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Income Taxes (Tables)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Reconciliation of Income Tax Expense Derived From Statutory Tax Rate
5. Income Taxes
          
Reconciliations of income tax expense are:
          
(PPL)
          
     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2012 2011
Reconciliation of Income Tax Expense      
 Federal income tax on Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes      
  at statutory tax rate - 35% $ 281 $ 219
Increase (decrease) due to:      
 State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit   24   25
 State valuation allowance adjustments (a)      11
 Impact of lower U.K. income tax rates   (21)   (8)
 U.S. income tax on foreign earnings - net of foreign tax credit (b)   2   (6)
 Foreign tax reserve adjustments   3   
 Federal income tax credits   (4)   (5)
 Amortization of investment tax credit   (2)   (3)
 Depreciation not normalized (a)   (2)   (4)
 State deferred tax rate change (c)   (11)   
 Net operating loss carryforward adjustment (d)   (6)   
 Other    (5)   (6)
   Total increase (decrease)   (22)   4
Total income taxes from continuing operations $ 259 $ 223

(a)       In February 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue issued interpretive guidance on the treatment of bonus depreciation for Pennsylvania income tax purposes. In accordance with Corporation Tax Bulletin 2011-01, Pennsylvania allows 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying assets in the same year bonus depreciation is allowed for federal tax purposes. Due to the decrease in projected taxable income related to bonus depreciation, PPL recorded state deferred income tax expense during the three months ended March 31, 2011 related to valuation allowances.

 

Additionally, the 100% Pennsylvania bonus depreciation deduction created a current state income tax benefit for the flow-through impact of Pennsylvania regulated state tax depreciation. The federal provision for 100% bonus depreciation generally applies to property placed in service before January 1, 2012. The placed in service deadline is extended to January 1, 2013 for property that exceeds $1 million, has a production period longer than one year and has a tax life of at least ten years.

(b)       During the three months ended March 31, 2011, PPL recorded a $7 million federal income tax benefit related to U.K. pension contributions.

(c)       During the three months ended March 31, 2012, PPL recorded an $11 million adjustment related to state deferred tax liabilities.

(d)       During the three months ended March 31, 2012, PPL recorded an adjustment to deferred taxes related to net operating loss carryforwards of LKE.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

Changes to unrecognized tax benefits were as follows:

   Three Months Ended March 31,
   2012 2011
PPL      
 Beginning of period $145 $251
 Additions based on tax positions of prior years  4   
 Reductions based on tax positions of prior years  (27)   
 Additions based on tax positions related to the current year  1   
 Reductions based on tax positions related to the current year     (1)
 Lapse of applicable statutes of limitations  (2)  (2)
 Effects of foreign currency translation     3
 End of period $121 $251
        
PPL Energy Supply      
 Beginning of period $28 $183
 Additions based on tax positions of prior years  4   
 Reductions based on tax positions of prior years  (1)   
 Derecognition (a)     (155)
 End of period $31 $28
        
PPL Electric      
 Beginning of period $73 $62
 Reductions based on tax positions of prior years  (26)   
 Additions based on tax positions related to the current year  1   
 Reductions based on tax positions related to the current year     (1)
 Lapse of applicable statutes of limitations  (2)  (2)
 End of period $46 $59

At March 31, 2012, it was reasonably possible that during the next 12 months the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could increase or decrease by the following amounts. For LKE, LG&E and KU, no significant changes in unrecognized tax benefits are reasonably possible over the next 12 months.

    Increase Decrease
         
PPL $ 17 $ 111
PPL Energy Supply   1   31
PPL Electric   23   39

At March 31, the total unrecognized tax benefits and related effects that, if recognized, would decrease the effective tax rate were as follows. The amounts for LKE, LG&E and KU were insignificant.

  2012 2011
       
PPL $41 $181
PPL Energy Supply  14  12
PPL Electric  6  12