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Financing Activities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Financing Activities [Abstract]  
Financing Activities

7. Financing Activities

Credit Arrangements and Short-term Debt

(All Registrants)

The Registrants maintain credit facilities to enhance liquidity, provide credit support and provide a backstop to commercial paper programs. For reporting purposes, on a consolidated basis, the credit facilities and commercial paper programs of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU also apply to PPL and the credit facilities and commercial paper programs of LG&E and KU also apply to LKE. The amounts borrowed below are recorded as "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets. The following credit facilities were in place at:

December 31, 2014December 31, 2013
Letters ofLetters of
CreditCredit
andand
CommercialCommercial
ExpirationPaperUnusedPaper
DateCapacityBorrowedIssuedCapacityBorrowedIssued
PPL
U.K.
WPD Ltd.
Syndicated Credit Facility (a) (c)Dec. 2016£ 210 £ 103 £ 107 £ 103
WPD (South West)
Syndicated Credit Facility (a) (c)July 2019 245 245
WPD (East Midlands)
Syndicated Credit Facility (a) (c)July 2019 300 64 236
WPD (West Midlands)
Syndicated Credit Facility (a) (c)July 2019 300 300
Uncommitted Credit Facilities 105 £ 5 100 £ 5
Total U.K. Credit Facilities (b)£ 1,160 £ 167 £ 5 £ 988 £ 103 £ 5
U.S.
PPL Capital Funding
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) (f)Nov. 2018$ 300 $ 300 $ 270
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d)July 2019 300 300
Bilateral Credit Facility (c) (d)Mar. 2015 150 $ 21 129
Uncommitted Credit Facility 65 1 64
Total PPL Capital Funding Credit Facilities$ 815 $ 22 $ 793 $ 270
PPL Energy Supply
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) (f)Nov. 2017$ 3,000 $ 630 $ 121 $ 2,249 $ 29
Letter of Credit Facility (d)Mar. 2015 150 138 12 138
Uncommitted Credit Facilities (d) 100 22 78 77
Total PPL Energy Supply Credit Facilities$ 3,250 $ 630 $ 281 $ 2,339 $ 244
PPL Electric
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d)July 2019$ 300 $ 1 $ 299 $ 21
LKE
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) (f)Oct. 2018$ 75 $ 75 $ 75
LG&E
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) July 2019$ 500 $ 264 $ 236 $ 20
KU
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) July 2019$ 400 $ 236 $ 164 $ 150
Letter of Credit Facility (c) (d) (e)Oct. 2017 198 198 198
Total KU Credit Facilities $ 598 $ 434 $ 164 $ 348

(a) The facilities contain financial covenants to maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 3.0 times consolidated earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization and total net debt not in excess of 85% of its RAV, calculated in accordance with the credit facility.

(b) WPD Ltd.'s amounts borrowed at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were USD-denominated borrowings of $161 million and $166 million, which bore interest at 1.86% and 1.87%. WPD (East Midlands) amount borrowed at December 31, 2014 was a GBP-denominated borrowing which equated to $100 million and bore interest at 1.00%. At December 31, 2014, the unused capacity under the U.K. credit facilities was approximately $1.5 billion.

(c) Each company pays customary fees under its respective facility and borrowings generally bear interest at LIBOR-based rates plus an applicable margin.

(d) The facilities contain a financial covenant requiring debt to total capitalization not to exceed 65% for PPL Energy Supply and 70% for PPL Capital Funding, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU, as calculated in accordance with the facilities and other customary covenants. Additionally, as it relates to the syndicated and bilateral credit facilities and subject to certain conditions, PPL Capital Funding may request that the capacity of its facility expiring in July 2019 be increased by up to $100 million and the facilities expiring in November 2018 and March 2015 may be increased by up to $30 million, PPL Energy Supply may request that its facility's capacity be increased by up to $500 million, PPL Electric and KU each may request up to a $100 million increase in its facility's capacity and LKE may request up to a $25 million increase in its facility's capacity.

(e) KU's letter of credit facility agreement allows for certain payments under the letter of credit facility to be converted to loans rather than requiring immediate payment.

(f) At December 31, 2014, PPL Energy Supply’s and LKE's interest rates on outstanding borrowings were 2.05% and 1.67%, respectively. At December 31, 2013, PPL Capital Funding's and LKE’s interest rates on outstanding borrowings were 1.79% and 1.67%, respectively.

PPL Electric, LG&E and KU maintain commercial paper programs to provide an additional financing source to fund short-term liquidity needs, as necessary. Commercial paper issuances, included in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets, are supported by the respective Registrant's Syndicated Credit Facility. The following commercial paper programs were in place at:

December 31, 2014December 31, 2013
Weighted -CommercialWeighted -Commercial
Average PaperUnusedAverage Paper
Interest RateCapacityIssuancesCapacityInterest RateIssuances
PPL Electric$ 300 $ 300 0.23%$ 20
LG&E 0.42% 350 $ 264 86 0.29% 20
KU 0.49% 350 236 114 0.32% 150
Total $ 1,000 $ 500 $ 500 $ 190

In August 2014, PPL Energy Supply terminated its commercial paper program.

(PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

PPL Energy Supply maintains a $500 million Facility Agreement expiring June 2017, which provides PPL Energy Supply the ability to request up to $500 million of committed letter of credit capacity at fees to be agreed upon at the time of each request, based on certain market conditions. At December 31, 2014, PPL Energy Supply had not requested any capacity for the issuance of letters of credit under this arrangement.

PPL Energy Supply, PPL EnergyPlus, PPL Montour and PPL Brunner Island maintain an $800 million secured energy marketing and trading facility, whereby PPL EnergyPlus will receive credit to be applied to satisfy collateral posting obligations related to its energy marketing and trading activities with counterparties participating in the facility. The credit amount is guaranteed by PPL Energy Supply, PPL Montour and PPL Brunner Island. PPL Montour and PPL Brunner Island have granted liens on their respective generating facilities to secure any amount they may owe under their guarantees, which had an aggregate carrying value of $2.6 billion at December 31, 2014. The facility expires in November 2019, but is subject to automatic one-year renewals under certain conditions. There were $64 million of secured obligations outstanding under this facility at December 31, 2014.

(All Registrants except PPL)

See Note 14 for discussion of intercompany borrowings.

Long-term Debt (All Registrants)

Weighted-AverageDecember 31,
RateMaturities20142013
PPL
U.S.
Senior Unsecured Notes (a)4.28%2015 - 2044$ 6,018 $ 5,568
Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (b) (c) (d)3.83%2015 - 2044 6,119 5,823
Junior Subordinated Notes6.31%2067 - 2073 930 1,908
Other 15
Total U.S. Long-term Debt 13,067 13,314
U.K.
Senior Unsecured Notes (e)5.53%2016 - 2040 6,627 6,872
Index-linked Senior Unsecured Notes (f)1.83%2043 - 2056 732 749
Total U.K. Long-term Debt (g) 7,359 7,621
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments 20,426 20,935
Fair market value adjustments 18 23
Unamortized premium and (discount), net (53) (51)
Total Long-term Debt 20,391 20,907
Less current portion of Long-term Debt (a) 1,535 315
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent$ 18,856 $ 20,592
PPL Energy Supply
Senior Unsecured Notes (a)5.31%2015 - 2036$ 2,193 $ 2,493
Senior Secured Notes8.86%2025 45 49
Other 5
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments 2,238 2,547
Fair market value adjustments (19) (22)
Unamortized premium and (discount), net (1)
Total Long-term Debt 2,218 2,525
Less current portion of Long-term Debt (a) 535 304
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent$ 1,683 $ 2,221
PPL Electric
Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (b) (c)4.57%2015 - 2044$ 2,614 $ 2,314
Other 10
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments 2,614 2,324
Unamortized discount (12) (9)
Total Long-term Debt 2,602 2,315
Less current portion of Long-term Debt 100 10
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent$ 2,502 $ 2,305
LKE
Senior Unsecured Notes3.31%2015 - 2021$ 1,125 $ 1,125
First Mortgage Bonds (b) (d)3.21%2015 - 2043 3,460 3,460
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments 4,585 4,585
Fair market value adjustments (1) (1)
Unamortized discount (17) (19)
Total Long-term Debt 4,567 4,565
Less current portion of Long-term Debt 900
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent$ 3,667 $ 4,565
LG&E
First Mortgage Bonds (b) (d)2.85%2015 - 2043$ 1,359 $ 1,359
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments 1,359 1,359
Fair market value adjustments (1) (1)
Unamortized discount (5) (5)
Total Long-term Debt 1,353 1,353
Less current portion of Long-term Debt 250
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent$ 1,103 $ 1,353
KU
First Mortgage Bonds (b) (d)3.44%2015 - 2043$ 2,101 $ 2,101
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments 2,101 2,101
Fair market value adjustments 1
Unamortized discount (10) (11)
Total Long-term Debt 2,091 2,091
Less current portion of Long-term Debt 250
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent$ 1,841 $ 2,091

(a) Includes $300 million of 5.70% REset Put Securities due 2035 (REPS). The REPS bear interest at a rate of 5.70% per annum to, but excluding, October 15, 2015 (Remarketing Date). The REPS are required to be put by existing holders on the Remarketing Date either for (a) purchase and remarketing by a designated remarketing dealer or (b) repurchase by PPL Energy Supply. If the remarketing dealer elects to purchase the REPS for remarketing, it will purchase the REPS at 100% of the principal amount, and the REPS will bear interest on and after the Remarketing Date at a new fixed rate per annum determined in the remarketing. PPL Energy Supply has the right to terminate the remarketing process. If the remarketing is terminated at the option of PPL Energy Supply or under certain other circumstances, including the occurrence of an event of default by PPL Energy Supply under the related indenture or a failed remarketing for certain specified reasons, PPL Energy Supply will be required to pay the remarketing dealer a settlement amount as calculated in accordance with the related remarketing agreement.

(b) Includes PPL Electric's senior secured and first mortgage bonds that are secured by the lien of PPL Electric's 2001 Mortgage Indenture, which covers substantially all electric distribution plant and certain transmission plant owned by PPL Electric. The carrying value of PPL Electric's property, plant and equipment was approximately $5.8 billion and $5.1 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Includes LG&E's first mortgage bonds that are secured by the lien of the LG&E 2010 Mortgage Indenture which creates a lien, subject to certain exceptions and exclusions, on substantially all of LG&E's real and tangible personal property located in Kentucky and used or to be used in connection with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and the storage and distribution of natural gas. The aggregate carrying value of the property subject to the lien was $3.7 billion and $3.2 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Includes KU's first mortgage bonds that are secured by the lien of the KU 2010 Mortgage Indenture which creates a lien, subject to certain exceptions and exclusions, on substantially all of KU's real and tangible personal property located in Kentucky and used or to be used in connection with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. The aggregate carrying value of the property subject to the lien was $5.5 billion and $5.1 billion at December 31, 2014 and 2013.

(c) Includes PPL Electric's series of senior secured bonds that secure its obligations to make payments with respect to each series of Pollution Control Bonds that were issued by the LCIDA and the PEDFA on behalf of PPL Electric. These senior secured bonds were issued in the same principal amount, contain payment and redemption provisions that correspond to and bear the same interest rate as such Pollution Control Bonds. These senior secured bonds were issued under PPL Electric's 2001 Mortgage Indenture and are secured as noted in (b) above. This amount includes $224 million that may be redeemed at par beginning in 2015 and $90 million that may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at par beginning in October 2020 and are subject to mandatory redemption upon determination that the interest rate on the bonds would be included in the holders' gross income for federal tax purposes.

(d) Includes LG&E's and KU's series of first mortgage bonds that were issued to the respective trustees of tax-exempt revenue bonds to secure its respective obligations to make payments with respect to each series of bonds. The first mortgage bonds were issued in the same principal amounts, contain payment and redemption provisions that correspond to and bear the same interest rate as such tax-exempt revenue bonds. These first mortgage bonds were issued under the LG&E 2010 Mortgage Indenture and the KU 2010 Mortgage Indenture and are secured as noted in (b) above. The related tax-exempt revenue bonds were issued by various governmental entities, principally counties in Kentucky, on behalf of LG&E and KU. The related revenue bond documents allow LG&E and KU to convert the interest rate mode on the bonds from time to time to a commercial paper rate, daily rate, weekly rate, term rate of at least one year or, in some cases, an auction rate or a LIBOR index rate.

At December 31, 2014, the aggregate tax-exempt revenue bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU that were in a term rate mode totaled $418 million for LKE, comprised of $391 million and $27 million for LG&E and KU, respectively. At December 31, 2014, the aggregate tax-exempt revenue bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU that were in a variable rate mode totaled $507 million for LKE, comprised of $183 million and $324 million for LG&E and KU, respectively.

Several series of the tax-exempt revenue bonds are insured by monoline bond insurers whose ratings were reduced due to exposures relating to insurance of sub-prime mortgages. Of the bonds outstanding, $231 million are in the form of insured auction rate securities ($135 million for LG&E and $96 million for KU), wherein interest rates are reset either weekly or every 35 days via an auction process. Beginning in late 2007, the interest rates on these insured bonds began to increase due to investor concerns about the creditworthiness of the bond insurers. During 2008, interest rates increased, and LG&E and KU experienced failed auctions when there were insufficient bids for the bonds. When a failed auction occurs, the interest rate is set pursuant to a formula stipulated in the indenture. As noted above, the instruments governing these auction rate bonds permit LG&E and KU to convert the bonds to other interest rate modes.

Certain variable rate tax-exempt revenue bonds totaling $251 million at December 31, 2014 ($23 million for LG&E and $228 million for KU), are subject to tender for purchase by LG&E and KU at the option of the holder and to mandatory tender for purchase by LG&E and KU upon the occurrence of certain events.

(e) Includes £225 million ($352 million at December 31, 2014) of notes that may be redeemed, in total but not in part, on December 21, 2026, at the greater of the principal value or a value determined by reference to the gross redemption yield on a nominated U.K. Government bond.

(f) The principal amount of the notes issued by WPD (South West) and WPD (East Midlands) is adjusted based on changes in a specified index, as detailed in the terms of the related indentures. The adjustment to the principal amounts from 2013 to 2014 was an increase of approximately £10 million ($16 million) resulting from inflation. In addition, this amount includes £225 million ($352 million at December 31, 2014) of notes issued by WPD (South West) that may be redeemed, in total by series, on December 1, 2026, at the greater of the adjusted principal value and a make-whole value determined by reference to the gross real yield on a nominated U.K. government bond.

(g) Includes £3.8 billion ($5.9 billion at December 31, 2014) of notes that may be put by the holders to the issuer for redemption if the long-term credit ratings assigned to the notes are withdrawn by any of the rating agencies (Moody's, S&P or Fitch) or reduced to a non-investment grade rating of Ba1 or BB+ in connection with a restructuring event which includes the loss of, or a material adverse change to, the distribution licenses under which the issuer operates.

None of the outstanding debt securities noted above have sinking fund requirements. The aggregate maturities of long-term debt, based on stated maturities or earlier put dates, for the periods 2015 through 2019 and thereafter are as follows:

PPL
Energy PPL
PPLSupplyElectricLKELG&EKU
2015$ 1,535 $ 535 $ 100 $ 900 $ 250 $ 250
2016 839 354 25 25
2017 298 4 194 194
2018 750 403 98 98
2019 44 4 40 40
Thereafter 16,960 938 2,514 3,328 752 1,851
Total$ 20,426 $ 2,238 $ 2,614 $ 4,585 $ 1,359 $ 2,101

Long-term Debt and Equity Securities Activities

(PPL)

2010 Equity Units

In May 2013, PPL Capital Funding remarketed $1.150 billion of 4.625% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2018 that were originally issued in June 2010 as a component of PPL's 2010 Equity Units. In connection with the remarketing, PPL Capital Funding issued $300 million of 2.04% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2016 and $850 million of 2.77% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2018, which were simultaneously exchanged for three tranches of Senior Notes: $250 million of 1.90% Senior Notes due 2018, $600 million of 3.40% Senior Notes due 2023 and $300 million of 4.70% Senior Notes due 2043. The transaction was accounted for as a debt extinguishment, resulting in a $10 million loss on extinguishment of the Junior Subordinated Notes, recorded to "Interest Expense" on the Statement of Income. The transaction was considered non-cash activity that was excluded from the Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2013. Additionally, in July 2013, PPL issued 40 million shares of common stock at $28.73 per share to settle the 2010 Purchase Contracts. PPL received net cash proceeds of $1.150 billion, which were used to repay short-term and long-term debt and for general corporate purposes.

2011 Equity Units

In March 2014, PPL Capital Funding remarketed $978 million of 4.32% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2019 that were originally issued in April 2011 as a component of PPL's 2011 Equity Units. In connection with the remarketing, PPL Capital Funding retired $228 million of the 4.32% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2019 and issued $350 million of 2.189% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2017 and $400 million of 3.184% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2019. Simultaneously, the newly issued Junior Subordinated Notes were exchanged for $350 million of 3.95% Senior Notes due 2024 and $400 million of 5.00% Senior Notes due 2044. The transaction was accounted for as a debt extinguishment, resulting in a $9 million loss on extinguishment of the Junior Subordinated Notes, recorded to "Interest Expense" on the Statement of Income. Except for the $228 million retirement of the 4.32% Junior Subordinated Notes and fees related to the transactions, the activity was non-cash and excluded from the Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2014. Additionally, in May 2014, PPL issued 31.7 million shares of common stock at $30.86 per share to settle the 2011 Purchase Contracts. PPL received net cash proceeds of $978 million, which were used to repay short-term debt and for general corporate purposes.

(PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

In August 2014, PPL Energy Supply repaid the entire $300 million principal amount of its 5.40% Senior Notes upon maturity.

(PPL and PPL Electric)

In June 2014, PPL Electric issued $300 million of 4.125% First Mortgage Bonds due 2044. PPL Electric received proceeds of $294 million, net of a discount and underwriting fees, which were used for capital expenditures, to repay short-term debt and for general corporate purposes.

Legal Separateness (All Registrants)

The subsidiaries of PPL are separate legal entities. PPL's subsidiaries are not liable for the debts of PPL. Accordingly, creditors of PPL may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL’s subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by a subsidiary to pay PPL's creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation. Similarly, PPL is not liable for the debts of its subsidiaries, nor are its subsidiaries liable for the debts of one another. Accordingly, creditors of PPL's subsidiaries may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL or its other subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by PPL or its other subsidiaries to pay the creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation.

Similarly, the subsidiaries of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE are each separate legal entities. These subsidiaries are not liable for the debts of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE. Accordingly, creditors of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE may not satisfy their debts from the assets of their subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by a subsidiary to pay the creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation. Similarly, PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE are not liable for the debts of their subsidiaries, nor are their subsidiaries liable for the debts of one another. Accordingly, creditors of these subsidiaries may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL Energy Supply, PPL Electric and LKE (or their other subsidiaries) absent a specific contractual undertaking by that parent or other subsidiary to pay such creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation.

Distributions and Related Restrictions

(PPL)

In November 2014, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable January 2, 2015, at 37.25 cents per share (equivalent to $1.49 per annum). Future dividends, declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors, will depend upon future earnings, cash flows, financial and legal requirements and other factors.

Neither PPL Capital Funding nor PPL may declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on its capital stock during any period in which PPL Capital Funding defers interest payments on its 2007 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes due 2067 or 2013 Series B Junior Subordinated Notes due 2073. At December 31, 2014, no interest payments were deferred.

WPD subsidiaries have financing arrangements that limit their ability to pay dividends. However, PPL does not, at this time, expect that any of such limitations would significantly impact PPL's ability to meet its cash obligations.

(PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

Under the terms of the spinoff agreements with affiliates of Riverstone to create Talen Energy, PPL Energy Supply is generally prohibited from making distributions or other payments to PPL or any PPL affiliate that is not a subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply, with the exception of specific distributions and other payments set forth in the agreements. These exceptions are generally limited to a planned distribution from PPL Energy Supply to PPL during the first quarter of 2015 in an amount not to exceed $191 million. At December 31, 2014, PPL Energy Supply’s net assets of $3.7 billion were restricted for the purposes of transferring funds to PPL in the form of distributions, loans or advances.

(All Registrants except PPL Energy Supply)

PPL relies on dividends or loans from its subsidiaries to fund PPL's dividends to its common shareholders. The net assets of certain PPL subsidiaries are subject to legal restrictions. LKE primarily relies on dividends from its subsidiaries to fund its dividends to PPL. LG&E, KU and PPL Electric are subject to Section 305(a) of the Federal Power Act, which makes it unlawful for a public utility to make or pay a dividend from any funds "properly included in capital account." The meaning of this limitation has never been clarified under the Federal Power Act. LG&E, KU and PPL Electric believe, however, that this statutory restriction, as applied to their circumstances, would not be construed or applied by the FERC to prohibit the payment from retained earnings of dividends that are not excessive and are for lawful and legitimate business purposes. In February 2012, LG&E and KU petitioned the FERC requesting authorization to pay dividends in the future based on retained earnings balances calculated without giving effect to the impact of purchase accounting adjustments for the acquisition of LKE by PPL. In May 2012, FERC approved the petitions with the further condition that each utility may not pay dividends if such payment would cause its adjusted equity ratio to fall below 30% of total capitalization. Accordingly, at December 31, 2014, net assets of $2.4 billion ($0.9 billion for LG&E and $1.5 billion for KU) were restricted for purposes of paying dividends to LKE, and net assets of $2.9 billion ($1.2 billion for LG&E and $1.7 billion for KU) were available for payment of dividends to LKE. LG&E and KU believe they will not be required to change their current dividend practices as a result of the foregoing requirement. In addition, under Virginia law, KU is prohibited from making loans to affiliates without the prior approval of the VSCC. There are no comparable statutes under Kentucky law applicable to LG&E and KU, or under Pennsylvania law applicable to PPL Electric. However, orders from the KPSC require LG&E and KU to obtain prior consent or approval before lending amounts to PPL.