Retirement and Postemployment Benefits (Savings Plans, Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Seperation Benefits and Health Care Reform) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures (Numeric) [Line Item]
Contributions allocated based on this percentage of shares held in existing participants' accounts	75.00%
Contributions allocated based on this percentage of eligible compensation	25.00%
Compensation expense for ESOP	$ 8
ESOP shares outstanding at period end (in shares)	7,867,977
ESOP shares percentage of total common shares outstanding	1.00%
Separation Benefits (Numeric) [Abstract]
Number of domestic positions eliminated in workforce reduction				200
Percent of domestic workforce reduction				6.00%
Domestic workforce reduction costs, pre tax				22
Domestic workforce reduction costs, after tax				13
Health Care Reform (Numeric) [Abstract]
Decrease in deferred tax assets as a result of the Health Care Reform		13
Increase in regulatory assets as a result of the Health Care Reform		9
Increase in deferred tax liability as a result of the Health Care Reform		4
Effect of Health Care Reform on income tax expense	0	8	[1]	0
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Defined Contribution Pension and Other Postretirement Plans [Line Items]
Employer contributions to deferred savings plans	$ 31	$ 23		$ 17

[1] Beginning in 2013, provisions within Health Care Reform eliminated the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs to the extent of federal subsidies received by plan sponsors that provide retiree prescription drug benefits equivalent to Medicare Part D Coverage. As a result, PPL recorded deferred income tax expense during 2010. See Note 13 for additional information.