Obligation to return cash collateral received from counterparties under terms of a master netting arrangement.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_CashCollateralObligationUnderMasterNettingArrangement
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of cash collateral posted under master netting arrangements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppl_CashCollateralPostedUnderMasterNettingArrangements
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	ppl_CommodityPriceRiskNontradingEconomicActivityNumericAbstract
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period end fair value of commodity contracts classified as economic activity. The fair value results in a net (asset) or liability position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppl_FairValueCommodityDerivativeContractsClassifiedEconomicActivity
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of gain (loss) recorded into earnings when price risk cash flow hedge has been dedesignated. When this occurs, the effective portion of the hedge is locked in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Future changes in mark-to-market value are recorded in earnings. The underlying delivery of the related product is expected to continue.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppl_GainLossOnDedesignatedPriceRiskCashFlowHedge
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ppl_MasterNettingArrangementsNumericAbstract
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is economically hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppl_MaximumMaturityDateOfEconomicActivityInstruments
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Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of pre-tax gains (losses) from economic activity related to price and volume risk derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the ineffective portion of qualifying cash flow hedges, and the entire change in fair value of certain cash flow hedges that fail retrospective effectiveness testing.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ppl_PretaxGainsLossesOfEconomicActivityAbstract
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- Definition

A disclosure of an assertion that the amount of net gains (losses) reclassified into earnings when price risk cash flow hedge is discontinued because it is probable that the original forecasted transactions will not occur by the end of the original period or an additional two month time period is insignificant or zero.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppl_PriceRiskCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToEarningsNetText
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6887037&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MaximumLengthOfTimeHedgedInPriceRiskCashFlowHedge
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Assertion that the amount of price risk cash flow hedge ineffectiveness is immaterial.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PriceRiskCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessIsImmaterial
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on price risk cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6887037&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PriceRiskDerivativesAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Intro) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Master Netting Arrangements (Numeric) [Abstract]
Obligation to return cash collateral obligation under master netting arrangement	$ 213		$ 147
Cash collateral posted under master netting arrangements	27		29
Commodity Price Risk (Non-trading) - Cash Flow Hedges (Numeric) [Abstract]
Year of expiration of the maximum maturity date of commodity price risk cash flow hedge contracts	2016
Net unrealized after-tax gains (losses) expected to be reclassified into earnings within 12 months related to commodity price risk cash flow hedge contracts	341
No or insignificant amounts previously recorded in AOCI reclassified to earnings related to commodity price risk cash flow hedge contracts	insignificant	insignificant
No or immaterial hedge ineffectiveness related to commodity price risk cash flow hedge contracts	insignificant	insignificant
Pre-tax gain (loss) resulting from dedesignation of cash flow hedges	169
Commodity Price Risk (Non-trading) - Economic Activity (Numeric) [Abstract]
Year of expiration of the maximum maturity date of economic activity derivative contracts	2019
Fair value of commodity contracts classified as economic activity, net asset (liability)	816		(63)
Unregulated Retail Electric And Gas [Member]
Pre-tax Gains (Losses) of Economic Activity (Details) - Unregulated Business [Abstract]
Pre-tax gain (loss)	10	4
Wholesale Energy Marketing [Member]
Pre-tax Gains (Losses) of Economic Activity (Details) - Unregulated Business [Abstract]
Pre-tax gain (loss)	852	57
Fuel [Member]
Pre-tax Gains (Losses) of Economic Activity (Details) - Unregulated Business [Abstract]
Pre-tax gain (loss)	2	23
Energy Purchases [Member]
Pre-tax Gains (Losses) of Economic Activity (Details) - Unregulated Business [Abstract]
Pre-tax gain (loss)	$ (591)	18