Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Income (Numerator)
Net income attributable to PPL shareowners	$ 413		$ 541
Less amounts allocated to participating securities	2		3
Net income available to PPL common shareowners - Basic	411		538
Plus interest charges (net of tax) related to Equity Units	15
Net income available to PPL common shareowners - Diluted	$ 426		$ 538
Shares of Common Stock (Denominator)
Weighted-average shares - Basic EPS (in shares)	582,640		579,041
Add incremental non-participating securities:
Share-based payment awards (in shares)	810		486
Equity Units (in shares)	71,990
Forward sale agreements (in shares)	1,580
Weighted-average shares - Diluted EPS (in shares)	657,020		579,527
Basic EPS - Available to PPL common shareowners:
Net Income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70		$ 0.93
Diluted EPS - Available to PPL common shareowners:
Net Income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65		$ 0.93
Shares Issued (Numeric) [Abstract]
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans (in shares)	446	[1]	277	[1]
Common stock issued under ESOP (in shares)	275		280
Common stock issued under DRIP (in shares)	549		558
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares excluded from the computations of diluted EPS	6,589		5,682
Performance Units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares excluded from the computations of diluted EPS	206		195
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares excluded from the computations of diluted EPS	116

[1] Includes stock options exercised, vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units and conversion of stock units granted to directors.