Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		$ 4,218	[1]	$ 3,120	[1]	$ 2,489	[1]	$ 2,910	[1]	$ 1,863	[1]	$ 2,179	[1]	$ 1,473	[1]	$ 3,006	[1]	$ 12,737	$ 8,521	$ 7,449
Operating income		934	[1]	767	[1]	595	[1]	805	[1]	642	[1]	522	[1]	226	[1]	476	[1]	3,101	1,866	896
Income from continuing operations after income taxes		458	[1]	449	[1]	201	[1]	402	[1]	338	[1]	306	[1]	85	[1]	247	[1]	1,510	976	433
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		0		0		(1)	[1]	3	[1]	21	[1]	(53)	[1]	7	[1]	8	[1]	2	(17)	(7)
Net income		458	[1]	449	[1]	200	[1]	405	[1]	359	[1]	253	[1]	92	[1]	255	[1]	1,512	959	426
Net income attributable to PPL		$ 454	[1]	$ 444	[1]	$ 196	[1]	$ 401	[1]	$ 355	[1]	$ 248	[1]	$ 85	[1]	$ 250	[1]	$ 1,495	$ 938	$ 407
Income from continuing operations after income taxes available to PPL Corporation common shareowners: [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.78	[1],[2]	$ 0.76	[1],[2]	$ 0.35	[1],[2]	$ 0.82	[1],[2]	$ 0.69	[1],[2]	$ 0.62	[1],[2]	$ 0.20	[1],[2]	$ 0.64	[1],[2]	$ 2.70	$ 2.21	$ 1.10
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.78	[1],[2]	$ 0.76	[1],[2]	$ 0.35	[1],[2]	$ 0.82	[1],[2]	$ 0.69	[1],[2]	$ 0.62	[1],[2]	$ 0.20	[1],[2]	$ 0.64	[1],[2]	$ 2.70	$ 2.20	$ 1.10
Net income available to PPL Corporation common shareowners: [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.78	[1],[2]	$ 0.76	[1],[2]	$ 0.35	[1],[2]	$ 0.82	[1],[2]	$ 0.73	[1],[2]	$ 0.51	[1],[2]	$ 0.22	[1],[2]	$ 0.66	[1],[2]	$ 2.71	$ 2.17	$ 1.08
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.78	[1],[2]	$ 0.76	[1],[2]	$ 0.35	[1],[2]	$ 0.82	[1],[2]	$ 0.73	[1],[2]	$ 0.51	[1],[2]	$ 0.22	[1],[2]	$ 0.66	[1],[2]	$ 2.70	$ 2.17	$ 1.08
Dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.350	$ 0.350	[1],[3]	$ 0.350	[1],[3]	$ 0.350	[1],[3]	$ 0.350	[1],[3]	$ 0.350	[1],[3]	$ 0.350	[1],[3]	$ 0.350	[1],[3]	$ 0.350	[1],[3]	$ 1.40	$ 1.40	$ 1.38
Price per common share: [Abstract]
High (in dollars per share)		$ 30.27		$ 29.61		$ 28.38		$ 26.98		$ 28.14		$ 28.00		$ 28.80		$ 32.77
Low (in dollars per share)		$ 27.00		$ 25.00		$ 25.23		$ 24.10		$ 25.13		$ 24.83		$ 23.75		$ 27.47

[1] Quarterly results can vary depending on, among other things, weather and the forward pricing of power. In addition, earnings in 2011 and 2010 were affected by special items. Accordingly, comparisons among quarters of a year may not be indicative of overall trends and changes in operations.

[2] The sum of the quarterly amounts may not equal annual earnings per share due to changes in the number of common shares outstanding during the year or rounding.

[3] PPL has paid quarterly cash dividends on its common stock in every year since 1946. Future dividends, declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors, will be dependent upon future earnings, cash flows, financial requirements and other factors.