Other Income (Expense) - net (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended																																																																2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended									2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended					2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		10 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Economic Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Economic Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Economic Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cash Flow Hedges [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 LKE Other Acquisition Related Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LKE Other Acquisition Related Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LKE Other Acquisition Related Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 WPD Midlands Acquisition Related Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 WPD Midlands Acquisition Related Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 WPD Midlands Acquisition Related Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Foreign Currency Loss On 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign Currency Loss On 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Foreign Currency Loss On 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 UK Stamp Duty Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 UK Stamp Duty Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 UK Stamp Duty Tax [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Miscellaneous UK Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Miscellaneous UK Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Miscellaneous UK Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Earnings On Securities In Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Funds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Earnings On Securities In Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Funds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Earnings On Securities In Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Funds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Interest Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Interest Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Equity Component [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Equity Component [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Allowance For Funds Used During Construction Equity Component [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Net Hedge Gains Associated With 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Net Hedge Gains Associated With 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Net Hedge Gains Associated With 2011 Bridge Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Gain On Redemption Of Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Gain On Redemption Of Debt [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Gain On Redemption Of Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Miscellaneous UK Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Miscellaneous UK Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Miscellaneous UK Other Income [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 Electric Utilities Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 PPL Electric Utilities Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Joint Use Asset Depreciation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Joint Use Asset Depreciation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Joint Use Asset Depreciation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Net Derivative Gains Losses [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Net Derivative Gains Losses [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Net Derivative Gains Losses [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Interest Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Interest Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Interest Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Life Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Life Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Life Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member] Joint Use Asset Depreciation [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member] Net Derivative Gains Losses [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member] Interest Income [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member] Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member] Life Insurance [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] Predecessor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Earnings On Securities In Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Funds [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Net Derivative Gains Losses [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Net Derivative Gains Losses [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Net Derivative Gains Losses [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Net Derivative Gains Losses [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Joint Use Asset Depreciation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Joint Use Asset Depreciation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Joint Use Asset Depreciation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Life Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Life Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Life Insurance [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Successor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Predecessor [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Charitable Contributions [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Joint Use Asset Depreciation [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Expense [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Earnings Losses From Equity Method Investments [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Life Insurance [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Kentucky Utilities Co [Member] Predecessor [Member] Miscellaneous Domestic Other Income [Member]
Other Income (Expense) - net [Line Items]
Other income	$ 42	$ 127	$ 39																														$ 22	$ 24	$ 20	$ 5	$ 7	$ 8	$ 10	$ 7	$ 5		$ 55	[1]		$ (8)	$ 1	$ 2		$ 22	[2]		$ 11	$ 10	$ 3	$ 2	$ 1	$ 1								$ (4)	$ 4															$ 1		$ (8)	$ 1		$ 1			$ 3	$ 2	$ 25				$ 19		$ 3	$ 2	$ 1		$ 1												$ 1		$ 20			$ 19	$ 1		$ (6)	$ 1											$ (8)	$ 1		$ 1			$ 1		$ 6				$ 3	$ 2	$ 1
Other expense	81	123	70	52	(10)	(3)	10	9	4			29	[3]			31		34			57	[4]			21		16	9	7	3	3	2																																	2	11	5	1	4	4				1	7	1																11	5	3	3						3	4	2	2	1	3	2	1								3	2	1				2	2		1	1					1	1										5	1	3	1
Other Income (Expense) - net	$ (39)	$ 4	$ (31)																																																								$ 18	$ 23	$ 22	$ 9	$ 7	$ 7	$ (2)	$ (15)	$ (1)																									$ 14									$ (3)	$ (3)	$ (2)													$ 17						$ (8)	$ (1)																			$ 1

[1] Represents a gain on foreign currency contracts that hedged the repayment of the 2011 Bridge Facility borrowing.

[2] In July 2011, as a result of PPL Electric’s redemption of 7.125% Senior Secured Bonds due 2013, PPL recorded a gain on the accelerated amortization of the fair value adjustment to the debt recorded in connection with previously settled fair value hedges.

[3] Represents losses reclassified from AOCI into earnings associated with discontinued hedges at PPL for debt that had been planned to be issued by PPL Energy Supply. As a result of the expected net proceeds from the sale of certain non-core generation facilities, coupled with the monetization of full-requirement sales contracts, the debt issuance was no longer needed.

[4] Represents a foreign currency loss related to the repayment of the 2011 Bridge Facility borrowing.