Business Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended																								1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended																	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								2 Months Ended			12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Severance Compensation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Severance Compensation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Early Retirement Deficiency Costs Under Applicable Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Early Retirement Deficiency Costs Under Applicable Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Separation Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Separation Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Regulated [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Regulated [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kentucky Regulated [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 United Kingdom Regulated [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 United Kingdom Regulated [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 United Kingdom Regulated [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 United Kingdom Regulated [Member] One Time Termination Benefits Member Specific Employee Class [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 United Kingdom Regulated [Member] Severance Compensation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 United Kingdom Regulated [Member] Severance Compensation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 United Kingdom Regulated [Member] Early Retirement Deficiency Costs Under Applicable Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 United Kingdom Regulated [Member] Outplacement Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 United Kingdom Regulated [Member] Separation Benefits [Member] Integer	Dec. 31, 2012 Supply [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Supply [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Supply [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Ironwood [Member] Integer		Dec. 31, 2012 Ironwood [Member]		Apr. 30, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Integer	Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] 2011 Bridge Facility Costs [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Foreign Currency Loss On 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Net Hedge Gains Associated With 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Hedge Ineffectiveness [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] UK Stamp Duty Tax [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Seperation Benefits [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] Other Acquisition Related Adjustments [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] PPL Capital Funding [Member] Foreign Currency Loss On 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] PPL WEM [Member] Foreign Currency Loss On 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands [Member] United Kingdom Regulated [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LKE [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LKE [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 LKE [Member] 2010 Bridge Facility Costs [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 LKE [Member] Other Acquisition Related Adjustments [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 LKE [Member] LGE [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LKE [Member] KU [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LKE [Member] Kentucky Regulated [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LKE [Member] Kentucky Regulated [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LKE [Member] Supply [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Combined Acquisition [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Combined Acquisition [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] Ironwood [Member] Integer		Dec. 31, 2012 PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member] Ironwood [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Ohio Valley Electric Corporation Power Purchase Agreement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] LGE [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] LGE [Member] Contributed To Goodwill [Member] Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] LGE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Emission Allowances [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] LGE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Coal Contracts [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] LGE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Defined Benefit Plans [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] LGE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] KU [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] KU [Member] Contributed To Goodwill [Member] Electric Energy Incorporated [Member] Integer	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] KU [Member] Contributed To Goodwill [Member] Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] KU [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Emission Allowances [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] KU [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Coal Contracts [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] KU [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Defined Benefit Plans [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] LKE [Member] KU [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] LKE [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] LKE [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] LKE [Member] Contributed To Goodwill [Member] Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Ohio Valley Electric Corporation Power Purchase Agreement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Emission Allowances [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Coal Contracts [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Defined Benefit Plans [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member] Contributed To Goodwill [Member] Electric Energy Incorporated [Member] Integer	Nov. 30, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member] Contributed To Goodwill [Member] Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Ohio Valley Electric Corporation Power Purchase Agreement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Emission Allowances [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Coal Contracts [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Defined Benefit Plans [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member] No Effect on Goodwill [Member] Other Noncurrent Liability [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] LKE [Member] KU [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date																									Apr. 13, 2012				Apr. 01, 2011																				Nov. 01, 2010																	Apr. 13, 2012
Number of units purchased																									2																																									2
Number of regulated distribution networks operated by WPD Midlands																													2
Number of end users serviced by purchased company																													5,000,000
Fair Value of Consideration Paid for Acquisition [Abstract]
Aggregate enterprise consideration																									$ 326,000,000					$ 6,600,000,000																			$ 7,600,000,000																	$ 326,000,000
Less: Fair value of assumed long-term debt outstanding, net																									258,000,000	[1]				800,000,000																			800,000,000																	258,000,000	[1]
Total cash consideration paid																														5,800,000,000																			6,800,000,000
Less: Funds used to repay pre-acquisition affiliate indebtedness																														1,700,000,000																			4,300,000,000	(4,300,000,000)	[2]																										(4,349,000,000)																		(485,000,000)										(1,331,000,000)
Plus: Restricted cash debt service reserves																									17,000,000																																									17,000,000
Cash consideration paid for equity interests (including working capital adjustments)																									85,000,000					4,100,000,000																			2,500,000,000																	85,000,000
Original amount outstanding of debt assumed																									226,000,000																																									226,000,000
Interest rate of debt assumed																									8.857%																																									8.857%
Maturity date of debt assumed																									Dec. 31, 2025																																									Dec. 31, 2025
Debt service reserve loans																									8,000,000																																									8,000,000
Fair value adjustment related to debt																									24,000,000																																									24,000,000
Acquistion related Financing Activities (Numeric) [Abstract]
Gross issuance of common stock and Equity Units in June 2010 to partially fund the acquisition																																																		3,600,000,000
Net proceeds from the issuances of common stock and Equity Units to partially fund the acquisition																																																		3,500,000,000
Borrowings under existing credit facilities used to partially fund the transaction																																																		3,200,000,000
Proceeds from monetization of certain full-requirement sales contracts used to partially fund the transaction																																																		249,000,000
Debt issued by LKE primarily to repay affiliated indebtedness																																																		2,900,000,000																										2,900,000,000
Portion of proceeds used to return capital by LG&E and KU Energy LLC to PPL																																																		100,000,000																										100,000,000
PPL Energy Supply's repayment of borrowings under existing credit facilities																																																		3,000,000,000																										3,000,000,000
Pre-tax gains (losses) reclassified to earnings related to interest rate cash flow hedge contracts due to discontinuance of forecasted transaction			(29,000,000)
After-tax gains (losses) reclassified to earnings related to interest rate cash flow hedge contracts due to discontinuance of forecasted transaction			(19,000,000)
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Current assets																														200,000,000	[3]																			900,000,000	[4]																										969,000,000																		503,000,000										341,000,000
Investments																																																																													31,000,000																		1,000,000										30,000,000
PP&E																											505,000,000			4,900,000,000																				7,500,000,000																		505,000,000									7,469,000,000																		2,935,000,000										4,531,000,000
Intangible assets																														100,000,000																				400,000,000																											427,000,000																		226,000,000										201,000,000
Other noncurrent assets																														100,000,000																				700,000,000																											689,000,000																		416,000,000										274,000,000
Current liabilities, excluding current portion of long-term debt																																																		(500,000,000)	[5]																										(516,000,000)																		(420,000,000)										(367,000,000)
Current liabilities																														(400,000,000)	[6]
Affiliate indebtedness																														1,700,000,000																			4,300,000,000	(4,300,000,000)	[2]																										(4,349,000,000)																		(485,000,000)										(1,331,000,000)
Long term debt (current and noncurrent)																											(258,000,000)	[7]		(800,000,000)	[6]																			(900,000,000)	[5]																	(258,000,000)	[7]								(934,000,000)																		(580,000,000)										(352,000,000)
Tolling agreement																											(170,000,000)	[8]																																								(170,000,000)	[8]
Other net assets																											8,000,000	[7]																																								8,000,000	[7]
Regulatory and other noncurrent liabilities																														(700,000,000)	[6]																			2,300,000,000	[5]																										(2,289,000,000)																		(1,283,000,000)										(1,278,000,000)
Net identifiable assets acquired																											85,000,000			1,700,000,000																				1,500,000,000																		85,000,000									1,497,000,000																		1,313,000,000										2,049,000,000
Goodwill																														2,400,000,000																		2,400,000,000		1,000,000,000									662,000,000	334,000,000																	996,000,000																		389,000,000										607,000,000
Net assets acquired																														4,100,000,000																				2,500,000,000																											2,493,000,000																		1,702,000,000										2,656,000,000
Capital Contribution on November 1, 2010, to replace affiliate indebtedness																																																																													1,565,000,000
Beginning equity balance on November 1, 2010																																																															3,830,000,000	4,019,000,000										3,786,000,000	3,741,000,000		4,058,000,000
Beginning equity balance on November 1, 2010	10,480,000,000	10,828,000,000																																																																				2,062,000,000	2,125,000,000	1,944,000,000	1,896,000,000																			1,810,000,000	1,762,000,000		1,702,000,000							2,783,000,000	2,745,000,000		2,656,000,000
Gross contractual obligation of accounts receivable acquired																														122,000,000																				186,000,000
Portion of gross contractual obligation of accounts receivable expected to be uncollectible																																																		11,000,000
Portion of repayment of affiliate indebtedness that was treated as capital contribution to subsidiary																																																		1,600,000,000
Fair value assigned to asset with offset to regulatory liability																																																																														126,000,000				124,000,000							145,000,000								87,000,000		124,000,000									39,000,000		145,000,000
Fair value assigned to liability with offset to regulatory asset																																																																																			4,000,000	11,000,000						4,000,000	22,000,000									4,000,000	11,000,000										4,000,000	22,000,000
Fair value assigned to an asset as a result of business combination																																																																																						30,000,000																				30,000,000
Fair value adjustment to asset as a result of business combination																																																																																						18,000,000																				18,000,000
Fair value adjustment to liability as a result of a business combination																																																																																7,000,000	8,000,000						1,000,000	9,000,000								7,000,000		8,000,000									1,000,000		9,000,000
Period amortizing the fair value assigned from a business combination (in years)																																																																																						20																				20
Maximum period the fair value assigned from a business combination will be amortized until																																																																														March 2026			2040	2016		2016				2040	2016		2016						March 2026	2040	2016		2016							March 2026	2040	2016		2016
Rate of return on common equity if exceeded triggers costs savings being returned to customers																																																								10.75%	10.75%																						10.75%						10.75%									10.75%																			10.75%
Percentage of excess return on equity amount that ultimately will be returned to customers																																																								50.00%	50.00%																						50.00%						50.00%									50.00%										50.00%
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Operating Revenues																																																790,000,000										493,000,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to PPL Shareowners																																																137,000,000										47,000,000
Operating Revenues - PPL consolidated pro forma (unaudited)																																																													13,140,000,000	11,850,000,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to PPL Shareowners - PPL consolidated pro forma (unaudited)																																																													1,800,000,000	1,462,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations excluded from pro-forma																																																														(18,000,000)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Pre-tax Nonrecurring Credits (Expenses) [Line Items]
Interest Expense	(961,000,000)	(898,000,000)	(593,000,000)							(219,000,000)	(217,000,000)	(55,000,000)	(421,000,000)	(391,000,000)	(135,000,000)							(222,000,000)	(192,000,000)	(224,000,000)								(44,000,000)	[9]					(12,000,000)	[10]													(80,000,000)	[11]										(168,000,000)	(174,000,000)	(208,000,000)					(99,000,000)	(98,000,000)	(99,000,000)
Other Income (Expense) - net	(39,000,000)	4,000,000	(31,000,000)																															(57,000,000)	[12]	55,000,000	[13]			(21,000,000)	[14]													(31,000,000)	[15]								18,000,000	23,000,000	22,000,000					9,000,000	7,000,000	7,000,000
Other operation and maintenance	(2,835,000,000)	(2,667,000,000)	(1,756,000,000)																																							(102,000,000)	[16]																				(1,041,000,000)	(929,000,000)	(979,000,000)					(576,000,000)	(530,000,000)	(502,000,000)
Other Income (Expense) - net and Other operation and maintenance																																												(77,000,000)	[17]
Foreign currency loss																																														42,000,000	15,000,000
Separation Benefits - U.K. Regulated Segment
Number of employees terminated																					729
Expected costs to be incurred																	61,000,000		46,000,000		108,000,000
Costs incurred				13,000,000	48,000,000	2,000,000	45,000,000	15,000,000	93,000,000							9,000,000				1,000,000
Accrued severance at beginning of period																	21,000,000
Severance compensation																	13,000,000	48,000,000
Severance paid																	(34,000,000)	(27,000,000)
Accrued severance at end of period																		$ 21,000,000

[1] The long-term debt assumed through consolidation consisted of $226 million aggregate principal amount of 8.857% senior secured bonds to be fully repaid by 2025, plus $8 million of debt service reserve loans, and a $24 million fair value adjustment.

[2] Includes $1.6 billion designated as a capital contribution to LKE.

[3] Includes gross contractual amount of the accounts receivable acquired of $122 million, which approximates fair value.

[4] Includes gross contractual amount of the accounts receivable acquired of $186 million. PPL expected $11 million to be uncollectible; however, credit risk is mitigated since uncollectible accounts are a component of customer rates.

[5] Represents non-cash activity excluded from the 2010 Statement of Cash Flows.

[6] Represents non-cash activity excluded from the 2011 Statement of Cash Flows.

[7] Represents non-cash activity excluded from the 2012 Statement of Cash Flows.

[8] Prior to the acquisition, PPL EnergyPlus had recorded primarily an intangible asset, which represented its rights to and the related accounting for the tolling agreement with PPL Ironwood, LLC. On the acquisition date, PPL Ironwood, LLC recorded a liability, recognized at fair value, for its obligation to PPL EnergyPlus. The tolling agreement assets of PPL EnergyPlus and the tolling agreement liability of PPL Ironwood, LLC eliminate in consolidation for PPL and PPL Energy Supply as a result of the acquisition, and therefore the agreement is considered effectively settled. The difference between the tolling agreement assets and liability resulted in an insignificant loss on the effective settlement of the agreement.

[9] The 2011 Bridge Facility costs, primarily commitment and structuring fees, were incurred to establish a bridge facility for purposes of funding the WPD Midlands acquisition purchase price.

[10] The hedge ineffectiveness includes a combination of ineffectiveness associated with closed out interest rate swaps and a charge recorded as a result of certain interest rate swaps failing hedge effectiveness testing, both associated with the acquisition financing.

[11] Primarily commitment and structuring fees, incurred to establish a bridge facility for purposes of funding the acquisition purchase price.

[12] The 2011 Bridge Facility was denominated in GBP. The amount includes a $42 million foreign currency loss on PPL Capital Funding's repayment of its 2011 Bridge Facility borrowing and a $15 million foreign currency loss associated with proceeds received on the U.S. dollar-denominated senior notes issued by PPL WEM in April 2011 that were used to repay a portion of PPL WEM's borrowing under the 2011 Bridge Facility.

[13] The repayment of borrowings on the 2011 Bridge Facility was economically hedged to mitigate the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates with forward contracts to purchase GBP, which resulted in net hedge gains.

[14] The U.K. stamp duty tax represents a tax on the transfer of ownership of property in the U.K. incurred in connection with the acquisition.

[15] Primarily includes acquisition-related advisory, accounting and legal fees.

[16] See "Separation Benefits - U.K. Regulated Segment" above.

[17] Primarily includes acquisition-related advisory, accounting and legal fees recorded in "Other Income (Expense) - net" and contract termination costs, rebranding costs and relocation costs recorded in "Other operation and maintenance."