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Commitments and Contingencies (Guarantees and Other Assurances) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Recorded liability for all guarantees $ 24 $ 14  
Charge recorded in discontinued operations relating to certain indemnification, pre-tax    (74) 66
Other Guarantee (Numeric) [Abstract]      
Deductible for bodily injury and property damage 4    
Maximum aggregate coverage bodily injury and property damage 200    
PPL Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification Guarantee [Member] | Indemnifications Related To WPD Midlands Acquisition [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure is not estimateable The maximum exposure and expiration of these indemnifications cannot be estimated because the maximum potential liability is not capped and the expiration date is not specified in the transaction documents.    
PPL Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification Guarantee [Member] | Indemnifications For Entities In Liquidation Sales Of Assets [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 11 [1],[2]    
Expiration date 2015    
Minimum period that indemnifications generally expire (in years) 2    
Maximum period that indemnifications generally expire (in years) 7    
PPL Guarantee [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | WPD Guarantee Of Pension And Other Obligations Of Unconsolidated Entities [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 91 [1],[3]    
Expiration date 2015    
PPL Energy Supply Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification Guarantee [Member] | Indemnifications For Sales Of Assets [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 250 [1],[4]    
Expiration date 2025    
Number of subsidiaries that previously owned certain renewable energy facilities 1    
PPL Energy Supply Guarantee [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Retroactive Premiums Under Nuclear Insurance Programs [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 48 [1],[5]    
PPL Energy Supply Guarantee [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Nuclear Claims Under Price Anderson Act Amendments Under Energy Policy Act of 2005 [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 235 [1],[6]    
PPL Energy Supply Guarantee [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification To Operators Of Jointly Owned Facilities [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 6 [1],[7]    
Number of facilities or plants sold in a transaction in which an indemnification was issued 2    
PPL Energy Supply Guarantee [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Guarantee Of Portion Of Divested Unconsolidated Entitys Debt [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 22 [1],[8]    
Expiration date 2018    
Equity interest in previously owned facility (in hundredths) 33.00%    
PPL Electric Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification Guarantee [Member] | Guarantee Of Inventory Value [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 21 [1],[9]    
Expiration date 2016    
LKE Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification Of Lease Termination And Other Divestitures [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 301 [1],[10]    
Expiration date minimum 2021    
Expiration date maximum 2023    
Term of guarantee (in years) 12    
Maximum exposure of guarantee related to terminated lease specific to operational, regulatory and environmental issues 200    
Maximum exposure of other guarantees expiring related to a terminated lease 100    
Charge recorded in discontinued operations relating to certain indemnification, pre-tax 9    
Charge recorded in discontinued operations relating to certain indemnification, after-tax 5    
LGE And KU Guarantee [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | LGE And KU Guarantee Of Shortfall Related To OVEC [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure is not estimateable The maximum exposure and the expiration date of these potential obligations are not presently determinable.    
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Charge recorded in discontinued operations relating to certain indemnification, pre-tax    (74) 66
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] | Indemnification Guarantee [Member] | Indemnifications For Sales Of Assets [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 250 [1],[4]    
Expiration date 2025    
Number of subsidiaries that previously owned certain renewable energy facilities 1    
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Letters Of Credit Issued On Behalf Of Affiliates [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 23 [1],[11]    
Expiration date minimum 2013    
Expiration date maximum 2014    
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Retroactive Premiums Under Nuclear Insurance Programs [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 48 [1],[5]    
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Nuclear Claims Under Price Anderson Act Amendments Under Energy Policy Act of 2005 [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 235 [1],[6]    
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification To Operators Of Jointly Owned Facilities [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 6 [1],[7]    
Number of facilities or plants sold in a transaction in which an indemnification was issued 2    
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | Guarantee Of Portion Of Divested Unconsolidated Entitys Debt [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 22 [1],[8]    
Expiration date 2018    
Equity interest in previously owned facility (in hundredths) 33.00%    
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Indemnification Guarantee [Member] | Guarantee Of Inventory Value [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 21 [1],[9]    
Expiration date 2016    
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Recorded liability for all guarantees 20 11  
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] | Indemnification Guarantee [Member] | Indemnification Of Lease Termination And Other Divestitures [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure 301 [1],[10]    
Expiration date minimum 2021    
Expiration date maximum 2023    
Term of guarantee (in years) 12    
Maximum exposure of guarantee related to terminated lease specific to operational, regulatory and environmental issues 200    
Maximum exposure of other guarantees expiring related to a terminated lease 100    
Charge recorded in discontinued operations relating to certain indemnification, pre-tax 9    
Charge recorded in discontinued operations relating to certain indemnification, after-tax $ 5    
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] | LGE And KU Guarantee [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | LGE And KU Guarantee Of Shortfall Related To OVEC [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure is not estimateable The maximum exposure and the expiration date of these potential obligations are not presently determinable.    
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | LGE And KU Guarantee Of Shortfall Related To OVEC [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure is not estimateable The maximum exposure and the expiration date of these potential obligations are not presently determinable.    
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member] | LGE And KU Guarantee Of Shortfall Related To OVEC [Member]
     
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]      
Maximum exposure is not estimateable The maximum exposure and the expiration date of these potential obligations are not presently determinable.    
[1] Represents the estimated maximum potential amount of future payments that could be required to be made under the guarantee.
[2] In connection with the liquidation of wholly owned subsidiaries that have been deconsolidated upon turning the entities over to the liquidators, certain affiliates of PPL Global have agreed to indemnify the liquidators, directors and/or the entities themselves for any liabilities or expenses arising during the liquidation process, including liabilities and expenses of the entities placed into liquidation. In some cases, the indemnifications are limited to a maximum amount that is based on distributions made from the subsidiary to its parent either prior or subsequent to being placed into liquidation. In other cases, the maximum amount of the indemnifications is not explicitly stated in the agreements. The indemnifications generally expire two to seven years subsequent to the date of dissolution of the entities. The exposure noted only includes those cases in which the agreements provide for a specific limit on the amount of the indemnification, and the expiration date was based on an estimate of the dissolution date of the entities. In connection with their sales of various businesses, WPD and its affiliates have provided the purchasers with indemnifications that are standard for such transactions, including indemnifications for certain pre-existing liabilities and environmental and tax matters. In addition, in connection with certain of these sales, WPD and its affiliates have agreed to continue their obligations under existing third-party guarantees, either for a set period of time following the transactions or upon the condition that the purchasers make reasonable efforts to terminate the guarantees. Finally, WPD and its affiliates remain secondarily responsible for lease payments under certain leases that they have assigned to third parties.
[3] As a result of the privatization of the utility industry in the U.K., certain electric associations' roles and responsibilities were discontinued or modified. As a result, certain obligations, primarily pension-related, associated with these organizations have been guaranteed by the participating members. Costs are allocated to the members based on predetermined percentages as outlined in specific agreements. However, if a member becomes insolvent, costs can be reallocated to and are guaranteed by the remaining members. At December 31, 2012, WPD has recorded an estimated discounted liability based on its current allocated percentage of the total expected costs for which the expected payment/performance is probable. Neither the expiration date nor the maximum amount of potential payments for certain obligations is explicitly stated in the related agreements. Therefore, they have been estimated based on the types of obligations.
[4] PPL Energy Supply's maximum exposure with respect to certain indemnifications and the expiration of the indemnifications cannot be estimated because, in the case of certain indemnification provisions, the maximum potential liability is not capped by the transaction documents and the expiration date is based on the applicable statute of limitation. The exposure and expiration dates noted are only for those cases in which the agreements provide for specific limits. The indemnification provisions described below are in each case subject to certain customary limitations, including thresholds for allowable claims, caps on aggregate liability, and time limitations for claims arising out of breaches of most representations and warranties. A subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply has agreed to provide indemnification to the purchaser of the Long Island generation business for damages arising out of any breach of the representations, warranties and covenants under the related transaction agreement and for damages arising out of certain other matters, including liabilities relating to certain renewable energy facilities which were previously owned by one of the PPL subsidiaries sold in the transaction but which were unrelated to the Long Island generation business. The indemnification provisions for most representations and warranties expired in the third quarter of 2011. A subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply has agreed to provide indemnification to the purchasers of the Maine hydroelectric facilities for damages arising out of any breach of the representations, warranties and covenants under the respective transaction agreements and for damages arising out of certain other matters, including liabilities of the PPL Energy Supply subsidiary relating to the pre-closing ownership or operation of those hydroelectric facilities. The indemnification provisions for most representations and warranties expired in the fourth quarter of 2012. Subsidiaries of PPL Energy Supply have agreed to provide indemnification to the purchasers of certain non-core generation facilities sold in March 2011 for damages arising out of any breach of the representations, warranties and covenants under the related transaction agreements and for damages arising out of certain other matters relating to the facilities that were the subject of the transaction, including certain reduced capacity payments (if any) at one of the facilities in the event specified PJM rule changes are proposed and become effective. The indemnification provisions for most representations and warranties expired in the first quarter of 2012.
[5] PPL Susquehanna is contingently obligated to pay this amount related to potential retrospective premiums that could be assessed under its nuclear insurance programs. See "Nuclear Insurance" above for additional information.
[6] This is the maximum amount PPL Susquehanna could be assessed for each incident at any of the nuclear reactors covered by this Act. See "Nuclear Insurance" above for additional information.
[7] In December 2007, a subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply executed revised owners agreements for two jointly owned facilities, the Keystone and Conemaugh generating plants. The agreements require that in the event of any default by an owner, the other owners fund contributions for the operation of the generating plants, based upon their ownership percentages. The non-defaulting owners, who make up the defaulting owner's obligations, are entitled to the generation entitlement of the defaulting owner, based upon their ownership percentage. The exposure shown reflects the PPL Energy Supply subsidiary's share of the maximum obligation. The agreements do not have an expiration date.
[8] A PPL Energy Supply subsidiary owned a one-third equity interest in Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation (Safe Harbor) that was sold in March 2011. Beginning in 2008, PPL Energy Supply guaranteed one-third of any amounts payable with respect to certain senior notes issued by Safe Harbor. Under the terms of the sale agreement, PPL Energy Supply continues to guarantee the portion of Safe Harbor's debt, but received a cross-indemnity from the purchaser, secured by a lien on the purchaser's stock of Safe Harbor, in the event PPL Energy Supply is required to make a payment under the guarantee. The exposure noted reflects principal only. See Note 9 for additional information on the sale of this interest.
[9] PPL Electric entered into a contract with a third party logistics firm that provides inventory procurement and fulfillment services. Under the contract, the logistics firm has title to the inventory purchased for PPL Electric's use. Upon termination of the contract, PPL Electric has guaranteed to purchase any remaining inventory that has not been used or sold by the logistics firm at the weighted-average cost at which the logistics firm purchased the inventory, thus protecting the logistics firm from reductions in the fair value of the inventory.
[10] LKE provides certain indemnifications, the most significant of which relate to the termination of the WKE lease in July 2009. See Note 9 for additional information. These guarantees cover the due and punctual payment, performance and discharge by each party of its respective present and future obligations. The most comprehensive of these guarantees is the LKE guarantee covering operational, regulatory and environmental commitments and indemnifications made by WKE under the WKE Transaction Termination Agreement. This guarantee has a term of 12 years ending July 2021, and a cumulative maximum exposure of $200 million. Certain items such as government fines and penalties fall outside the cumulative cap. LKE has contested the applicability of the indemnification requirement relating to one matter presented by a counterparty under this guarantee. Another guarantee with a maximum exposure of $100 million covering other indemnifications expires in 2023. In May 2012, LKE's indemnitee received an arbitration panel's decision affecting this matter, which granted LKE’s indemnitee certain rights of first refusal to purchase excess power at a market-based price rather than at an absolute fixed price. In January 2013, LKE's indemnitee commenced a proceeding in the Kentucky Court of Appeals appealing a December 2012 order of the Henderson Circuit Court confirming the arbitration award. LKE believes its indemnification obligations in this matter remain subject to various uncertainties, including the potential for additional legal challenges regarding the arbitration decision as well as future prices, availability and demand for the subject excess power. LKE continues to evaluate various legal and commercial options with respect to this indemnification matter. The ultimate outcomes of the WKE termination-related indemnifications cannot be predicted at this time. Additionally, LKE has indemnified various third parties related to historical obligations for other divested subsidiaries and affiliates. The indemnifications vary by entity and the maximum exposures range from being capped at the sale price to no specified maximum; however, LKE is not aware of formal claims under such indemnities made by any party at this time. LKE could be required to perform on these indemnifications in the event of covered losses or liabilities being claimed by an indemnified party. In the second quarter of 2012, LKE adjusted its estimated liability for certain of these indemnifications by $9 million ($5 million after-tax), which is reflected in "Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes)" on the Statement of Income. The adjustment was recorded in the Kentucky Regulated segment for PPL. LKE cannot predict the ultimate outcomes of such indemnification circumstances, but does not currently expect such outcomes to result in significant losses above the amounts recorded.
[11] Standby letter of credit arrangements under PPL Energy Supply's credit facilities for the purposes of protecting various third parties against nonperformance by PPL. This is not a guarantee by PPL on a consolidated basis.