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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

AOCI, which is presented on the Balance Sheets of PPL and included in Member's Equity on the Balance Sheets of PPL Energy Supply and LKE, consisted of the following after-tax gains (losses).

     Unrealized gains (losses)    Defined benefit plans   
  Foreign                  
  currency Available-    Equity Prior Actuarial Transition   
  translation for-sale Qualifying investees' service gain asset   
  adjustments securities derivatives AOCI costs (loss) (obligation) Total
PPL                       
                         
December 31, 2008$ (237) $ 18 $ (21) $ (3) $ (75) $ (657) $ (10) $ (985)
OCI  101   45   623   1   14   (336)   1   449
Cumulative effect adjustment (a)     (1)                  (1)
December 31, 2009$ (136) $ 62 $ 602 $ (2) $ (61) $ (993) $ (9) $ (537)
                         
OCI  (59)   24   93      29   (39)   10   58
December 31, 2010$ (195) $ 86 $ 695 $ (2) $ (32) $ (1,032) $ 1 $ (479)
                         
OCI  (48)   2   (168)   3   7   (105)      (309)
December 31, 2011$ (243) $ 88 $ 527 $ 1 $ (25) $ (1,137) $ 1 $ (788)
                         
PPL Energy Supply                       
                         
December 31, 2008$ (237) $ 18 $ (12) $ (3) $ (54) $ (608) $ (8) $ (904)
OCI  101   45   585   1   10   (322)   1   421
Cumulative effect adjustment (a)     (1)                  (1)
December 31, 2009$ (136) $ 62 $ 573 $ (2) $ (44) $ (930) $ (7) $ (484)
                         
OCI  (59)   24   159      21   (23)   7   129
December 31, 2010$ (195) $ 86 $ 732 $ (2) $ (23) $ (953) $  $ (355)
                         
OCI     2   (86)   3   2   (18)      (97)
Distribution of membership                       
 interest in PPL Global (b)  195      (41)      5   780      939
December 31, 2011$  $ 88 $ 605 $ 1 $ (16) $ (191)    $ 487
                         

(a)       Recorded in connection with the adoption of accounting guidance related to the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments.

Schedule of Utility Revenue

The Statements of Income "Utility" line item contains rate-regulated revenue from the following:

    2011  2010  2009
Domestic electric and gas revenue (a) $ 4,674 $ 2,941 $ 3,218
U.K. electric revenue (b)   1,618   727   684
 Total $ 6,292 $ 3,668 $ 3,902

(a)       Represents revenue from regulated generation, transmission and/or distribution in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, including regulated wholesale revenue.

(b)       Represents electric revenue from the operation of WPD's distribution networks. 2011 includes eight months of revenue for WPD Midlands, which are recorded on a one-month lag.

Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure

The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts were:

      Additions         
  Balance at   Charged to      Balance at
  Beginning of Period Charged to Income Other Accounts  Deductions (a) End of Period
PPL                     
2011 $ 55  $ 65(c)     $ 66(d) $ 54 
2010   37    42(b) $ 7(b) (e)   31    55(b)
2009   40    30        33    37 
                     
PPL Energy Supply                     
2011 $ 20  $ 14(c)     $ 19(d) $ 15 
2010   21    1        2    20 
2009   26    1        6    21 
                     
PPL Electric                    
2011 $ 17  $ 33      $ 33  $ 17 
2010   16    30        29    17 
2009   14    29        27    16 

(a)       Primarily related to uncollectible accounts written off.

(b)       Includes amounts associated with LKE activity since the November 1, 2010 acquisition date. See Note 10 for additional information related to the acquisition of LKE.

(c)       Includes amounts related to the SMGT bankruptcy. See Note 15 for additional information.

(d)       Includes amounts related to the June 2011, FERC approved settlement agreement between PPL and California ISO related to the sales made to the California ISO during the period October 2000 through June 2001 that were not paid to PPL subsidiaries. Therefore, the receivable and the related allowance for doubtful accounts were reversed and the settlement recorded.

(e)       Primarily related to capital projects, thus the provision was recorded as an adjustment to construction work in progress.

Schedule of Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

At December 31, the balances of restricted cash and cash equivalents included the following.

     PPL PPL Energy Supply PPL Electric LKE LG&E
     2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010
                                  
Margin deposits posted to                              
 counterparties (a) $ 137 $ 14 $ 137 $ 11          $ 3    $ 3
Cash collateral posted to                              
 counterparties (b)   29   19             $ 29   19 $ 29   19
Low carbon network fund (c)   9                           
Captive insurance reserves (d)   6   6      6                  
Funds deposited with a trustee (e)   12   13       $ 12 $ 13            
Other   16   14   8   9   1   1      1      
  Total $ 209 $ 66 $ 145 $ 26 $ 13 $ 14 $ 29 $ 23 $ 29 $ 22

(a)       Deposits posted to counterparties associated with trading activities.

(b)       Cash collateral posted to counterparties related to interest rate swap contracts.

(c)       Funds received by WPD, which are to be spent on approved initiatives to support a low carbon environment.

(d)       Funds required by law to be held by WPD's captive insurance company to meet claims.

(e)       Funds deposited with a trustee to defease PPL Electric's 1945 First Mortgage Bonds. See Note 7 for additional information.

Capitalized Interest Costs

The following capitalized interest was excluded from "Interest Expense" on the Statements of Income.

     PPL
  PPL Energy Supply
       
2011 $ 51 $ 47
2010   30   33
2009   44   45
Capitalized Software Costs and Accumulated Interest

Following are capitalized software costs and the accumulated amortization.

   December 31, 2011 December 31, 2010
   Gross    Gross   
   Carrying  Accumulated Carrying  Accumulated
   Amount Amortization Amount Amortization
              
PPL $290 $98 $213 $70
PPL Energy Supply  26  21  30  20
PPL Electric  61  27  54  24
Amortization Expense of Capitalized Software Costs

Amortization expense of capitalized software costs was as follows:

  2011 2010 2009
          
PPL $39 $ 21 $13
PPL Energy Supply  2  3  2
PPL Electric  12  9  5
Weighted-average Rates of Depreciation

Following are the weighted-average rates of depreciation at December 31.

  2011
     PPL            
     Energy PPL        
  PPL Supply Electric LKE LG&E KU
                    
Regulated utility plant (a)   3.03  (b)   2.49    4.54   5.11   4.17
Non-regulated PP&E - Generation   2.88   2.88             
                    
  2010
     PPL            
     Energy PPL        
  PPL Supply Electric LKE LG&E KU
                    
Regulated utility plant (a)   3.27   2.31   2.27    4.70   5.40   4.10
Non-regulated PP&E - Generation   2.76   2.76             

(a)       For PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU, as a result of the acquisition of LKE, the original cost for PP&E is its fair value on November 1, 2010, which approximated net book value. This fair value adjustment resulted in lowering the original cost basis of LKE's, LG&E's and KU's PP&E, thus impacting the calculation of the weighted-average depreciation rate.

Schedule of Utility Inventory

"Fuel, materials and supplies" on the Balance Sheets consisted of the following at December 31.

  PPL PPL Energy Supply
  2011 2010 2011 2010
             
Fuel $ 246 $ 260 $ 96 $ 97
Natural gas stored underground (a)   73   81   20   21
Materials and supplies   335   302   182   179
  $ 654 $ 643 $ 298 $ 297

(a)       The majority of LKE's and LG&E's natural gas stored underground is held to serve native load. The majority of PPL Energy Supply's natural gas stored underground is available for resale.