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nrg . Exhibit 99.1 • • NRG Energy , Inc. Financial Update on Winter Storm Uri Impacts Winter Storm Uri expected to have a more significant impact on the Company's 2021 results Withdrawing prior financial guidance due to current uncertainties Legislative actions and resulting impacts remain uncertain • NRG to host conference call at 8:00 a.m. EST PRINCETON , NJ – March 17 , 2021 - NRG Energy , Inc. ( NYSE : NRG ) today announced the Company is providing an interim financial impact update reflecting the unprecedented effect on the ERCOT system and settlement data from the winter storm . As a result of this new information and the ongoing regulatory uncertainties where the impacts of proposed changes cannot be reasonably estimated , the Company is withdrawing previously announced 2021 financial guidance . During February 2021 , Texas experienced unprecedented cold temperatures for a prolonged duration , resulting in a power emergency situation including power outages and an estimated all - time peak demand of 77 GWs ( without load shed ) . Ahead of the event , NRG launched residential customer communications calling for conservation across all of its brands and initiated demand response programs to curtail customer load across all customer segments ( residential , commercial and industrial ) . The Company also maximized available generating capacity and brought in additional resources to supplement in - state staff with technical and operating experts from the rest of its U.S. fleet . " Our priority today is both to continue helping our Texas communities recover and working with all necessary stakeholders to improve the resilience of the energy system , ” said Mauricio Gutierrez , NRG President and Chief Executive Officer . “ Based on the new information available to us today , we are unable to provide financial guidance due to the unprecedented and unpredictable market outcomes resulting from winter storm Uri . ” The full financial impact of Winter Storm Uri still remains uncertain as it is subject to recently proposed regulatory changes including repricing , finalizing Commercial and Industrial meter and settlement data , and potential customer and counterparty risk including ERCOTs ' shortfall payments and uplift charges . Based on the information known to date , which is not complete and subject to change , Winter Storm Uri's financial impact is estimated to be a $ 750 million loss compared to the prior guidance range provided on March 1 , 2021. The impact is driven by the following elements received from ERCOT since NRG's last earnings call : " Resettlement data Latest system - wide default of $ 3.1 billion Increased uplift charges to load ■ Ancillary and other estimates including results in other regions 1