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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Risk Disclosures) (Details) In Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)
Interest Rate Risk Cash Flow Hedges Numeric [Abstract]
Year of expiration of the maximum maturity date of interest rate cash flow hedge contracts			2041
Notional value of interest rate cash flow hedge contracts (excludes cross-currency contracts)	$ 350		$ 350
Insignificant or no hedge ineffectiveness associated with interest rate cash flow hedges		insignificant		insignificant
Hedge ineffectiveness associated with interest rate cash flow hedges	(12)		(13)
Net notional value of PPL WEM's cross-currency cash flow hedge contracts	960		960
Net notional value of PPL WW cross-currency cash flow hedge contracts	302		302
Latest maturity date of PPL WW cross-currency cash flow hedge contracts	December 2028		December 2028
Latest maturity date of PPL WEM cross-currency cash flow hedge contracts	2021		2021
No or insignificant after-tax gains (losses) previously recorded in AOCI reclassified to earnings related to interest rate cash flow hedge contracts	no such reclassifications	no such reclassifications	no such reclassifications	no such reclassifications
Net unrealized after-tax gains (losses) on interest rate cash flow hedge contracts expected to be reclassified into earnings during next 12 months	(10)		(10)
Interest Rate Risk Economic Activity Numeric [Abstract]
Notional amount of interest rate swaps classified as economic activity	179		179
Year of expiration of the maximum maturity date of interest rate economic activity contracts			2033
The fair value, net (asset) or liability, of interest rate swap contracts classified as economic activity	35		35			34
No or insignificant amounts reclassified to earnings from AOCI	insignificant	insignificant	insignificant	insignificant
Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges [Abstract]
Year of expiration of the maximum maturity date of interest rate fair value hedge contracts			2047
Notional value of interest rate fair value hedges	349		349
No or insignificant hedge ineffectiveness associated with interest rate fair value hedges	did not recognize	did not recognize	did not recognize	did not recognize
No or insignificant gains (losses) associated with interest rate fair value hedges being excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness	did not recognize	did not recognize	did not recognize	did not recognize
No or insignificant gain (loss) resulting from firm commitments that no longer qualified as interest rate fair value hedges	did not recognize	did not recognize	did not recognize	did not recognize
Foreign Currency Risk - Cash Flow Hedges (Numeric)
No or insignificant after-tax gains (losses) previously recorded in AOCI reclassified to earnings related to foreign currency cash flow hedge contracts	no cash flow hedges were discontinued	no cash flow hedges were discontinued	no cash flow hedges were discontinued	no cash flow hedges were discontinued
No or insignificant unrealized after-tax gains (losses) on foreign currency cash flow hedge contracts expected to be reclassified into earnings during next 12 months			Insignificant
Foreign Currency Risk - Fair Value Hedges (Numeric)
No or insignificant hedge ineffectiveness associated with foreign currency fair value hedges	no gains or losses	no gains or losses	no gains or losses	no gains or losses
No or insignificant gains (losses) associated with foreign currency fair value hedges being excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness	no gains or losses	no gains or losses	no gains or losses	no gains or losses
No or insignificant gain (loss) resulting from firm commitments that no longer qualified as foreign currency fair value hedges	no gains or losses	no gains or losses	no gains or losses	no gains or losses
Foreign Currency Risk - Net Investment Hedges (Numeric)
Notional amount of net investment hedge contracts	17		17		10
Latest settlement date of net investment hedge contracts			March 2012
Insignificant fair value of position of net investment hedge contracts			insignificant
Net after tax gains (losses) on net investment hedges recognized in the foreign currency translation adjustment component of OCI				4
Net after tax gains (losses) on net investment hedges included in the foreign currency translation adjustment component of AOCI	14		14			15
Insignificant or no net after tax gains (losses) on net investment hedges recognized in the foreign currency translation adjustment component of OCI	insignificant amount	insignificant amount	insignificant amount
Foreign Currency Risk - Economic Activity (Numeric)
Gains (losses) on foreign currency contracts related to debt or commitments hedged with foreign currency contracts classified as economic activity	62		55
Total exposure hedged related to foreign currency contracts for anticipated earnings hedges classified as economic activity					£ 188
Insignificant fair value net position of foreign currency contracts for anticipated earnings hedges classified as economic activity			insignificant
Earliest termination date of foreign currency contracts for anticipated earnings hedges classified as economic activity			July 2011
Latest termination date of foreign currency contracts for anticipated earnings hedges classified as economic activity			December 2011
Insignificant or no gains (losses) on foreign currency contracts for anticipated earnings hedges classified as economic activity	insignificant	insignificant	insignificant	insignificant