SCHEDULE I - NOTES TO CONDENSED UNCONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Unconsolidated Financial Statements [Line Items]
2020	$ 1,266
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt (Details) [Abstract]
2021	1,274
Principal outstanding	20,694	$ 20,282
Thereafter	14,143
LKE Guarantee [Member] \| Indemnification Guarantee [Member] \| Indemnification Of Lease Termination And Other Divestitures [Member]
Condensed Unconsolidated Financial Statements [Line Items]
Maximum exposure	$ 200
Expiration date	2021
Term of guarantee (in years)	12 years
Maximum exposure of guarantee related to terminated lease specific to operational, regulatory and environmental issues	$ 200
LG&E and KU Energy LLC Unconsolidated [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]
Condensed Unconsolidated Financial Statements [Line Items]
2020	475
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt (Details) [Abstract]
2021	$ 250
Maturity date (in years)	Dec. 31, 2021
Maturity date (in years)	Dec. 31, 2020
LG&E and KU Energy LLC Unconsolidated [Member] \| Note Payable [Member]
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt (Details) [Abstract]
Maturity date (in years)	Dec. 31, 2028
LG&E and KU Energy LLC Unconsolidated [Member] \| Note Payable [Member] \| PPL [Member]
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt (Details) [Abstract]
Principal outstanding	$ 650
LG&E and KU Energy LLC Unconsolidated [Member] \| LKE Guarantee [Member] \| Indemnification Guarantee [Member] \| Indemnification Of Lease Termination And Other Divestitures [Member]
Condensed Unconsolidated Financial Statements [Line Items]
Term of guarantee (in years)	12
Expiration date minimum	2021
Maximum exposure of guarantee related to terminated lease specific to operational, regulatory and environmental issues	$ 200

The expiration date of the guarantee or group of similar guarantees.

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The minimum expiration date of the guarantee or group of similar guarantees.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The maximum exposure of a guarantee related to the termination of a lease related to certain non-utility generating stations in western Kentucky until July 2009. This portion of the guarantee relates to covering operational, regulatory and environmental commitments and indemnifications made under the agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

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- References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
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Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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- Definition

Latest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
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Earliest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

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- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931803&loc=d3e12069-110248

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- Definition

Describe the approximate term of the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931803&loc=d3e12069-110248

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- References

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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