Sec Form 3 Filing - Picarello Emily @ NRG ENERGY, INC. - 2022-02-24

FORM 3 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

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: November 30, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Picarello Emily 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) Vice Pres & Corp Controller (Last) (First) (Middle) 804 CARNEGIE CENTER 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 02/24/2022 (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 6,202( 1 ) 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 Phantom Stock ( 2 ) 01/02/2023 01/02/2023 Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 1,347 D Phantom Stock ( 2 ) 01/02/2024 01/02/2024 Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 696 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Picarello Emily 804 CARNEGIE CENTER PRINCETON, NJ08540 Vice Pres & Corp Controller Signatures Christine Zoino, by Power of Attorney 03/07/2022 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Includes 5,327 Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") issued by NRG Energy, Inc. under NRG Energy, Inc.'s Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan. Each RSU is equivalent in value to one share of NRG's Common Stock, par value $.01. Upon vesting of the RSU's, the Reporting Person will receive from NRG the following: 1,773 shares issued on January 2, 2023, 1,774 shares issued on January 2, 2024, and 1,780 shares issued on January 2, 2025. The Reporting Person will also accrue Dividend Equivalent Rights ("DERs") on the RSUs to which they relate that can only be settled in NRG common stock. Each DER is the economic equivalent to one share of NRG common stock. Includes 48 DERs. ( 2 )Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent to one share of NRG Energy, Inc. common stock and can only be settled in cash.

Remarks: ex24picarello.pdf

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).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.