Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Acquisitions Development And Divestitures [Abstract]
Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures	8. Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures (All Registrants) The Registrants from time to time evaluate opportunities for potential acquisitions, divestitures and development projects. Development projects are reexamined based on market conditions and other factors to determine whether to proceed with the projects, sell, cancel or expand them, execute tolling agreements or pursue other options. Any resulting transactions may impact future financial results. Acquisitions Ironwood Acquisition (PPL and PPL Energy Supply) See Note 10 in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's 2012 Form 10-K for information on the April 13, 2012 Ironwood Acquisition. See Note 7 for information on the February 2013 exchange of a portion of long-term debt assumed through consolidation as a result of the acquisition. Development Future Capacity Needs (PPL and Kentucky Registrants) Construction activity continues on the previously announced natural gas combined-cycle generating unit at the Cane Run station, scheduled to be operational in May 2015. In October 2013, LG&E and KU announced plans to build a second natural gas combined-cycle generating unit at KU's Green River generating site. Subject to finalizing details, regulatory applications, permitting and construction schedules, the facility is expected to have approximately 700 MW of capacity at an estimated cost of $700 million and is planned to be operational in 2018. At the same time, LG&E and KU also announced plans for a potential 10 MW solar generation facility to be operational in 2016 at an estimated cost of $25 million. (PPL and PPL Energy Supply) Bell Bend COLA The NRC continues to review the COLA submitted by a PPL Energy Supply subsidiary, PPL Bell Bend, LLC (PPL Bell Bend) for the proposed construction of the Bell Bend nuclear generating unit (Bell Bend) adjacent to PPL's Susquehanna nuclear generating plant. PPL Bell Bend does not expect to complete the COLA review process with the NRC prior to 2016. PPL Bell Bend has made no decision to proceed with construction of Bell Bend and expects that such decision will not be made for several years given the anticipated lengthy NRC license approval process. Additionally, PPL Bell Bend does not expect to proceed with construction absent favorable economics, a joint arrangement with other interested parties and a federal loan guarantee or other acceptable financing. PPL Bell Bend is currently authorized to spend up to $205 million on the COLA and other permitting costs necessary for construction, which is expected to be sufficient to fund the project through receipt of the license. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $169 million and $154 million of costs, which includes capitalized interest, associated with the licensing application were capitalized and are included on the Balance Sheets in noncurrent "Other intangibles." PPL Bell Bend believes that the estimated fair value of the COLA currently exceeds the costs expected to be capitalized associated with the licensing application. See Note 8 in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's 2012 Form 10-K for additional information. Hydroelectric Expansion Project In the first quarter of 2013, the 63 MW Rainbow hydroelectric redevelopment project in Great Falls, Montana was placed in service. Regional Transmission Line Expansion Plan (PPL and PPL Electric) Susquehanna-Roseland On October 1, 2012, the National Park Service (NPS) issued its Record of Decision (ROD) on the proposed Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line affirming the route chosen by PPL Electric and Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) as the preferred alternative under the NPS's National Environmental Policy Act review. In October 2012, a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by various environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, challenging the ROD and seeking to prohibit its implementation. PPL Electric and PSE&G intervened in the lawsuit. In December 2012, PPL Electric received federal construction and right of way permits to build on National Park Service lands. On August 19, 2013, the environmental groups filed a petition for injunctive relief seeking to prohibit all construction activities until the court issued a final decision on the complaint. On August 30, 2013, the District Court ruled in favor of PPL Electric, PSE&G and the U.S. Government and dismissed the lawsuit filed by the environmental groups. The environmental groups have publicly stated that they do not intend to appeal the District Court decision. PPL Electric began construction on the National Park Service lands in Pennsylvania on October 1, 2013. Construction activities have been underway on other portions of the 101-mile route in Pennsylvania since 2012. The line is expected to be completed before the peak summer demand period of 2015. At September 30, 2013, PPL Electric's estimated share of the project cost was $630 million. PPL and PPL Electric cannot predict any future legal challenges to the project or what additional actions, if any, PJM might take in the event of a further delay to the scheduled in-service date for the new line. Northeast/Pocono In October 2012, the FERC issued an order in response to PPL Electric's December 2011 request for ratemaking incentives for the Northeast/Pocono Reliability project (a new 58-mile 230 kV transmission line that includes three new substations and upgrades to adjacent facilities). The FERC granted the incentive for inclusion in rate base of all prudently incurred construction work in progress (CWIP) costs but denied the incentive for a 100 basis point adder to the return on equity. The order required a follow-up compliance filing from PPL Electric to ensure proper accounting treatment of AFUDC and CWIP for the project, which PPL Electric submitted to the FERC in March 2013 and the FERC subsequently approved in April 2013. In December 2012, PPL Electric submitted an application to the PUC requesting permission to site and construct the project. A number of parties have protested the application, which has been assigned to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Evidentiary hearings were held in July 2013. In October 2013, the ALJ concluded that PPL met its burden on all issues, and recommended that the PUC approve the siting application, two zoning petitions, and the remaining eminent domain applications. A final PUC order is expected in the first quarter of 2014. PPL Electric expects the project to be completed in 2017. At September 30, 2013, PPL Electric's estimated cost of the project was $335 million, an increase from its original estimate of $200 million at December 31, 2012. The increased cost is primarily related to higher material and labor costs and additional scope due to revised construction standards. Of the total estimated cost, $308 million qualifies for the CWIP treatment. See Note 8 in PPL's and PPL Electric's 2012 Form 10-K for additional information. Other (PPL and PPL Energy Supply) Montana Transactions In September 2013, PPL Montana executed a definitive agreement to sell 633 MW of hydroelectric facilities to NorthWestern for $900 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. The sale, which is not expected to close before the second half of 2014, includes 11 hydroelectric power facilities and related assets. The sale is subject to closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals by the FERC and Montana Public Service Commission and certain third-party consents. Due to the uncertainties related to certain of these conditions as of September 30, 2013, the sale did not meet the applicable accounting criteria for the assets and liabilities included in the transaction to be classified as held for sale on the Balance Sheet. In a related transaction, in September 2013, PPL Montana negotiated and entered into an agreement to pay $271 million to terminate a sale-leaseback arrangement and reacquire its interests in the Colstrip coal-fired facilities. See Note 11 in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's 2012 Form 10-K for additional information on the sale-leaseback. This transaction is anticipated to occur by the end of the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by the FERC. At lease termination, in addition to recording a charge for the cash payment, a non-cash charge is expected to be recorded related to the existing lease-related assets on PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's Balance Sheets. The book value of these assets was approximately $450 million at September 30, 2013. These lease-related assets will be written-off and the reacquired Colstrip assets will be recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date. The total loss is currently estimated at between $310 million and $430 million, after-tax, which is dependent on the fair value assigned to the reacquired Colstrip assets. Lower Mt. Bethel Plant Transaction In December 2001, a subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply entered into an operating lease arrangement, as lessee, for the development, construction and operation of the Lower Mt. Bethel plant. The owner/lessor of the Lower Mt. Bethel plant was determined to be a VIE and has been consolidated in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's financial statements since December 31, 2003. See Note 22 in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's 2012 Form 10-K for additional information on the VIE. A subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply now intends to purchase the Lower Mt. Bethel plant for $455 million at the lease termination date in December 2013, subject to approval by the FERC. The proceeds are expected to be used by the VIE to repay outstanding debt and make a distribution to its equity investors (currently presented as noncontrolling interests in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's financial statements). The transaction will not result in any gain or loss as it will be treated as a transfer of assets between entities under common control and will not result in any change to the presentation of the Lower Mt. Bethel plant assets as they are currently included in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's consolidated financial statements.

Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Acquisitions Development And Divestitures [Abstract]

Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures

8. Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures

(All Registrants)

The Registrants from time to time evaluate opportunities for potential acquisitions, divestitures and development projects. Development projects are reexamined based on market conditions and other factors to determine whether to proceed with the projects, sell, cancel or expand them, execute tolling agreements or pursue other options. Any resulting transactions may impact future financial results.

Acquisitions

Ironwood Acquisition (PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

See Note 10 in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's 2012 Form 10-K for information on the April 13, 2012 Ironwood Acquisition. See Note 7 for information on the February 2013 exchange of a portion of long-term debt assumed through consolidation as a result of the acquisition.

Development

Future Capacity Needs (PPL and Kentucky Registrants)

Construction activity continues on the previously announced natural gas combined-cycle generating unit at the Cane Run station, scheduled to be operational in May 2015. In October 2013, LG&E and KU announced plans to build a second natural gas combined-cycle generating unit at KU's Green River generating site. Subject to finalizing details, regulatory applications, permitting and construction schedules, the facility is expected to have approximately 700 MW of capacity at an estimated cost of $700 million and is planned to be operational in 2018. At the same time, LG&E and KU also announced plans for a potential 10 MW solar generation facility to be operational in 2016 at an estimated cost of $25 million.

(PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

Bell Bend COLA

The NRC continues to review the COLA submitted by a PPL Energy Supply subsidiary, PPL Bell Bend, LLC (PPL Bell Bend) for the proposed construction of the Bell Bend nuclear generating unit (Bell Bend) adjacent to PPL's Susquehanna nuclear generating plant. PPL Bell Bend does not expect to complete the COLA review process with the NRC prior to 2016. PPL Bell Bend has made no decision to proceed with construction of Bell Bend and expects that such decision will not be made for several years given the anticipated lengthy NRC license approval process. Additionally, PPL Bell Bend does not expect to proceed with construction absent favorable economics, a joint arrangement with other interested parties and a federal loan guarantee or other acceptable financing. PPL Bell Bend is currently authorized to spend up to $205 million on the COLA and other permitting costs necessary for construction, which is expected to be sufficient to fund the project through receipt of the license. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $169 million and $154 million of costs, which includes capitalized interest, associated with the licensing application were capitalized and are included on the Balance Sheets in noncurrent "Other intangibles." PPL Bell Bend believes that the estimated fair value of the COLA currently exceeds the costs expected to be capitalized associated with the licensing application. See Note 8 in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's 2012 Form 10-K for additional information.

Hydroelectric Expansion Project

In the first quarter of 2013, the 63 MW Rainbow hydroelectric redevelopment project in Great Falls, Montana was placed in service.

Regional Transmission Line Expansion Plan (PPL and PPL Electric)

Susquehanna-Roseland

On October 1, 2012, the National Park Service (NPS) issued its Record of Decision (ROD) on the proposed Susquehanna-Roseland transmission line affirming the route chosen by PPL Electric and Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) as the preferred alternative under the NPS's National Environmental Policy Act review. In October 2012, a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by various environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, challenging the ROD and seeking to prohibit its implementation. PPL Electric and PSE&G intervened in the lawsuit. In December 2012, PPL Electric received federal construction and right of way permits to build on National Park Service lands.

On August 19, 2013, the environmental groups filed a petition for injunctive relief seeking to prohibit all construction activities until the court issued a final decision on the complaint. On August 30, 2013, the District Court ruled in favor of PPL Electric, PSE&G and the U.S. Government and dismissed the lawsuit filed by the environmental groups. The environmental groups have publicly stated that they do not intend to appeal the District Court decision. PPL Electric began construction on the National Park Service lands in Pennsylvania on October 1, 2013.

Construction activities have been underway on other portions of the 101-mile route in Pennsylvania since 2012. The line is expected to be completed before the peak summer demand period of 2015. At September 30, 2013, PPL Electric's estimated share of the project cost was $630 million.

PPL and PPL Electric cannot predict any future legal challenges to the project or what additional actions, if any, PJM might take in the event of a further delay to the scheduled in-service date for the new line.

Northeast/Pocono

In October 2012, the FERC issued an order in response to PPL Electric's December 2011 request for ratemaking incentives for the Northeast/Pocono Reliability project (a new 58-mile 230 kV transmission line that includes three new substations and upgrades to adjacent facilities). The FERC granted the incentive for inclusion in rate base of all prudently incurred construction work in progress (CWIP) costs but denied the incentive for a 100 basis point adder to the return on equity. The order required a follow-up compliance filing from PPL Electric to ensure proper accounting treatment of AFUDC and CWIP for the project, which PPL Electric submitted to the FERC in March 2013 and the FERC subsequently approved in April 2013.

In December 2012, PPL Electric submitted an application to the PUC requesting permission to site and construct the project. A number of parties have protested the application, which has been assigned to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Evidentiary hearings were held in July 2013. In October 2013, the ALJ concluded that PPL met its burden on all issues, and recommended that the PUC approve the siting application, two zoning petitions, and the remaining eminent domain applications. A final PUC order is expected in the first quarter of 2014. PPL Electric expects the project to be completed in 2017. At September 30, 2013, PPL Electric's estimated cost of the project was $335 million, an increase from its original estimate of $200 million at December 31, 2012. The increased cost is primarily related to higher material and labor costs and additional scope due to revised construction standards. Of the total estimated cost, $308 million qualifies for the CWIP treatment.

See Note 8 in PPL's and PPL Electric's 2012 Form 10-K for additional information.

Other (PPL and PPL Energy Supply)

Montana Transactions

In September 2013, PPL Montana executed a definitive agreement to sell 633 MW of hydroelectric facilities to NorthWestern for $900 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. The sale, which is not expected to close before the second half of 2014, includes 11 hydroelectric power facilities and related assets. The sale is subject to closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals by the FERC and Montana Public Service Commission and certain third-party consents. Due to the uncertainties related to certain of these conditions as of September 30, 2013, the sale did not meet the applicable accounting criteria for the assets and liabilities included in the transaction to be classified as held for sale on the Balance Sheet.

In a related transaction, in September 2013, PPL Montana negotiated and entered into an agreement to pay $271 million to terminate a sale-leaseback arrangement and reacquire its interests in the Colstrip coal-fired facilities. See Note 11 in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's 2012 Form 10-K for additional information on the sale-leaseback. This transaction is anticipated to occur by the end of the first quarter of 2014, subject to approval by the FERC. At lease termination, in addition to recording a charge for the cash payment, a non-cash charge is expected to be recorded related to the existing lease-related assets on PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's Balance Sheets. The book value of these assets was approximately $450 million at September 30, 2013. These lease-related assets will be written-off and the reacquired Colstrip assets will be recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date. The total loss is currently estimated at between $310 million and $430 million, after-tax, which is dependent on the fair value assigned to the reacquired Colstrip assets.

Lower Mt. Bethel Plant Transaction

In December 2001, a subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply entered into an operating lease arrangement, as lessee, for the development, construction and operation of the Lower Mt. Bethel plant. The owner/lessor of the Lower Mt. Bethel plant was determined to be a VIE and has been consolidated in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's financial statements since December 31, 2003. See Note 22 in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's 2012 Form 10-K for additional information on the VIE. A subsidiary of PPL Energy Supply now intends to purchase the Lower Mt. Bethel plant for $455 million at the lease termination date in December 2013, subject to approval by the FERC. The proceeds are expected to be used by the VIE to repay outstanding debt and make a distribution to its equity investors (currently presented as noncontrolling interests in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's financial statements). The transaction will not result in any gain or loss as it will be treated as a transfer of assets between entities under common control and will not result in any change to the presentation of the Lower Mt. Bethel plant assets as they are currently included in PPL's and PPL Energy Supply's consolidated financial statements.