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 OF SECURITIES 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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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * RAGAN JOHN W   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) EVP& Regional Pres Gulf Coast (Last) (First) (Middle) NRG ENERGY, INC., 211 CARNEGIE CENTER 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 08/15/2011 (Street) PRINCETON, NJ 08540 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 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 (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 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 08/15/2011   A   50,000 (1) A (2) 91,210 (3) D

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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 (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

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 (Month/Day/Year)

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

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
RAGAN JOHN W NRG ENERGY, INC. 211 CARNEGIE CENTER PRINCETON, NJ 08540			EVP& Regional Pres Gulf Coast

Signatures

/s/ John W. Ragan		08/17/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	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).
(1)	Represents Restricted Stock Units issued to Mr. Ragan by NRG Energy, Inc. under the NRG Energy, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan.
(2)	Each Restricted Stock Unit is equivalent in value to one share of NRG Energy, Inc.'s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share. Mr. Ragan will receive from NRG Energy, Inc. one such share of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit on August 15, 2016. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) in the event that the Company's Total Shareholder Return (as defined below) has increased by at least 25% between the Date of Grant and August 15, 2014, then the RSUs will vest in full on August 15, 2014, and (b) in the event that the Minimum TSR Condition was not satisfied as of August 15, 2014, but is satisfied as of August 15, 2015, then the RSUs will vest in full on such date. "Total Shareholder Return" shall include the average closing price of a share of Common on the determination date and 19 preceding trading days (20-day average) and (ii) any dividends paid between the Date of Grant and the vesting date.
(3)	Includes 370 shares acquired under NRG Energy, Inc.'s Employee Stock Purchase Plan since the Reporting Person's last fiing.

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