Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Gains and Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income on derivative (effective portion)	$ 35	$ (91)	$ 112
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing)	0	0	0
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)	45	(98)	109
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)	4	0	(21)
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income on derivative (effective portion)	(8)	(9)	(7)
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing)	0	0	0
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Cross Currency Swaps [Member] \| Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)	41	(98)	130
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Cross Currency Swaps [Member] \| Other Income (Expense) Net [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income on derivative (effective portion)	42	(82)	116
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing)	0	0	0
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Cross Currency Swaps [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into income on derivative (effective portion)	1		3
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing)	0		0
Net Investment Hedges [Member] \| Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] \| Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI on derivative (effective portion)	11	1	2
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	145	(267)	377
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Regulatory Assets Noncurrent [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized as regulatory liabilities/assets	6	5	7
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	(5)	(6)	(7)
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] \| Other Income (Expense) Net [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	150	(261)	384
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] \| Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Regulatory Assets Noncurrent [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized as regulatory liabilities/assets	6	5	7
LG And E And KU Energy LLC [Member] \| Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	(5)	(6)	(7)
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] \| Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Regulatory Assets Noncurrent [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized as regulatory liabilities/assets	6	5	7
Louisville Gas And Electric Co [Member] \| Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Amounts Included in Income, OCI or Regulatory Liabilities/Assets [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in income on derivative	$ (5)	$ (6)	$ (7)

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The amount of gain (loss) recognized as regulatory assets/liabilities during the period on derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments and not designated as hedging instruments for which regulatory treatment is being applied.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
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The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

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The portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments representing (a) the amount of the hedge ineffectiveness and (b) the amount, if any, excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

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Amount before tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
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