Acquisitions, Development and Divestures (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					1 Months Ended						6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 MW	Jun. 30, 2012 Proposed Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle Turbine [Member] MW Integer	Jun. 30, 2012 Proposed Bell Bend Nuclear Unit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Proposed Bell Bend Nuclear Unit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Susquehanna Roseland Transmission Line [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Susquehanna Roseland Transmission Line [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 UK Regulated [Member] One Time Termination Benefits [Member] Integer	Dec. 31, 2011 UK Regulated [Member] One Time Termination Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 UK Regulated [Member] One Time Termination Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 UK Regulated [Member] One Time Termination Benefits Member Specific Employee Class [Member] Integer	Jun. 30, 2012 UK Regulated [Member] Severance Compensation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 UK Regulated [Member] Severance Compensation [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Ironwood [Member]		Jun. 30, 2012 Ironwood [Member]		Jun. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Interest Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Other Income Expense Net [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Other Income Expense Net [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Combined Other Income Expense Net And Other Operation Maint [Member]		Jun. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Combined Other Income Expense Net And Other Operation Maint [Member]		Jun. 30, 2012 Terminated Bluegrass Plant Acquisition [Member] MW	Jun. 30, 2012 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] Proposed Bell Bend Nuclear Unit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] Proposed Bell Bend Nuclear Unit [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] Ironwood [Member]		Jun. 30, 2012 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] Ironwood [Member]		Jun. 30, 2012 PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] Susquehanna Roseland Transmission Line [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] Susquehanna Roseland Transmission Line [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] MW	Jun. 30, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Proposed Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle Turbine [Member] MW Integer	Jun. 30, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Terminated Bluegrass Plant Acquisition [Member] MW	Jun. 30, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] MW	Jun. 30, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Proposed Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle Turbine [Member] Integer MW	Jun. 30, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Terminated Bluegrass Plant Acquisition [Member] MW	Jun. 30, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] MW	Jun. 30, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Proposed Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle Turbine [Member] MW Integer	Jun. 30, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Terminated Bluegrass Plant Acquisition [Member] MW
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date													April 13, 2012					April 1, 2011												April 13, 2012
Capacity of non-purchased units (in MW)																											495											495			495			495
Purchase price																											$ 110											$ 110			$ 110			$ 110
Fair Value of Consideration Paid for Acquisition [Abstract]
Aggregate enterprise consideration													326																	326
Less: estimated fair value of long-term debt outstanding assumed through consolidation													258	[1]																258	[1]
Plus: Restricted cash debt service reserves													17																	17
Cash consideration paid for equity interests (including estimated working capital adjustments)													85																	85
Original amount outstanding of debt assumed													226																	226
Interest rate of debt assumed													8.857%																	8.857%
Maturity date (in year)													Dec. 31, 2025																	Dec. 31, 2025
Debt service reserve loans													8																	8
Estimated fair value adjustment related to debt													24																	24
Business Acquisition, Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
PP&E															505																	505
Long term debt (current and noncurrent)															(258)	[2]																(258)	[2]
Tolling agreement assets eliminated															(170)	[3]																(170)	[3]
Other net assets															8																	8
Net identifiable assets acquired															85	[4]																85	[4]
Future minimum lease payments that will no longer be payable after acquisition													270																	270
Future amortization 2012 through 2016													15																	15
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Operating Revenues - PPL consolidated pro forma																	2,587	5,802
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to PPL - PPL consolidated pro forma																	288	814
2011 Bridge Facility costs																			(36)	(43)
Foreign currency loss on 2011 Bridge Facility																					(58)	(58)
Net hedge gains associated with the 2011 Bridge Facility																					63	56
Hedge ineffectiveness																			(12)	(12)
U.K. Stamp duty tax																					(21)	(21)
Other acquisition-related adjustments																							(42)	[5]	(52)	[5]
Separation Benefits - U.K. Regulated Segment
Accrued severance at beginning of period											19	21
Severance compensation								93	104		4	10
Severance paid											(15)	(23)
Accrued severance at end of period											8	8
Number of employees impacted							700			8
Costs incurred										6
Portion of total related to early retirement deficiency costs										2
Portion of total related to severance compensation										4
Development Projects [Abstract]
Planned capacity expansion (in MW)		640																																			640			640			640
Expected capital cost of an expansion project		600			560	500																												560	500		600			130			470
Number of plants anticipated to retire based on stricter EPA regulations or new construction		6																																			6			6			6
Combined capacity of plants anticipated to retire based on stricter EPA regulations or new construction (in MW)	797	797																																		797	797		797	797		797	797
Amount currently authorized by Board of Directors to spend on Bell Bend COLA			162																									162
Capitalized costs associated with licensing efforts			$ 142	$ 131																								$ 142	$ 131

[1] The estimated long-term debt assumed through consolidation consisted of $226 million aggregate principal amount of 8.857% senior secured bonds to be fully repaid by 2025, plus $8 million of debt service reserve loans, and a $24 million estimated fair value adjustment.

[2] Represents non-cash activity excluded from the Statement of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

[3] Represents PPL EnergyPlus' existing assets, primarily an intangible asset, which represented PPL EnergyPlus' rights to and the related accounting for the tolling agreement with PPL Ironwood, LLC prior to the acquisition. On the acquisition date, PPL Ironwood, LLC recorded a liability, recognized at estimated fair value, for its obligation to PPL EnergyPlus. The tolling agreement assets of PPL EnergyPlus and the tolling agreement liability of PPL Ironwood, LLC eliminate in consolidation for PPL and PPL Energy Supply as a result of the acquisition, and therefore the agreement is considered effectively settled. Any difference between the tolling agreement assets and liability will result in a gain or loss on the effective settlement of the agreement. That amount is currently estimated to be insignificant.

[4] Goodwill is currently estimated to be insignificant.

[5] Primarily includes advisory, accounting and legal fees recorded to "Other Income (Expense) - net" and certain separation benefits recognized during the second quarter of 2011 as noted above recorded in "Other operation and maintenance" on the Statement of Income.