FORM 3

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

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Pistner Matthew (Last) (First) (Middle) 804 CARNEGIE CENTER (Street) PRINCETON NJ 08540 (City) (State) (Zip)	2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 08/06/2026	3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NRG ENERGY, INC. [ NRG ]
		4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) Director 10% Owner X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) EVP, Pres. of NRG Wholesale	5. If Amendment, Date of 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

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	48,359 (1)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Relative Performance Stock Units	01/02/2027	01/02/2027	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	7,725 (2)	0	D
Relative Performance Stock Units	01/02/2028	01/02/2028	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	4,421 (3)	0	D
Relative Performance Stock Units	01/02/2029	01/02/2029	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	2,996 (4)	0	D
Relative Performance Stock Units	06/15/2029	06/15/2029	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	3,952 (5)	0	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes 5,115 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) issued by NRG Energy, Inc. under NRG Energy, Inc.'s Long Term Incentive Plan. Each RSU is equivalent in value to one share of NRG's Common Stock, par value $.01. Includes 118 Dividend Equivalent Rights (DERs). Each DER is the economic equivalent to one share of NRG Common Stock.

2. On January 2, 2024, the Reporting Person was issued 7,725 RPSUs by NRG under the LTIP that vest on January 2, 2027, subject to certain performance conditions.

3. On January 2, 2025, the Reporting Person was issued 4,421 RPSUs by NRG under the LTIP that vest on January 2, 2028, subject to certain performance conditions.

4. On January 2, 2026, the Reporting Person was issued 2,996 RPSUs by NRG under the LTIP that vest on January 2, 2029, subject to certain performance conditions.

5. On June 15, 2026, the Reporting Person was issued 3,952 RPSUs by NRG under the LTIP that vest on June 15, 2029, subject to certain performance conditions.

	Christine Zoino, by Power of Attorney	08/13/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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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