Asset Retirement Obligations

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]

Asset Retirement Obligations

16. Asset Retirement Obligations

(PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU)

PPL's, LKE's, LG&E's and KU's ARO liabilities are primarily related to CCR closure costs. See Note 11 for information on the CCR rule. LG&E also has AROs related to natural gas mains and wells. LG&E's and KU's transmission and distribution lines largely operate under perpetual property easement agreements, which do not generally require restoration upon removal of the property. Therefore, no material AROs are recorded for transmission and distribution assets. For LKE, LG&E and KU, all ARO accretion and depreciation expenses are reclassified as a regulatory asset. ARO regulatory assets associated with certain CCR projects are amortized to expense in accordance with regulatory approvals. For other AROs, at the time of retirement, the related ARO regulatory asset is offset against the associated cost of removal regulatory liability, PP&E and ARO liability.

The changes in the carrying amounts of AROs were as follows.

	PPL		LKE		LG&E		KU
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	282	$	215	$	73	$	142
Accretion	13		12		4		8
Changes in estimated timing or cost	35		44		16		28
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates	1		—		—		—
Obligations settled	(64)		(64)		(16)		(48)
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	267	$	207	$	77	$	130

LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member]

Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]

Asset Retirement Obligations

16. Asset Retirement Obligations

(PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU)

PPL's, LKE's, LG&E's and KU's ARO liabilities are primarily related to CCR closure costs. See Note 11 for information on the CCR rule. LG&E also has AROs related to natural gas mains and wells. LG&E's and KU's transmission and distribution lines largely operate under perpetual property easement agreements, which do not generally require restoration upon removal of the property. Therefore, no material AROs are recorded for transmission and distribution assets. For LKE, LG&E and KU, all ARO accretion and depreciation expenses are reclassified as a regulatory asset. ARO regulatory assets associated with certain CCR projects are amortized to expense in accordance with regulatory approvals. For other AROs, at the time of retirement, the related ARO regulatory asset is offset against the associated cost of removal regulatory liability, PP&E and ARO liability.

The changes in the carrying amounts of AROs were as follows.

	PPL		LKE		LG&E		KU
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	282	$	215	$	73	$	142
Accretion	13		12		4		8
Changes in estimated timing or cost	35		44		16		28
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates	1		—		—		—
Obligations settled	(64)		(64)		(16)		(48)
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	267	$	207	$	77	$	130

Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member]

Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]

Asset Retirement Obligations

16. Asset Retirement Obligations

(PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU)

PPL's, LKE's, LG&E's and KU's ARO liabilities are primarily related to CCR closure costs. See Note 11 for information on the CCR rule. LG&E also has AROs related to natural gas mains and wells. LG&E's and KU's transmission and distribution lines largely operate under perpetual property easement agreements, which do not generally require restoration upon removal of the property. Therefore, no material AROs are recorded for transmission and distribution assets. For LKE, LG&E and KU, all ARO accretion and depreciation expenses are reclassified as a regulatory asset. ARO regulatory assets associated with certain CCR projects are amortized to expense in accordance with regulatory approvals. For other AROs, at the time of retirement, the related ARO regulatory asset is offset against the associated cost of removal regulatory liability, PP&E and ARO liability.

The changes in the carrying amounts of AROs were as follows.

	PPL		LKE		LG&E		KU
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	282	$	215	$	73	$	142
Accretion	13		12		4		8
Changes in estimated timing or cost	35		44		16		28
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates	1		—		—		—
Obligations settled	(64)		(64)		(16)		(48)
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	267	$	207	$	77	$	130

Kentucky Utilities Co [Member]

Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]

Asset Retirement Obligations

16. Asset Retirement Obligations

(PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU)

PPL's, LKE's, LG&E's and KU's ARO liabilities are primarily related to CCR closure costs. See Note 11 for information on the CCR rule. LG&E also has AROs related to natural gas mains and wells. LG&E's and KU's transmission and distribution lines largely operate under perpetual property easement agreements, which do not generally require restoration upon removal of the property. Therefore, no material AROs are recorded for transmission and distribution assets. For LKE, LG&E and KU, all ARO accretion and depreciation expenses are reclassified as a regulatory asset. ARO regulatory assets associated with certain CCR projects are amortized to expense in accordance with regulatory approvals. For other AROs, at the time of retirement, the related ARO regulatory asset is offset against the associated cost of removal regulatory liability, PP&E and ARO liability.

The changes in the carrying amounts of AROs were as follows.

	PPL		LKE		LG&E		KU
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	282	$	215	$	73	$	142
Accretion	13		12		4		8
Changes in estimated timing or cost	35		44		16		28
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates	1		—		—		—
Obligations settled	(64)		(64)		(16)		(48)
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	267	$	207	$	77	$	130