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

Approximate gallons of water that contained fly ash released at the facility.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_AmountOfGallonsOfPollutantsReleasedIntoEnvironmentAtFacility
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Approximate carbon dioxide emitted from entities power plants during the reporting period (in millions of tons).

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_CarbonDioxideEmittedFromEntityPowerPlantDuringReportingPeriod
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Approximate carbon dioxide emitted from the company's power plants during the reporting period (in millions of tons).

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_CarbonDioxideEmittedPowerPlantsDuringReportingPeriod
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period, in years, permits are subject to renewal under the Clean Water Act.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_CleanWaterActRenewalPeriod
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of coal combustion residual recycling companies that have filed intents to sue against the environmental protection agency.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_CoalCombustionResidualIntentToSueNumberOfCompanies
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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Period, in days, included in a notice of intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period, in years, until a revised rule is expected from the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the replacement the Clean Air Transport Rule and re-implementation of Cross State Air Pollution Rule.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_CrossStateAirPollutionRuleNumberOfYearsForRevisedRule
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The period (in years) that a subsidiary is to provide Montana Department of Environmental Quality financial assurance on waste-water treatment facilities per the Administrative Order on Consent.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_EnvironmentalMattersAdministrativeOrderOnConsentPeriodToProvideAssurance
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Name:	ppl_EnvironmentalMattersDomesticWaterWasteCleanWaterAct316BNumericAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

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

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

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

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

Increase in the risk of developing cancer with high levels of exposure to arsenic as stated in the EPA's draft risk assessment.

No definition available.

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

Proposed standard designated by the EPA for level of arsenic in drinking water.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyProposedStandardForArsenicParticlesInDrinkingWater
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Standard designated by the EPA for level of arsenic in drinking water.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyStandardDrinkingWaterRelatedToArsenic
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of factors to consider, including impacts to energy reliability and remaining useful life of plants, when making a site-specific determination using a form of cost-benefit analysis of environmental standards regarding the impact to aquatic organisms of cooling towers.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_EnvironmentalProtectionNumberOfFactorsToMakeSiteSpecificDetermination
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of requirements under proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule regarding reducing impact to aquatic organisms of cooling towers.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_EnvironmentalProtectionRuleOnImpactOfCoolingTowersOnAquaticOrganisms
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The accumulated amount spent through period end for costs arising from performing environmental remediation activities.

No definition available.

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

The company's maximum amount that could be assessed resulting from an incident at its nuclear station covered by Price-Anderson Act Amendments under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

No definition available.

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

The company's maximum public liability for claims resulting from an incident at its nuclear station covered by Provisions of The Price-Anderson Act Amendments under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

No definition available.

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

Maximum property insurance coverage for the company's nuclear station.

No definition available.

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

Maximum amount payable per year that company would have to pay resulting from an incident at its nuclear station covered by the Price-Anderson Act Amendments under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

No definition available.

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

Maximum assessment of retroactive premiums the company could be assessed in the event of insurers' loss under property and replacement power insurance programs for coverage for the cost of replacement power during prolonged outages of nuclear units under certain specified conditions.

No definition available.

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

Capacity of each generating unit at facility where the environmental issue occurred.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_MegawattCapacityOfEachUnitAtFacilityWhereEnvironmentalIssueOccurred
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	num:powerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of Notices of Data Availability issued on the rule that indicate the Environmental Protection Agency may be willing to amend Clean Water Act 316(b).

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NoticesOfDataAvailabilityIssued
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of companies that were cited in a federal district court filing related to a greenhouse gas litigation.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberCompaniesCitedGreenhouseGasCase
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of approaches proposed by the EPA in June 2010 to regulate the disposal and management of coal combustion residuals under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfApproachesProposedByEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyToRegulateCoalCombustionResidualsJune2010
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of electric utility companies that could be sued as a result of their greenhouse gas emissions based on a September 2009 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decision.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfElectricUtilityCompaniesThatCouldBeSuedUnderFederalCommonLaw
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of indirect subsidaries that were cited in a federal district court filing related to a greenhouse gas litigation.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfIndirectSubsidiariesCitedGreenhouseGasCase
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of mine sites where a generation subsidiary is pumping water as required by the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfMineSitesBeingPumpedAndTreated
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of mine sites where a generation subsidiary is treating water as required by the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfMineSitesBeingTreated
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of northeastern states that signed a Memorandum of Understanding that established a greenhouse gas emission cap-and-trade program called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfStatesSigningMemorandumOfUnderstandingEstablishingRegionalGreenhouseGasInitiative
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of the company's generating subsidiaries pumping mine water as required by the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfSubsidiariesPumpingMineWater
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of power generating units at the facility where the environmental issue occurred.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfUnitsAtFacilityWhereEnvironmentalIssueOccurred
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of western states, including Montana, that are members of the Western Climate Initiative.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfWesternStatesCoveredByWesternClimateInitiative
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period of years over which costs incurred for flood prevention work on U.K. utility infrastructure will be recovered through rates.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberOfYearsFloodPreventionCostsToBeRecoveredThroughRates
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of phases that Cross State Air Pollution Rule will be implemented in.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberPhasesCrossStateAirPollutionRuleBeImplemented
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of pounds in a ton a carbon dioxide emissions.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_NumberPoundsPerTonCarbonDioxideEmissions
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

Western Climate Initiative's target percentage for reducing carbon dioxide emissions below 2005 levels by 2020.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_PercentageReductionCarbonDioxideBy2020Below2005LevelPerWesternClimateInitiative
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage reduction by 2019 in carbon dioxide emissions from base 2005 levels under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative's January 2009 program.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_PercentageReductionCarbonDioxideFromBaseBy2019PerRegionalGreenhouseGasInitiative
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum percentage reduction by 2020 in greenhouse gas emissions that could be achieved by implementing actions identified in Pennsylvania's Advisory Committee's Climate Change Action Report.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_PercentageReductionGreenhouseGasBy2020PerPennsylvaniaAdvisoryClimateChangeActionReport
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period of years used to determine the recorded discounted liability for the cost of pumping and treating groundwater, and operating and maintaining a passive wetlands treatment center.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_PeriodOfTimeToPumpAndTreatGroundWaterAtTwoMineSites
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Period, in days, that the court granted the motion and ordered the settlement to be returned related to a court case surrounding certain water seepages in Montana.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_PeriodToCompleteSettlementInDays
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount a foreign subsidiary agreed with its regulator to spend on flood prevention work on U.K. utility infrastructure ( including major electricity substations). Costs incurred can be recovered through rates over a 5-year period.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_ProjectedAmountToImplementFloodPreventionMeasures
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The carrying value of an asset that is going to be moved to a held and not used status.

No definition available.

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

Proposed mandatory percentage improvement in power plant efficiency made by Pennsylvania's Advisory Committee's Climate Change Action Report.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_ProposedMandatoryPercentageOfEfficiencyImprovementsPowerPerPlantsPennsylvaniaAdvisoryClimateChangeActionReport
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of proposed funding under a renewable energy program for solar projects.

No definition available.

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

Statutory period (after final order) for compliance with MACT for mercury emissions and other hazardous air pollutants from electric generating units (in years).

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_StatutoryPeriodAfterOrderForComplianceWithMaximumAchievableControlTechnologyStandards
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Statutory period, in years, after compliance deadline that an extension to comply with MACT for mercury emissions and other hazardous air pollutants from electric generating units could be requested.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_StatutoryPeriodAfterOrderForExtensionWithMaximumAchievableControlTechnologyStandards
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Standard, in hours, for sulfur dioxide emissions finalized by the EPS.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_SulfurDioxideEmissionsStandard
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Target year to achieve greenhouse gas emissions reductions identified in Pennsylvania's Advisory Committee's Climate Change Action Report.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_TargetYearGreenhouseGasReductionPennsylvaniaAdvisoryClimateChangeActionReport
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Minimum capacity (in MW) of electric power plants that are required to stabilize carbon dioxide emissions to base 2005 levels under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative's January 2009 program.

No definition available.

Name:	ppl_ThresholdCapacityOfElectricPowerPlantsUnderMemorandumOfUnderstandingEstablishingRegionalGreenhouseGasInitiative
Namespace Prefix:	ppl_
Data Type:	num:powerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Rate applied to the undiscounted amount of environmental loss contingencies to arrive at the present value recorded as of the balance sheet date.

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 96-1

-Paragraph 161, 132

-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 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6572457&loc=d3e149879-122751

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section Y

-Paragraph Question 1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Undiscounted amount of the accrual for environmental loss contingencies maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6572457&loc=d3e149879-122751

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section Y

-Paragraph Question 1

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

Undiscounted amount of the accrual for environmental loss contingencies maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesUndiscountedDueWithinOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Present value of the accrual for environmental loss contingencies at an individual site as of the balance sheet date (if the accrual qualifies for discounting).

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 96-1

-Paragraph 132, 161, 163

-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.