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Defined Benefits
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Defined Benefits
10. Defined Benefits

(PPL, LKE and LG&E)

Certain net periodic defined benefit costs are applied to accounts that are further distributed among capital, expense and regulatory assets, including certain costs allocated to applicable subsidiaries for plans sponsored by PPL Services and LKE. Following are the net periodic defined benefit costs (credits) of the plans sponsored by PPL and its subsidiaries, LKE, and LG&E for the periods ended June 30:
 
Pension Benefits
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
U.S.
 
U.K.
 
U.S.
 
U.K.
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
PPL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
12

 
$
15

 
$
17

 
$
21

 
$
25

 
$
31

 
$
34

 
$
42

Interest cost
41

 
39

 
48

 
47

 
82

 
78

 
95

 
94

Expected return on plan assets
(61
)
 
(62
)
 
(150
)
 
(150
)
 
(122
)
 
(124
)
 
(298
)
 
(300
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost
2

 
3

 
—

 
—

 
4

 
5

 
—

 
—

Actuarial loss
14

 
19

 
23

 
38

 
27

 
41

 
47

 
77

Net periodic defined benefit costs (credits) before settlements
8

 
14

 
(62
)
 
(44
)
 
16

 
31

 
(122
)
 
(87
)
Settlements
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

 
—

Net periodic defined benefit costs (credits)
$
8

 
$
14

 
$
(62
)
 
$
(44
)
 
$
17

 
$
31

 
$
(122
)
 
$
(87
)

 
Pension Benefits
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
LKE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
5

 
$
5

 
$
11

 
$
12

Interest cost
17

 
16

 
33

 
32

Expected return on plan assets
(26
)
 
(25
)
 
(51
)
 
(51
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost
2

 
2

 
4

 
4

Actuarial loss (a)
6

 
8

 
10

 
18

Net periodic defined benefit costs (b)
$
4

 
$
6

 
$
7

 
$
15



(a)
As a result of treatment approved by the KPSC, the difference between actuarial loss calculated in accordance with LKE's accounting policy and actuarial loss calculated using a 15-year amortization period was $1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and $2 million and $6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. This difference is recorded as a regulatory asset.
(b)
Due to the amount of lump sum payment distributions from the LG&E qualified pension plan, a settlement charge of $4 million was incurred for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. In accordance with existing regulatory accounting treatment, LG&E has maintained the settlement charge in regulatory assets. The amount is being amortized in accordance with existing regulatory practice.
 
Pension Benefits
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
LG&E
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

Interest cost
3

 
3

 
6

 
6

Expected return on plan assets
(5
)
 
(6
)
 
(11
)
 
(11
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost
2

 
2

 
3

 
3

Actuarial loss (a)
1

 
1

 
3

 
3

Net periodic defined benefit costs (b)
$
2

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
2


(a)
As a result of treatment approved by the KPSC, the difference between actuarial loss calculated in accordance with LG&E's accounting policy and actuarial loss calculated using a 15-year amortization period was $1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and $1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018. This difference is recorded as a regulatory asset.
(b)
Due to the amount of lump sum payment distributions from the LG&E qualified pension plan, a settlement charge of $4 million was incurred for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. In accordance with existing regulatory accounting treatment, LG&E has maintained the settlement charge in regulatory assets. The amount is being amortized in accordance with existing regulatory practice.
 
Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
PPL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
2

 
$
4

Interest cost
5

 
7

 
11

 
10

Expected return on plan assets
(4
)
 
(9
)
 
(9
)
 
(13
)
Amortization of prior service cost
—

 
1

 
—

 
—

Net periodic defined benefit costs
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
4

 
$
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LKE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
2

Interest cost
2

 
2

 
4

 
4

Expected return on plan assets
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(4
)
 
(4
)
Amortization of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prior service cost
1

 
1

 
1

 
1

Actuarial gain
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Net periodic defined benefit costs
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
2

 
$
2



(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)

In addition to the specific plan it sponsors, LG&E is allocated costs of defined benefit plans sponsored by LKE. PPL Electric and KU do not directly sponsor any defined benefit plans. PPL Electric is allocated costs of defined benefit plans sponsored by PPL Services and KU is allocated costs of defined benefit plans sponsored by LKE. LG&E and KU are also allocated costs of defined benefit plans from LKS for defined benefit plans sponsored by LKE. See Note 12 for additional information on costs allocated to LG&E and KU from LKS. These allocations are based on participation in those plans, which management believes are reasonable. For the periods ended June 30, PPL Services allocated the following net periodic defined benefit costs to PPL Electric, and LKE allocated the following net periodic defined benefit costs to LG&E and KU:
 
Three Months
 
Six Months
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
PPL Electric
$
2

 
$
3

 
$
5

 
$
7

LG&E
1

 
2

 
2

 
4

KU
—

 
1

 
—

 
2



(All Registrants)

The non-service cost components of net periodic defined benefit costs (credits) (interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of prior service cost and amortization of actuarial gain and loss) are presented in "Other Income (Expense) - net" on the Statements of Income. See Note 13 for additional information.