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Utility Rate Regulation - Regulatory Liabilities (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Dec. 31, 2021
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities $ 122 $ 182
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities $ 2,417 2,422
Utility Rate Regulation
6. Utility Rate Regulation

(All Registrants)

The following table provides information about the regulatory assets and liabilities of cost-based rate-regulated utility operations.
PPLPPL Electric
March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
Current Regulatory Assets:    
Gas supply clause$22 $21 $— $— 
Smart meter rider 11 11 
Fuel adjustment clause15 11 — — 
Other14 21 11 
Total current regulatory assets (a)$58 $64 $13 $22 
Noncurrent Regulatory Assets:    
Defined benefit plans$509 $523 $248 $256 
Plant outage costs51 54 — — 
Storm costs12 11 — — 
Unamortized loss on debt23 24 
Interest rate swaps14 18 — — 
Terminated interest rate swaps68 70 — — 
Accumulated cost of removal of utility plant224 228 224 228 
AROs302 302 — — 
Other16 — — 
Total noncurrent regulatory assets$1,219 $1,236 $475 $488 
PPLPPL Electric
March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
Current Regulatory Liabilities:    
Generation supply charge$$10 $$10 
Transmission service charge23 21 23 21 
Universal service rider17 17 
TCJA customer refund19 22 19 22 
Act 129 compliance rider15 10 15 10 
Transmission formula rate return on equity (b)30 73 30 73 
Economic relief billing credit13 27 — — 
Other— 
Total current regulatory liabilities$122 $182 $101 $153 
Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities:    
Accumulated cost of removal of utility plant$647 $639 $— $— 
Power purchase agreement - OVEC33 35 — — 
Net deferred taxes1,574 1,591 523 531 
Defined benefit plans101 95 32 28 
Terminated interest rate swaps62 62 — — 
Total noncurrent regulatory liabilities$2,417 $2,422 $555 $559 

 LG&EKU
March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
Current Regulatory Assets:    
Gas supply clause$22 $21 $— $— 
Gas line tracker— — — 
Generation formula rate— — 
Fuel adjustment clause11 
Other— 
Total current regulatory assets$31 $33 $14 $
Noncurrent Regulatory Assets:    
Defined benefit plans$160 $164 $101 $103 
Storm costs
Unamortized loss on debt12 12 
Interest rate swaps14 18 — — 
Terminated interest rate swaps40 41 28 29 
AROs75 75 227 227 
Plant outage costs14 15 37 39 
Other10 
Total noncurrent regulatory assets$329 $337 $415 $411 
LG&EKU
March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
March 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
Current Regulatory Liabilities:    
Demand side management$— $— $$— 
Gas line tracker— — — 
Economic relief billing credit10 21 
Other— 
Total current regulatory liabilities$14 $21 $$
Noncurrent Regulatory Liabilities:    
Accumulated cost of removal of utility plant$268 $262 $379 $377 
Power purchase agreement - OVEC 23 24 10 11 
Net deferred taxes487 491 564 569 
Defined benefit plans11 10 58 57 
Terminated interest rate swaps31 31 31 31 
Total noncurrent regulatory liabilities$820 $818 $1,042 $1,045 
  
(a)For PPL, these amounts are included in "Other current assets" on the Balance Sheets.
(b)See “Regulatory Matters - Federal Matters - PPL Electric Transmission Formula Rate Return on Equity” below for additional information.

Regulatory Matters

Federal Matters

PPL Electric Transmission Formula Rate Return on Equity (PPL and PPL Electric)

In May 2020, PP&L Industrial Customer Alliance (PPLICA) filed a complaint with the FERC alleging that PPL Electric’s base return on equity (ROE) used to determine PPL Electric’s formula transmission rate was unjust and unreasonable. In August 2021, PPL Electric entered into a settlement agreement (the Settlement) with PPLICA and all other parties, including intervenors. The key aspects of the Settlement include changes to PPL Electric’s base ROE, changes to the equity component of PPL Electric’s capital structure, allowing modification of the current rate year to a calendar year and allowing modification of the current formula rate based on a historic test year to a projected test year. The settlement was approved by the FERC in November 2021. The interim rates reflecting the agreed-to-base ROE in the Settlement were effective December 1, 2021.

In the first quarter of 2021, PPL and PPL Electric recorded a revenue reduction on the Statement of Income of $19 million after-tax representing an estimate of the revenue subject to refund from the date of the complaint through March 31, 2021. Of this amount, $13 million related to 2020.

As of December 31, 2021, PPL and PPL Electric had a regulatory liability on the Balance Sheet of $73 million, which represents revenue subject to refund based on the difference between charges that were calculated using the ROE in effect at the time and charges calculated using the revised ROE provided for in the Settlement, plus interest at the FERC interest rate. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, $44 million of revenue was refunded to customers. The remaining balance will be refunded to customers through May 31, 2022.

FERC Transmission Rate Filing (PPL, LG&E and KU)

In 2018, LG&E and KU applied to the FERC requesting elimination of certain on-going credits to a sub-set of transmission customers relating to the 1998 merger of LG&E's and KU's parent entities and the 2006 withdrawal of LG&E and KU from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), a regional transmission operator and energy market. The application sought termination of LG&E's and KU's commitment to provide certain Kentucky municipalities mitigation for certain horizontal market power concerns arising out of the 1998 LG&E and KU merger and 2006 MISO withdrawal. The amounts at issue are generally waivers or credits granted to a limited number of Kentucky municipalities for either certain LG&E and KU or MISO transmission charges incurred for transmission service received. In 2019, the FERC granted LG&E's and KU's request to remove the ongoing credits, conditioned upon the implementation by LG&E and KU of a transition mechanism for certain existing power supply arrangements, which was subsequently filed, modified, and approved by the FERC in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, LG&E and KU and other parties filed appeals with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding FERC's orders on the
elimination of the mitigation and required transition mechanism. Oral arguments in the appellate proceeding occurred on February 14, 2022. LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of the respective appellate and FERC proceedings. LG&E and KU currently receive recovery of the waivers and credits provided through other rate mechanisms and such rate recovery would be anticipated to be adjusted in future rate proceedings consistent with potential changes or terminations of the waivers and credits, as such become effective.

Other

Purchase of Receivables Program (PPL and PPL Electric)

In accordance with a PUC-approved purchase of accounts receivable program, PPL Electric purchases certain accounts receivable from alternative electricity suppliers at a discount, which reflects a provision for uncollectible accounts. The alternative electricity suppliers have no continuing involvement or interest in the purchased accounts receivable. Accounts receivable that are acquired are initially recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition. During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, PPL Electric purchased $348 million and $324 million of accounts receivable from alternative suppliers.
 
Generation Supply Charge [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities $ 9 10
Universal Service Rider [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 4 17
TCJA customer refund [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 19 22
Act 129 Compliance Rider [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 15 10
Economic relief billing credit    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 13 27
Change in Regulatory Liability due to ROE Adjustment    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 30 73
Accumulated Cost Of Removal Of Utility Plant [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 647 639
Power Purchase Agreement OVEC [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 33 35
Net deferred taxes [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 1,574 1,591
Defined Benefit Plans [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 101 95
Terminated interest rate swaps [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 62 62
Other Regulatory Liabilities [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 9 2
Transmission Service Charge [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 23 21
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 101 153
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 555 559
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Generation Supply Charge [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 9 10
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Universal Service Rider [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 4 17
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | TCJA customer refund [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 19 22
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Act 129 Compliance Rider [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 15 10
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Economic relief billing credit    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 0 0
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Change in Regulatory Liability due to ROE Adjustment    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 30 73
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Accumulated Cost Of Removal Of Utility Plant [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 0 0
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Power Purchase Agreement OVEC [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 0 0
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Net deferred taxes [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 523 531
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Defined Benefit Plans [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 32 28
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Terminated interest rate swaps [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 0 0
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Other Regulatory Liabilities [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 1 0
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member] | Transmission Service Charge [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 23 21
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 14 21
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 820 818
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Demand Side Management [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 0 0
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Economic relief billing credit    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 10 21
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Accumulated Cost Of Removal Of Utility Plant [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 268 262
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Power Purchase Agreement OVEC [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 23 24
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Net deferred taxes [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 487 491
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Defined Benefit Plans [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 11 10
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Terminated interest rate swaps [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 31 31
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Other Regulatory Liabilities [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 1 0
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] | Gas line tracker [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 3 0
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 7 8
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 1,042 1,045
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Demand Side Management [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 3 0
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Economic relief billing credit    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 3 6
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Accumulated Cost Of Removal Of Utility Plant [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 379 377
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Power Purchase Agreement OVEC [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 10 11
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Net deferred taxes [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 564 569
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Defined Benefit Plans [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 58 57
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Terminated interest rate swaps [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities 31 31
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Other Regulatory Liabilities [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities 1 2
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] | Gas line tracker [Member]    
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]    
Current regulatory liabilities $ 0 $ 0