Sec Form 4 Filing - Gaudette Robert J @ NRG ENERGY, INC. - 2021-09-03

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Gaudette Robert J 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NRG ENERGY, INC. [ NRG] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Sr VP, Business Solutions (Last) (First) (Middle) 804 CARNEGIE CENTER 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 09/03/2021 (Street) PRINCETON, NJ08540 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 09/03/2021 A 1,947 ( 1 ) A $ 0 ( 2 ) 71,238 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Relative Performance Stock Units $ 0 ( 3 ) 09/03/2021 A 3,211 ( 4 ) 09/03/2024 09/03/2024 Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 3,211 $ 0 3,211 ( 5 ) D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Gaudette Robert J 804 CARNEGIE CENTER PRINCETON, NJ08540 Sr VP, Business Solutions Signatures Christine Zoino, by Power of Attorney 09/08/2021 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )On September 3, 2021, the reporting person received a supplemental grant in connection with an increase in equity compensation for eligible plan participants under the NRG Energy, Inc. (the "Company") Long Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") as determined by the Compensation Committee (the "Committee"). The adjustment was made following a review by the Committee of the Company's compensation structure as part of the integration of Direct Energy and the continued evaluation of the size and scope of the Company's business. ( 2 )Each RSU is equivalent in value to one share of NRG's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share. The Reporting Person will receive from NRG one such share of Common Stock for each RSU that will vest ratably over a three year period beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. ( 3 )The Reporting Person was issued 3,211 Relative Performance Stock Units ("RPSUs") by NRG Energy, Inc. under the LTIP on September 3, 2021. The RPSUs will convert to shares of NRG Common Stock on September 3, 2024 only in the event the Company has achieved a certain level of total shareholder return ("TSR") relative to the Peer Group (defined below) over a three-year performance period. The numberof shares of Common Stock that the Reporting Person may receive is interpolated for TSR falling between Threshold, Target, and Maximum levels as described below. ( 4 )Reporting Person will receive(i) a maximum of 6,422 shares of Common Stock if Company's TSR is ranked at or above the 75th percentile relative to a peer group of companies approved by the Company's Compensation Committee (the "Peer Group") for the performance period (the "Maximum"); (ii) 3,211 shares of Common Stock if Company's TSR is ranked at the 55th percentile relative to the Peer Group for the performance period (the "Target"); provided, however, if TSR is less than negative fifteen percent (-15%), the Company's TSR must be ranked at the 65th percentile relative to the Peer Group for the performance period to receive the Target award; or (iii) 802 shares of Common Stock if Company's TSR is ranked at the 25th percentile relative to the Peer Group for the performance period(the "Threshold"). The Reporting Person will not receive any shares of Common Stock if Company's TSR is below the 25th percentile relative to the Peer Group for the performance period. ( 5 )The Maximum award that the Reporting Person will receive shall not exceed six (6) times the fair market value of the Target award, determined as of the date of grant.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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