Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

10. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

(All Registrants)

PPL and its subsidiaries are involved in legal proceedings, claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business. PPL and its subsidiaries cannot predict the outcome of such matters, or whether such matters may result in material liabilities, unless otherwise noted.

WKE Indemnification (PPL and LKE)

See footnote (e) to the table in "Guarantees and Other Assurances" below for information on an LKE indemnity relating to its former WKE lease, including related legal proceedings.

(PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU)

Cane Run Environmental Claims

In December 2013, six residents, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated, filed a class action complaint against LG&E and PPL in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky alleging violations of the Clean Air Act and RCRA. In addition, these plaintiffs assert common law claims of nuisance, trespass and negligence. These plaintiffs seek injunctive relief and civil penalties, plus costs and attorney fees, for the alleged statutory violations. Under the common law claims, these plaintiffs seek monetary compensation and punitive damages for property damage and diminished property values for a class consisting of residents within four miles of the plant. In their individual capacities, these plaintiffs seek compensation for alleged adverse health effects. In response to a motion to dismiss filed by PPL and LG&E, in July 2014, the court dismissed the plaintiffs' RCRA claims and all but one Clean Air Act claim, but declined to dismiss their common law tort claims. Upon motion of LG&E and PPL, the district court certified for appellate review the issue of whether the state common law claims are preempted by federal statute. In December 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an order granting appellate review regarding the above matter. Oral argument before the Sixth Circuit was held in August 2015. In November 2015, the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion affirming the District Court's ruling that plaintiffs' state law claims are not preempted by the Clean Air Act and remanding the matter to the District Court for further proceedings. Certain discovery matters are before the District Court. PPL, LKE and LG&E cannot predict the outcome of this matter. LG&E retired one coal-fired unit at the Cane Run plant in March 2015 and the remaining two coal-fired units at the plant in June 2015.

Mill Creek Environmental Claims

In May 2014, the Sierra Club filed a citizen suit against LG&E in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The Sierra Club alleges that various discharges at the Mill Creek plant constitute violations of the plant's water discharge permit. The Sierra Club seeks civil penalties, injunctive relief, costs and attorney's fees. In August 2015, the Court denied cross-motions for summary judgment filed by both parties and directed the parties to proceed with discovery. Discovery proceedings are underway and the parties have also conducted limited settlement discussions in the matter. PPL, LKE and LG&E cannot predict the outcome of this matter or the potential impact on the operations of the Mill Creek plant, including increased capital or operating costs, if any, but believe the plant is operating in compliance with the permits.

E.W. Brown Environmental Claims

In October 2015, KU received a notice of intent from Earthjustice and the Sierra Club informing certain federal and state agencies of the Sierra Club's intent to file a citizen suit, following expiration of the mandatory 60-day notification period, for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The claimant alleges discharges at the E.W. Brown plant in violation of applicable rules and the plant's water discharge permit. The claimant asserts that, unless the alleged discharges are promptly brought into compliance, it intends to seek civil penalties, injunctive relief and attorney's fees. In November 2015, the claimants submitted an amended notice of intent to add the Kentucky Waterways Alliance as a claimant. The parties have conducted limited settlement discussions in the matter. PPL, LKE and KU cannot predict the outcome of this matter or the potential impact on the operations of the E. W. Brown plant, including increased capital or operating costs, if any.

Trimble County Unit 2 Air Permit

The Sierra Club and other environmental groups petitioned the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet to overturn the air permit issued for the Trimble County Unit 2 baseload coal-fired generating unit, but the agency upheld the permit in an order issued in September 2007. In response to subsequent petitions by environmental groups, the EPA ordered certain non-material changes to the permit which, in January 2010, were incorporated into a final revised permit issued by the Kentucky Division for Air Quality. In March 2010, the environmental groups petitioned the EPA to object to the revised state permit. Until the EPA issues a final ruling on the pending petition and all available appeals are exhausted, PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of this matter or the potential impact on the operations of the Trimble County plant, including increased capital or operating costs, if any.

Trimble County Water Discharge Permit

In May 2010, the Kentucky Waterways Alliance and other environmental groups filed a petition with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (KEEC) challenging the Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued in April 2010, which covers water discharges from the Trimble County plant. In November 2010, the KEEC issued a final order upholding the permit that was subsequently appealed by the environmental groups. In September 2013, the Franklin Circuit Court reversed the KEEC order upholding the permit and remanded the permit to the agency for further proceedings. LG&E and the KEEC appealed the order to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. In July 2015, the Court of Appeals upheld the lower court ruling. On February 10, 2016, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued an order granting discretionary review. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU are unable to predict the outcome of this matter or the potential impact on the operations of the Trimble County plant, including increased capital or operating costs, if any.

Regulatory Issues (All Registrants)

See Note 6 for information on regulatory matters related to utility rate regulation.

Electricity - Reliability Standards

The NERC is responsible for establishing and enforcing mandatory reliability standards (Reliability Standards) regarding the bulk power system. The FERC oversees this process and independently enforces the Reliability Standards.

The Reliability Standards have the force and effect of law and apply to certain users of the bulk power electricity system, including electric utility companies, generators and marketers. Under the Federal Power Act, the FERC may assess civil penalties of up to $1 million per day, per violation, for certain violations.

PPL, LG&E, KU and PPL Electric monitor their compliance with the Reliability Standards and continue to self-report or self-log potential violations of certain applicable reliability requirements and submit accompanying mitigation plans, as required. The resolution of a small number of potential violations is pending. Any Regional Reliability Entity (including RFC or SERC) determination concerning the resolution of violations of the Reliability Standards remains subject to the approval of the NERC and the FERC.

In the course of implementing their programs to ensure compliance with the Reliability Standards by those PPL affiliates subject to the standards, certain other instances of potential non-compliance may be identified from time to time. The Registrants cannot predict the outcome of these matters, and cannot estimate a range of reasonably possible losses, if any.

Environmental Matters - Domestic

(All Registrants)

Due to the environmental issues discussed below or other environmental matters, it may be necessary for the Registrants to modify, curtail, replace, or cease operation of certain facilities or performance of certain operations to comply with statutes, regulations and other requirements of regulatory bodies or courts. In addition, legal challenges to new environmental permits or rules add to the uncertainty of estimating the future cost of these permits and rules.

LG&E and KU are entitled to recover, through the ECR mechanism, certain costs of complying with the Clean Air Act, as amended, and those federal, state, or local environmental requirements applicable to coal combustion wastes and by-products from facilities that generate electricity from coal in accordance with approved compliance plans. Costs not covered by the ECR mechanism for LG&E and KU and all such costs for PPL Electric are subject to rate recovery before the companies' respective state regulatory authorities, or the FERC, if applicable. Because PPL Electric does not own any generating plants, its exposure to related environmental compliance costs is reduced. PPL, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU can provide no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of future environmental or rate proceedings before regulatory authorities.

(PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU)

Air

The Clean Air Act, which regulates air pollutants from mobile and stationary sources, has a significant impact on the operation of fossil fuel plants. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA periodically to review and establish concentration levels in the ambient air for six criteria pollutants to protect public health and welfare. These concentration levels are known as NAAQS. The six criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide.

Federal environmental regulations of these criteria pollutants require states to adopt implementation plans, known as state implementation plans, for certain pollutants, which detail how the state will attain the standards that are mandated by the relevant law or regulation. Each state identifies the areas within its boundaries that meet the NAAQS (attainment areas) and those that do not (non-attainment areas), and must develop a state implementation plan both to bring non-attainment areas into compliance with the NAAQS and to maintain good air quality in attainment areas. In addition, for attainment of ozone and fine particulates standards, states in the eastern portion of the country, including Kentucky, are subject to a regional program developed by the EPA known as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The NAAQS, future revisions to the NAAQS and state implementation plans, or future revisions to regional programs, may require installation of additional pollution controls, the costs of which PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU believe are subject to cost recovery.

Although PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU do not anticipate significant costs to comply with these programs, changes in market or operating conditions could result in different costs than anticipated.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to reassess the NAAQS for certain air pollutants on a five-year schedule. In 2008, the EPA revised the NAAQS for ozone and proposed to further strengthen the standard in November 2014. The EPA released a new ozone standard on October 1, 2015. The states and EPA will determine attainment with the new ozone standard through review of relevant ambient air monitoring data, with attainment or nonattainment designations scheduled no later than October 2017. States are also obligated to address interstate transport issues associated with new ozone standards through the establishment of "good neighbor" state implementation plans for those states that are found to contribute significantly to another states' non-attainment. States that are not in the ozone transport region, including Kentucky, are working together to evaluate further nitrogen oxide reductions from fossil-fueled plants with SCRs. The nature and timing of any additional reductions resulting from these evaluations cannot be predicted at this time.

In 2010, the EPA finalized revised NAAQS for sulfur dioxide and required states to identify areas that meet those standards and areas that are in "non-attainment". In July 2013, the EPA finalized non-attainment designations for parts of the country, including part of Jefferson County in Kentucky. Attainment must be achieved by 2018. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU anticipate that certain previously required compliance measures, such as upgraded or new sulfur dioxide scrubbers at certain plants and the retirement of coal-fired generating units at LG&E’s Cane Run plant and KU’s Green River plant, will help to achieve compliance with the new sulfur dioxide and ozone standards. If additional reductions are required, the costs could be significant.

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS)

In February 2012, the EPA finalized the MATS rule requiring reductions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from fossil-fuel fired power plants, with an effective date of April 16, 2012. The MATS rule was challenged by industry groups and states and was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit Court (D.C. Circuit Court) in April 2014. A group of states subsequently petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court (Supreme Court) to review this decision and in June 2015, the Supreme Court held that the EPA failed to properly consider costs when deciding to regulate hazardous air emissions from power plants under MATS. The Supreme Court remanded the matter to the D.C. Circuit Court, which in December 2015 remanded the rule to EPA without vacating it. The EPA has proposed a supplemental finding regarding costs of the rule and has announced that it intends to make a final determination in 2016. The EPA's MATS rule remains in effect during the pendency of the ongoing proceedings.

LG&E and KU have installed significant controls in connection with the MATS rule and in conjunction with compliance with other environmental requirements, including fabric-filter baghouses, upgraded scrubbers or chemical additive systems for which appropriate KPSC authorization and/or ECR treatment has been received. LG&E and KU are seeking KPSC approval for a compliance plan providing for installation of additional MATS-related controls; however, the estimated cost of these controls is not expected to be significant for either LG&E or KU. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of the MATS rule or its potential impact, if any, on plant operations, rate treatment or future capital or operating needs. See Note 6 for additional information.

New Source Review (NSR)

The NSR litigation brought by the EPA, states and environmental groups against coal-fired generating plants in past years continues to proceed through the courts. Although none of this litigation directly involves PPL, LKE, LG&E or KU, it can influence the permitting of large capital projects at LG&E’s and KU's power plants, the costs of which cannot presently be determined but could be significant.

Climate Change

There is continuing attention focused on issues related to climate change. Most recently, in December 2015, 195 nations, including the U.S., signed the Paris Agreement on Climate which establishes a comprehensive framework for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from both developed and developing nations. Although the agreement does not establish binding reduction requirements, it requires each nation to prepare, communicate and maintain GHG reduction commitments. Reductions can currently be achieved in a variety of ways, including energy conservation, power plant efficiency improvements, reduced utilization of coal-fired generation, or replacing coal-fired generation with natural gas or renewable generation. Based on EPA's Clean Power Plan described below, the U.S. has committed to an initial reduction target of 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

The EPA's Rules under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act

As further described below, the EPA finalized rules imposing GHG emission standards for both new and existing power plants. The EPA has also issued a proposed federal implementation plan that would apply to any states that fail to submit an acceptable state implementation plan under these rules. The EPA's authority to promulgate these regulations under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act has been challenged in the D.C. Circuit Court by several states and industry groups. On February 9, 2016, the Supreme Court stayed the rule for existing plants (the Clean Power Plan) pending the D.C. Circuit Court's review and subsequent review by the Supreme Court if a writ of certiorari is filed and granted.

The EPA's rule for new power plants imposes separate emission standards for coal and natural gas units based on the application of different technologies. The coal standard is based on the application of partial carbon capture and sequestration technology, but because this technology is not presently commercially available, the rule effectively precludes the construction of new coal-fired plants. The standard for NGCC power plants is the same as the EPA proposed in 2012 and is not continuously achievable. The preclusion of new coal-fired plants and the compliance difficulties posed for new natural gas-fired plants could have a significant industry-wide impact.

The EPA's Clean Power Plan

The EPA's rule for existing power plants, referred to as the Clean Power Plan, was published in the Federal Register in October 2015. The Clean Power Plan contains state-specific rate-based and mass-based reduction goals and guidelines for the development, submission and implementation of state implementation plans to achieve the state goals. State-specific goals were calculated from 2012 data by applying the EPA's broad interpretation and definition of the BSER, resulting in the most stringent targets to be met in 2030, with interim targets to be met beginning in 2022. The EPA believes it has offered some flexibility to the states as to how their compliance plans can be crafted, including the option to use a rate-based approach (limit emissions per megawatt hour) or a mass-based approach (limit total tons of emissions per year), and the option to demonstrate compliance through emissions trading and multi-state collaborations. Under the rate-based approach, Kentucky would need to make a 41% reduction from its 2012 emissions rate and under a mass-based approach it would need to make a 36% reduction. These reductions are significantly greater than initially proposed and present significant challenges to the state. If the Clean Power Plan is ultimately upheld and Kentucky fails to develop an approvable implementation plan by the applicable deadline, the EPA would impose a federal implementation plan that could be more stringent than what the state plan might provide. Depending on the provisions of the Kentucky implementation plan, LG&E and KU may need to modify their current portfolio of generating assets during the next decade and/or participate in an allowance trading program.

LG&E and KU are participating in the ongoing regulatory processes at the state and federal level. Various states, industry groups, and individual companies including LKE have filed petitions for reconsideration with EPA and petitions for review with the D.C. Circuit Court challenging the Clean Power Plan. On February 9, 2016, the Supreme Court stayed the rule pending the D.C. Circuit Court’s review. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of this matter or the potential impact, if any, on plant operations, or future capital or operating costs. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU believe that the costs, which could be significant, would be subject to cost recovery.

In April 2014, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation which limits the measures that the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet may consider in setting performance standards to comply with the EPA's regulations governing GHG emissions from existing sources. The legislation provides that such state GHG performance standards shall be based on emission reductions, efficiency measures, and other improvements available at each power plant, rather than renewable energy, end-use energy efficiency, fuel switching and re-dispatch. These statutory restrictions may make it more difficult for Kentucky to achieve the GHG reduction levels that the EPA has established for Kentucky.

Water/Waste

Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs)

On April 17, 2015, the EPA published its final rule regulating CCRs. CCRs include fly ash, bottom ash and sulfur dioxide scrubber wastes. The rule became effective on October 19, 2015. It imposes extensive new requirements, including location restrictions, design and operating standards, groundwater monitoring and corrective action requirements, and closure and post-closure care requirements on CCR impoundments and landfills that are located on active power plants and not closed. Under the rule, the EPA will regulate CCRs as non-hazardous under Subtitle D of RCRA and allow beneficial use of CCRs, with some restrictions. The rule's requirements for covered CCR impoundments and landfills include implementation of groundwater monitoring and commencement or completion of closure activities generally between three and ten years from certain triggering events. This self-implementing rule requires posting of compliance documentation on a publicly accessible website and is enforceable solely through citizen suits. LG&E and KU are also subject to state rules applicable to CCR management which may potentially be modified to reflect some or all requirements of the federal rule. Industry groups, environmental groups, individual companies and others have filed legal challenges to the final rule which are pending before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

LG&E and KU are pursuing KPSC approval for a compliance plan providing for construction of additional landfill capacity at the Brown Station, closure of impoundments at the Mill Creek, Trimble County, Brown, and Ghent stations, and construction of process water management facilities at those plants. In addition to the foregoing measures required for compliance with federal CCR rule requirements, LG&E and KU are also proposing to close impoundments at the retired Green River, Pineville, and Tyrone plants to comply with applicable state law requirements. PPL, LKE, LG&E, and KU estimate the cost of these CCR compliance measures at $311 million for LG&E and $661 million for KU. See Note 6 for additional information.

In connection with the final CCR rule, LG&E and KU recorded increases to existing AROs during 2015. See Note 16 for additional information. Further increases to AROs or changes to current capital plans or to operating costs may be required as estimates are refined based on closure developments, groundwater monitoring results, and regulatory or legal proceedings. Costs relating to this rule are subject to rate recovery.

Clean Water Act

Regulations under the federal Clean Water Act dictate permitting and mitigation requirements for many of LG&E’s and KU’s facilities and construction projects. Many of those requirements relate to power plant operations, including requirements related to the treatment of pollutants in effluents prior to discharge, the temperature of effluent discharges and the location, design and construction of cooling water intake structures at generating facilities, standards intended to protect aquatic organisms by reducing capture in the screens attached to cooling water intake structures (impingement) at generating facilities and the water volume brought into the facilities (entrainment). The requirements could impose significant costs which are subject to rate recovery.

Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELGs)

On September 30, 2015, the EPA released its final effluent limitations guidelines for wastewater discharge permits for new and existing steam electric generating facilities. The rule provides strict technology-based discharge limitations for control of pollutants in scrubber wastewater, fly ash and bottom ash transport water, mercury control wastewater, gasification wastewater, and combustion residual leachate. The new guidelines require deployment of additional control technologies providing physical, chemical, and biological treatment of wastewaters. The guidelines also mandate operational changes including “no discharge” requirements for fly ash and bottom ash transport waters and mercury control wastewaters. The implementation date for individual generating stations will be determined by the states on a case-by-case basis according to criteria provided by the EPA, but the requirements of the rule must be fully implemented no later than 2023. It has not been decided how Kentucky intends to integrate the ELGs into its routine permit renewal process. Industry groups, environmental groups, individual companies and others have filed legal challenges to the final rule which have been consolidated before the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals. LG&E and KU are developing compliance strategies and schedules. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU are unable to fully estimate compliance costs or timing at this time although certain preliminary estimates are included in current capital forecasts, for applicable periods. Costs to comply with ELGs or other discharge limits, which are expected to be significant, are subject to rate recovery.

Clean Water Act Section 316(b)

The EPA's final 316(b) rule for existing facilities became effective in October 2014, and regulates cooling water intake structures and their impact on aquatic organisms. States are allowed broad discretion to make site-specific determinations under the rule. The rule requires existing facilities to choose between several options to reduce the impact to aquatic organisms that become trapped against water intake screens (impingement) and to determine the intake structure's impact on aquatic organisms pulled through a plant's cooling water system (entrainment). Plants equipped with closed-cycle cooling, an acceptable option, would likely not incur substantial costs. Once-through systems would likely require additional technology to comply with the rule. Based on studies conducted by LG&E and KU to date, all plants will incur only insignificant operational costs. In addition, LG&E’s Mill Creek Unit 1 is expected to incur capital costs. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU are evaluating compliance strategies but do not presently expect the compliance costs, which are subject to rate recovery, to be significant.

(All Registrants)

Waters of the United States (WOTUS)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has issued a stay of EPA's rule on the definition of WOTUS pending the court's review of the rule. The effect of the stay is that the WOTUS rule is not in effect anywhere in the United States. The ultimate outcome of the court's review of the rule remains uncertain. Because of the strict permitting programs already in place in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, the Registrants do not expect the rule to have a significant impact on their operations.

Other Issues

The EPA is reassessing its polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) regulations under the Toxic Substance Control Act, which allow certain PCB articles to remain in use. In April 2010, the EPA issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for changes to these regulations. This rulemaking could lead to a phase-out of all or some PCB-containing equipment. The EPA has postponed the release of the revised regulations to June 2016. The Registrants cannot predict at this time the outcome of these proposed EPA regulations and what impact, if any, they would have on their facilities, but the costs could be significant.

Superfund and Other Remediation (All Registrants)

PPL Electric is potentially responsible for costs at several sites listed by the EPA under the federal Superfund program, including the Columbia Gas Plant site, the Metal Bank site and the Brodhead site. Clean-up actions have been or are being undertaken at all of these sites, the costs of which have not been significant to PPL Electric. Should the EPA require different or additional measures in the future, however, or should PPL Electric's share of costs at multi-party sites increase substantially more than expected, the costs could be significant.

PPL Electric, LG&E and KU are investigating, responding to agency inquiries, remediating, or have completed the remediation of, several sites that were not addressed under a regulatory program such as Superfund, but for which PPL Electric, LG&E and KU may be liable for remediation. These include a number of former coal gas manufacturing plants in Pennsylvania and Kentucky previously owned or operated or currently owned by predecessors or affiliates of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. To date, the costs of these sites have not been significant.

There are additional sites, formerly owned or operated by PPL Electric, LG&E and KU predecessors or affiliates. LG&E and KU lack information on the conditions of such additional sites and are therefore unable to estimate any potential liability they may have or a range of reasonably possible losses, if any, related to these matters. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, PPL Electric has a liability of $10 million representing its best estimate of the probable loss incurred to remediate additional sites previously owned or operated by PPL Electric predecessors or affiliates. Depending on the outcome of investigations at sites where investigations have not begun or been completed or developments at sites for which information is incomplete, the costs of remediation and other liabilities could be significant and may be as much as approximately $30 million.

The EPA is evaluating the risks associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and naphthalene, chemical by-products of coal gas manufacturing. As a result of the EPA's evaluation, individual states may establish stricter standards for water quality and soil cleanup. This could require several PPL subsidiaries to take more extensive assessment and remedial actions at former coal gas manufacturing plants. PPL, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU cannot estimate a range of reasonably possible losses, if any, related to these matters.

From time to time, PPL's subsidiaries undertake remedial action in response to notices of violations, spills or other releases at various on-site and off-site locations, negotiate with the EPA and state and local agencies regarding actions necessary for compliance with applicable requirements, negotiate with property owners and other third parties alleging impacts from PPL's operations and undertake similar actions necessary to resolve environmental matters that arise in the course of normal operations. Based on analyses to date, resolution of these environmental matters is not expected to have a significant adverse impact on the operations of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU.

Future cleanup or remediation work at sites under review, or at sites not yet identified, may result in significant additional costs for PPL, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU. Insurance policies maintained by LKE, LG&E and KU may be applicable to certain of the costs or other obligations related to these matters but the amount of insurance coverage or reimbursement cannot be estimated or assured.

Environmental Matters - WPD (PPL)

WPD's distribution businesses are subject to certain statutory and regulatory environmental requirements. In connection with the matters discussed below, it may be necessary for WPD to incur significant compliance costs, which costs may be recoverable through rates subject to the approval of Ofgem. PPL believes that WPD has taken and continues to take measures to comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.

European Union Creosote Ban

In 2011, the European Commission amended the European Union Biocides Directive to ban the use of creosote in contact with soil. Creosote is a wood preservative used to extend the life of wooden poles that support power lines. Although European Union member countries were required to pass implementing laws by 2012, the U.K. has not passed an implementing law and there are no legal penalties for failing to do so. If the U.K. were to pass an implementing law, WPD's creosote-treated wood poles would need to be replaced with an acceptable alternative at the time of routine replacement. WPD has 1.4 million wood poles in its system. There are currently no alternative wood preservatives available that are acceptable to the industry and/or regulators. It is not currently anticipated that the U.K. will adopt legislation to implement the creosote ban.

Carbon Reduction Commitment

The U.K.'s Carbon Reduction Commitment is a binding law that requires WPD to file reports regarding its carbon emissions and to purchase carbon allowances to offset emissions associated with WPD's operations. Failure to do so subjects WPD to fines and penalties. The approximate annual cost of purchasing allowances is £400 thousand and is included in WPD's budgeted expenditures. WPD expects these costs to decrease as 18 fuel sources previously subject to these reporting and emission allowance requirements have been exempted from these requirements. In addition, it is expected that energy efficiency measures will continue to decrease WPD's carbon emissions.

Insulating Oil

In 2014, the U.K. Environment Agency interpreted the Waste Framework Directive (a U.K. law) to classify electrical insulating oil as a hazardous waste. As a result, under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 all sites with electrical equipment (other than pole mounted transformers) must be individually registered and licensed as a hazardous waste site, records must be maintained of all shipments of insulating oil to or from those sites and appropriate personnel must be trained on the license requirements. WPD has submitted, or is in the process of submitting, all required permit applications and is conducting training of WPD personnel as required. Compliance visits have been undertaken by the U.K. Environment Agency with no significant findings or permit violations.

Discharge at Substation

In 2014, a leak from a cable joint at a substation resulted in a discharge of a substance known as Linear Alkyl Benzene. The leak did not directly affect any third parties but did reduce the use of River Rea. WPD has taken interim remedial measures and is developing an overall remedial action package in collaboration with the U.K. Environment Agency. WPD has made a voluntary contribution of £25 thousand to a public park under an agreement among WPD, the U.K. Environment Agency and a local wildlife trust. WPD expects to incur additional costs to address this incident, including reimbursement of oversight costs incurred by the U.K. Environment Agency, that are not expected to be significant.

Other

Guarantees and Other Assurances

(All Registrants)

In the normal course of business, the Registrants enter into agreements that provide financial performance assurance to third parties on behalf of certain subsidiaries. Such agreements include, for example, guarantees, stand-by letters of credit issued by financial institutions and surety bonds issued by insurance companies. These agreements are entered into primarily to support or enhance the creditworthiness attributed to a subsidiary on a stand-alone basis or to facilitate the commercial activities in which these subsidiaries engage.

(PPL)

PPL fully and unconditionally guarantees all of the debt securities of PPL Capital Funding.

(All Registrants)

The table below details guarantees provided as of March 31, 2016. "Exposure" represents the estimated maximum potential amount of future payments that could be required to be made under the guarantee. The probability of expected payment/performance under each of these guarantees is remote except for "WPD guarantee of pension and other obligations of unconsolidated entities" and "Indemnification of lease termination and other divestitures." The total recorded liability at March 31, 2016, was $24 million for PPL and $18 million for LKE. The total recorded liability at December 31, 2015, was $25 million for PPL and $18 million for LKE. For reporting purposes, on a consolidated basis, all guarantees of PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU also apply to PPL, and all guarantees of LG&E and KU also apply to LKE.

	Exposure at			Expiration
	March 31, 2016			Date
PPL
Indemnifications related to the WPD Midlands acquisition			(a)
WPD indemnifications for entities in liquidation and sales of assets	$	11	(b)	2019
WPD guarantee of pension and other obligations of unconsolidated entities		111	(c)

PPL Electric
Guarantee of inventory value		26	(d)	2018

LKE
Indemnification of lease termination and other divestitures		301	(e)	2021 - 2023

LG&E and KU
LG&E and KU guarantee of shortfall related to OVEC			(f)

(a) Indemnifications related to certain liabilities, including a specific unresolved tax issue and those relating to properties and assets owned by the seller that were transferred to WPD Midlands in connection with the acquisition. A cross indemnity has been received from the seller on the tax issue. The maximum exposure and expiration of these indemnifications cannot be estimated because the maximum potential liability is not capped and the expiration date is not specified in the transaction documents.

(b) Indemnification to the liquidators and certain others for existing liabilities or expenses or liabilities arising during the liquidation process. The indemnifications are limited to distributions made from the subsidiary to its parent either prior or subsequent to liquidation or are not explicitly stated in the agreements. The indemnifications generally expire two to seven years subsequent to the date of dissolution of the entities. The exposure noted only includes those cases where the agreements provide for specific limits.

In connection with their sales of various businesses, WPD and its affiliates have provided the purchasers with indemnifications that are standard for such transactions, including indemnifications for certain pre-existing liabilities and environmental and tax matters or have agreed to continue their obligations under existing third-party guarantees, either for a set period of time following the transactions or upon the condition that the purchasers make reasonable efforts to terminate the guarantees. Additionally, WPD and its affiliates remain secondarily responsible for lease payments under certain leases that they have assigned to third parties.

(c) Relates to certain obligations of discontinued or modified electric associations that were guaranteed at the time of privatization by the participating members. Costs are allocated to the members and can be reallocated if an existing member becomes insolvent. At March 31, 2016, WPD has recorded an estimated discounted liability for which the expected payment/performance is probable. Neither the expiration date nor the maximum amount of potential payments for certain obligations is explicitly stated in the related agreements, and as a result, the exposure has been estimated.

(d) A third party logistics firm provides inventory procurement and fulfillment services. The logistics firm has title to the inventory, however, upon termination of the contracts, PPL Electric has guaranteed to purchase any remaining inventory that has not been used or sold.

(e) LKE provides certain indemnifications covering the due and punctual payment, performance and discharge by each party of its respective obligations. The most comprehensive of these guarantees is the LKE guarantee covering operational, regulatory and environmental commitments and indemnifications made by WKE under a 2009 Transaction Termination Agreement. This guarantee has a term of 12 years ending July 2021, and a maximum exposure of $200 million, exclusive of certain items such as government fines and penalties that fall outside the cap. Another WKE-related LKE guarantee covers other indemnifications related to the purchase price of excess power, has a term expiring in 2023, and a maximum exposure of $100 million. In May 2012, LKE's indemnitee received an unfavorable arbitration panel's decision interpreting this matter. In October 2014, LKE’s indemnitee filed a motion for discretionary review with the Kentucky Supreme Court seeking to overturn the arbitration decision, and such motion was denied by the court in September 2015. In September 2015, a counterparty issued a demand letter to LKE’s indemnitee. In February 2016, the counterparty filed a complaint in Henderson, Kentucky Circuit Court, seeking an award of damages in the matter. LKE does not believe appropriate contractual, legal or commercial grounds exist for the claim made and has disputed the demands. LKE believes its indemnification obligations in the WKE matter remain subject to various uncertainties, including additional legal and contractual developments, as well as future prices, availability and demand for the subject excess power. The parties are conducting preliminary settlement discussions, however, the ultimate outcomes of the WKE termination-related indemnifications cannot be predicted at this time. Additionally, LKE has indemnified various third parties related to historical obligations for other divested subsidiaries and affiliates. The indemnifications vary by entity and the maximum exposures range from being capped at the sale price to no specified maximum; LKE could be required to perform on these indemnifications in the event of covered losses or liabilities being claimed by an indemnified party. LKE cannot predict the ultimate outcomes of the indemnification circumstances, but does not expect such outcomes to result in significant losses above the amounts recorded.

(f) Pursuant to the OVEC power purchase contract, LG&E and KU are obligated to pay for their share of OVEC's excess debt service, post-retirement and decommissioning costs, as well as any shortfall from amounts included within a demand charge designed and expected to cover these costs over the term of the contract. LKE’s proportionate share of OVEC’s outstanding debt was $124 million at March 31, 2016, consisting of LG&E’s share of $86 million and KU’s share of $38 million. The maximum exposure and the expiration date of these potential obligations are not presently determinable. See “Energy Purchase Commitments” and "Guarantees and Other Assurances" in Note 13 in PPL's, LKE's, LG&E's and KU's 2015 Form 10-K for additional information on the OVEC power purchase contract.

The Registrants provide other miscellaneous guarantees through contracts entered into in the normal course of business. These guarantees are primarily in the form of indemnification or warranties related to services or equipment and vary in duration. The amounts of these guarantees often are not explicitly stated, and the overall maximum amount of the obligation under such guarantees cannot be reasonably estimated. Historically, no significant payments have been made with respect to these types of guarantees and the probability of payment/performance under these guarantees is remote.

PPL, on behalf of itself and certain of its subsidiaries, maintains insurance that covers liability assumed under contract for bodily injury and property damage. The coverage provides maximum aggregate coverage of $225 million. This insurance may be applicable to obligations under certain of these contractual arrangements.