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Retirement and Postemployment Benefits (Savings Plans and Employee Stock Ownership Plan) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 2 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 10 Months Ended 2 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 10 Months Ended 2 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 10 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Stock Ownership Plan [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Stock Ownership Plan [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Employee Stock Ownership Plan [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [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]
Dec. 31, 2012
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
PPL Energy Supply LLC [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Oct. 31, 2010
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Predecessor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Oct. 31, 2010
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Predecessor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Successor [Member]
Oct. 31, 2010
Kentucky Utilities Co [Member]
Deferred Savings Plans 401K [Member]
Predecessor [Member]
Defined Contribution Pension and Other Postretirement Plans [Line Items]                                                                
Employer contributions to deferred savings plans             $ 36 $ 31 $ 23         $ 12 $ 11 $ 10   $ 5 $ 5 $ 4 $ 2 $ 12 $ 11 $ 9 $ 1 $ 6 $ 5 $ 4 $ 1 $ 6 $ 6 $ 4
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures (Numeric) [Line Item]                                                                
Contributions allocated based on this percentage of shares held in existing participants' accounts       75.00%                 75.00%       75.00%                              
Contributions allocated based on this percentage of eligible compensation       25.00%                 25.00%       25.00%                              
Compensation expense for ESOP       8 8 8                                                    
ESOP shares outstanding at period end       7,857,222                                                        
ESOP shares percentage of total common shares outstanding       1.00%                                                        
Health Care Reform (Numeric) [Line Items]                                                                
Effect of Health Care Reform on income tax expense       $ 8 [1]                   $ 5 [2]                                        
[1] Beginning in 2013, provisions within Health Care Reform eliminated the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs to the extent of federal subsidies received by plan sponsors that provide retiree prescription drug benefits equivalent to Medicare Part D Coverage. As a result, PPL recorded deferred income tax expense during 2010. See Note 13 for additional information.
[2] Beginning in 2013, provisions within Health Care Reform eliminated the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs to the extent of federal subsidies received by plan sponsors that provide retiree prescription drug benefits equivalent to Medicare Part D Coverage. As a result, PPL Energy Supply recorded deferred income tax expense during 2010. See Note 13 for additional information.