, not fewer than 30 nor more than 90 days prior to the redemption date. In addition, we will (i) publish such information once in a daily newspaper printed in the English language and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, (ii) issue a press release containing such information and (iii) publish such information on our website on the World Wide Web.

      If we give notice of redemption, then, by 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, to the extent funds are legally available, we shall, with respect to:

      If on the redemption date DTC and the transfer agent hold cash sufficient to pay the redemption price for the shares of preferred stock delivered for redemption in accordance with the terms of the certificate of designations, dividends will cease to accumulate on those shares of preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of holders of such shares will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.

      Payment of the redemption price for the shares of preferred stock is conditioned upon book-entry transfer of or physical delivery of certificates representing the preferred stock, together with necessary endorsements, to the transfer agent, or to the transfer agent’s account at DTC, at any time after delivery of the redemption notice. Payment of the redemption price for the preferred stock will be made (i) if book-entry transfer of or physical delivery of the preferred stock has been made by or on the redemption date, on the redemption date, or (ii) if book-entry transfer of or physical delivery of the preferred stock has not been made by or on such date, at the time of book-entry transfer of or physical delivery of the preferred stock.

      If the redemption date falls after a dividend payment record date and before the related dividend payment date, holders of the shares of preferred stock at the close of business on that dividend payment record date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable on those shares on the corresponding dividend payment date. The redemption price payable on such redemption date will include only the liquidation preference, but will not include any amount in respect of dividends declared and payable on such corresponding dividend payment date.

      In the case of any partial redemption, we will select the shares of preferred stock to be redeemed on a pro rata basis, by lot or any other method that we, in our discretion, deem fair and appropriate.

      Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we may not redeem the preferred stock if, (i) as of the date of the mailing of the redemption notice, such redemption would, if such date were the date fixed for redemption, reduce our net assets remaining after such redemption below twice the aggregate amount payable upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up to holders of senior stock or parity stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up or (ii) we have not paid or set apart for payment all

accumulated dividends for the current and prior dividend periods in respect of shares that have a right to cumulative dividends.

Fundamental Change Requires Us to Purchase Shares of Preferred Stock at the Option of the Holder

      In the event of a fundamental change, you will have the right, at your option, subject to the terms and conditions of the certificate of designations, to require us to purchase any or all of your shares of preferred stock. We will purchase the preferred stock with cash at a price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference of the preferred stock to be purchased plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends, including liquidated damages, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date, unless such fundamental change purchase date falls after a record date and on or prior to the corresponding dividend payment date, in which case (i) we will pay the full amount of accumulated and unpaid dividends payable on such dividend payment date only to the holder of record at the close of business on the corresponding record date and (ii) the purchase price payable on the fundamental change purchase date will include only the liquidation preference, but will not include any amount in respect of dividends declared and payable on such corresponding dividend payment date. We will be required to purchase the preferred stock as of a date that is not less than 30 or more than 60 business days after the occurrence of such fundamental change, which we refer to as a fundamental change purchase date.

      A “fundamental change” is a transaction or event (whether by means of an exchange offer, liquidation, tender offer, consolidation, merger, combination, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) in connection with which all or substantially all of our common stock is exchanged for, converted into, acquired for or constitutes solely the right to receive consideration 90% or more of the fair market value of which is not common stock that:

      However, notwithstanding the foregoing, holders of preferred stock will not have the right to require us to repurchase any shares of preferred stock upon a fundamental change (and we will not be required to deliver the notice incidental thereto), if either (1) the closing stock price of our common stock for any five trading days within the 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately before the later of the fundamental change or the public announcement thereof, equals or exceeds 105% of the applicable conversion price of the preferred stock immediately before the fundamental change or the public announcement thereof or (2) shares of our common stock are changed into or exchanged for, in addition to any other consideration, securities of the surviving person that represent, immediately after such transaction, 50% or more of the aggregate voting power of the voting stock of the surviving person.

      In addition, holders of shares of preferred stock shall not have the right to require us to repurchase shares of preferred stock upon a fundamental change (i) unless such purchase complies with our indenture governing our senior secured notes and our anticipated amended and restated credit facility and (ii) unless and until our board of directors has approved such fundamental change or elected to take a neutral position with respect to such fundamental change.

      Within 30 business days after the occurrence of a fundamental change, we are obligated to mail to all holders of preferred stock at their addresses shown in the register of the registrar and to beneficial owners as required by applicable law (and issue a press release and publish on our website on the World Wide Web) a notice regarding the fundamental change, stating, among other things:

      To exercise this right, you must deliver a written notice to the transfer agent prior to the close of business on the business day immediately before the fundamental change purchase date. The required purchase notice upon a fundamental change must state:

      You may withdraw any fundamental change purchase notice by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the transfer agent prior to the close of business on the business day before the fundamental change purchase date. The notice of withdrawal must state:

      A holder must either effect book-entry transfer or deliver the preferred stock to be purchased, together with necessary endorsements, to the office of the transfer agent after delivery of the fundamental change purchase notice to receive payment of the fundamental change purchase price. You will receive payment in cash on the later of the fundamental change purchase date or the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of the preferred stock. If the transfer agent holds money sufficient to pay the fundamental change purchase price of the preferred stock on the business day following the fundamental change purchase date, then, immediately after the fundamental change purchase date:

      This will be the case whether or not book-entry transfer of the preferred stock is made or whether or not the preferred stock is delivered to the transfer agent.

      The fundamental change purchase feature of the preferred stock may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a takeover of NRG. The fundamental change purchase feature, however, is not the result of our knowledge of any specific effort:

      We could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including certain recapitalizations, that would not constitute a fundamental change with respect to the fundamental change purchase feature of the preferred stock but that would increase the amount of our (or our subsidiaries’) outstanding indebtedness.

      Our ability to purchase shares of preferred stock upon the occurrence of a fundamental change is subject to important limitations. Because we are a holding company, our ability to purchase the preferred stock for cash may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain funds for such repurchase through dividends from our subsidiaries and the terms of our then existing borrowing agreements. If a fundamental change were to occur, we may not have sufficient legally available funds to pay the purchase price in cash for all tendered shares of preferred stock. Any future credit agreements or other agreements relating to our indebtedness may contain provisions prohibiting the purchase of the preferred stock under certain circumstances, or expressly prohibit our purchase of the preferred stock upon a fundamental change or may provide that a fundamental change constitutes an event of default under that agreement. If a fundamental change occurs at a time when we are prohibited from purchasing shares of preferred stock for cash, we could seek the consent of our lenders to purchase the preferred stock or attempt to refinance this debt. If we do not obtain consent, we would not be permitted to purchase the preferred stock.

Voting Rights

      Each holder of preferred stock will have one vote for each share held by the holder on all matters voted upon by the holders of our capital stock, as well as voting rights specifically provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as otherwise from time to time required by law. In addition, whenever (1) dividends on any shares of preferred stock or any other class or series of stock ranking on a parity with the preferred stock with respect to the payment of dividends shall be in arrears for dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, containing in the aggregate a number of days equivalent to six calendar quarters or (2) we fail to pay the redemption price on the date shares of preferred stock are called for redemption or the purchase price on the purchase date for shares of preferred stock following a fundamental change, then, in each case, the holders of shares of preferred stock (voting separately as a class with all other series of other preferred stock on parity with the preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote for the election of two of the authorized number of our directors at the next annual meeting of stockholders and each subsequent meeting until all dividends accumulated on the preferred stock have been fully paid or set aside for payment. Upon election of any additional directors, the number of directors that comprise our board shall be increased by the number of such additional directors. The term of office of all directors elected by the holders of preferred stock will terminate immediately upon the termination of the right of the holders of preferred stock to vote for directors. Each holder of shares of the preferred stock will have one vote for each share of preferred stock held.

      So long as any shares of the preferred stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, voting separately as a class with all other series of preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (1) issue or increase the authorized amount of any class or series of stock ranking senior to the outstanding preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation or (2) amend, alter or repeal provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or of the resolutions contained in the certificate of designations, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to amend, alter or affect any power, preference or special right of the outstanding preferred stock or the holders thereof without the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the issued and outstanding preferred stock; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of the authorized common stock or authorized preferred stock or the creation and issuance of other series of common stock or preferred stock ranking on a parity with or junior to the preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such powers, preference or special rights.

Liquidation Preference

      Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company resulting in a distribution of assets to the holders of any class or series of our capital stock, each holder of shares of preferred stock will be entitled to payment out of our assets available for distribution of an amount equal to the liquidation

preference per share of preferred stock held by that holder, plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends, on those shares to the date of that liquidation, dissolution, winding up, before any distribution is made on any junior stock, including our common stock, but after any distributions on any of our indebtedness or senior stock. After payment in full of the liquidation preference and all accumulated and unpaid dividends to which holders of shares of preferred stock are entitled, holders will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets. If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the amounts payable with respect to shares of preferred stock and all other parity stock are not paid in full, holders of shares of preferred stock and holders of the parity stock will share equally and ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the liquidation preference and all accumulated and unpaid dividends to which each such holder is entitled.

      Neither the voluntary sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer, for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration, of all or substantially all of our property or assets nor the consolidation, merger or amalgamation of our company with or into any corporation or the consolidation, merger or amalgamation of any corporation with or into our company will be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company.

      We are not required to set aside any funds to protect the liquidation preference of the shares of preferred stock, although the liquidation preference of $1,000 will be substantially in excess of the $0.01 par value of the shares of the preferred stock.

Transfer Agent

      The transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent, calculation agent and redemption agent for the preferred stock is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Book-Entry System

      The preferred stock was issued in the form of global securities held in book-entry form. DTC or its nominee is the sole registered holder of the preferred stock. Owners of beneficial interests in the preferred stock represented by the global securities hold their interests pursuant to the procedures and practices of DTC. As a result, beneficial interests in any such securities are shown on, and transfers are effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants and any such interest may not be exchanged for certificated securities, except in limited circumstances. Owners of beneficial interests must exercise any rights in respect of their interests, including any right to convert or require repurchase of their interests in the preferred stock, in accordance with the procedures and practices of DTC. Beneficial owners will not be holders and will not be entitled to any rights provided to the holders of the preferred stock under the global securities or the certificate of designations. Our company and any of our agents may treat DTC as the sole holder and registered owner of the global securities.

      DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC facilitates the settlement of transactions among its participants through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including the underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations, some of whom and/or their representatives own DTC. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.

Exchange of Global Securities

      The preferred stock, represented by one or more global securities, is exchangeable for certificated securities with the same terms only if:

Registration Rights

      On December 21, 2004, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the placement agents for the benefit of the holders of the preferred stock and our common stock issuable on conversion of the preferred stock. Under this agreement, we agreed to, at our cost:

      We have the right to suspend use of the shelf registration statement during specified periods of time for any bona fide reason, including pending corporate developments and public filings with the SEC and similar events for a period not to exceed 30 days in any three-month period and not to exceed an aggregate of 90 days in any 12-month period. If the shelf registration statement is not declared effective on or prior to the 210th day after the first date of original issuance of the preferred stock or, after the shelf registration statement has been declared effective, we fail to keep the shelf registration statement effective or usable in accordance with and during the periods specified in the registration rights agreement, other than the periods during which we are permitted to suspend registration, then, in each case, we will pay liquidated damages to all holders of preferred stock and all holders of our common stock issued on conversion of preferred stock equal to (i) in respect of each $1,000 liquidation preference of preferred stock outstanding, at a rate per annum equal to 0.25% of such liquidation preference, and (ii) in respect of any outstanding common stock issued upon conversion of preferred stock, at a rate per annum equal to 0.25% of the liquidation preference of preferred stock that would then be convertible into such number of stock. So long as the failure to file or become effective or such unavailability continues, we will pay liquidated damages in cash on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year to the person who is the holder of record of the preferred stock or common stock issued in respect of the preferred stock, as applicable, on the immediately preceding March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1. When such registration default is cured, accrued and unpaid liquidated damages through the date of cure will be paid in cash on the subsequent interest payment date to the record holder. Holders of our common stock issued in respect of the preferred stock that have been transferred pursuant to the shelf registration statement or in accordance with Rule 144 or that are eligible for resale under Rule 144(k) will not be entitled to be included in the shelf registration statement covering resales and shall not be entitled to liquidated damages.

      Only holders of registrable securities who have been named in this prospectus and have satisfied certain other conditions will be entitled to receive any additional interest that may be payable because the shelf registration statement is not effective or usable in accordance with and during the periods specified in the registration rights agreement, other than the periods during which we are permitted to suspend registration. Upon any sale or other transfer of any shares of preferred stock or shares of common stock issued upon conversion of preferred stock pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, such shares of preferred stock or shares of common stock, as the case may be, will cease to be registrable securities, and our obligation to pay additional interest, if any, in respect of those shares of preferred stock or shares of common stock will terminate.

LEGAL MATTERS

      The validity of the preferred stock and common stock to be offered by this prospectus is being passed on for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, NY.

EXPERTS

      The consolidated financial statements and schedule of NRG Energy, Inc. as of December 31, 2004, and for the year then ended, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

      The consolidated financial statements of NRG for the period December 6, 2003 through December 31, 2003, the period January 1, 2003 through December 5, 2003 and the year ended December 31, 2002 incorporated in this prospectus by reference to NRG’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

      The consolidated financial statements of West Coast Power LLC incorporated in this prospectus by reference to NRG’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

PROSPECTUS

          No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

      The following table sets forth the fees and expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. Except for the Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee, all amounts are estimates.

      Reference is made to the “Plan of Distribution” for the description of expenses to be incurred by the Selling Stockholders.

      Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, authorizes a corporation, subject to the procedures and limitations stated therein, to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred provided they act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, although in the case of proceedings brought by or on behalf of the corporation, indemnification is limited to expenses and is not permitted if the individual is adjudged liable to the corporation, unless the court determines otherwise. The statute provides that indemnification pursuant to its provisions is not exclusive of other rights of indemnification to which a person may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

      Article NINE of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for the limitation of liability of directors and for the indemnification of directors and officers. Article NINE states that to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, and except as otherwise provided in our Amended and Restated By-laws, (i) no director of the Company shall be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Company or its stockholders; and (ii) the Company shall indemnify its officers and directors.

      Set forth below are material provisions of Article V of our by-laws that authorize the indemnification of directors and officers:

Item 16.     Exhibits

      The following is a list of all exhibits filed as a part of this registration statement on Form S-3.

      (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

      (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

      (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

      (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

      (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Princeton, State of New Jersey, on March 30, 2005.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

      Each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints David Crane, Timothy W.J. O’Brien and Tanuja M. Dehne as his attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to sign on his behalf, individually and in the capacities stated below, and to file (i) any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this registration statement and (ii) any registration statement relating to the same offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 which amendments or registration statements may make such changes and additions as such attorneys-in-fact may deem necessary or appropriate. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

EXHIBIT INDEX