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Financing Activities | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] |
Financing Activities | Credit Arrangements and Short-term Debt (All Registrants) The Registrants maintain credit facilities to enhance liquidity, provide credit support and provide a backstop to commercial paper programs. For reporting purposes, on a consolidated basis, the credit facilities and commercial paper programs of PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU also apply to PPL and the credit facilities and commercial paper programs of LG&E and KU also apply to LKE. The amounts borrowed below are recorded as "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets except for borrowings under LG&E's Term Loan Facility which are recorded as "Long-term debt due within one year" on the December 31, 2018 Balance Sheet. The following credit facilities were in place at:
| December 31, 2019 |  | December 31, 2018
| Expiration Date |  | Capacity |  | Borrowed |  | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued |  | Unused Capacity |  | Borrowed |  | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued
PPL |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.K. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
WPD plc |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated Credit Facility (a)(b)(c) | Jan. 2023 |  | £ | 210 |  |  | £ | 155 |  |  | £ | — |  |  | £ | 55 |  |  | £ | 157 |  |  | £ | — |
WPD (South West) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated Credit Facility (a)(b)(c) | July 2021 |  | 245 |  |  | 40 |  |  | — |  |  | 205 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
WPD (East Midlands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated Credit Facility (a)(b)(c) | July 2021 |  | 300 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 300 |  |  | 38 |  |  | — |
WPD (West Midlands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated Credit Facility (a)(b)(c) | July 2021 |  | 300 |  |  | 48 |  |  | — |  |  | 252 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Uncommitted Credit Facilities |  |  | 100 |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | 96 |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |
Total U.K. Credit Facilities (b) |  |  | £ | 1,155 |  |  | £ | 243 |  |  | £ | 4 |  |  | £ | 908 |  |  | £ | 195 |  |  | £ | 4 |
U.S. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PPL Capital Funding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) | Jan 2024 |  | $ | 1,450 |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 450 |  |  | $ | 1,000 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 669 |
Bilateral Credit Facility (c) (d) | Mar 2020 |  | 100 |  |  | — |  |  | 15 |  |  | 85 |  |  | — |  |  | 15 |
Total PPL Capital Funding Credit Facilities |  |  | $ | 1,550 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 465 |  |  | $ | 1,085 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 684 |
PPL Electric |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) | Jan 2024 |  | $ | 650 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1 |  |  | $ | 649 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1 |
| December 31, 2019 |  | December 31, 2018
| Expiration Date |  | Capacity |  | Borrowed |  | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued |  | Unused Capacity |  | Borrowed |  | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued
LG&E |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) | Jan 2024 |  | $ | 500 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 238 |  |  | $ | 262 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 279 |
Term Loan Credit Facility (c) (e) |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 200 |  |  | — |
Total LG&E Credit Facilities |  |  | $ | 500 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 238 |  |  | $ | 262 |  |  | $ | 200 |  |  | $ | 279 |
KU |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Syndicated Credit Facility (c) (d) | Jan 2024 |  | $ | 400 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 150 |  |  | $ | 250 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 235 |
Letter of Credit Facility (f) |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 198 |
Total KU Credit Facilities |  |  | $ | 400 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 150 |  |  | $ | 250 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 433 |
(a) | The facilities contain financial covenants to maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 3.0 times consolidated earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization and total net debt not in excess of 85% of its RAV, calculated in accordance with the credit facility.
(b) | The WPD plc amounts borrowed at December 31, 2019 and 2018 included USD-denominated borrowings of $200 million for both periods, which bore interest at 2.52% and 3.17%. The WPD (South West) amount borrowed at December 31, 2019 was a GBP-denominated borrowing, which equated to $51 million and bore interest at 1.09%. The WPD (East Midlands) amount borrowed at December 31, 2018 was a GBP- denominated borrowing which equated to $48 million and bore interest at 1.12%. The WPD (West Midlands) amount borrowed at December 31, 2019 was a GBP-denominated borrowing, which equated to $62 million and bore interest at 1.11%. At December 31, 2019, the unused capacity under the U.K. credit facilities was approximately $1.2 billion.
(c) | Each company pays customary fees under its respective facility and borrowings generally bear interest at LIBOR-based rates plus an applicable margin.
(d) | The facilities contain a financial covenant requiring debt to total capitalization not to exceed 70% for PPL Capital Funding, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU, as calculated in accordance with the facilities and other customary covenants. Additionally, subject to certain conditions, PPL Capital Funding may request that the capacity of its bilateral credit facility expiring in March 2020 be increased by up to $30 million and PPL Capital Funding, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU may each request up to a $250 million increase in its syndicated credit facility's capacity.
(e) | LG&E entered into a $200 million term loan credit agreement in October 2017. All borrowings were repaid and the facility expired in 2019. The outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2018 bore interest at an average rate of 2.97%.
(f) | KU's letter of credit facility was terminated in September 2019 in connection with the bond remarketings discussed below.
PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU maintain commercial paper programs to provide an additional financing source to fund short-term liquidity needs. Commercial paper issuances, included in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets, are supported by the respective Registrant's credit facilities. The following commercial paper programs were in place at:
| December 31, 2019 |  | December 31, 2018
| Weighted - Average Interest Rate |  | Capacity |  | Commercial Paper Issuances |  | Unused Capacity |  | Weighted - Average Interest Rate |  | Commercial Paper Issuances
PPL Capital Funding | 2.13% |  | $ | 1,500 |  |  | $ | 450 |  |  | $ | 1,050 |  |  | 2.82% |  | $ | 669 |
PPL Electric |  |  | 650 |  |  | — |  |  | 650 |  |  |  |  | — |
LG&E | 2.07% |  | 350 |  |  | 238 |  |  | 112 |  |  | 2.94% |  | 279 |
KU | 2.02% |  | 350 |  |  | 150 |  |  | 200 |  |  | 2.94% |  | 235 |
Total |  |  | $ | 2,850 |  |  | $ | 838 |  |  | $ | 2,012 |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,183 |
(PPL Electric, LKE, LG&E and KU) See Note 14 for a discussion of intercompany borrowings. Long-term Debt (All Registrants)
|  |  |  |  | December 31,
| Weighted-Average Rate (g) |  | Maturities (g) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
PPL |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Notes | 3.88 | % |  | 2020 - 2047 |  | $ | 4,325 |  |  | $ | 4,325 |
Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (a) (b) (c) | 3.95 | % |  | 2020 - 2049 |  | 8,705 |  |  | 7,705 |
Junior Subordinated Notes | 5.24 | % |  | 2067 - 2073 |  | 930 |  |  | 930 |
Term Loan Credit Facility |  |  |  | 2019 |  | — |  |  | 200 |
Total U.S. Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 13,960 |  |  | 13,160 |
U.K. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Notes (d) | 4.97 | % |  | 2020 - 2040 |  | 6,874 |  |  | 6,471 |
Index-linked Senior Unsecured Notes (e) | 1.45 | % |  | 2026 - 2056 |  | 1,104 |  |  | 1,063 |
Term Loan Credit Facility | 2.18 | % |  | 2024 - 2024 |  | 64 |  |  | — |
Total U.K. Long-term Debt (f) |  |  |  |  | 8,042 |  |  | 7,534 |
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments |  |  |  |  | 22,002 |  |  | 20,694 |
Fair market value adjustments |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  | 16 |
Unamortized premium and (discount), net |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  | 9 |
Unamortized debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  | (126 | ) |  | (120 | )
Total Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 21,893 |  |  | 20,599 |
Less current portion of Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 1,172 |  |  | 530 |
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent |  |  |  |  | $ | 20,721 |  |  | $ | 20,069 |
PPL Electric |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Secured Notes/First Mortgage Bonds (a) (b) | 4.08 | % |  | 2021 - 2049 |  | $ | 4,039 |  |  | $ | 3,739 |
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments |  |  |  |  | 4,039 |  |  | 3,739 |
Unamortized discount |  |  |  |  | (24 | ) |  | (18 | )
Unamortized debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  | (30 | ) |  | (27 | )
Total Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 3,985 |  |  | 3,694 |
Less current portion of Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent |  |  |  |  | $ | 3,985 |  |  | $ | 3,694 |
LKE |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Notes | 3.97 | % |  | 2020 - 2021 |  | $ | 725 |  |  | $ | 725 |
Term Loan Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  | 200 |
First Mortgage Bonds (a) (c) | 3.84 | % |  | 2020 - 2049 |  | 4,666 |  |  | 3,966 |
Long-term debt to affiliate | 3.69 | % |  | 2026 - 2028 |  | 650 |  |  | 650 |
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments |  |  |  |  | 6,041 |  |  | 5,541 |
Unamortized premium |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  | — |
Unamortized discount |  |  |  |  | (12 | ) |  | (13 | )
Unamortized debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  | (32 | ) |  | (26 | )
Total Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 6,002 |  |  | 5,502 |
Less current portion of Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 975 |  |  | 530 |
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent |  |  |  |  | $ | 5,027 |  |  | $ | 4,972 |
|  |  |  |  | December 31,
| Weighted-Average Rate (g) |  | Maturities (g) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
LG&E |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 200 |
First Mortgage Bonds (a) (c) | 3.73 | % |  | 2025 - 2049 |  | 2,024 |  |  | 1,624 |
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments |  |  |  |  | 2,024 |  |  | 1,824 |
Unamortized discount |  |  |  |  | (4 | ) |  | (4 | )
Unamortized debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  | (15 | ) |  | (11 | )
Total Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 2,005 |  |  | 1,809 |
Less current portion of Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | — |  |  | 434 |
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,005 |  |  | $ | 1,375 |
KU |  |  |  |  |  |  |
First Mortgage Bonds (a) (c) | 3.93 | % |  | 2020 - 2045 |  | $ | 2,642 |  |  | $ | 2,342 |
Total Long-term Debt Before Adjustments |  |  |  |  | 2,642 |  |  | 2,342 |
Unamortized premium |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  | — |
Unamortized discount |  |  |  |  | (8 | ) |  | (8 | )
Unamortized debt issuance costs |  |  |  |  | (16 | ) |  | (13 | )
Total Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 2,623 |  |  | 2,321 |
Less current portion of Long-term Debt |  |  |  |  | 500 |  |  | 96 |
Total Long-term Debt, noncurrent |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,123 |  |  | $ | 2,225 |
(a) | Includes PPL Electric's senior secured and first mortgage bonds that are secured by the lien of PPL Electric's 2001 Mortgage Indenture, which covers substantially all of PPL Electric’s tangible distribution properties and certain of its tangible transmission properties located in Pennsylvania, subject to certain exceptions and exclusions. The carrying value of PPL Electric's property, plant and equipment was approximately $10.1 billion and $9.4 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Includes LG&E's first mortgage bonds that are secured by the lien of the LG&E 2010 Mortgage Indenture which creates a lien, subject to certain exceptions and exclusions, on substantially all of LG&E's real and tangible personal property located in Kentucky and used or to be used in connection with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and the storage and distribution of natural gas. The aggregate carrying value of the property subject to the lien was $5.3 billion and $5.1 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018. Includes KU's first mortgage bonds that are secured by the lien of the KU 2010 Mortgage Indenture which creates a lien, subject to certain exceptions and exclusions, on substantially all of KU's real and tangible personal property located in Kentucky and used or to be used in connection with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. The aggregate carrying value of the property subject to the lien was $6.6 billion and $6.3 billion at December 31, 2019 and 2018.
(b) | Includes PPL Electric's series of senior secured bonds that secure its obligations to make payments with respect to each series of Pollution Control Bonds that were issued by the LCIDA and the PEDFA on behalf of PPL Electric. These senior secured bonds were issued in the same principal amount, contain payment and redemption provisions that correspond to and bear the same interest rate as such Pollution Control Bonds. These senior secured bonds were issued under PPL Electric's 2001 Mortgage Indenture and are secured as noted in (a) above. This amount includes $224 million of which PPL Electric is allowed to convert the interest rate mode on the bonds from time to time to a commercial paper rate, daily rate, weekly rate, or term rate of at least one year and $90 million that may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at par beginning in October 2020, and are subject to mandatory redemption upon determination that the interest rate on the bonds would be included in the holders' gross income for federal tax purposes.
(c) | Includes LG&E's and KU's series of first mortgage bonds that were issued to the respective trustees of tax-exempt revenue bonds to secure its respective obligations to make payments with respect to each series of bonds. The first mortgage bonds were issued in the same principal amounts, contain payment and redemption provisions that correspond to and bear the same interest rate as such tax-exempt revenue bonds. These first mortgage bonds were issued under the LG&E 2010 Mortgage Indenture and the KU 2010 Mortgage Indenture and are secured as noted in (a) above. The related tax-exempt revenue bonds were issued by various governmental entities, principally counties in Kentucky, on behalf of LG&E and KU. The related revenue bond documents allow LG&E and KU to convert the interest rate mode on the bonds from time to time to a commercial paper rate, daily rate, weekly rate, term rate of at least one year or, in some cases, an auction rate or a LIBOR index rate.
At December 31, 2019, the aggregate tax-exempt revenue bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU that were in a term rate mode totaled $700 million for LKE, comprised of $392 million and $308 million for LG&E and KU respectively. At December 31, 2019, the aggregate tax-exempt revenue bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU that were in a variable rate mode totaled $181 million for LKE, comprised of $148 million and $33 million for LG&E and KU respectively. These variable rate tax-exempt revenue bonds are subject to tender for purchase by LG&E and KU at the option of the holder and to mandatory tender for purchase by LG&E and KU upon the occurrence of certain events.
(d) | Includes £225 million ($291 million at December 31, 2019) of notes that may be redeemed, in total but not in part, on December 21, 2026, at the greater of the principal value or a value determined by reference to the gross redemption yield on a nominated U.K. Government bond.
(e) | The principal amount of the notes issued by WPD (South West), WPD (East Midlands) and WPD (South Wales) is adjusted based on changes in a specified index, as detailed in the terms of the related indentures. The adjustment to the principal amounts from 2018 to 2019 was an increase of
approximately £20 million ($26 million) resulting from inflation. In addition, this amount includes £327 million ($423 million at December 31, 2019) of notes issued by WPD (South West) that may be redeemed, in total by series, on December 1, 2026, at the greater of the adjusted principal value and a make-whole value determined by reference to the gross real yield on a nominated U.K. government bond.
(f) | Includes £5.7 billion ($7.4 billion at December 31, 2019) of notes that may be put by the holders to the issuer for redemption if the long-term credit ratings assigned to the notes are withdrawn by any of the rating agencies (Moody's or S&P) or reduced to a non-investment grade rating of Ba1 or BB+ or lower in connection with a restructuring event, which includes the loss of, or a material adverse change to, the distribution licenses under which the issuer operates.
(g) | The table reflects principal maturities only, based on stated maturities or earlier put dates, and the weighted-average rates as of December 31, 2019.
None of the outstanding debt securities noted above have sinking fund requirements. The aggregate maturities of long-term debt, based on stated maturities or earlier put dates, for the periods 2020 through 2024 and thereafter are as follows:
| PPL |  | PPL Electric |  | LKE |  | LG&E |  | KU
2020 | $ | 1,169 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 975 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 500 |
2021 | 1,574 |  |  | 400 |  |  | 674 |  |  | 292 |  |  | 132 |
2022 | 1,274 |  |  | 474 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
2023 | 2,254 |  |  | 90 |  |  | 13 |  |  | — |  |  | 13 |
2024 | 932 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Thereafter | 14,799 |  |  | 3,075 |  |  | 4,379 |  |  | 1,732 |  |  | 1,997 |
Total | $ | 22,002 |  |  | $ | 4,039 |  |  | $ | 6,041 |  |  | $ | 2,024 |  |  | $ | 2,642 |
(PPL) In June 2019, WPD plc executed and drew £50 million under a 5-year term loan facility due 2024 at a rate of 2.189%, to be reset quarterly as detailed in the terms of the facility. The borrowing equated to $63 million at the time of drawdown, net of fees. The proceeds were used for general corporate purposes. In September 2019, WPD (East Midlands) issued £250 million of 1.75% Senior Notes due 2031. WPD (East Midlands) received proceeds of £245 million, which equated to $301 million at the time of issuance, net of fees and a discount. The proceeds were used to repay short-term debt and for general corporate purposes. (PPL and PPL Electric) In September 2019, PPL Electric issued $400 million of 3.00% First Mortgage Bonds due 2049. PPL Electric received proceeds of $390 million, net of a discount and underwriting fees, which were used to repay short-term debt and for general corporate purposes. In December 2019, PPL Electric redeemed all of the outstanding $100 million aggregate principal amount of its Senior Secured Bonds, 5.15% Series due 2020. (PPL, LKE and LG&E) In April 2019, LG&E issued $400 million of 4.25% First Mortgage Bonds due 2049. LG&E received proceeds of $396 million, net of discounts and underwriting fees, which were used to repay commercial paper and LG&E's term loan. In April 2019, the County of Jefferson, Kentucky remarketed $128 million of Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, 2001 Series A due 2033 previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed at a long-term rate and will bear interest at 1.85% through their mandatory purchase date of April 1, 2021. In June 2019, the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government of Kentucky remarketed $31 million of Environmental Facilities Revenue Refunding Bonds, 2007 Series A due 2033 previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed at a long-term rate and will bear interest at 1.65% through their mandatory purchase date of June 1, 2021. In June 2019, the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government of Kentucky remarketed $35 million of Environmental Facilities Revenue Refunding Bonds, 2007 Series B due 2033 previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed at a long-term rate and will bear interest at 1.65% through their mandatory purchase date of June 1, 2021. In June 2019, LG&E issued a notice to bondholders of its intention to convert the $40 million Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government of Kentucky Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, 2005 Series A to a weekly interest rate, as permitted under the loan documents. The conversion was completed on August 1, 2019. In connection with the conversation, LG&E purchased these bonds from the remarketing agent and held them until September 17, 2019, at which time LG&E remarketed the bonds at a long-term rate that will bear interest at 1.75% through their mandatory purchase date of July 1, 2026. (PPL, LKE and KU) In April 2019, KU reopened its 4.375% First Mortgage Bonds due 2045 and issued an additional $300 million of this series. KU received proceeds of $303 million, including premiums and underwriting fees, which were used to repay commercial paper and for other general corporate purposes. In September 2019, the County of Carroll, Kentucky remarketed $50 million of Environmental Facilities Revenue Bonds, 2004 Series A due 2034 previously issued on behalf of KU. The bonds were remarketed at a long-term rate and will bear interest at 1.75% through their mandatory purchase date of September 1, 2026. In September 2019, the County of Carroll, Kentucky remarketed $96 million of Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, 2016 Series A due 2042 previously issued on behalf of KU. The bonds were remarketed at a long-term rate and will bear interest at 1.55% through their mandatory purchase date of September 1, 2026. In September 2019, the County of Carroll, Kentucky remarketed $54 million of Environmental Facilities Revenue Bonds, 2006 Series B due 2034 previously issued on behalf of KU. The bonds were remarketed at a long-term rate and will bear interest at 1.20% through their mandatory purchase date of June 1, 2021. In September 2019, the County of Carroll, Kentucky remarketed $78 million of Environmental Facilities Revenue Bonds, 2008 Series A due 2032 previously issued on behalf of KU. The bonds were remarketed at a long-term rate and will bear interest at 1.20% through their mandatory purchase date of June 1, 2021. In September 2019, the County of Mercer, Kentucky remarketed $13 million of Solid Waste Disposal Facility Revenue Bonds, 2000 Series A due 2023 previously issued on behalf of KU. The bonds were remarketed at a long-term rate and will bear interest at 1.30% through their maturity date of May 1, 2023. See Note 14 for additional information related to intercompany borrowings. Legal Separateness (All Registrants) The subsidiaries of PPL are separate legal entities. PPL's subsidiaries are not liable for the debts of PPL. Accordingly, creditors of PPL may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL's subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by a subsidiary to pay PPL's creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation. Similarly, PPL is not liable for the debts of its subsidiaries, nor are its subsidiaries liable for the debts of one another. Accordingly, creditors of PPL's subsidiaries may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL or its other subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by PPL or its other subsidiaries to pay the creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation. Similarly, the subsidiaries of PPL Electric and LKE are each separate legal entities. These subsidiaries are not liable for the debts of PPL Electric and LKE. Accordingly, creditors of PPL Electric and LKE may not satisfy their debts from the assets of their subsidiaries absent a specific contractual undertaking by a subsidiary to pay the creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation. Similarly, PPL Electric and LKE are not liable for the debts of their subsidiaries, nor are their subsidiaries liable for the debts of one another. Accordingly, creditors of these subsidiaries may not satisfy their debts from the assets of PPL Electric and LKE (or their other subsidiaries) absent a specific contractual undertaking by that parent or other subsidiary to pay such creditors or as required by applicable law or regulation. (PPL) Equity Securities Equity Forward Contracts In May 2018, PPL completed a registered underwritten public offering of 55 million shares of its common stock. In conjunction with that offering, the underwriters exercised an option to purchase 8.25 million additional shares of PPL common stock solely to cover over-allotments. In connection with the registered public offering, PPL entered into forward sale agreements with two counterparties covering the total 63.25 million shares of PPL common stock. Under the forward sale agreements, PPL was obligated to settle these forward sale agreements no later than November 2019. The forward sale agreements were classified as equity transactions. In September 2018, PPL settled a portion of the initial forward sale agreements by issuing 20 million shares of PPL common stock, resulting in net cash proceeds of $520 million. In November 2019, PPL settled the remaining 43.25 million shares of PPL common stock, resulting in net cash proceeds of $1.1 billion. The net proceeds received will be used for general corporate purposes. See Note 5 for information on the forward sale agreements impact on the calculation of diluted EPS. ATM Program In February 2018, PPL entered into an equity distribution agreement, pursuant to which PPL may sell, from time to time, up to an aggregate of $1.0 billion of its common stock through an at-the-market offering program, including a forward sales component. The compensation paid to the selling agents by PPL may be up to 2% of the gross offering proceeds of the shares. There were no issuances under the ATM program for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019. PPL issued 42 million shares of common stock and received proceeds of $119 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Distributions and Related Restrictions In November 2019, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable January 2, 2020, at 41.25 cents per share (equivalent to $1.65 per annum). On February 14, 2020, PPL announced an increase of its quarterly common stock dividend to 41.5 cents per share (equivalent to $1.66 per annum). Future dividends, declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors, will depend upon future earnings, cash flows, financial and legal requirements and other factors. Neither PPL Capital Funding nor PPL may declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on its capital stock during any period in which PPL Capital Funding defers interest payments on its 2007 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes due 2067 or 2013 Series B Junior Subordinated Notes due 2073. At December 31, 2019, no interest payments were deferred. WPD subsidiaries have financing arrangements that limit their ability to pay dividends. However, PPL does not, at this time, expect that any of such limitations would significantly impact PPL's ability to meet its cash obligations. (All Registrants) PPL relies on dividends or loans from its subsidiaries to fund PPL's dividends to its common shareholders. The net assets of certain PPL subsidiaries are subject to legal restrictions. LKE primarily relies on dividends from its subsidiaries to fund its distributions to PPL. LG&E, KU and PPL Electric are subject to Section 305(a) of the Federal Power Act, which makes it unlawful for a public utility to make or pay a dividend from any funds "properly included in capital account." The meaning of this limitation has never been clarified under the Federal Power Act. LG&E, KU and PPL Electric believe, however, that this statutory restriction, as applied to their circumstances, would not be construed or applied by the FERC to prohibit the payment from retained earnings of dividends that are not excessive and are for lawful and legitimate business purposes. In February 2012, LG&E and KU petitioned the FERC requesting authorization to pay dividends in the future based on retained earnings balances calculated without giving effect to the impact of purchase accounting adjustments for PPL's 2010 acquisition of LKE. In May 2012, the FERC approved the petitions with the further condition that each utility may not pay dividends if such payment would cause its adjusted equity ratio to fall below 30% of total capitalization. Accordingly, at December 31, 2019, net assets of $3 billion ($1.3 billion for LG&E and $1.7 billion for KU) were restricted for purposes of paying dividends to LKE, and net assets of $3.3 billion ($1.5 billion for LG&E and $1.8 billion for KU) were available for payment of dividends to LKE. LG&E and KU believe they will not be required to change their current dividend practices as a result of the foregoing requirement. In addition, under Virginia law, KU is prohibited from making loans to affiliates without the prior approval of the VSCC. There are no comparable statutes under Kentucky law applicable to LG&E and KU, or under Pennsylvania law applicable to PPL Electric. However, orders from the KPSC require LG&E and KU to obtain prior consent or approval before lending amounts to PPL.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2208564 + Details
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