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Commitments and Contingencies | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | 9. Commitments and Contingencies Legal Matters (All Registrants) PPL and its subsidiaries are involved in legal proceedings, claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business. PPL and its subsidiaries cannot predict the outcome of such matters, or whether such matters may result in material liabilities, unless otherwise noted. WKE Indemnification (PPL and LKE) See footnote (e) to the table in "Guarantees and Other Assurances" below for information on an LKE indemnity relating to its former WKE lease, including related legal proceedings. Cane Run Environmental Claims (PPL, LKE and LG&E) In December 2013, six residents, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated, filed a class action complaint against LG&E and PPL in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky alleging violations of the Clean Air Act and RCRA. In addition, these plaintiffs assert common law claims of nuisance, trespass and negligence. These plaintiffs seek injunctive relief and civil penalties, plus costs and attorney fees, for the alleged statutory violations. Under the common law claims, these plaintiffs seek monetary compensation and punitive damages for property damage and diminished property values for a class consisting of residents within four miles of the Cane Run plant. In their individual capacities, these plaintiffs sought compensation for alleged adverse health effects. In response to a motion to dismiss filed by PPL and LG&E, in July 2014, the court dismissed the plaintiffs' RCRA claims and all but one Clean Air Act claim, but declined to dismiss the common law tort claims. In November 2016, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint removing the personal injury claims and removing certain previously named plaintiffs. In February 2017, the District Court issued an order dismissing PPL as a defendant and dismissing the final federal claim against LG&E under the Clean Air Act, and directed the parties to submit briefs regarding whether the court should continue to exercise supplemental jurisdiction regarding the remaining state law-only claims. On April 13, 2017, the District Court issued an order declining to exercise supplemental jurisdiction and dismissing the case in its entirety, subject to certain federal appeals or state court re-filing rights of the parties. PPL, LKE and LG&E cannot predict the outcome of this matter. LG&E retired one coal-fired unit at the Cane Run plant in March 2015 and the remaining two coal-fired units at the plant in June 2015. E.W. Brown Environmental Claims (PPL, LKE and KU) In October 2015, KU received a notice of intent from Earthjustice and the Sierra Club informing certain federal and state agencies of the Sierra Club's intent to file a citizen suit, following expiration of the mandatory 60-day notification period, for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The claimants allege discharges at the E.W. Brown plant in violation of applicable rules and the plant's water discharge permit. The claimants assert that, unless the alleged discharges are promptly brought into compliance, it intends to seek civil penalties, injunctive relief and attorney's fees. In November 2015, the claimants submitted an amended notice of intent to add the Kentucky Waterways Alliance as a claimant. In October 2016, the claimants submitted an additional notice of intent alleging management of waste in a manner that may present an imminent and substantial endangerment under the RCRA. PPL, LKE and KU cannot predict the outcome of this matter or the potential impact on the operations of the E.W. Brown plant, including increased capital or operating costs, if any. Trimble County Water Discharge Permit (PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU) In May 2010, the Kentucky Waterways Alliance and other environmental groups filed a petition with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (KEEC) challenging the Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued in April 2010, which covers water discharges from the Trimble County plant. In November 2010, the KEEC issued a final order upholding the permit, which was subsequently appealed by the environmental groups. In September 2013, the Franklin Circuit Court reversed the KEEC order upholding the permit and remanded the permit to the agency for further proceedings. LG&E and the KEEC appealed the order to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. In July 2015, the Court of Appeals upheld the lower court ruling. LG&E and the KEEC moved for discretionary review by the Kentucky Supreme Court. In February 2016, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued an order granting discretionary review and oral arguments were held in September 2016. On April 27, 2017, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued an order reversing the decision of the appellate court and upholding the permit issued to LG&E by the KEEC. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU are unable to predict the outcome of this matter or the potential impact on the operations of the Trimble County plant, including increased capital or operating costs, if any, but do not expect such costs to be material. Regulatory Issues (All Registrants) See Note 6 for information on regulatory matters related to utility rate regulation. Electricity - Reliability Standards The NERC is responsible for establishing and enforcing mandatory reliability standards (Reliability Standards) regarding the bulk electric system in North America. The FERC oversees this process and independently enforces the Reliability Standards. The Reliability Standards have the force and effect of law and apply to certain users of the bulk electric system, including electric utility companies, generators and marketers. Under the Federal Power Act, the FERC may assess civil penalties for certain violations. PPL Electric, LG&E and KU monitor their compliance with the Reliability Standards and self-report or self-log potential violations of applicable reliability requirements whenever identified, and submit accompanying mitigation plans, as required. The resolution of a small number of potential violations is pending. Penalties incurred to date have not been significant. Any Regional Reliability Entity (including RFC or SERC) determination concerning the resolution of violations of the Reliability Standards remains subject to the approval of the NERC and the FERC. In the course of implementing their programs to ensure compliance with the Reliability Standards by those PPL affiliates subject to the standards, certain other instances of potential non-compliance may be identified from time to time. The Registrants cannot predict the outcome of these matters, and cannot estimate a range of reasonably possible losses, if any. Environmental Matters (All Registrants) Due to the environmental issues discussed below or other environmental matters, it may be necessary for the Registrants to modify, curtail, replace or cease operation of certain facilities or performance of certain operations to comply with statutes, regulations and other requirements of regulatory bodies or courts. In addition, legal challenges to new environmental permits or rules add to the uncertainty of estimating the future cost of these permits and rules. Finally, the regulatory reviews specified in the President's March 2017 Executive Order (the March 2017 Executive Order) promoting energy independence and economic growth could result in future regulatory changes and additional uncertainty. WPD's distribution businesses are subject to certain statutory and regulatory environmental requirements. It may be necessary for WPD to incur significant compliance costs, which costs may be recoverable through rates subject to the approval of Ofgem. PPL believes that WPD has taken and continues to take measures to comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. LG&E and KU are entitled to recover, through the ECR mechanism, certain costs of complying with the Clean Air Act, as amended, and those federal, state or local environmental requirements applicable to coal combustion wastes and by-products from facilities that generate electricity from coal in accordance with approved compliance plans. Costs not covered by the ECR mechanism for LG&E and KU and all such costs for PPL Electric are subject to rate recovery before the companies' respective state regulatory authorities, or the FERC, if applicable. Because neither WPD nor PPL Electric owns any generating plants, their exposure to related environmental compliance costs is reduced. PPL, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU can provide no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of future environmental or rate proceedings before regulatory authorities. Air (PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU) The Clean Air Act, which regulates air pollutants from mobile and stationary sources in the United States, has a significant impact on the operation of fossil fuel plants. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA periodically to review and establish concentration levels in the ambient air for six criteria pollutants to protect public health and welfare. These concentration levels are known as NAAQS. The six criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. Federal environmental regulations of these criteria pollutants require states to adopt implementation plans, known as state implementation plans, for certain pollutants, which detail how the state will attain the standards that are mandated by the relevant law or regulation. Each state identifies the areas within its boundaries that meet the NAAQS (attainment areas) and those that do not (non-attainment areas), and must develop a state implementation plan both to bring non-attainment areas into compliance with the NAAQS and to maintain good air quality in attainment areas. In addition, for attainment of ozone and fine particulates standards, states in the eastern portion of the country, including Kentucky, are subject to a regional program developed by the EPA known as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The NAAQS, future revisions to the NAAQS and state implementation plans, or future revisions to regional programs, may require installation of additional pollution controls, the costs of which PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU believe are subject to cost recovery. Although PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU do not anticipate significant costs to comply with these programs, changes in market or operating conditions could result in different costs than anticipated. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to reassess the NAAQS for certain air pollutants on a five-year schedule. In 2008, the EPA revised the NAAQS for ozone and proposed to further strengthen the standard in November 2014. The EPA released a new ozone standard on October 1, 2015. The states and the EPA will determine attainment with the new ozone standard through review of relevant ambient air monitoring data, with attainment or nonattainment designations scheduled no later than October 2017. States are also obligated to address interstate transport issues associated with new ozone standards through the establishment of "good neighbor" state implementation plans for those states that are found to contribute significantly to another state's non-attainment. States that are not in the ozone transport region, including Kentucky, worked together to evaluate the need for further nitrogen oxide reductions from fossil-fueled plants with SCRs. Based on regulatory developments to date, PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU do not anticipate requirements for nitrogen oxide reductions beyond those currently required under the Cross State Air Pollution Rule. In 2010, the EPA finalized revised NAAQS for sulfur dioxide and required states to identify areas that meet those standards and areas that are in "non-attainment". In July 2013, the EPA finalized non-attainment designations for parts of the country, including part of Jefferson County in Kentucky. Attainment must be achieved by 2018. Based on regulatory developments to date, PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU expect that certain previously required compliance measures, such as upgraded or new sulfur dioxide Scrubbers and additional sulfur dioxide limits at certain plants and the retirement of coal-fired generating units at LG&E's Cane Run plant and KU's Green River plant, are sufficient to achieve compliance with the new sulfur dioxide and ozone standards. Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) In February 2012, the EPA finalized the MATS rule requiring reductions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from fossil-fuel fired power plants, with an effective date of April 16, 2012. In a subsequent judicial challenge, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the EPA failed to properly consider costs when deciding to regulate hazardous air emissions from power plants under MATS. The U.S. Supreme Court remanded the matter to the D.C. Circuit Court which, in December 2015, remanded the rule to the EPA without vacating it. The EPA has proposed a supplemental finding regarding costs of the rule. The EPA's MATS rule remains in effect during the pendency of the ongoing proceedings. LG&E and KU have installed significant controls in response to the MATS rule and in conjunction with compliance with other environmental requirements, including fabric-filter baghouses, upgraded Scrubbers or chemical additive systems for which appropriate KPSC authorization and/or ECR treatment has been received. LG&E and KU have received KPSC approval for a compliance plan providing for installation of additional MATS-related controls; however, the estimated cost of these controls is not expected to be significant for either LG&E or KU. New Source Review (NSR) The NSR litigation brought by the EPA, states and environmental groups against coal-fired generating plants in past years continues to proceed through the courts. Although none of this litigation directly involves PPL, LKE, LG&E or KU, it can influence the permitting of large capital projects at LG&E's and KU's power plants, the costs of which cannot presently be determined but could be significant. Climate Change There is continuing world-wide attention focused on issues related to climate change. In June 2016, the President announced that the United States, Canada and Mexico have established the North American Climate, Clean Energy, and Environment Partnership Plan, which specifies actions to promote clean energy, address climate change and protect the environment. The plan includes a goal to provide 50% of the energy used in North America from clean energy sources by 2025. The plan does not impose any nation-specific requirements. In December 2015, 195 nations, including the U.S., signed the Paris Agreement on Climate, which establishes a comprehensive framework for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from both developed and developing nations. Although the agreement does not establish binding reduction requirements, it requires each nation to prepare, communicate, and maintain GHG reduction commitments. Reductions can be achieved in a variety of ways, including energy conservation, power plant efficiency improvements, reduced utilization of coal-fired generation or replacing coal-fired generation with natural gas or renewable generation. Based on the EPA's Clean Power Plan described below, the U.S. has committed to an initial reduction target of 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025. The March 2017 Executive Order directed the EPA to review proposed and final rules relating to greenhouse gas reductions for consistency with certain policy directives and suspend, revise, or rescind those rules as appropriate. Additionally, the March 2017 Executive Order directs rescission of specified guidance, directives, and prior Presidential actions regarding climate change. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of such regulatory actions or the impact, if any, on plant operations, rate treatment or future capital or operating needs. The U.K. has enacted binding carbon reduction requirements that are applicable to WPD. Under the U.K. law, WPD must purchase carbon allowances to offset emissions associated with WPD's operations. The cost of these allowances is included in WPD's current operating expenses. The EPA's Rules under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act As further described below, the EPA finalized rules imposing GHG emission standards for both new and existing power plants. The EPA has also issued a proposed federal implementation plan that would apply to any states that fail to submit an acceptable state implementation plan under these rules. The EPA's authority to promulgate these regulations under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act has been challenged in the D.C. Circuit Court by several states and industry groups. On February 9, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the rule for existing plants (the Clean Power Plan) pending the D.C. Circuit Court's review and subsequent review by the U.S. Supreme Court if a writ of certiorari is filed and granted. The EPA's rule for new power plants imposes separate emission standards for coal and natural gas units based on the application of different technologies. The coal standard is based on the application of partial carbon capture and sequestration technology, but because this technology is not presently commercially viable, the rule effectively precludes the construction of new coal-fired plants. The standard for NGCC power plants is the same as what the EPA proposed in 2012 and is not continuously achievable. The preclusion of new coal-fired plants and the compliance difficulties posed for new natural gas-fired plants could have a significant industry-wide impact. The President's March 2017 Executive Order requires the EPA to review the rules for new and existing power plants and suspend, revise or rescind them as appropriate. The EPA's Clean Power Plan The EPA's rule for existing power plants, referred to as the Clean Power Plan, was published in the Federal Register in October 2015. The Clean Power Plan contains state-specific rate-based and mass-based reduction goals and guidelines for the development, submission and implementation of state implementation plans to achieve the state goals. State-specific goals were calculated from 2012 data by applying the EPA's broad interpretation and definition of the BSER, resulting in the most stringent targets to be met in 2030, with interim targets to be met beginning in 2022. The EPA believes it has offered some flexibility to the states as to how their compliance plans can be crafted, including the option to use a rate-based approach (limit emissions per megawatt hour) or a mass-based approach (limit total tons of emissions per year), and the option to demonstrate compliance through emissions trading and multi-state collaborations. Under the rate-based approach, Kentucky would need to make a 41% reduction from its 2012 emissions rate and under a mass-based approach it would need to make a 36% reduction. These reductions are significantly greater than initially proposed and present significant challenges to the state. If the Clean Power Plan is ultimately upheld and Kentucky fails to develop an approvable implementation plan by the applicable deadline, the EPA may impose a federal implementation plan that could be more stringent than what the state plan might provide. Depending on the provisions of the Kentucky implementation plan, LG&E and KU may need to modify their current portfolio of generating assets during the next decade and/or participate in an allowance trading program. LG&E and KU are monitoring developments at the state and federal level. Various states, industry groups and individual companies including LKE have filed petitions for reconsideration with EPA and petitions for review with the D.C. Circuit Court challenging the Clean Power Plan. In February 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the rule pending the D.C. Circuit Court's review. In light of the President's March 2017 Executive Order the next steps in this litigation are unclear. Additionally, the EPA has commenced review of the Clean Power Plan and related actions, as directed by the President's March 2017 Executive Order, to determine whether various rules should be suspended, revised or rescinded. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of the pending litigation, any changes in regulations, interpretations, or litigation positions that may be implemented by the U.S. presidential administration or the potential impact, if any, on plant operations, or future capital or operating costs. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU believe that the costs, which could be significant, would be subject to cost recovery. In April 2014, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation limiting the measures that the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet may consider in setting performance standards to comply with the EPA's regulations governing GHG emissions from existing sources, if enacted. The legislation provides that such state GHG performance standards shall be based on emission reductions, efficiency measures and other improvements available at each power plant, rather than renewable energy, end-use energy efficiency, fuel switching and re-dispatch. These statutory restrictions may make it more difficult for Kentucky to achieve the GHG reduction levels that the EPA has established for Kentucky, if enacted. Sulfuric Acid Mist Emissions (PPL, LKE and LG&E) In June 2016, the EPA issued a notice of violation under the Clean Air Act alleging that LG&E violated applicable rules relating to sulfuric acid mist emissions at its Mill Creek plant. The notice alleges failure to install proper controls, failure to operate the facility consistent with good air pollution control practice, and causing emissions exceeding applicable requirements or constituting a nuisance or endangerment. LG&E believes it has complied with applicable regulations during the relevant time period. Discussions between the EPA and LG&E are ongoing. PPL, LKE and LG&E are unable to predict the outcome of this matter or the potential impact on operations of the Mill Creek plant, including increased capital or operating costs, and potential civil penalties or remedial measures, if any. Water/Waste (PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU) Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs) In April 2015, the EPA published its final rule regulating CCRs. CCRs include fly ash, bottom ash and sulfur dioxide scrubber wastes. The rule became effective in October 2015. It imposes extensive new requirements, including location restrictions, design and operating standards, groundwater monitoring and corrective action requirements, and closure and post-closure care requirements on CCR impoundments and landfills that are located on active power plants in the United States and not closed. Under the rule, CCRs are regulated as non-hazardous under Subtitle D of RCRA and beneficial use of CCRs is allowed, with some restrictions. The rule's requirements for covered CCR impoundments and landfills include implementation of groundwater monitoring and commencement or completion of closure activities generally between three and ten years from certain triggering events. The rule requires posting of compliance documentation on a publicly accessible website. Industry groups, environmental groups, individual companies and others have filed legal challenges to the final rule, which are pending before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Recently enacted federal legislation has authorized the EPA to approve equally protective state programs that would operate in lieu of the CCR Rule. Kentucky is close to finalizing a state rule aimed at reflecting the requirements of the federal rule. LG&E and KU have received KPSC approval for a compliance plan providing for construction of additional landfill capacity at the E.W. Brown station, closure of impoundments at the Mill Creek, Trimble County, E.W. Brown, and Ghent stations, and construction of process water management facilities at those plants. In addition to the foregoing measures required for compliance with federal CCR rule requirements, LG&E and KU also received KPSC approval for their plans to close impoundments at the retired Green River, Pineville and Tyrone plants to comply with applicable state law requirements. See Note 6 for additional information. In connection with the final CCR rule, LG&E and KU recorded adjustments to existing AROs during 2015 and 2016. See Note 19 in the Registrants' 2016 Form 10-K for additional information. Further changes to AROs, current capital plans or operating costs may be required as estimates are refined based on closure developments, groundwater monitoring results, and regulatory or legal proceedings. Costs relating to this rule are subject to rate recovery. Clean Water Act Regulations under the federal Clean Water Act dictate permitting and mitigation requirements for facilities and construction projects in the United States. Many of those requirements relate to power plant operations, including requirements related to the treatment of pollutants in effluents prior to discharge, the temperature of effluent discharges and the location, design and construction of cooling water intake structures at generating facilities, standards intended to protect aquatic organisms that become trapped at or pulled through cooling water intake structures at generating facilities. The requirements could impose significant costs for LG&E and KU, which are subject to rate recovery. Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELGs) In September 2015, the EPA released its final ELGs for wastewater discharge permits for new and existing steam electric generating facilities. The rule provides strict technology-based discharge limitations for control of pollutants in scrubber wastewater, fly ash and bottom ash transport water, mercury control wastewater, gasification wastewater and combustion residual leachate. The new guidelines require deployment of additional control technologies providing physical, chemical and biological treatment of wastewaters. The guidelines also mandate operational changes including "no discharge" requirements for fly ash and bottom ash transport waters and mercury control wastewaters. The implementation date for individual generating stations will be determined by the states on a case-by-case basis according to criteria provided by the EPA, but the requirements of the rule must be fully implemented no later than 2023. Industry groups, environmental groups, individual companies and others have filed legal challenges to the final rule, which have been consolidated before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. LG&E and KU are developing compliance strategies and schedules. PPL, LKE, LG&E and KU are unable to fully estimate compliance costs or timing at this time, although certain preliminary estimates are included in current capital forecasts for applicable periods. Costs to comply with ELGs or other discharge limits, which are expected to be significant, are subject to rate recovery. Seepages and Groundwater Infiltration Seepages or groundwater infiltration have been detected at active and retired wastewater basins and landfills at various LG&E and KU plants. LG&E and KU have completed, or are completing, assessments of seepages or groundwater infiltration at various facilities and have completed, or are working with agencies to implement, further testing, monitoring or abatement measures, where applicable. A range of reasonable possible losses cannot currently be estimated. Depending on the circumstances in each case, certain costs, which may be subject to rate recovery, could be significant. (All Registrants) Waters of the United States (WOTUS) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has issued a stay of the EPA's rule on the definition of WOTUS pending the court's review of the rule. The effect of the stay is that the WOTUS rule is not in effect anywhere. On February 28, 2017, the President issued an Executive Order directing the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review the rule for consistency with certain policy directives and rescind or revise it as appropriate. Additionally, the Executive Order directs the agencies to interpret certain jurisdictional provisions in a manner consistent with specified U.S. Supreme Court precedent. The ultimate outcome of the pending judicial and regulatory reviews of the rule remains uncertain. Because of the strict permitting programs already in place in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, the Registrants do not expect the rule to have a significant impact on their operations. Other Issues On June 22, 2016, the "Frank Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act" took effect as an amendment to the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). The Act made no changes to the pre-existing TSCA rules as it pertains to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). The EPA continues to reassess its PCB regulations as part of the 2010 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The EPA's ANPRM rulemaking is to occur in two phases. Only the second part of the rule, currently scheduled for November 2017, is applicable to PPL operations. This part of the rule relates to the use of PCBs in electrical equipment and natural gas pipelines, as well as continued use of PCB-contaminated porous surfaces. Although the first rulemaking will not directly affect the Registrants' operations, it may indicate certain approaches or principles to occur in the later rulemaking which may affect Registrants' facilities in the United States, including phase-out of some or all equipment containing PCBs. Should such a phase-out be required, the costs, which are subject to rate recovery, could be significant. Superfund and Other Remediation (All Registrants) PPL Electric is potentially responsible for a share of the costs at several sites listed by the EPA under the federal Superfund program, including the Columbia Gas Plant site and the Brodhead site. Clean-up actions have been or are being undertaken at all of these sites, the costs of which have not been, and are not expected to be, significant to PPL Electric. PPL Electric, LG&E and KU are investigating, responding to agency inquiries, remediating, or have completed the remediation of, several sites that were not addressed under a regulatory program such as Superfund, but for which PPL Electric, LG&E and KU may be liable for remediation. These include a number of former coal gas manufacturing plants in Pennsylvania and Kentucky previously owned or operated or currently owned by predecessors or affiliates of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. To date, the costs of these sites have not been significant. There are additional sites, formerly owned or operated by PPL Electric, LG&E and KU predecessors or affiliates. PPL Electric, LG&E and KU lack information on the condition of such additional sites and are therefore unable to estimate any potential liability they may have or a range of reasonably possible losses, if any, related to these matters. At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, PPL Electric had a recorded liability of $10 million representing its best estimate of the probable loss incurred to remediate the sites noted above. Depending on the outcome of investigations at sites where investigations have not begun or been completed, or developments at sites for which information is incomplete, additional costs of remediation could be incurred; however, such costs are not expected to be significant. The EPA is evaluating the risks associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and naphthalene, chemical by-products of coal gas manufacturing. As a result of the EPA's evaluation, individual states may establish stricter standards for water quality and soil cleanup. This could require several PPL subsidiaries to take more extensive assessment and remedial actions at former coal gas manufacturing plants. PPL, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU cannot estimate a range of reasonably possible losses, if any, related to these matters. From time to time, PPL's subsidiaries in the United States undertake testing, monitoring or remedial action in response to notices of violations, spills or other releases at various on-site and off-site locations, negotiate with the EPA and state and local agencies regarding actions necessary for compliance with applicable requirements, negotiate with property owners and other third parties alleging impacts from PPL's operations and undertake similar actions necessary to resolve environmental matters that arise in the course of normal operations. Based on analyses to date, resolution of these environmental matters is not expected to have a significant adverse impact on the operations of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. Future cleanup or remediation work at sites under review, or at sites not yet identified, may result in significant additional costs for PPL, PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU. Insurance policies maintained by LKE, LG&E and KU may be applicable to certain of the costs or other obligations related to these matters but the amount of insurance coverage or reimbursement cannot be estimated or assured. Other Labor Union Agreements (PPL and PPL Electric) In March 2017, members of the IBEW ratified a new five-year labor agreement with PPL. The contract covers nearly 1,400 employees and is effective May 22, 2017. The terms of the new labor agreement are not expected to have a significant impact on the financial results of PPL or PPL Electric. Guarantees and Other Assurances (All Registrants) In the normal course of business, the Registrants enter into agreements that provide financial performance assurance to third parties on behalf of certain subsidiaries. Such agreements include, for example, guarantees, stand-by letters of credit issued by financial institutions and surety bonds issued by insurance companies. These agreements are entered into primarily to support or enhance the creditworthiness attributed to a subsidiary on a stand-alone basis or to facilitate the commercial activities in which these subsidiaries engage. (PPL) PPL fully and unconditionally guarantees all of the debt securities of PPL Capital Funding. (All Registrants) The table below details guarantees provided as of March 31, 2017. "Exposure" represents the estimated maximum potential amount of future payments that could be required to be made under the guarantee. The probability of expected payment/performance under each of these guarantees is remote except for "WPD guarantee of pension and other obligations of unconsolidated entities" and "Indemnification of lease termination and other divestitures." The total recorded liability at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $22 million for PPL and $17 million for LKE. For reporting purposes, on a consolidated basis, all guarantees of PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU also apply to PPL, and all guarantees of LG&E and KU also apply to LKE.
| Exposure at March 31, 2017 |  | Expiration Date
PPL |  |  |  |
Indemnifications related to the WPD Midlands acquisition |  | (a) |  |
WPD indemnifications for entities in liquidation and sales of assets | $ | 10 |  | (b) |  | 2019
WPD guarantee of pension and other obligations of unconsolidated entities | 105 |  | (c) |  |
PPL Electric |  |  |  |
Guarantee of inventory value | 17 |  | (d) |  | 2018
LKE |  |  |  |
Indemnification of lease termination and other divestitures | 301 |  | (e) |  | 2021 - 2023
LG&E and KU |  |  |  |
LG&E and KU guarantee of shortfall related to OVEC |  | (f) |  |
(a) | Indemnifications related to certain liabilities, including a specific unresolved tax issue and those relating to properties and assets owned by the seller that were transferred to WPD Midlands in connection with the acquisition. A cross indemnity has been received from the seller on the tax issue. The maximum exposure and expiration of these indemnifications cannot be estimated because the maximum potential liability is not capped and the expiration date is not specified in the transaction documents.
(b) | Indemnification to the liquidators and certain others for existing liabilities or expenses or liabilities arising during the liquidation process. The indemnifications are limited to distributions made from the subsidiary to its parent either prior or subsequent to liquidation or are not explicitly stated in the agreements. The indemnifications generally expire two to seven years subsequent to the date of dissolution of the entities. The exposure noted only includes those cases where the agreements provide for specific limits.
In connection with their sales of various businesses, WPD and its affiliates have provided the purchasers with indemnifications that are standard for such transactions, including indemnifications for certain pre-existing liabilities and environmental and tax matters or have agreed to continue their obligations under existing third-party guarantees, either for a set period of time following the transactions or upon the condition that the purchasers make reasonable efforts to terminate the guarantees. Additionally, WPD and its affiliates remain secondarily responsible for lease payments under certain leases that they have assigned to third parties.
(c) | Relates to certain obligations of discontinued or modified electric associations that were guaranteed at the time of privatization by the participating members. Costs are allocated to the members and can be reallocated if an existing member becomes insolvent. At March 31, 2017, WPD has recorded an estimated discounted liability for which the expected payment/performance is probable. Neither the expiration date nor the maximum amount of potential payments for certain obligations is explicitly stated in the related agreements, and as a result, the exposure has been estimated.
(d) | A third party logistics firm provides inventory procurement and fulfillment services. The logistics firm has title to the inventory, however, upon termination of the contracts, PPL Electric has guaranteed to purchase any remaining inventory that has not been used or sold.
(e) | LKE provides certain indemnifications covering the due and punctual payment, performance and discharge by each party of its respective obligations. The most comprehensive of these guarantees is the LKE guarantee covering operational, regulatory and environmental commitments and indemnifications made by WKE under a 2009 Transaction Termination Agreement. This guarantee has a term of 12 years ending July 2021, and a maximum exposure of $200 million, exclusive of certain items such as government fines and penalties that may exceed the maximum. Another WKE-related LKE guarantee covers other indemnifications related to the purchase price of excess power, has a term expiring in 2023, and a maximum exposure of $100 million. In May 2012, LKE's indemnitee received an unfavorable arbitration panel's decision interpreting this matter. In October 2014, LKE's indemnitee filed a motion for discretionary review with the Kentucky Supreme Court seeking to overturn the arbitration decision, and such motion was denied by the court in September 2015. In September 2015, the counterparty issued a demand letter to LKE's indemnitee. In February 2016, the counterparty filed a complaint in Henderson, Kentucky Circuit Court, seeking an award of damages in the matter. The proceeding is currently in the discovery phase. LKE does not believe appropriate contractual, legal or commercial grounds exist for the claim made. LKE believes its indemnification obligations in the WKE matter remain subject to various uncertainties, including additional legal and contractual developments, as well as future prices, availability and demand for the subject excess power. Although the parties have also conducted certain settlement discussions, the ultimate outcomes of the WKE termination-related indemnifications cannot be predicted at this time. Additionally, LKE has indemnified various third parties related to historical obligations for other divested subsidiaries and affiliates. The indemnifications vary by entity and the maximum exposures range from being capped at the sale price to no specified maximum. LKE could be required to perform on these indemnifications in the event of covered losses or liabilities being claimed by an indemnified party. LKE cannot predict the ultimate outcomes of the various indemnification scenarios, but does not expect such outcomes to result in significant losses above the amounts recorded.
(f) | Pursuant to the OVEC power purchase contract, LG&E and KU are obligated to pay for their share of OVEC's excess debt service, post-retirement and decommissioning costs, as well as any shortfall from amounts included within a demand charge designed and expected to cover these costs over the term of the contract. LKE's proportionate share of OVEC's outstanding debt was $120 million at March 31, 2017, consisting of LG&E's share of $83 million and KU's share of $37 million. The maximum exposure and the expiration date of these potential obligations are not presently determinable. See "Energy Purchase Commitments" in Note 13 in PPL's, LKE's, LG&E's and KU's 2016 Form 10-K for additional information on the OVEC power purchase contract. In connection with recent credit market related developments at OVEC or certain of its sponsors, such parties, including LG&E and KU, are analyzing certain potential additional credit support actions to preserve OVEC's access to credit markets or mitigate risks or adverse impacts relating thereto, including increased interest costs and accelerated maturities of OVEC's existing short and long-term debt. The ultimate outcome of these matters, including any potential impact on LG&E's and KU's obligations relating to OVEC debt under the power purchase contract cannot be predicted.
The Registrants provide other miscellaneous guarantees through contracts entered into in the normal course of business. These guarantees are primarily in the form of indemnification or warranties related to services or equipment and vary in duration. The amounts of these guarantees often are not explicitly stated, and the overall maximum amount of the obligation under such guarantees cannot be reasonably estimated. Historically, no significant payments have been made with respect to these types of guarantees and the probability of payment/performance under these guarantees is remote. PPL, on behalf of itself and certain of its subsidiaries, maintains insurance that covers liability assumed under contract for bodily injury and property damage. The coverage provides maximum aggregate coverage of $225 million. This insurance may be applicable to obligations under certain of these contractual arrangements.

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