CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Vote per share of PPL's common stock	1	1
Shares of PPL common stock issued under a public equity offering (in shares)	92.0	103.5
Present value of the purchase Contract component of the Equity Units	$ 123	$ 157
Issuance costs related to the Equity Units allocated to capital in excess of par, net of tax	20	19
Amount paid to redeem PPL Electric's preferred stock which was reflected as Non-controlling Interest by PPL	$ 0	$ 54

Present value of future contract adjustment payments related to the Purchase Contract component of the Equity Units.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_IssuanceOfEquityUnitsFutureContractAdjustmentPaymentsPresentValue
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Issuance costs related to the Equity Units allocated to capital in excess of par value, net of tax.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_IssuanceOfEquityUnitsRelatedIssuanceCostsNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The cash outflow for reacquisition of callable preferred stock of a subsidiary.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfRedeemablePreferredStockOfSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Shares of the company's common stock issued under a specific public equity offering.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_SharesIssuedUnderSpecificEquityOffering
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of votes each holder of one share of the company's common stock is entitled to on any questions presented to any shareowners' meeting.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_VotesPerShareOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration