PPL Corp (PPL)
SIC breadcrumb: Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services > Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services > SIC 4911 Electric Services
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=922224. Latest filing source: 0000922224-26-000008.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 9,042,000,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-20 |
| Net income | 1,181,000,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-20 |
| Assets | 45,244,000,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-20 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-20. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000922224.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 7,517,000,000 | 7,447,000,000 | 7,785,000,000 | 5,602,000,000 | 5,474,000,000 | 5,783,000,000 | 7,902,000,000 | 8,312,000,000 | 8,462,000,000 | 9,042,000,000 | |||
| Net income | 1,902,000,000 | 1,128,000,000 | 1,827,000,000 | 1,746,000,000 | 1,469,000,000 | -1,480,000,000 | 756,000,000 | 740,000,000 | 888,000,000 | 1,181,000,000 | |||
| Operating income | 2,936,000,000 | 2,901,000,000 | 2,852,000,000 | 1,526,000,000 | 1,586,000,000 | 1,424,000,000 | 1,374,000,000 | 1,630,000,000 | 1,740,000,000 | 2,129,000,000 | |||
| Diluted EPS | 2.79 | 1.64 | 2.58 | 2.37 | 1.91 | -1.93 | 1.02 | 1.00 | 1.20 | 1.59 | |||
| Operating cash flow | 2,890,000,000 | 2,461,000,000 | 2,821,000,000 | 2,427,000,000 | 2,746,000,000 | 2,270,000,000 | 1,730,000,000 | 1,758,000,000 | 2,340,000,000 | 2,629,000,000 | |||
| Capital expenditures | 2,920,000,000 | 3,133,000,000 | 3,238,000,000 | 2,243,000,000 | 2,270,000,000 | 1,973,000,000 | 2,155,000,000 | 2,390,000,000 | 2,805,000,000 | 4,030,000,000 | |||
| Dividends paid | 1,030,000,000 | 1,072,000,000 | 1,133,000,000 | 1,192,000,000 | 1,275,000,000 | 1,279,000,000 | 787,000,000 | 704,000,000 | 747,000,000 | 794,000,000 | |||
| Assets | 38,315,000,000 | 41,479,000,000 | 43,396,000,000 | 45,680,000,000 | 48,116,000,000 | 33,223,000,000 | 37,837,000,000 | 39,236,000,000 | 41,069,000,000 | 45,244,000,000 | |||
| Stockholders' equity | 11,096,000,000 | 10,498,000,000 | 12,466,000,000 | 12,991,000,000 | 13,373,000,000 | 13,723,000,000 | 13,918,000,000 | 13,933,000,000 | 14,077,000,000 | 14,881,000,000 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 341,000,000 | 485,000,000 | 621,000,000 | 815,000,000 | 442,000,000 | 3,571,000,000 | 356,000,000 | 331,000,000 | 306,000,000 | 1,071,000,000 | |||
| Free cash flow | -30,000,000 | -672,000,000 | -417,000,000 | 184,000,000 | 476,000,000 | 297,000,000 | -425,000,000 | -632,000,000 | -465,000,000 | -1,401,000,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 25.30% | 15.15% | 23.47% | 31.17% | 26.84% | -25.59% | 9.57% | 8.90% | 10.49% | 13.06% | |||
| Operating margin | 39.06% | 38.96% | 36.63% | 27.24% | 28.97% | 24.62% | 17.39% | 19.61% | 20.56% | 23.55% | |||
| Return on equity | 13.44% | 10.98% | -10.78% | 5.43% | 5.31% | 6.31% | 7.94% | ||||||
| Return on assets | 4.96% | 2.72% | 4.21% | 3.82% | 3.05% | -4.45% | 2.00% | 1.89% | 2.16% | 2.61% | |||
| Current ratio | 0.54 | 0.57 | 0.53 | 0.56 | 1.39 | 2.16 | 0.75 | 0.88 | 0.86 | 0.86 |
Financial Charts
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-08. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000922224.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-Q2 | 2018-06-30 | 0.73 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2018-Q3 | 2018-09-30 | 0.62 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2019-Q1 | 2019-03-31 | 0.64 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2019-Q2 | 2019-06-30 | 0.60 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2019-Q3 | 2019-09-30 | 0.65 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2020-Q1 | 2020-03-31 | 0.72 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2020-Q2 | 2020-06-30 | 1,739,000,000 | 344,000,000 | 0.45 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2020-Q3 | 2020-09-30 | 1,885,000,000 | 281,000,000 | 0.37 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2021-Q1 | 2021-03-31 | 1,498,000,000 | -1,840,000,000 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2021-Q2 | 2021-09-30 | 1,512,000,000 | 207,000,000 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2022-Q1 | 2022-03-31 | 1,782,000,000 | 273,000,000 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | 1,696,000,000 | 119,000,000 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2022-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 2,066,000,000 | 214,000,000 | 0.29 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 2,504,000,000 | 414,000,000 | 0.56 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 2,025,000,000 | 183,000,000 | 0.25 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 2,239,000,000 | 318,000,000 | 0.43 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 2,274,000,000 | 266,000,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 2,774,000,000 | 452,000,000 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0000922224-26-000026.
Item 2. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
(All Registrants)
This "Item 2. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" is separately filed by PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. Information contained herein relating to any individual Registrant is filed by such Registrant solely on its own behalf, and no Registrant makes any representation as to information relating to any other Registrant. The specific Registrant to which disclosures are applicable is identified in parenthetical headings in italics above the applicable disclosure or within the applicable disclosure for each Registrant's related activities and disclosures. Within combined disclosures, amounts are disclosed for individual Registrants when significant.
The following should be read in conjunction with the Registrants' Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes and with the Registrants' 2025 Form 10-K. Capitalized terms and abbreviations are defined in the glossary. Dollars are in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted.
"Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" includes the following information:
•"Overview" provides a description of each Registrant's business strategy and a discussion of important financial and operational developments.
•"Results of Operations" for all Registrants includes a "Statement of Income Analysis," which discusses significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing the three months ended March 31, 2026 with the same period in 2025. The PPL "Results of Operations" also includes "Segment Earnings," which provides a detailed analysis of earnings by reportable segment. These discussions include the non-GAAP financial measure "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and provide an explanation of the non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation of the measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.
•"Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources" provides an analysis of the Registrants' liquidity positions and credit profiles. This section also includes a discussion of rating agency actions.
•"Financial Condition - Risk Management" provides an explanation of the Registrants' risk management programs relating to market and credit risk.
Overview
Introduction
(PPL)
PPL, headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a utility holding company. PPL, through its regulated utility subsidiaries, delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia and Rhode Island; delivers natural gas to customers in Kentucky and Rhode Island; and generates electricity from power plants in Kentucky.
PPL's principal subsidiaries are shown below (* denotes a Registrant).
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| PPL Corporation* | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL Capital FundingProvides financing for the operations of PPL and certain subsidiaries | |||||||||||||
| PPL Electric*Engages in the regulated transmission and distribution of electricity in Pennsylvania | LKEA holding company that owns regulated utility operations through its subsidiaries, LG&E and KU | RIEEngages in the regulated transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and regulated distribution and sale of natural gas in Rhode Island | |||||||||||
| LG&E*Engages in the regulated generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and regulated distribution and sale of natural gas in Kentucky | KU*Engages in the regulated generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity, primarily in Kentucky | ||||||||||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated Segment | Kentucky Regulated Segment | Rhode Island Regulated Segment |
In addition to PPL, the other Registrants included in this filing are as follows.
(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric, headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PPL and a regulated public utility that is an electricity transmission and distribution service provider in eastern and central Pennsylvania. PPL Electric is subject to regulation as a public utility by the PAPUC, and certain of its transmission activities are subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC under the Federal Power Act. PPL Electric delivers electricity in its Pennsylvania service area and provides electricity supply to retail customers in that area as a PLR under the Customer Choice Act. PPL Electric was organized in 1920 as Pennsylvania Power & Light Company.
(LG&E)
LG&E, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LKE and a regulated utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and distribution and sale of natural gas in Kentucky. LG&E is subject to regulation as a public utility by the KPSC, and certain of its transmission activities are subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC under the Federal Power Act.
(KU)
KU, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LKE and a regulated utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity in Kentucky and Virginia. KU is subject to regulation as a public utility by the KPSC and the VSCC, and certain of its transmission and wholesale power activities are subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC under the Federal Power Act. KU serves its Kentucky customers under the KU name and its Virginia customers under the Old Dominion Power name.
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Segment Information (PPL)
PPL is organized into three reportable segments as depicted in the chart above: Kentucky Regulated, which primarily represents the results of LG&E and KU, Pennsylvania Regulated, which primarily represents the results of PPL Electric, and Rhode Island Regulated, which primarily represents the results of RIE. "Corporate and Other" consists primarily of corporate level financing costs, certain unallocated costs and certain non-recoverable costs incurred prior to 2026 in conjunction with the acquisition of RIE.
Business Strategy
(All Registrants)
PPL operates four regulated utilities located in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Rhode Island. Each of these jurisdictions has distinct regulatory structures and each of the utilities has distinct customer classes.
PPL's strategy, which is supported by the other Registrants and subsidiaries, is focused on creating the utilities of the future to drive greater value for our customers and shareowners. Key objectives in support of this strategy include:
•Strengthening the reliability and resilience of our electric and gas networks to improve service and protect against current and future weather and storms.
•Advancing a cleaner energy future affordably and reliably. This includes expanding and modernizing our generation with natural gas, renewables and battery storage, while supporting research and development of low-carbon solutions.
•Driving operational efficiencies to improve customer service and help keep energy affordable.
•Utilizing artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to inform decision making, optimize asset planning and maintenance and better manage supply and demand on the grid.
•Empowering customers through expanded digital options and improved service.
•Engaging with key stakeholders to strengthen resource adequacy, power economic development, and support the growth and success of the regions we serve.
This strategy supports our mission to provide safe, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to our customers and competitive, long-term returns to shareowners.
Financial and Operational Developments
Regulatory Requirements
(All Registrants)
The Registrants cannot predict the impact that future regulatory requirements may have on their financial condition or results of operations.
Rate Case Proceedings
Rhode Island 2025 (PPL)
On November 26, 2025, RIE filed a request with the RIPUC for an increase in electric and natural gas base distribution rates, and approval of certain regulatory and accounting treatments. In its application, RIE seeks to implement a two-year rate plan. In the first year of the rate plan, RIE's proposed base distribution rates for electric and gas combined are designed to collect additional operating revenue of approximately $181 million ($66 million or 18.2% in electricity revenues and $115 million or 36.4% in gas revenues). In the second year of the rate plan, RIE's proposed base distribution rates for electric and gas combined are designed to collect the proposed base distribution rate increases for electric and gas in the first year of the rate plan and additional operating revenues of approximately $49 million ($17 million or 3.6% in electricity revenues and $32 million or 7.4% in gas revenues).
The application is based on a historical test year of September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025 and requested an authorized ROE of 10.75%. Subject to RIPUC approval, new rates are expected to become effective on September 1, 2026. Certain counterparties have intervened in the proceeding, and on April 16, 2026, submitted testimony. A ruling from the RIPUC is anticipated during the third quarter of 2026. PPL cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.
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Pennsylvania 2025 (PPL and PPL Electric)
On September 30, 2025, PPL Electric filed a request with the PAPUC for an increase in distribution base rates of approximately $356 million, more than $50 million of which is already included in customer bills through rate recovery mechanisms, and approval of certain regulatory and accounting treatments. The proposed increase in distribution base rates would increase PPL Electric's total annual revenue by approximately 8.6%. The application is based on a fully projected future test year of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 and requested an authorized ROE of 11.3%. Subject to PAPUC approval, new distribution base rates are expected to become effective on July 1, 2026.
On March 5, 2026, PPL Electric reached a non‑unanimous settlement in principle (the settlement) in its distribution rate case. On March 13, 2026, PPL Electric submitted a joint petition with the PAPUC reflecting the settlement to resolve all issues in PPL Electric's base rate proceeding.
The settlement proposed an annual electric base distribution revenue increase of approximately $275 million and does not stipulate a return on equity or capital structure. As part of the settlement, PPL Electric will not increase distribution base rates for two years from the effective date of the new rates. Additionally, the settlement:
•provides for DSIC eligible capital investment (and associated depreciation and tax effects) to be rolled into base rates, and for the DSIC to be reset to zero, capped at 5.0% of annual distribution revenues, upon implementation of new base rates.
•sets the expense from reportable storms recovered through base rates for the Storm Damage Expense Rider (SDER) at $32 million annually beginning July 1, 2026. To the extent eligible reportable storm expenses are above or below this level, over or under collections would be addressed through the SDER during the applicable recovery period.
•supports capitalization of Information Technology (IT) upgrades for planned system implementations and infrastructure costs for shared IT platforms. The total projected cost of these projects is expected to be $54 million, inclusive of AFUDC, through June 30, 2027.
•supports adoption of a new tariff schedule governing service to certain large load customers (including data centers). This new rate class would provide $11 million in support for PPL Electric's residential low-income program.
•provides for enhancements to Customer Assistance Program processes and customer notifications, an increase to the Low-Income Usage Reduction Program annual budget beginning January 1, 2027 of $1
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(All Registrants)
This "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" is separately filed by PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. Information contained herein relating to any individual Registrant is filed by such Registrant solely on its own behalf, and no Registrant makes any representation as to information relating to any other Registrant. The specific Registrant to which disclosures are applicable is identified in parenthetical headings in italics above the applicable disclosure or within the applicable disclosure for each Registrant's related activities and disclosures. Within combined disclosures, amounts are disclosed for individual Registrants when significant.
The following should be read in conjunction with the Registrants' Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes. Capitalized terms and abbreviations are defined in the glossary. Dollars are in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted.
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" includes the following information:
•"Overview" provides a description of each Registrant's business strategy and a discussion of important financial and operational developments.
•"Results of Operations" for all Registrants includes a "Statement of Income Analysis," which discusses significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2025 with 2024. For PPL, "Results of Operations" also includes "Segment Earnings," which provides a detailed analysis of earnings by reportable segment. These discussions include the non-GAAP financial measure "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and provide an explanation of the non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation of the measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.
•"Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources" provides an analysis of the Registrants' liquidity positions and credit profiles. This section also includes a discussion of forecasted sources and uses of cash and rating agency actions.
•"Financial Condition - Risk Management" provides an explanation of the Registrants' risk management programs relating to market and credit risk.
•"Application of Critical Accounting Policies" provides an overview of the accounting policies that are particularly important to the results of operations and financial condition of the Registrants and that require their management to make significant estimates, assumptions and other judgments of inherently uncertain matters.
For comparison of the Registrants' results of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2023, refer to "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the 2024 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 13, 2025.
Overview
For a description of the Registrants and their businesses, see "Item 1. Business."
Business Strategy (All Registrants)
PPL operates four regulated utilities located in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Rhode Island. Each of these jurisdictions has distinct regulatory structures and each of the utilities has distinct customer classes.
PPL's strategy, which is supported by the other Registrants and subsidiaries, is focused on creating the utilities of the future to drive greater value for our customers and shareowners. Key objectives in support of this strategy include:
•Strengthening the reliability and resilience of our electric and gas networks to improve service and protect against current and future weather and storms.
•Advancing a cleaner energy future affordably and reliably. This includes expanding and modernizing our generation with natural gas, renewables and battery storage, while supporting research and development of low-carbon solutions.
•Driving operational efficiencies to improve customer service and help keep energy affordable.
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•Utilizing artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to inform decision making, optimize asset planning and maintenance and better manage supply and demand on the grid.
•Empowering customers through expanded digital options and improved service.
•Engaging with key stakeholders to strengthen resource adequacy, power economic development, and support the growth and success of the regions we serve.
This strategy supports our mission to provide safe, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to our customers and competitive, long-term returns to shareowners.
Financial and Operational Developments
Joint Venture Agreement with Blackstone Infrastructure (PPL)
PPL and Blackstone Infrastructure have created a joint venture to build, own and operate new electricity generation stations to power data centers in Pennsylvania under long-term energy services agreements (ESAs) to address underlying resource adequacy and affordability concerns in Pennsylvania and PJM more broadly. Construction of new generation stations will require the execution of ESAs with data center developers, including hyperscalers, or the regulated utilities in Pennsylvania. PPL owns 51% of the joint venture interest and Blackstone Infrastructure owns 49%. The joint venture is actively engaged with hyperscalers, landowners, natural gas pipeline companies and turbine manufacturers, and has secured multiple land parcels to enable this new generation build out; however, no ESAs with hyperscalers have been signed as of the filing date of this Form 10-K.
Regulatory Requirements
(All Registrants)
The Registrants cannot predict the impact that future regulatory requirements may have on their financial condition or results of operations.
Rate Case Proceedings
(PPL)
On November 26, 2025, RIE filed a request with the RIPUC for an increase in electric and natural gas base distribution rates, and approval of certain regulatory and accounting treatments. In its application, RIE seeks to implement a two-year rate plan. In the first year of the rate plan, RIE's proposed base distribution rates for electric and gas combined are designed to collect additional operating revenue of approximately $181 million ($66 million or 18.2% in electricity revenues and $115 million or 36.4% in gas revenues). In the second year of the rate plan, RIE's proposed base distribution rates for electric and gas combined are designed to collect the proposed base distribution rate increases for electric and gas in the first year of the rate plan and additional operating revenues of approximately $49 million ($17 million or 3.6% in electricity revenues and $32 million or 7.4% in gas revenues).
The application is based on a historical test year of September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025 and requested an authorized ROE of 10.75%. Subject to RIPUC approval, new rates are expected to become effective on September 1, 2026. Certain counterparties have intervened in the proceeding. A ruling from the RIPUC is anticipated during the third quarter of 2026. PPL cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.
See "Regulatory Matters – Rhode Island Activities – Hold Harmless Implementation Agreement" in Note 7 to the Financial Statements for discussion on an additional rate making initiative to mitigate customer rate impacts.
(PPL and PPL Electric)
On September 30, 2025, PPL Electric filed a request with the PAPUC for an increase in distribution base rates of approximately $356 million, more than $50 million of which is already included in customer bills through rate recovery mechanisms, and approval of certain regulatory and accounting treatments. The proposed increase in distribution base rates would increase PPL Electric's total annual revenue by approximately 8.6%. The application is based on a fully projected future test year of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 and requested an authorized ROE of 11.3%. Subject to PAPUC approval, new rates are expected to become effective on July 1, 2026. Certain counterparties have intervened in the proceeding. A ruling from the PAPUC is anticipated during the second quarter of 2026. PPL and PPL Electric cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.
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(PPL, LG&E and KU)
On May 30, 2025, LG&E and KU filed requests with the KPSC for an increase in annual electricity and gas revenues of approximately $391 million ($105 million and $226 million in electricity revenues at LG&E and KU and $60 million in gas revenues at LG&E) and approval of certain regulatory and accounting treatments. The revenue increases would be an increase of 8.3% and 11.5% in electricity revenues at LG&E and KU, and an increase of 14.0% in gas revenues at LG&E.
The applications were based on a forecasted test year of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 and requested an authorized ROE of 10.95%. New interim rates became effective on January 1, 2026, subject to refund pursuant to the KPSC's final order. Certain counterparties have intervened in the proceedings.
On October 20, 2025, LG&E and KU filed with the KPSC a stipulation and recommendation (the agreement) regarding a proposed resolution of issues with a majority of the intervenors in the proceedings.
Under the agreement, the parties proposed that the KPSC should issue orders granting a revised increase in annual electricity and gas revenues of approximately $235 million ($58 million and $132 million in electricity revenues at LG&E and KU and $45 million in gas revenues at LG&E.) The agreement proposed a revised authorized ROE of 9.90%.
The agreement proposed a "stay out" commitment from LG&E and KU to refrain from effective base rate increases before August 1, 2028, subject to certain exceptions. In connection with the stay out period, the agreement also proposed the establishment of two new rate adjustment clause mechanisms, a Generation Cost Recovery Adjustment Clause (GCR) and a Sharing Mechanism Adjustment Clause (SM).
The proposed GCR mechanism would provide LG&E and KU recovery of and return on investment of covered costs (excluding fuel amounts, which LG&E and KU can recover via an existing rate mechanism) of relevant new generation and energy storage assets authorized in the 2022 and 2025 CPCN proceedings (excluding the Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC, see "2025 CPCN" for more information regarding the Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC) as they are placed in service.
The proposed SM mechanism would address any base rate revenue deficiency or surplus during the final thirteen months of the stay out period, July 2027 through July 2028, below or above a suggested ROE band of 9.40% to 10.15%. Any such base rate revenue deficiency or surplus would be collected from or returned to customers over a thirteen-month billing period beginning November 2028.
Following issuance of the 2025 CPCN Order, LG&E and KU filed supplemental testimony with the KPSC in the rate case proceedings seeking recovery of the Mill Creek Unit 2 stay open costs through a proposed additional rate adjustment clause mechanism.
The agreement further proposed that LG&E and KU use regulatory deferral accounting for actual expenses above or below base rate levels for certain expenses including: pension and post-retirement benefits, storm restoration, vegetation management, transmission waivers and credits, and gas line or well activities, with recovery of such deferred asset or liability amounts to be addressed in future rate cases.
On February 16, 2026, the KPSC issued orders approving portions of the October 2025 stipulation and recommendation, with modifications.
The KPSC orders provide for increases in annual electricity and gas revenues of $233 million ($59 million and $128 million in electricity revenues at LG&E and KU and $46 million in gas revenues at LG&E.) The orders include authorized returns on equity of 9.775% for base rate purposes and 9.675% for capital rate adjustment mechanisms.
The KPSC orders approve LG&E's and KU's requests for establishment of certain new rate adjustment mechanisms or tariffs, with modifications:
• a temporary Pilot Generation Recovery Adjustment Clause (PGR) to provide recovery of and return on investment of applicable costs of certain new generation and storage assets being built or anticipated to be built by LG&E and KU as authorized in the 2022 CPCN proceeding;
• the inclusion in the PGR of recovery of and return on investment of certain costs associated with a potential extension of the operating life of LG&E's Mill Creek Unit 2 beyond its original 2027 retirement date; and
• an Extremely High Load Factor Tariff for future applicable customers, such as data centers, which includes requirements such as long-term contracts, minimum revenue payments and collateral security structures that help protect the interests of LG&E, KU and of other ratepayers.
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The PGR mechanism is similar to the GCR proposed in the stipulation, but restructured by the KPSC to be a pilot adjustment mechanism with a term until the earlier of ten months following the submission of LG&E's and KU's next base rate proceeding or the effective date of new rates in such proceeding, with the expectation that the mechanism would be reviewed in such proceeding. The pilot mechanism will apply to the planned Mill Creek Unit 5, Brown Battery Energy Storage System, Mercer County Solar and Marion County Solar generation-related projects. The KPSC also included Mill Creek Unit 2's potential stay-open costs in the PGR in lieu of approving the stipulation's request for a stand-alone adjustment mechanism for such costs. Finally, the KPSC excluded from coverage under the PGR costs related to Mill Creek Unit 6 and Brown Unit 12 planned new generation assets due to their anticipated in-service dates falling outside of the estimated pilot mechanism's duration, but without prejudice to LG&E and KU seeking recovery of such costs in future proceedings.
The KPSC orders also approved, approved with modifications, or denied in some cases, other requested accounting and rate matters relating to regulatory assets or liabilities, depreciation rates, and other areas.
The rate changes have a retroactive effective date as of January 1, 2026. Consistent with authorized rate case procedures, LG&E and KU will refund to customers amounts billed in excess of the final approved rates within sixty days.
The KPSC orders did not approve the SM adjustment clause that had been requested in the stipulation and made no modifications to the stay out offer by LG&E and KU to refrain from effective base rate increases prior to August 2028.
LG&E and KU and all intervenors have rights to request rehearing or appeal of the orders of the KPSC and because the KPSC orders modified or denied terms of the proposed stipulation, LG&E and KU and all stipulating parties have the right to withdraw from the stipulation.
LG&E and KU continue to evaluate the details contained in the orders and related matters as they consider next steps. PPL, LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
In addition, pursuant to prior orders of the KPSC, the LG&E and KU rate case application included an assessment of a potential legal merger of LG&E and KU and concluded a legal merger may be appropriate. On December 30, 2025, LG&E filed a joint update with KU in the rate case proceedings stating that it expects to file necessary applications for merger approval in mid-2026 with the KPSC. Ultimately, formal approval for a merger would be required from the KPSC, VSCC and FERC via subsequent regulatory applications.
(PPL, LG&E and KU)
Environmental Considerations for Coal-Fired Generation
The businesses of LG&E and KU are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws, rules and regulations, including those pertaining to CCRs, GHG, and ELGs. See Notes 7, 12 and 18 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these significant environmental matters. These and other environmental requirements led PPL, LG&E and KU to retire approximately 1,500 MW of coal-fired generating plants in Kentucky since 2010. As part of the long-term generation planning process, LG&E and KU evaluate a range of factors including the impact of potential stricter environmental regulations, fuel price scenarios, the cost of replacement generation, continued operations and major maintenance costs and the risk of major equipment failures in determining when to retire generation assets.
As a result of environmental requirements and aging infrastructure, LG&E has sought and obtained approval to retire two older coal-fired units at the Mill Creek Plant. Mill Creek Unit 1, with 300 MW of capacity, was retired in 2024. Mill Creek Unit 2, with 297 MW of capacity, was approved to be retired in 2027, subject to certain conditions. On October 28, 2025, in LG&E and KU's 2025 CPCN proceeding, the KPSC declined to rule on a request to extend the operation of Mill Creek Unit 2. The KPSC indicated that a request for a new retirement approval proceeding may be required should LG&E elect to operate Mill Creek Unit 2 beyond its existing approved retirement date and seek to later retire the unit. See "Rate Case Proceedings" in Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
On October 4, 2024, LG&E submitted an application related to the retirement of Mill Creek Unit 1, which occurred on December 31, 2024, requesting recovery of associated costs under the RAR. On February 24, 2025, the KPSC issued an order approving LG&E's cost recovery for Mill Creek Unit 1 under the RAR of $125 million and related amounts were included in bills beginning in May 2025. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the Mill Creek Unit 1 RAR.
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2025 CPCN
On February 28, 2025, LG&E and KU filed an application with the KPSC regarding certain future plans for new generation and generation-related construction matters. The proposals included in the application were intended to serve anticipated load growth, including from potential data center demand in LG&E's or KU's service territory. The proposals did not include retirements of coal or other fossil-fueled plants, which would require additional KPSC approval procedures under Kentucky legislation enacted in 2023 and 2024.
LG&E and KU submitted a joint application to the KPSC for approval of certain certificates of public convenience and necessity, site compatibility certificates, and accounting treatment, where applicable, relating to a number of generation-related plans or projects that generally are expected to become operational or established within the next six years. The aggregate projected capital expenditures associated with these proposals were expected to be $3.7 billion. The application included proposals to build:
•a 645 MW NGCC generation unit at KU's E.W. Brown station (Brown Unit 12),
•a 645 MW NGCC generation unit at LG&E's Mill Creek station (Mill Creek Unit 6),
•a four-hour 400 MW (1600 MWh total) battery energy storage system (BESS) at LG&E's Cane Run station, and
•a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) environmental facility at KU's Ghent station Unit 2 (Ghent Unit 2).
The new NGCC units are anticipated to be wholly owned by LG&E and the BESS unit jointly owned by LG&E (32%) and KU (68%), with actual project costs allocated consistent with LG&E's and KU's ultimate ownership shares and existing shared dispatch, cost allocation, tariff or other frameworks. The proposed Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC is in addition to a new NGCC unit currently under construction at that location (Mill Creek Unit 5).
The filing also noted projected in service dates for the projects, including the Brown Unit 12 NGCC in 2030, the Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC in 2031, the Cane Run BESS in 2028 and the Ghent Unit 2 SCR in 2028.
On July 29, 2025, LG&E and KU filed with the KPSC a stipulation and recommendation regarding a proposed resolution of issues with several of the intervenors in the CPCN proceeding (stipulation). The stipulation recommended to the KPSC the approval of the large majority of LG&E's and KU's requested generation-related projects and associated accounting matters, subject to certain changes. Under the stipulation, the parties agreed the KPSC should issue an order granting a CPCN for the proposed: (a) Brown Unit 12 NGCC; (b) Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC; and (c) Ghent Unit 2 SCR. In addition, the proposal to build the $775 million Cane Run BESS would be withdrawn without prejudice, the relevant costs regarding the proposed $1.4 billion Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC would be recovered through a new rate adjustment clause mechanism, the retirement date for the existing Mill Creek Unit 2 coal unit would be extended from 2027 to the operational date of the proposed Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC or afterwards, subject to relevant future economic analysis, regulatory or environmental authorizations, and the relevant costs to continue to operate the Mill Creek Unit 2 coal unit would be recovered through a new rate adjustment clause mechanism. The stipulation also contained provisions relating to regulatory asset accounting, proposed data center tariffs, future renewable power requests-for-proposals and other matters. LG&E and KU would retain the right to seek approval of the potentially withdrawn Cane Run BESS or similar substitute project in future regulatory proceedings.
On October 28, 2025, the KPSC issued an order approving much of LG&E's and KU's July 2025 stipulation, with certain modifications. The order granted the requested CPCNs and site-related permits to construct the proposed Brown Unit 12 NGCC, Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC, and Ghent Unit 2 SCR. The order authorized inclusion of relevant costs of the Ghent Unit 2 SCR in KU's existing environmental cost recovery rate mechanism. The order established a separate monitoring case to receive and consider information during the construction of Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC.
The order approved requests regarding regulatory asset deferral accounting treatment for certain AFUDC related amounts and noted the KPSC's expectation that the stipulating parties would follow through with their commitments regarding tariffs and power supply contracts related to potential future data center or high load customers in LG&E's and KU's pending rate proceedings. The order also approved other elements of the stipulation or the originally-filed application, with minor modifications.
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The KPSC decided not to approve LG&E's and KU's proposed new rate adjustment cost recovery mechanisms for certain costs associated with Mill Creek Unit 6 NGCC and costs associated with operating the Mill Creek Unit 2 coal plant beyond its original retirement date in 2027. However, the denials were without prejudice to resubmission and the KPSC encouraged the parties to provide additional evidence on such matters in separate proceedings. LG&E and KU provided such evidence addressing recovery of the Mill Creek Unit 2 stay open costs in their pending rate case proceedings. Recovery of Mill Creek Unit 6 costs will be addressed in a future proceeding. The KPSC declined to rule on the matter related to the retirement date of Mill Creek Unit 2 coal plant. The KPSC indicated that a request for a new retirement approval proceeding may be required should LG&E elect to operate Mill Creek Unit 2 beyond its existing approved retirement date and seek to later retire the unit.
In light of the conditional withdrawal in the stipulation, the order did not include a CPCN for the Cane Run BESS. LG&E and KU retain the right to seek approval of the Cane Run BESS project or similar substitute projects at any time in future regulatory proceedings.
FERC Transmission Rate Filing
In 2018, LG&E and KU applied to the FERC requesting elimination of certain on-going waivers and credits to a sub-set of transmission customers relating to the 1998 merger of LG&E's and KU's parent entities and the 2006 withdrawal of LG&E and KU from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), a regional transmission operator and energy market. The application sought termination of LG&E's and KU's commitment to provide certain Kentucky municipalities mitigation for certain horizontal market power concerns arising out of the 1998 LG&E and KU merger and 2006 MISO withdrawal. The amounts at issue are generally waivers or credits granted to a limited number of Kentucky municipalities for either certain LG&E and KU or MISO transmission charges incurred for transmission service received. In 2019, the FERC granted LG&E's and KU's request to remove the ongoing credits, conditioned upon the implementation by LG&E and KU of a transition mechanism for certain existing power supply arrangements, which was subsequently filed, modified, and approved by the FERC in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, LG&E and KU and other parties filed appeals with the U.S. Court of Appeals - D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals) regarding the FERC's orders on the elimination of the mitigation and required transition mechanism. In August 2022, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order remanding the proceedings back to the FERC. On May 18, 2023, the FERC issued an order on remand reversing its 2019 decision and requiring LG&E and KU to refund credits previously withheld, including under such transition mechanism. LG&E and KU filed a petition for review of the FERC's May 18, 2023 order with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and provided refunds in accordance with the FERC order on December 1, 2023. The FERC issued an order on LG&E's and KU's compliance filing on November 16, 2023, and LG&E and KU filed a petition for review of this November 16, 2023 order on February 14, 2024. The FERC issued the substantive order on rehearing on March 21, 2024, reaffirming its prior decision. On August 8, 2025, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a procedural ruling vacating the FERC's prior orders and remanded the matter back to the FERC for further proceedings. LG&E and KU cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the proceedings or any other post decision process but do not expect the annual impact to have a material effect on their operations or financial condition. LG&E and KU currently receive recovery of certain waivers and credits primarily through existing base rate levels.
(PPL)
Hold Harmless Implementation Agreement
As a condition of its approval of the acquisition of RIE in May 2022, the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers required PPL to hold harmless Rhode Island customers from the impact of future rate increases resulting from changes in Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes as a result of the Acquisition (the Hold Harmless Commitment). On June 13, 2025, an agreement was entered into by and among RIE, PPL, PPL Rhode Island Holdings and the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers Advocacy Section (the Hold Harmless Implementation Agreement) to satisfy the Hold Harmless Commitment by providing approximately $155 million in miscellaneous bill credits issued to customers, with approximately $74 million to be issued in the first quarter of 2026 and approximately $81 million to be issued in the first quarter of 2027. The bill credits would be recorded as a reduction to revenue in the periods in which the credits are applied to customers' bills. On September 10, 2025, the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers issued an order confirming that RIE's provision of proposed miscellaneous bill credits as set forth in the Hold Harmless Implementation Agreement would satisfy the Hold Harmless Commitment. Also on September 10, 2025, the RIPUC opened a docket to evaluate the miscellaneous bill credit proposal set forth in the Hold Harmless Implementation Agreement, including the underlying rate accounting, and required RIE to file a tariff advice with the RIPUC, which RIE filed on October 2, 2025. After responding to discovery in that proceeding and before the evidentiary hearing was held or convened, RIE filed a notice of withdrawal of its tariff advice filing noting that it would hold in abeyance a comprehensive satisfaction of the Hold Harmless Commitment at this time. As a result of RIE's filing the notice of withdrawal, the Commission cancelled the evidentiary hearing. The docket remains open, but there has been no further activity since RIE's withdrawal of the tariff advice and the RIPUC's cancellation of the evidentiary hearing. PPL cannot predict whether there will be any further proceedings on the docket or the outcome of any further proceedings that may occur.
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Winter Bill Volatility Docket
At an Open Meeting on November 24, 2025, the RIPUC approved several measures to help mitigate winter bill increases for electric customers. First, the RIPUC approved miscellaneous bill credits for all residential electric customers of $23.54 per month for January, February, and March 2026. Second, the RIPUC paused the Storm Fund Replenishment Factor for usage on and after January 1, 2026, subject to further review through the 2026 Annual Retail Rate Filing. Third, the RIPUC paused the electric Energy Efficiency Charge for usage beginning January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026. To offset the costs of the miscellaneous bill credits, the RIPUC directed RIE to apply the December 31, 2025 electric Energy Efficiency fund balance, net of any earned incentives, and directed RIE to transfer $11 million from the storm fund balance. The RIPUC approved future cost recovery for RIE of any unfunded balance of the miscellaneous bill credits through future identified offsets and/or a reconciling recovery mechanism to be determined in conjunction with the 2026 electric retail rate filing to allow recovery by December 31, 2026. Any remaining unfunded balance shall accrue at RIE's weighted average cost of capital.
FY 2027 Gas ISR Plan
On December 22, 2025, RIE filed its FY 2027 Gas ISR Plan with the RIPUC with a budget of $184 million that primarily included $166 million of capital investment spend and $17 million for spending on curb-to-curb paving. A decision from the RIPUC on the Plan is expected by March 31, 2026. RIE cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
FY 2027 Electric ISR Plan
On December 22, 2025, RIE filed its FY 2027 Electric ISR Plan with the RIPUC with a budget that primarily included $154 million of capital investment spend (including $18 million for Advanced Metering Functionality) and $13 million of vegetation operation and maintenance spend. A decision from the RIPUC is expected by March 31, 2026. RIE cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
DSIC Petition (PPL and PPL Electric)
On April 26, 2024, PPL Electric filed a Petition with the PAPUC requesting that the PAPUC waive PPL Electric's DSIC cap of 5% of billed revenues and increase the maximum allowable DSIC to 9% for bills rendered on or after January 1, 2025. On February 28, 2025, the PAPUC issued its written order permitting PPL Electric to increase its DSIC cap from 5% to 7.5% for bills rendered on or after March 13, 2025 until the effective date of rates established in PPL Electric's next base rate case or the end of the PPL Electric's 2023-2027 Long-term Infrastructure Improvement Plan, whichever occurs first, at which time it will return to 5%.
Results of Operations
(PPL)
The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2025 with 2024. The "Segment Earnings" discussions provide a review of results by reportable segment. These discussions include the non-GAAP financial measure "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and provide an explanation of the non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation of the measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
A "Statement of Income Analysis" is presented separately for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2025 with 2024. The results of operations section for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU is presented in a reduced disclosure format in accordance with General Instructions (I)(2)(a) of Form 10-K.
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PPL: Statement of Income Analysis and Segment Earnings
Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 9,042 | $ | 8,462 | $ | 580 | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 855 | 783 | 72 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 1,892 | 1,679 | 213 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 2,431 | 2,607 | (176) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 1,312 | 1,279 | 33 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 423 | 374 | 49 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 6,913 | 6,722 | 191 | |||||||
| Operating Income | 2,129 | 1,740 | 389 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 151 | 114 | 37 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 808 | 738 | 70 | |||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 1,472 | 1,116 | 356 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 291 | 228 | 63 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 1,181 | $ | 888 | $ | 293 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric distribution volumes (a) | $ | 34 |
| PPL Electric PLR (b) | 174 | |
| PPL Electric transmission formula rate (c) | 45 | |
| LG&E volumes (d) | 15 | |
| LG&E fuel and other energy purchases (e) | 67 | |
| LG&E off-system sales (f) | 11 | |
| KU volumes (d) | 34 | |
| KU fuel and other energy purchases (g) | 31 | |
| KU off-system sales (f) | 18 | |
| RIE energy purchases and other recoveries (h) | 140 | |
| RIE capital investment | 20 | |
| Other | (9) | |
| Total | $ | 580 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to weather and higher other usage in 2025.
(b)The increase was primarily due to higher energy prices, more PLR customers and higher customer volumes due to weather and other higher usage.
(c)The increase was primarily due to returns on additional transmission capital investments and return of depreciation expense.
(d)The increases were primarily due to weather.
(e)The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel expenses and energy purchases.
(f)The increases were primarily due to higher volumes.
(g)The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel expenses.
(h)The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of energy purchases primarily due to net metering credits, transmission expenses and gross earnings taxes
Fuel
Fuel expense increased $72 million in 2025 compared with 2024, primarily due to a $40 million increase in commodity costs and a $32 million increase in volumes due to weather.
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Energy Purchases
The increase (decrease) in energy purchases was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric PLR volumes | $ | 57 |
| PPL Electric PLR prices | 92 | |
| LG&E commodity costs | 14 | |
| LG&E volumes | 23 | |
| RIE net metering | 19 | |
| Other | 8 | |
| Total | $ | 213 |
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric DER projects impairment (a) | $ | (21) |
| PPL Electric vegetation management expenses | (14) | |
| PPL Electric bad debt expenses | (21) | |
| PPL Electric storm expenses | (13) | |
| RIE gas maintenance expenses | 25 | |
| RIE transmission expenses | 62 | |
| RIE integration related expenses (b) | (57) | |
| RIE customer service expenses | 27 | |
| RIE pension alignment (c) | 22 | |
| IT costs (d) | 76 | |
| Transition costs associated with RIE (e) | (236) | |
| Other | (26) | |
| Total | $ | (176) |
(a)2024 impairment of DER project costs associated with a pilot solar program for which PPL will not seek regulatory recovery.
(b)Certain transition services agreement costs in 2024 for IT systems that will not be part of PPL's ongoing operations.
(c)The increase is primarily due to a reclassification of the pension adjustment mechanism to align with PPL's accounting for other revenue related recovery items.
(d)Primarily costs associated with PPL's restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and systems.
(e)See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Interest Expense
The increase (decrease) in interest expense was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt (a) | $ | 47 |
| Short-term debt | 13 | |
| Other | 10 | |
| Total | $ | 70 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to increased borrowings, partially offset by debt extinguishment gains resulting from affiliated debt repurchases. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
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Income Taxes
The increase (decrease) in income taxes was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Federal tax on change in pre-tax income | $ | 75 |
| State income taxes | 8 | |
| Income tax credits | (8) | |
| Amortization of (excess)/deficient deferred taxes | (5) | |
| AFUDC Equity | (10) | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Total | $ | 63 |
See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information on income taxes.
Segment Earnings
PPL's Net Income (Loss) by reportable segments was as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | $ | 674 | $ | 620 | $ | 54 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 639 | 574 | 65 | |||||||
| Rhode Island Regulated | 85 | 109 | (24) | |||||||
| Corporate and Other (a) | (217) | (415) | 198 | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 1,181 | $ | 888 | $ | 293 |
(a)Primarily represents financing and certain other costs incurred at the corporate level that have not been allocated or assigned to the segments, which are presented to reconcile segment information to PPL's consolidated results.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations
Management utilizes "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" as a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered as an alternative to net income, an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes that Earnings from Ongoing Operations is useful and meaningful to investors because it provides management's view of PPL's earnings performance as another criterion in making investment decisions. In addition, PPL's management uses Earnings from Ongoing Operations in measuring achievement of certain corporate performance goals, including targets for certain executive incentive compensation. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations is adjusted for the impact of special items. Special items are presented in the financial tables on an after-tax basis with the related income taxes on special items separately disclosed. Income taxes on special items, when applicable, are calculated based on the statutory tax rate of the entity where the activity is recorded. Special items may include items such as:
• Gains and losses on sales of assets not in the ordinary course of business.
• Impairment charges.
• Significant workforce reduction and other restructuring effects.
• Acquisition and divestiture-related adjustments.
• Other charges or credits that are, in management's view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.
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PPL's Earnings from Ongoing Operations by reportable segment were as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | $ | 693 | $ | 624 | $ | 69 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 640 | 607 | 33 | |||||||
| Rhode Island Regulated | 142 | 155 | (13) | |||||||
| Corporate and Other | (131) | (136) | 5 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 1,344 | $ | 1,250 | $ | 94 |
See "Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations" below for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to Net Income.
Kentucky Regulated Segment
The Kentucky Regulated segment consists primarily of LG&E's and KU's regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations, as well as LG&E's regulated distribution and sale of natural gas.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,760 | $ | 3,562 | $ | 198 | ||||
| Fuel | 855 | 783 | 72 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 214 | 176 | 38 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 818 | 803 | 15 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 717 | 710 | 7 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 102 | 99 | 3 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,706 | 2,571 | 135 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 53 | 29 | 24 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 264 | 240 | 24 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 169 | 160 | 9 | |||||||
| Net Income | 674 | 620 | 54 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (19) | (4) | (15) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 693 | $ | 624 | $ | 69 |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Kentucky Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FERC transmission credit refund, net of tax of $0 (a) | Operating Revenues | $ | — | $ | 1 | |||
| ECR beneficial reuse transition adjustment, net of tax of $2 (b) | Operating Revenues | — | (4) | |||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0 (c) | Other operation and maintenance | — | (1) | |||||
| IT transformation, net of tax of $5 (d) | Other operation and maintenance | (16) | — | |||||
| Office relocation and related costs, net of tax of $1 (e) | Other operation and maintenance | (3) | — | |||||
| Total | $ | (19) | $ | (4) |
(a)Prior period impact related to a FERC refund order.
(b)Prior period impact for an ECR mechanism revenue adjustment related to a KPSC order.
(c)Costs incurred related to PPL's corporate centralization efforts.
(d)Costs associated with PPL's restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and systems.
(e)Certain costs related to the relocation of corporate offices.
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The changes in the components of the Kentucky Regulated segment's results between these periods were due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | 194 |
| Fuel | (72) | |
| Energy purchases | (38) | |
| Other operation and maintenance | 9 | |
| Depreciation | (7) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (3) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 24 | |
| Interest Expense | (24) | |
| Income Taxes | (14) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 69 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | (15) | |
| Net Income | $ | 54 |
•Higher operating revenues in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a $98 million increase in recoveries of fuel and energy purchases, a $50 million increase in sales volumes due to weather and a $29 million increase in off-system sales.
•Higher fuel expense in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a $40 million increase in commodity costs and a $32 million increase in volumes due to weather.
•Higher energy purchases in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a $24 million increase in volumes primarily due to weather and a $14 million increase in commodity costs.
Pennsylvania Regulated Segment
The Pennsylvania Regulated segment includes the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations of PPL Electric.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,113 | $ | 2,876 | $ | 237 | ||||
| Energy purchases | 876 | 721 | 155 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 630 | 705 | (75) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 413 | 401 | 12 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 151 | 131 | 20 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,070 | 1,958 | 112 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 48 | 45 | 3 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | 9 | 33 | (24) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 257 | 246 | 11 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 204 | 176 | 28 | |||||||
| Net Income | 639 | 574 | 65 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (1) | (33) | 32 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 640 | $ | 607 | $ | 33 |
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The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $5 (a) | Other operation and maintenance | $ | — | $ | (13) | |||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $2 (b) | Other operation and maintenance | — | (5) | |||||
| DER projects impairment, net of tax of $6 (c) | Other operation and maintenance | — | (15) | |||||
| Office relocation and related costs, net of tax of $0 (d) | Other operation and maintenance | (2) | — | |||||
| Office relocation and related costs (e) | Income Taxes | 5 | — | |||||
| IT transformation, net of tax of $1 (f) | Other operation and maintenance | (4) | — | |||||
| Total | $ | (1) | $ | (33) |
(a)Certain expenses related to billing issues.
(b)Costs incurred related to PPL's corporate centralization efforts.
(c)Impairment of DER project costs associated with a pilot solar program for which PPL will not seek regulatory recovery.
(d)Certain costs related to the relocation of corporate offices.
(e)Tax benefit related to the sale of a corporate office.
(f)Costs associated with PPL's restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and systems.
The changes in the components of the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results between these periods are due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | 237 |
| Energy purchases | (155) | |
| Other operation and maintenance | 36 | |
| Depreciation | (12) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (20) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 3 | |
| Interest Income from Affiliate | (24) | |
| Interest Expense | (11) | |
| Income Taxes | (21) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 33 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | 32 | |
| Net Income | $ | 65 |
•Higher operating revenues in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a $174 million increase in PLR, a $45 million increase in transmission formula rate revenue and a $34 million increase in distribution volumes.
•Higher energy purchases in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a $92 million increase in PLR prices and a $57 million increase in PLR volumes.
•Lower other operation and maintenance expense in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a $14 million decrease in vegetation management expenses and a $13 million decrease in storm expenses.
Rhode Island Regulated Segment
The Rhode Island Regulated segment consists primarily of the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations and regulated distribution and sale of natural gas conducted by RIE.
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Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 2,168 | $ | 2,024 | $ | 144 | ||||
| Energy purchases | 802 | 782 | 20 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 851 | 731 | 120 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 177 | 165 | 12 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 170 | 144 | 26 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,000 | 1,822 | 178 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 33 | 20 | 13 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | 3 | 4 | (1) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 111 | 95 | 16 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 8 | 22 | (14) | |||||||
| Net Income | 85 | 109 | (24) | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (57) | (46) | (11) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 142 | $ | 155 | $ | (13) |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Rhode Island Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $1 (a) | Operating Revenues | $ | (4) | $ | — | |||||
| Post TSA adjustments, net of tax of $3 (b) | Operating Revenues | (12) | — | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $0, $13 (a) | Other operation and maintenance | (1) | (45) | |||||||
| IT transformation, net of tax of $2 (c) | Other operation and maintenance | (8) | — | |||||||
| Post TSA adjustments, net of tax of $1 (b) | Other operation and maintenance | (4) | — | |||||||
| Customer system integration impacts, net of tax of $4 (d) | Other operation and maintenance | (15) | — | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of ($2), $0 (a) | Other Income (Expense) - net | 7 | (1) | |||||||
| Energy efficiency programs settlement, net of tax of $2 (e) | Other Income (Expense) - net | (6) | — | |||||||
| Post TSA adjustments, net of tax of $2 (b) | Other Income (Expense) - net | (9) | — | |||||||
| Post TSA adjustments, net of tax of $1 (b) | Interest Expense | (5) | — | |||||||
| Total | $ | (57) | $ | (46) |
(a)2025 primarily includes a final transition services agreement settlement and certain other acquisition related items. 2024 primarily includes certain transition services agreement costs for IT systems that will not be part of PPL's ongoing operations.
(b)Adjustments related to account reconciliations and process alignment subsequent to the end of the transition services agreement associated with the acquisition of RIE.
(c)Costs associated with PPL's restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and systems.
(d)Certain collection process costs incurred due to the timing and implementation of the customer system integration.
(e)See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
The changes in the components of the Rhode Island Regulated segment's results between these periods are due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | 165 |
| Energy purchases | (20) | |
| Other operation and maintenance | (142) | |
| Depreciation | (12) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (26) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 23 | |
| Interest Income from Affiliate | (1) | |
| Interest Expense | (10) | |
| Income Taxes | 10 | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | (13) | |
| Special Items, after-tax | (11) | |
| Net Income | $ | (24) |
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•Higher operating revenues in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a $140 million increase primarily from recovery of transmission expenses, gross earnings taxes and net metering credits and a $20 million increase related to capital investments.
•Higher energy purchases in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to an increase in net metering.
•Higher other operation and maintenance expense in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a $62 million increase in transmission expenses, a $30 million increase in IT costs, a $27 million increase in customer service costs, a $25 million increase in gas maintenance expenses and a $22 million increase due to a reclassification of the pension adjustment mechanism to align with PPL's accounting for other revenue related recovery items, partially offset by a $22 million decrease in bad debt expenses.
•Higher depreciation in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to an increase in PP&E additions, net of retirements.
•Higher taxes, other than income in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to an increase in gross earnings taxes.
•Higher other income (expense) - net in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to a reclassification of the pension adjustment mechanism to align with PPL's accounting for other revenue related recovery items.
•Higher interest expense in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to increased borrowings.
•Lower income taxes in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to $5 million of lower pre-tax income and a $4 million deferred tax adjustment.
Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations
The following tables contain after-tax gains (losses), in total, which management considers special items, that are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations, and a reconciliation to PPL's "Net Income" for the years ended December 31.
| 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | RI Regulated | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 674 | $ | 639 | $ | 85 | $ | (217) | $ | 1,181 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of ($1) (a) | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $0, $15 (b) | — | — | 2 | (56) | (54) | |||||||||||||||||
| IT transformation, net of tax of $5, $1, $2, $9 (c) | (16) | (4) | (8) | (33) | (61) | |||||||||||||||||
| Energy efficiency programs settlement, net of tax of $2 (d) | — | — | (6) | — | (6) | |||||||||||||||||
| Office relocation and related costs, net of tax of $1, $5 (e) | (3) | 3 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| Post TSA adjustments, net of tax of $8 (f) | — | — | (30) | — | (30) | |||||||||||||||||
| Customer system integration impacts, net of tax of $4 (g) | — | — | (15) | — | (15) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | (19) | (1) | (57) | (86) | (163) | |||||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 693 | $ | 640 | $ | 142 | $ | (131) | $ | 1,344 |
(a)PPL incurred legal expenses and received insurance reimbursement related to litigation associated with its former affiliate, Talen Montana, LLC and certain affiliated entities.
(b)Rhode Island Regulated primarily includes a final transition services agreement settlement and certain other acquisition related items. Corporate and Other primarily includes integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of RIE.
(c)Costs associated with PPL's restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and systems.
(d)See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(e)Certain costs and tax benefits related to the relocation of corporate offices.
(f)Adjustments related to account reconciliations and process alignment subsequent to the end of the transition services agreement associated with the acquisition of RIE.
(g)Certain collection process costs incurred due to the timing and implementation of the customer system integration.
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| 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | RI Regulated | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 620 | $ | 574 | $ | 109 | $ | (415) | $ | 888 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $1 (a) | — | — | — | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $2, $2 (b) | (1) | (5) | — | (5) | (11) | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $13, $66 (c) | — | — | (46) | (250) | (296) | |||||||||||||||||
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $5 (d) | — | (13) | — | — | (13) | |||||||||||||||||
| FERC transmission credit refund, net of tax of $0 (e) | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| ECR beneficial reuse transition adjustment, net of tax of $2 (f) | (4) | — | — | — | (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| DER projects impairment, net of tax of $6 (g) | — | (15) | — | — | (15) | |||||||||||||||||
| IT transformation, net of tax of $5 (h) | — | — | — | (22) | (22) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | (4) | (33) | (46) | (279) | (362) | |||||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 624 | $ | 607 | $ | 155 | $ | (136) | $ | 1,250 |
(a)PPL incurred legal expenses related to litigation associated with its former affiliate, Talen Montana, LLC and certain affiliated entities.
(b)Represents costs primarily related to PPL's centralization and other strategic efforts.
(c)Rhode Island Regulated primarily includes certain transition services agreement costs for IT systems that will not be part of PPL's ongoing operations. Corporate and Other primarily includes integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of RIE.
(d)Certain expenses related to billing issues.
(e)Prior period impact related to a FERC refund order.
(f)Prior period impact for an ECR mechanism revenue adjustment related to a KPSC order.
(g)Impairment of DER project costs associated with a pilot solar program for which PPL will not seek regulatory recovery.
(h)Costs associated with PPL's restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and systems.
PPL Electric: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,113 | $ | 2,876 | $ | 237 | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 876 | 721 | 155 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 630 | 705 | (75) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 413 | 401 | 12 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 151 | 131 | 20 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,070 | 1,958 | 112 | |||||||
| Operating Income | 1,043 | 918 | 125 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 48 | 45 | 3 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | 9 | 33 | (24) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 257 | 246 | 11 | |||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 843 | 750 | 93 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 204 | 176 | 28 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 639 | $ | 574 | $ | 65 |
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Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Distribution price (a) | $ | (14) |
| Distribution volume (b) | 34 | |
| PLR (c) | 174 | |
| Transmission formula rate (d) | 45 | |
| Other | (2) | |
| Total | $ | 237 |
(a)The decrease was primarily due to reconcilable cost recovery mechanisms approved by the PAPUC.
(b)The increase was primarily due to weather and higher other usage in 2025.
(c)The increase was primarily the result of higher energy prices, more PLR customers and higher customer volumes due to weather and other higher usage.
(d)The increase was primarily due to returns on additional transmission capital investments and return of depreciation expense.
Energy Purchases
Energy purchases increased $155 million in 2025 compared with 2024, primarily due to higher PLR prices of $92 million and higher PLR volumes of $57 million.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetation management expenses | $ | (14) | ||
| Bad debts | (21) | |||
| DER projects impairment (a) | (21) | |||
| Storm expenses | (13) | |||
| Other | (6) | |||
| Total | $ | (75) |
(a)2024 impairment of DER project costs associated with a pilot solar program for which PPL will not seek regulatory recovery.
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LG&E: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 1,718 | $ | 1,617 | $ | 101 | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 30 | 31 | (1) | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,748 | 1,648 | 100 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 338 | 308 | 30 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 187 | 151 | 36 | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliate | 22 | 20 | 2 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 364 | 349 | 15 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 307 | 305 | 2 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 51 | 49 | 2 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,269 | 1,182 | 87 | |||||||
| Operating Income | 479 | 466 | 13 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 24 | 12 | 12 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | — | 1 | (1) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 116 | 105 | 11 | |||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 387 | 374 | 13 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 78 | 77 | 1 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 309 | $ | 297 | $ | 12 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and other energy purchases (a) | $ | 60 |
| Volumes (b) | 15 | |
| Off-system sales (c) | 17 | |
| Other | 8 | |
| Total | $ | 100 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel expenses and energy purchases.
(b)The increase was primarily due to weather.
(c)The increase was primarily due to higher volumes.
Fuel
Fuel expense increased $30 million in 2025 compared with 2024, primarily due to an increase in commodity costs.
Energy Purchases
Energy purchases increased $36 million in 2025 compared with 2024, primarily due to a $23 million increase in volumes primarily due to weather and a $14 million increase in commodity costs.
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KU: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 2,042 | $ | 1,944 | $ | 98 | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 22 | 20 | 2 | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 2,064 | 1,964 | 100 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 517 | 476 | 41 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 26 | 25 | 1 | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliate | 30 | 31 | (1) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 416 | 413 | 3 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 408 | 403 | 5 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 51 | 49 | 2 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,448 | 1,397 | 51 | |||||||
| Operating Income | 616 | 567 | 49 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 29 | 15 | 14 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 148 | 137 | 11 | |||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 497 | 445 | 52 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 99 | 89 | 10 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 398 | $ | 356 | $ | 42 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and other energy purchases (a) | $ | 30 |
| Volumes (b) | 34 | |
| Off-system sales (c) | 19 | |
| Other | 17 | |
| Total | $ | 100 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel expenses.
(b)The increase was primarily due to weather.
(c)The increase was primarily due to higher volumes.
Fuel
Fuel expense increased $41 million in 2025 compared with 2024, primarily due to a $24 million increase in volumes due to weather and an $18 million increase in commodity costs.
Financial Condition
The remainder of this Item 7 in this Form 10-K is presented on a combined basis, providing information, as applicable, for all Registrants.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
(All Registrants)
The Registrants' cash flows from operations and access to cost-effective bank and capital markets are subject to risks and uncertainties. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect the Registrants' cash flows.
The Registrants had the following at:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,071 | $ | 30 | $ | 162 | $ | 10 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 456 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 904 | — | 90 | 164 | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | — | 36 | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 306 | $ | 24 | $ | 8 | $ | 13 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 303 | — | 25 | 140 | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 551 | — | 300 | 250 | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | 43 | 73 |
(All Registrants)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31 and the changes between periods were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 2,629 | $ | 1,050 | $ | 599 | $ | 798 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (4,004) | (1,503) | (803) | (986) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 2,122 | 459 | 349 | 176 | ||||||||||
| 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 2,340 | $ | 1,042 | $ | 554 | $ | 723 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (2,818) | (1,455) | (444) | (643) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 435 | 386 | (130) | (89) | ||||||||||
| 2025 vs. 2024 Change | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 289 | $ | 8 | $ | 45 | $ | 75 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (1,186) | (48) | (359) | (343) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 1,687 | 73 | 479 | 265 |
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Operating Activities
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) operating activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 293 | $ | 65 | $ | 12 | $ | 42 | ||||||
| Non-cash components | 17 | (107) | (9) | 16 | ||||||||||
| Working capital | 13 | 77 | 33 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Other operating activities | (34) | (27) | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 289 | $ | 8 | $ | 45 | $ | 75 |
A majority of the Registrants' operating cash flows are provided by their electric and natural gas utilities, which are significantly influenced by factors such as weather, regulatory mechanisms, economic conditions, changes in working capital and operating costs.
(PPL)
PPL's cash provided by operating activities in 2025 increased $289 million compared with 2024.
•Net income increased $293 million between the periods and included an increase in non-cash components of $17 million.
•The $13 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to an increase in regulatory liabilities, taxes payable and other current liabilities and a decrease in prepayments, partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable.
•The $34 million decrease in cash from other operating activities was primarily due to an increase in other noncurrent assets, partially offset by an increase in other noncurrent liabilities.
(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric's cash provided by operating activities in 2025 increased $8 million compared with 2024.
•Net income increased $65 million between the periods and included a decrease in non-cash components of $107 million, primarily due to a decrease in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits.
•The $77 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to an increase in regulatory liabilities and taxes payable and a decrease in prepayments, partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable.
•The $27 million decrease in cash from other operating activities was primarily due to an increase in other noncurrent assets.
(LG&E)
LG&E's cash provided by operating activities in 2025 increased $45 million compared with 2024.
•Net income increased $12 million between the periods and included a decrease in non-cash components of $9 million.
•The $33 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to an increase in taxes payable and a decrease in accounts receivable.
•The $9 million increase in cash from other operating activities was primarily due to an increase in other noncurrent liabilities, partially offset by an increase in other noncurrent assets.
(KU)
KU's cash provided by operating activities in 2025 increased $75 million compared with 2024.
•Net income increased $42 million between the periods and included an increase in non-cash components of $16 million.
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•The $7 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to an increase in accounts payable and taxes payable, partially offset by a decrease in regulatory liabilities.
•The $10 million increase in cash from other operating activities was primarily due to an increase in other noncurrent assets.
Investing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) investing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Expenditures for PP&E | $ | (1,225) | $ | (379) | $ | (323) | $ | (340) | ||||||
| Notes receivable from affiliate | — | 301 | (36) | — | ||||||||||
| Other investing activities | 39 | 30 | — | (3) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | (1,186) | $ | (48) | $ | (359) | $ | (343) |
For PPL, the increase in expenditures for PP&E was primarily due to an increase in project expenditures at PPL Electric, LG&E, KU and RIE. The increase in expenditures at PPL Electric was primarily due to increases in transmission and distribution projects. The increase in expenditures at LG&E was primarily due to Mill Creek Units 5 and 6, the E.W. Brown battery storage project and the Bullitt County system reinforcement project. The increase in expenditures at KU was primarily due to Mill Creek Unit 5.
See "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for detail regarding projected capital expenditures for the years 2026 through 2028.
For PPL Electric, the changes in "Notes receivable from affiliate" activity resulted from payments received in 2025 on the short-term note between affiliates, issued in 2024 to support general corporate purposes. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany borrowings.
Financing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) financing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 vs. 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt issuance/retirement, net | $ | 535 | $ | (153) | $ | 400 | $ | 450 | ||||||
| Dividends | (47) | (26) | (13) | (17) | ||||||||||
| Issuance of treasury stock | 399 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Capital contributions/distributions, net | — | (258) | 237 | 138 | ||||||||||
| Changes in net short-term debt | 842 | 509 | (50) | (187) | ||||||||||
| Note payable with affiliate | — | — | (86) | (110) | ||||||||||
| Other financing activities | (42) | 1 | (9) | (9) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,687 | $ | 73 | $ | 479 | $ | 265 |
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for information on 2025 activity.
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See "Long-term Debt and Equity Securities" below for additional information on current year activity. See "Forecasted Sources of Cash" for a discussion of the Registrants' plans to issue debt and equity securities, as well as a discussion of credit facility capacity available to the Registrants. Also see "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for a discussion of PPL's plans to pay dividends on common securities in the future, as well as the Registrants' maturities of long-term debt.
Long-term Debt and Equity Securities
Long-term debt and equity securities activity for 2025 included:
| Debt | Stock | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuances (a) | Retirements | Issuances (b) | Repurchases | |||||||||||
| Cash Flow Impact: | ||||||||||||||
| PPL (c) | $ | 3,045 | $ | 616 | $ | 401 | $ | — | ||||||
| PPL Electric | 496 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| LG&E | 700 | 300 | — | — | ||||||||||
| KU | 700 | 250 | — | — |
(a)Issuances are net of pricing discounts, where applicable, and exclude the impact of debt issuance costs.
(b)Primarily includes issuances of treasury stock.
(c)Retirements include $65 million related to repurchased affiliate debt. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional long-term debt information.
Forecasted Sources of Cash
(All Registrants)
The Registrants expect to continue to have adequate liquidity available from operating cash flows, cash and cash equivalents, credit facilities, commercial paper issuances and debt, hybrid, and equity issuances to meet their requirements with respect to their contractual obligations and anticipated capital expenditures. Equity capital for PPL can be provided from any combination of issuances from at the market stock plans, private placements, or public offerings. Additionally, subject to market conditions, the Registrants and their subsidiaries may access the capital markets, and PPL Electric, LG&E and KU anticipate receiving equity contributions from their parent or member in 2026, which are expected to be used to fund capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes.
PPL Electric, LG&E and KU plan to obtain the funds to meet their future capital needs from sources similar to those they used in the past, which were primarily from operating cash flows, external securities issuances, borrowings from financial institutions, and equity contributions from PPL. Operating cash flows provide a substantial portion of these subsidiary Registrants' cash needs.
The amount, type, and timing of any financings in 2026, as well as in subsequent years, will be contingent on investment opportunities and the Registrants' capital requirements and will depend upon prevailing market conditions, regulatory approvals as applicable for the subsidiary Registrants, and other factors.
Credit Facilities
The Registrants maintain credit facilities to enhance liquidity, provide credit support and provide a backstop to commercial paper programs. Amounts borrowed under these credit facilities are reflected in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2025, the total committed borrowing capacity under credit facilities and the borrowings under these facilities were:
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External
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued (d) | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL Capital Funding Credit Facilities (a) | $ | 1,600 | $ | — | $ | 456 | $ | 1,144 | ||||||
| PPL Electric Credit Facilities | 750 | — | 6 | 744 | ||||||||||
| LG&E Credit Facilities | 600 | — | — | 600 | ||||||||||
| KU Credit Facilities | 600 | — | — | 600 | ||||||||||
| Total Credit Facilities (b)(c) | $ | 3,550 | $ | — | $ | 462 | $ | 3,088 |
(a)Includes a $1.5 billion syndicated credit facility with a $400 million borrowing sublimit for RIE and a $1.1 billion sublimit for PPL Capital Funding. RIE's borrowing sublimit is adjustable, at the borrowers' option, from $0 to $600 million, with the remaining balance of the $1.5 billion available under the facility allocated to PPL Capital Funding. At December 31, 2025, PPL Capital Funding had $355 million of commercial paper outstanding and RIE had $101 million of commercial paper outstanding. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)The syndicated credit facilities and PPL Capital Funding's bilateral facility, each contain a financial covenant requiring debt to total capitalization not to exceed 70% for PPL Capital Funding, RIE, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU, as calculated in accordance with the facility, and other customary covenants.
The commitments under the credit facilities are provided by a diverse bank group, with no one bank and its affiliates providing an aggregate commitment of more than the following percentages of the total committed capacity: PPL - 8%, PPL Electric - 7%, LG&E - 7% and KU - 7%.
(c)Each company pays customary fees under its respective syndicated credit facility. Borrowings generally bear interest at applicable SOFR, plus an applicable margin.
(d)Commercial paper issued reflects the undiscounted face value of the issuance.
In addition to the financial covenants noted in the table above, the credit agreements governing the above credit facilities contain various other covenants. Failure to comply with the covenants after applicable grace periods could result in acceleration of repayment of borrowings and/or termination of the agreements. The Registrants monitor compliance with the covenants on a regular basis. At December 31, 2025, the Registrants were in compliance with these covenants. As of December 31, 2025, the Registrants believe that these covenants and other borrowing conditions will not limit access to these funding sources.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of the Registrants' credit facilities.
Intercompany (LG&E and KU)
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Commercial Paper Issued | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG&E Money Pool (a) | $ | 750 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 750 | ||||||
| KU Money Pool (a) | 650 | 36 | — | 614 |
(a)LG&E and KU participate in an intercompany money pool agreement whereby LKE and/or KU make available to LG&E, and LKE and/or LG&E make available to KU funds up to the difference between LG&E's and KU's FERC borrowing limit and LG&E's and KU's commercial paper capacity limit, at an interest rate based on the lower of a market index of commercial paper issues and two additional rate options based on the lower of a market index of commercial paper issues and two additional rate options based on SOFR.
See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany credit facilities.
Commercial Paper (All Registrants)
The Registrants, PPL Capital Funding and RIE maintain commercial paper programs to provide an additional financing source to fund short-term liquidity needs, as necessary. 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, 2025 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Commercial Paper Issuances (b) | Unused Capacity | ||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding (a) | $ | 1,600 | $ | 355 | $ | 1,245 | ||||
| Rhode Island Energy (a) | 400 | 101 | 299 | |||||||
| PPL Electric | 750 | — | 750 | |||||||
| LG&E | 600 | — | 600 | |||||||
| KU | 600 | — | 600 | |||||||
| Total PPL | $ | 3,950 | $ | 456 | $ | 3,494 |
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(a)Issuances under the PPL Capital Funding and RIE commercial paper programs are supported by the PPL Capital Funding syndicated credit facility, which at December 31, 2025, had a total capacity of $1.5 billion, with a $400 million borrowing sublimit for RIE and a $1.1 billion sublimit for PPL Capital Funding. The sublimits of each borrower may be decreased or increased at the borrowers' option up to a prescribed amount such that all borrowings under the syndicated credit facility cannot exceed the size of the credit facility of $1.5 billion. PPL Capital Funding's Commercial paper program is also backed by a separate bilateral credit facility for $100 million.
(b)Commercial paper issued reflects the undiscounted face value of the issuance.
Forecasted Uses of Cash
(All Registrants)
In addition to expenditures required for normal operating activities, such as purchased power, payroll, fuel and taxes, the Registrants currently expect to incur future cash outflows for capital expenditures, various contractual obligations, payment of dividends on its common stock, and possibly the purchase or redemption of a portion of debt securities.
Capital Expenditures
The table below shows the Registrants' current capital expenditure projections for the years 2026 through 2028. Expenditures for the regulated utilities are expected to be recovered through rates, pending regulatory approval.
| Projected | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2026 (a) | 2027 | 2028 | |||||||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 4,200 | $ | 1,100 | $ | 1,500 | $ | 1,600 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 5,575 | 1,775 | 1,950 | 1,850 | ||||||||||
| Gas distribution facilities | 1,225 | 375 | 400 | 450 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 5,875 | 1,625 | 2,025 | 2,225 | ||||||||||
| Other | 475 | 250 | 150 | 75 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 17,350 | $ | 5,125 | $ | 6,025 | $ | 6,200 | ||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | $ | 2,850 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 950 | $ | 900 | ||||||
| Transmission facilities | 3,350 | 975 | 1,125 | 1,250 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 6,200 | $ | 1,975 | $ | 2,075 | $ | 2,150 | ||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 2,500 | $ | 600 | $ | 850 | $ | 1,050 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 825 | 200 | 325 | 300 | ||||||||||
| Gas distribution facilities | 450 | 125 | 150 | 175 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 450 | 125 | 175 | 150 | ||||||||||
| Other | 250 | 125 | 75 | 50 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 4,475 | $ | 1,175 | $ | 1,575 | $ | 1,725 | ||||||
| KU | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 1,700 | $ | 500 | $ | 650 | $ | 550 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 1,075 | 275 | 400 | 400 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 1,350 | 300 | 475 | 575 | ||||||||||
| Other | 225 | 125 | 75 | 25 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 4,350 | $ | 1,200 | $ | 1,600 | $ | 1,550 |
(a)The 2026 total excludes amounts included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2025.
Capital expenditure plans are revised periodically to reflect changes in operational, market and regulatory conditions.
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Contractual Obligations
The Registrants have assumed various financial obligations and commitments in the ordinary course of conducting business. At December 31, 2025, estimated contractual cash obligations were as follows:
| Total | 2026 | 2027-2028 | 2028-2029 | After 2030 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 19,089 | $ | 904 | $ | 1,778 | $ | 2,297 | $ | 14,110 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 13,775 | 836 | 1,611 | 1,516 | 9,812 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases | 109 | 20 | 35 | 19 | 35 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase Obligations (c) | 5,476 | 1,940 | 1,845 | 1,002 | 689 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 38,449 | $ | 3,700 | $ | 5,269 | $ | 4,834 | $ | 24,646 | ||||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 5,799 | $ | — | $ | 108 | $ | 116 | $ | 5,575 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 4,965 | 274 | 543 | 538 | 3,610 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations | 739 | 63 | 144 | 143 | 389 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 11,503 | $ | 337 | $ | 795 | $ | 797 | $ | 9,574 | ||||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 2,889 | $ | 90 | $ | 260 | $ | — | $ | 2,539 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 2,508 | 131 | 253 | 249 | 1,875 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases | 19 | 6 | 9 | 4 | — | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (d) | 856 | 314 | 357 | 162 | 23 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (e) | 299 | 19 | 48 | 48 | 184 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (f) | 369 | 319 | 48 | 2 | — | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 72 | 45 | 22 | 5 | — | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 7,012 | $ | 924 | $ | 997 | $ | 470 | $ | 4,621 | ||||||||
| KU | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 3,539 | $ | 164 | $ | 60 | $ | — | $ | 3,315 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 3,096 | 163 | 315 | 314 | 2,304 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases | 30 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (d) | 1,088 | 372 | 536 | 180 | — | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (e) | 133 | 8 | 21 | 21 | 83 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (f) | 356 | 288 | 62 | 6 | — | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 49 | 19 | 18 | 12 | — | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 8,291 | $ | 1,024 | $ | 1,025 | $ | 538 | $ | 5,704 |
(a)Reflects principal maturities based on stated maturity, sinking fund payments, or earlier put dates. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of variable-rate remarketable bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU. The Registrants do not have any significant finance lease obligations. For PPL, reduced by $84 million of repurchased affiliate bonds as of December 31, 2025. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for more information.
(b)Assumes interest payments through stated maturity or earlier put dates. The payments herein are subject to change, as payments for debt that is or becomes variable-rate debt have been estimated.
(c)The amounts include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Primarily includes, as applicable, the purchase obligations of electricity, coal, natural gas and limestone, as well as certain construction expenditures, which are also included in the Capital Expenditures discussion above.
(d)Represents contracts to purchase coal, natural gas and natural gas transportation. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(e)Represents future minimum payments under OVEC power purchase agreements through June 2040. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Represents construction commitments, which are also reflected in the Capital Expenditures table presented above.
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Dividends/Distributions
(PPL)
PPL views dividends as an integral component of shareowner return and expects to continue to pay dividends in amounts intended to maintain a capitalization structure that supports investment grade credit ratings. In November 2025, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable January 2, 2026, at 27.25 cents per share (equivalent to $1.09 per annum). On February 20, 2026, PPL announced a quarterly common stock dividend of 28.50 cents per share, payable April 1, 2026, to shareowners of record as of March 10, 2026. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon future earnings, cash flows, financial and legal requirements and other factors.
Subject to certain exceptions, PPL may not 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. At December 31, 2025, no interest payments were deferred.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
From time to time, as determined by their respective Board of Directors, the Registrants pay dividends, distributions or return capital, as applicable, to their respective shareholders or members. Certain of the credit facilities of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU include minimum debt covenant ratios that could effectively restrict the payment of dividends or distributions.
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for these and other restrictions related to distributions on capital interests for the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
Purchase or Redemption of Debt Securities
The Registrants will continue to evaluate outstanding debt securities and may decide to purchase or redeem these securities in open market or privately negotiated transactions, in exchange transactions or otherwise, depending upon prevailing market conditions, available cash and other factors, and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved may be material.
Rating Agency Actions
Moody's and S&P periodically review the credit ratings of the debt of the Registrants and their subsidiaries. Based on their respective independent reviews, the rating agencies may make certain ratings revisions or ratings affirmations.
A credit rating reflects an assessment by the rating agency of the creditworthiness associated with an issuer and particular securities that it issues. The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries are based on information provided by the Registrants and other sources. The ratings of Moody's and S&P are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any securities of the Registrants or their subsidiaries. Such ratings may be subject to revisions or withdrawal by the agencies at any time and should be evaluated independently of each other and any other rating that may be assigned to the securities.
The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries affect their liquidity, access to capital markets and cost of borrowing under their credit facilities. A downgrade in the Registrants' or their subsidiaries' credit ratings could result in higher borrowing costs and reduced access to capital markets. The Registrants and their subsidiaries have no credit rating triggers that would result in the reduction of access to capital markets or the acceleration of maturity dates of outstanding debt.
The following table sets forth the Registrants' and their subsidiaries' credit ratings for outstanding debt securities or commercial paper programs as of December 31, 2025.
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| Senior Unsecured | Senior Secured | Commercial Paper | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | ||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding | Baa1 | BBB+ | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| Rhode Island Energy | A3 | A- | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| PPL and PPL Electric | ||||||||||||
| PPL Electric | A1 | A+ | P-2 | A-1 | ||||||||
| PPL, LG&E and KU | ||||||||||||
| LG&E | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| KU | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 |
Since June 2023, the rating agencies have not taken rating actions related to the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
Ratings Triggers (PPL, LG&E and KU)
Various derivative and non-derivative contracts, including contracts for the sale and purchase of electricity and fuel, commodity transportation and storage, and interest rate instruments, contain provisions that require the posting of additional collateral or permit the counterparty to terminate the contract, if PPL's, LG&E's or KU's or their subsidiaries' credit rating, as applicable, were to fall below investment grade. See Note 16 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of "Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features," including a discussion of the potential additional collateral requirements for derivative contracts in a net liability position at December 31, 2025.
Guarantees for Subsidiaries (PPL)
PPL guarantees certain consolidated affiliate financing arrangements. Some of the guarantees contain financial and other covenants that, if not met, would limit or restrict the consolidated affiliates' access to funds under these financing arrangements, accelerate maturity of such arrangements or limit the consolidated affiliates' ability to enter into certain transactions. At this time, PPL believes that these covenants will not limit access to relevant funding sources. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information about guarantees.
Other Contingent Obligations (All Registrants)
The Registrants have entered into certain agreements that may contingently require payment to a guaranteed or indemnified party. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these agreements.
Risk Management
Market Risk
(All Registrants)
See Notes 1, 15 and 16 to the Financial Statements for information about the Registrants' risk management objectives, valuation techniques and accounting designations.
The forward-looking information presented below provides estimates of what may occur in the future, assuming certain adverse market conditions and model assumptions. Actual future results may differ materially from those presented. These are not precise indicators of expected future losses, but are rather only indicators of possible losses under normal market conditions at a given confidence level.
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Interest Rate Risk
PPL and its subsidiaries issue debt to finance their operations, which exposes them to interest rate risk. A variety of financial derivative instruments are utilized to adjust the mix of fixed and floating interest rates in their debt portfolios, adjust the duration of the debt portfolios and lock in benchmark interest rates in anticipation of future financing, when appropriate. Risk limits under PPL's risk management program are designed to balance risk exposure to volatility in interest expense and changes in the fair value of the debt portfolio due to changes in benchmark interest rates. In addition, the interest rate risk of certain subsidiaries is potentially mitigated as a result of the existing regulatory framework or the timing of rate cases.
The following interest rate hedges were outstanding at December 31:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | Maturities Ranging Through | Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PPL and LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash flow hedges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate derivatives | $ | 20 | $ | — | $ | (1) | 2026 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| Economic hedges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate derivatives (c) | $ | 64 | $ | (5) | $ | (1) | 2033 | $ | 64 | $ | (3) | $ | (1) |
(a)Includes accrued interest, if applicable.
(b)Effects of adverse movements decrease assets or increase liabilities, as applicable, which could result in an asset becoming a liability. Sensitivities represent a 10% adverse movement in interest rates.
(c)Realized changes in the fair value of such economic hedges are recoverable through regulated rates and any subsequent changes in the fair value of these derivatives are included in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities.
The Registrants are exposed to a potential increase in interest expense and to changes in the fair value of their debt portfolios. The estimated impact of a 10% adverse movement in interest rates on interest expense at December 31, 2025 and 2024 was insignificant for PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E, and KU. The estimated impact of a 10% adverse movement in interest rates on the fair value of debt at December 31 is shown below.
| 10% Adverse Movement in Rates on Fair Value of Debt | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| PPL | $ | 720 | $ | 622 | ||
| PPL Electric | 284 | 262 | ||||
| LG&E | 135 | 89 | ||||
| KU | 175 | 131 |
Commodity Price Risk
PPL is exposed to commodity price risk through its subsidiaries primarily from the purchases of electricity, natural gas and fuel but has cost recovery mechanisms to mitigate that risk. See Note 16 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of these risks.
Volumetric Risk
Volumetric risk is the risk related to the changes in volume of retail sales due to weather, economic conditions or other factors. PPL is exposed to volumetric risk through its subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric, LG&E and KU are exposed to volumetric risk on retail sales, mainly due to weather and other economic conditions for which there is limited mitigation between rate cases.
•RIE is not materially exposed to volumetric risk. RIE's electric and gas distribution rates both have a revenue decoupling mechanism, which allows for annual adjustments to RIE's delivery rates.
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Defined Benefit Plans - Equity Securities Price Risk
See "Application of Critical Accounting Policies - Defined Benefits" for additional information regarding the effect of equity securities price risk on plan assets.
Credit Risk
(All Registrants)
Credit risk is the potential loss that may be incurred due to a counterparty's non-performance.
PPL is exposed to credit risk from "in-the-money" transactions with counterparties as well as additional credit risk through certain of its subsidiaries, as discussed below.
In the event a supplier of PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E or KU defaults on its contractual obligation, those Registrants would be required to seek replacement power or replacement fuel in the market. In general, subject to regulatory review or other processes, appropriate incremental costs incurred by these entities would be recoverable from customers through applicable rate mechanisms, thereby mitigating the financial risk for these entities.
PPL and its subsidiaries have credit policies in place to manage credit risk, including the use of an established credit approval process, daily monitoring of counterparty positions and the use of master netting agreements or provisions. These agreements generally include credit mitigation provisions, such as margin, prepayment or collateral requirements. PPL and its subsidiaries may request additional credit assurance, in certain circumstances, if the counterparties' credit ratings fall below investment grade, their tangible net worth falls below specified percentages or their exposures exceed an established credit limit.
(All Registrants)
Related Party Transactions
The Registrants are not aware of any material ownership interests or operating responsibility by senior management in outside partnerships, including leasing transactions with variable interest entities, or other entities doing business with the Registrants. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information on related party transactions for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU.
Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures
The Registrants from time to time evaluate opportunities for potential acquisitions, divestitures, and development projects. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information on acquisition, development and divestiture activity. Development projects are reexamined based on market conditions and other factors to determine whether to proceed with, modify or terminate the projects. Any resulting transactions may impact future financial results.
Environmental Matters
Extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations are applicable to the Registrants' air emissions, water discharges and the management of hazardous and solid waste, as well as other aspects of the Registrants' businesses. The costs of compliance or alleged non-compliance cannot be predicted with certainty but could be significant. In addition, costs may increase significantly if the requirements or scope of environmental laws or regulations, or similar rules, are expanded or changed. Costs may take the form of increased capital expenditures or operating and maintenance expenses, monetary fines, penalties or other restrictions. Many of these environmental law considerations are also applicable to the operations of key suppliers, or customers, such as coal producers and industrial power users, and may impact the costs for their products or their demand for the Registrants' services. Increased capital and operating costs are expected to be subject to rate recovery. The Registrants can provide no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of future environmental or rate proceedings before regulatory authorities.
See "Legal Matters" in Note 12 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of the more significant environmental claims. See Note 18 to the Financial Statements for information related to the impacts of CCRs on AROs. See "Item 1. Business - Environmental Matters" for additional information.
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Sustainability
The Governance, Nominating and Sustainability Committee of PPL's Board of Directors has oversight of the company's practices and positions to further its sustainability strategy and corporate governance, including specific environmental and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Management considers several factors as part of the company's sustainability approach, including ongoing engagement with constituents such as shareholders and regulators on topics related to sustainability and other matters. To the extent sustainability issues have or may have a material impact on the Registrants' financial condition or results of operation, PPL discloses such matters in accordance with applicable securities law and SEC regulations.
In addition to disclosure required by applicable securities laws and SEC regulations, PPL provides additional disclosures on sustainability topics that it considers relevant to investors and stakeholders, which are available on the corporate website at https://www.pplweb.com/sustainability/reports-disclosures/. Primarily, PPL continues each spring to publish its annual sustainability report including data related to carbon emissions. PPL also participates in efforts by the Edison Electric Institute and American Gas Association to provide the appropriate subset of sustainability information that can be applied consistently across the electric and gas utility industries. Finally, PPL consults widely used reporting frameworks for discrete sustainability topics, including corporate political contributions and climate-related issues and maps its disclosure to various reporting frameworks such as Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and to the CDP Climate and Water Questionnaires.
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000922224-25-000009.
Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(All Registrants)
This "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" is separately filed by PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. Information contained herein relating to any individual Registrant is filed by such Registrant solely on its own behalf, and no Registrant makes any representation as to information relating to any other Registrant. The specific Registrant to which disclosures are applicable is identified in parenthetical headings in italics above the applicable disclosure or within the applicable disclosure for each Registrant's related activities and disclosures. Within combined disclosures, amounts are disclosed for individual Registrants when significant.
The following should be read in conjunction with the Registrants' Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes. Capitalized terms and abbreviations are defined in the glossary. Dollars are in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted.
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" includes the following information:
•"Overview" provides a description of each Registrant's business strategy and a discussion of important financial and operational developments.
•"Results of Operations" for all Registrants includes a "Statement of Income Analysis," which discusses significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2024 with 2023. For PPL, "Results of Operations" also includes "Segment Earnings," which provides a detailed analysis of earnings by reportable segment. These discussions include the non-GAAP financial measure "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and provide an explanation of the non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation of the measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.
•"Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources" provides an analysis of the Registrants' liquidity positions and credit profiles. This section also includes a discussion of forecasted sources and uses of cash and rating agency actions.
•"Financial Condition - Risk Management" provides an explanation of the Registrants' risk management programs relating to market and credit risk.
•"Application of Critical Accounting Policies" provides an overview of the accounting policies that are particularly important to the results of operations and financial condition of the Registrants and that require their management to make significant estimates, assumptions and other judgments of inherently uncertain matters.
For comparison of the Registrants’ results of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2022, refer to “Item 7. Combined Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the 2023 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2024.
Overview
For a description of the Registrants and their businesses, see "Item 1. Business."
Business Strategy (All Registrants)
PPL operates four regulated utilities located in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Rhode Island. Each of these jurisdictions has distinct regulatory structures and each of the utilities has distinct customer classes.
PPL’s strategy, which is supported by the other Registrants and subsidiaries, is focused on creating the utilities of the future to drive greater value for our customers and shareowners. Key objectives in support of this strategy include:
•Strengthening the reliability and resilience of our electric and gas networks to improve service and protect against current and future weather and storms.
•Advancing a cleaner energy future affordably and reliably. This includes expanding and modernizing our generation with natural gas, renewables and battery storage, while supporting research and development of low-carbon solutions.
•Driving operational efficiencies to improve customer service and help keep energy affordable.
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•Utilizing artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to inform decision making, optimize asset planning and maintenance and better manage supply and demand on the grid.
•Empowering customers through expanded digital options and improved service.
•Engaging with key stakeholders to strengthen resource adequacy, power economic development, and support the growth and success of the regions we serve.
This strategy supports our mission to provide safe, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to our customers and competitive, long-term returns to shareowners.
Financial and Operational Developments
(PPL)
RIE Transition Services Agreement Completion
In connection with the acquisition of RIE in 2022, National Grid USA Service Company, Inc., National Grid U.S. and Narragansett Electric entered into a transition services agreement (TSA), pursuant to which the National Grid entities agreed to provide certain transition services to Narragansett Electric to facilitate the transition of the operation of Narragansett Electric to PPL following the acquisition. The TSA was for an initial two-year term and was completed in the third quarter of 2024. TSA costs of $137 million, $228 million, and $123 million were incurred for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Transfer of Certain Credits under the Inflation Reduction Act
The IRS released the final Internal Revenue Code Section 6418 regulations related to the transfer of certain credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. The regulations became effective on July 1, 2024 and did not and are not expected to have a material impact on the financial statements regarding prior or future credit transfers.
Regulatory Requirements
(All Registrants)
The Registrants cannot predict the impact that future regulatory requirements may have on their financial condition or results of operations.
(PPL, LG&E and KU)
Environmental Considerations for Coal-Fired Generation
The businesses of LG&E and KU are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws, rules and regulations, including those pertaining to CCRs, GHG, and ELGs. See Notes 7, 12 and 18 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these significant environmental matters. These and other environmental requirements led PPL, LG&E and KU to retire approximately 1,500 MW of coal-fired generating plants in Kentucky since 2010. As part of the long-term generation planning process, LG&E and KU evaluate a range of factors including the impact of potential stricter environmental regulations, fuel price scenarios, the cost of replacement generation, continued operations and major maintenance costs and the risk of major equipment failures in determining when to retire generation assets.
As a result of environmental requirements and aging infrastructure, LG&E has sought and obtained approval to retire two older coal-fired units at the Mill Creek Plant. Mill Creek Unit 1, with 300 MW of capacity, was retired in 2024. Mill Creek Unit 2, with 297 MW of capacity, is expected to be retired in 2027, subject to certain conditions.
On October 4, 2024, LG&E submitted an application related to the retirement of Mill Creek Unit 1, which occurred on December 31, 2024, requesting recovery of associated costs under the RAR rider. On October 28, 2024, the KPSC issued an order to establish a procedural schedule regarding its investigation of the reasonableness of the proposed tariff. The KPSC intends to rule on the matter by February 28, 2025. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the Mill Creek Unit 1 RAR rider application.
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FERC Transmission Rate Filing
In 2018, LG&E and KU applied to the FERC requesting elimination of certain on-going waivers and credits to a sub-set of transmission customers relating to the 1998 merger of LG&E's and KU's parent entities and the 2006 withdrawal of LG&E and KU from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), a regional transmission operator and energy market. The application sought termination of LG&E's and KU's commitment to provide certain Kentucky municipalities mitigation for certain horizontal market power concerns arising out of the 1998 LG&E and KU merger and 2006 MISO withdrawal. The amounts at issue are generally waivers or credits granted to a limited number of Kentucky municipalities for either certain LG&E and KU or MISO transmission charges incurred for transmission service received. In 2019, the FERC granted LG&E's and KU's request to remove the ongoing credits, conditioned upon the implementation by LG&E and KU of a transition mechanism for certain existing power supply arrangements, which was subsequently filed, modified, and approved by the FERC in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, LG&E and KU and other parties filed appeals with the U.S. Court of Appeals - D.C. Circuit (D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals) regarding the FERC's orders on the elimination of the mitigation and required transition mechanism. In August 2022, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order remanding the proceedings back to the FERC. On May 18, 2023, the FERC issued an order on remand reversing its 2019 decision and requiring LG&E and KU to refund credits previously withheld, including under such transition mechanism. LG&E and KU filed a petition for review of the FERC's May 18, 2023 order with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and provided refunds in accordance with the FERC order on December 1, 2023. The FERC issued an order on LG&E's and KU's compliance filing on November 16, 2023, and LG&E and KU filed a petition for review of this November 16, 2023 order on February 14, 2024. The FERC issued the substantive order on rehearing on March 21, 2024, reaffirming its prior decision. Oral argument before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals occurred on January 21, 2025. LG&E and KU cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the proceedings or any other post decision process but do not expect the annual impact to have a material effect on their operations or financial condition. LG&E and KU currently receive recovery of certain waivers and credits primarily through base rates increases, provided, however, that increases associated with the FERC's May 18, 2023 order are expected to be subject to future rate proceedings.
(PPL)
FY 2026 Gas ISR Plan
On December 31, 2024, RIE filed its FY 2026 Gas ISR Plan with the RIPUC with a budget that includes $187 million of capital investment spend and up to $15 million of additional contingency plan spend in connection with the PHMSA's potential enactment of regulations during FY 2026 that, if enacted, would significantly alter RIE's leak detection and repair obligations under federal regulations. The Plan also includes proposed spending on curb-to-curb paving of $22 million. A decision from the RIPUC on the Plan is expected by March 31, 2025. RIE cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
FY 2026 Electric ISR Plan
On December 23, 2024, RIE filed its FY 2026 Electric ISR Plan with the RIPUC with a budget that includes $160 million of capital investment spend, $14 million of vegetation operation and maintenance (O&M) expense spend and $1 million of Other O&M spend. In addition, the FY 2026 Electric ISR Plan includes $88 million of capital investment spend for Advanced Metering Functionality (AMF) which, together with the $160 million of capital investment spend, results in total capital investment spend of $248 million. A decision from the RIPUC is expected by March 31, 2025. RIE cannot predict the outcome of this matter.
Advanced Metering Functionality (AMF)
In 2021, RIE filed its Updated AMF Business Case and Grid Modernization Plan (GMP) with the RIPUC in accordance with the Amended Settlement Agreement (ASA) approved by the RIPUC in August 2018, and which among other things, sought approval to deploy smart meters throughout the service territory. After PPL completed the acquisition of RIE, RIE filed a new AMF Business Case with the RIPUC in 2022, consisting of a detailed proposal for full-scale deployment of AMF across its electric service territory.
On September 27, 2023, the RIPUC unanimously approved RIE to deploy an AMF-based metering system for the electric distribution business. RIE is authorized to seek recovery of the approved capital investment through the ISR process with an overall multi-year cap on recovery at approximately $153 million, subject to certain terms, conditions and limitations with respect to the potential offsets and recoverability of certain costs. RIE is required to continue spending even if above the recovery cap, until it achieves the functionalities outlined in the AMF Business Case. RIE filed with the RIPUC for approval of (i) an updated electric Service Quality Plan on December 27, 2023, (ii) additional compliance tariff provisions regarding recovery and updated cost schedules to reflect the RIPUC's decision on December 22, 2023, and (iii) electric and gas tariff advice filings for RIPUC Automatic Meter Reading/AMF meter opt-out tariff provision on September 19, 2024. The RIPUC
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approved RIE’s revised service quality metrics with certain modifications on August 1, 2024 and October 30, 2024. In addition, the RIPUC approved RIE’s AMR/AMF opt-out tariff provisions for electric and natural gas with modifications on December 19, 2024 for effect January 1, 2025, and approved the proposed updated fees to be assessed at the start of the AMF roll-out. On January 7, 2025, RIE filed compliance tariffs to reflect the RIPUC’s ruling, which they approved at their January 23, 2025 Open Meeting.
Rate Case Proceedings (KU)
On April 30, 2024, KU filed a request with the VSCC for an annual increase in Virginia base electricity rates of approximately $9 million. KU's request is based on an authorized 10.5% return on equity. Subject to regulatory review and approval, new rates would become effective February 1, 2025. On November 6, 2024, KU and VSCC Staff filed a stipulation to resolve the proceeding, with a proposed annual rate increase amount of $8 million and annual authorized returns on equity in a range from 9.5% to 10.5% for various tariff purposes, with no objection from the Office of the Attorney General. A public hearing on the matter was held on November 13, 2024. On December 10, 2024, the Hearing Examiner issued an alternative recommendation to approve the stipulation with a nonmaterial adjustment to the revenue requirement. All parties filed letters in support of the Hearing Examiner’s alternative recommendation. On January 28, 2025, the VSCC issued an order approving the stipulation, including the adjustment recommended by the Hearing Examiner, and the resulting new rates went into effect on February 1, 2025.
DSIC Petition (PPL and PPL Electric)
On April 26, 2024, PPL Electric filed a Petition with the PAPUC requesting that the PAPUC waive PPL Electric's DSIC cap of 5% of billed revenues and increase the maximum allowable DSIC to 9% for bills rendered on or after January 1, 2025. On November 21, 2024, the Administrative Law Judge in the proceeding issued a Recommended Decision recommending the denial of PPL Electric’s DSIC Cap Waiver Petition. PPL Electric filed exceptions to the Recommended Decision on December 11, 2024. Several of the other parties filed Reply Exceptions on December 23, 2024. The Administrative Law Judge's Recommended Decision and the Exceptions and Reply Exceptions are currently before the PAPUC for a final order. PPL Electric cannot predict the timing or outcome of that decision.
Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan Petition (LTIIP) (PPL and PPL Electric)
On January 17, 2024, PPL Electric filed a petition with the PAPUC seeking to modify its LTIIP, which covers the period from 2023 through 2027, to increase the total projected capital spending for existing LTIIP programs and to add a new LTIIP program related to predictive failure technology. On July 11, 2024, the PAPUC approved the petition in part, allowing for an increase of $203 million for existing LTIIP programs. The proposed new LTIIP program was determined not to be eligible for recovery under the DSIC. However, investments in such programs are potentially recoverable through a base rate proceeding.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance (All Registrants)
To leverage potential benefits of AI, PPL management has established an AI Governance committee, with oversight from the Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and the Chief Legal Officer, which assesses benefits and risks associated with AI. The governance committee is a cross-functional team with leadership representation from Technology, Security, Audit, Legal, Operations, Human Resources and Data and AI. The governance committee reviews potential AI solutions using an intake process which involves risk and benefit assessment, data security and privacy considerations, and ensures that all solutions are compliant with PPL technology and security standards.
Results of Operations
(PPL)
The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2024 with 2023. The "Segment Earnings" discussions provide a review of results by reportable segment. These discussions include the non-GAAP financial measure "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and provide an explanation of the non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation of the measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
A "Statement of Income Analysis" is presented separately for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2024
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with 2023. The results of operations section for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU is presented in a reduced disclosure format in accordance with General Instructions (I)(2)(a) of Form 10-K.
PPL: Statement of Income Analysis and Segment Earnings
Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 8,462 | $ | 8,312 | $ | 150 | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 783 | 733 | 50 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 1,679 | 1,841 | (162) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 2,607 | 2,462 | 145 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 1,279 | 1,254 | 25 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 374 | 392 | (18) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 6,722 | 6,682 | 40 | |||||||
| Operating Income | 1,740 | 1,630 | 110 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 114 | (40) | 154 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 738 | 666 | 72 | |||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 1,116 | 924 | 192 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 228 | 184 | 44 | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 888 | $ | 740 | $ | 148 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric distribution price (a) | $ | 69 |
| PPL Electric distribution volume (b) | 39 | |
| PPL Electric PLR (c) | (291) | |
| PPL Electric transmission formula rate (d) | 48 | |
| LG&E volumes (b) | 35 | |
| LG&E ECR mechanism (e) | (18) | |
| KU volumes (b) | 39 | |
| KU fuel and other energy purchases (f) | 20 | |
| RIE energy purchases and other recoveries (g) | (24) | |
| RIE net metering presentation (h) | 175 | |
| RIE capital investment | 29 | |
| Other | 29 | |
| Total | $ | 150 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to reconcilable cost recovery mechanisms approved by the PAPUC.
(b) The increases were primarily due to weather, along with other higher usage in 2024 at PPL Electric.
(c) The decrease was primarily the result of lower energy prices and fewer PLR customers, partially offset by higher customer volumes due to weather and other higher usage.
(d) The increase was primarily due to returns on additional transmission capital investments, returns of depreciation and operation and maintenance expenses and delayed implementation of moving to a calendar year rate in 2023, partially offset by the prior year point to point border rate settlement variance.
(e) The decrease was primarily due to lower ECR expenses.
(f) The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel expenses.
(g) The decrease was primarily due to lower recoveries of commodity costs and pension expenses, partially offset by higher recoveries of gas related maintenance expenses.
(h) In conjunction with the completion of the transition services agreement associated with the RIE acquisition, PPL conformed the presentation of RIE’s net metering charges with the presentation of the other operating companies, resulting in an increase in Operating Revenues and a corresponding increase in Energy purchases. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
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Fuel
Fuel expense increased $50 million in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to an increase of $22 million at LG&E primarily due to an increase in commodity costs and an increase in volumes due to weather of $37 million at KU, partially offset by a decrease in commodity costs of $8 million at KU.
Energy Purchases
The increase (decrease) in energy purchases was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric PLR volumes | $ | (13) |
| PPL Electric PLR prices | (259) | |
| LG&E commodity costs | (17) | |
| RIE commodity costs | (51) | |
| RIE net metering presentation (a) | 175 | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Total | $ | (162) |
(a) In conjunction with the completion of the transition services agreement associated with the RIE acquisition, PPL conformed the presentation of RIE’s net metering charges with the presentation of the other operating companies, resulting in an increase in Operating Revenues and a corresponding increase in Energy purchases. See Note 3 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric storm expenses | $ | 52 |
| PPL Electric vegetation management expenses | 20 | |
| PPL Electric Act 129 | 19 | |
| PPL Electric DER projects impairment (a) | 21 | |
| LG&E ECR expenses | (17) | |
| RIE gas maintenance expenses | 46 | |
| RIE pension expenses | (24) | |
| RIE bad debt expenses | 18 | |
| Transition costs associated with RIE | 45 | |
| Other | (35) | |
| Total | $ | 145 |
(a) Impairment of DER project costs associated with a pilot solar program for which PPL will not seek regulatory recovery.
Other Income (Expense) - net
The increase (decrease) in other income (expense) - net was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| AFUDC - equity component | $ | 17 |
| Talen litigation (a) | 122 | |
| Other | 15 | |
| Total | $ | 154 |
(a)PPL incurred legal expenses in 2023 related to litigation associated with its former affiliate, Talen Montana, LLC, and certain affiliated entities (collectively, Talen), which was settled in December 2023.
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Interest Expense
The increase (decrease) in interest expense was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt (a) | $ | 78 |
| Other | (6) | |
| Total | $ | 72 |
(a) The increase was primarily due to increased borrowings. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Income Taxes
The increase (decrease) in income taxes was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change in pre-tax income | $ | 48 |
| Valuation allowance adjustments | (10) | |
| Income tax credits (a) | 14 | |
| Utility rate-making tax adjustments (b) | (11) | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Total | $ | 44 |
(a) In addition to credits internally generated, in 2023, PPL purchased approximately $300 million of renewable tax credits, as allowed by the IRA. PPL
recorded a current tax benefit and a deferred tax expense for the utilization of approximately $250 million of the credits in 2023 and prior years, per the three-year carry-back rule.
(b)Primarily consists of tax impacts of AFUDC equity and related depreciation across PPL utilities and flow through tax impacts. Flow through occurs when the regulator excludes deferred tax expense or benefit from recoverable costs when determining income tax expense.
See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information on income taxes.
Segment Earnings
PPL's Net Income (Loss) by reportable segments was as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | $ | 620 | $ | 552 | $ | 68 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 574 | 519 | 55 | |||||||
| Rhode Island Regulated | 109 | 96 | 13 | |||||||
| Corporate and Other (a) | (415) | (427) | 12 | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 888 | $ | 740 | $ | 148 |
(a)Primarily represents financing and certain other costs incurred at the corporate level that have not been allocated or assigned to the segments, which are presented to reconcile segment information to PPL's consolidated results.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations
Management utilizes "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" as a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered as an alternative to net income, an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes that Earnings from Ongoing Operations is useful and meaningful to investors because it provides management's view of PPL's earnings performance as another criterion in making investment decisions. In addition, PPL's management uses Earnings from Ongoing Operations in measuring achievement of certain corporate performance goals, including targets for certain executive incentive compensation. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations is adjusted for the impact of special items. Special items are presented in the financial tables on an after-tax basis with the related income taxes on special items separately disclosed. Income taxes on special items, when applicable, are calculated based on the statutory tax rate of the entity where the activity is recorded. Special items may include items such as:
• Gains and losses on sales of assets not in the ordinary course of business.
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• Impairment charges.
• Significant workforce reduction and other restructuring effects.
• Acquisition and divestiture-related adjustments.
• Significant losses on early extinguishment of debt.
• Other charges or credits that are, in management's view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.
PPL's Earnings from Ongoing Operations by reportable segment were as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | $ | 624 | $ | 564 | $ | 60 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 607 | 548 | 59 | |||||||
| Rhode Island Regulated | 155 | 152 | 3 | |||||||
| Corporate and Other | (136) | (81) | (55) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 1,250 | $ | 1,183 | $ | 67 |
See "Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations" below for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to Net Income.
Kentucky Regulated Segment
The Kentucky Regulated segment consists primarily of LG&E's and KU's regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations, as well as LG&E's regulated distribution and sale of natural gas.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,562 | $ | 3,452 | $ | 110 | ||||
| Fuel | 783 | 733 | 50 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 176 | 192 | (16) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 803 | 826 | (23) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 710 | 696 | 14 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 99 | 93 | 6 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,571 | 2,540 | 31 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 29 | 12 | 17 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 240 | 235 | 5 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 160 | 137 | 23 | |||||||
| Net Income | 620 | 552 | 68 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (4) | (12) | 8 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 624 | $ | 564 | $ | 60 |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Kentucky Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $0 (a) | Other operation and maintenance | $ | (1) | $ | (1) | |||
| FERC transmission credit refund, net of tax of $2 (b) | Other operation and maintenance | — | (6) | |||||
| FERC transmission credit refund, net of tax of $0 (b) | Operating Revenues | 1 | — | |||||
| Unbilled revenue estimate adjustment, net of tax of $2 (c) | Operating Revenues | — | (5) | |||||
| ECR beneficial reuse transition adjustment, net of tax of $2 (d) | Operating Revenues | (4) | — | |||||
| Total | $ | (4) | $ | (12) |
(a)Costs incurred related to PPL's corporate centralization efforts.
(b)Prior period impact related to a FERC refund order.
(c)Prior period impact of a methodology change in determining unbilled revenues.
(d)Prior period impact for an ECR mechanism revenue adjustment related to a KPSC order.
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The changes in the components of the Kentucky Regulated segment's results between these periods were due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | 107 |
| Fuel | (50) | |
| Energy purchases | 16 | |
| Other operation and maintenance | 16 | |
| Depreciation | (14) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (6) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 17 | |
| Interest Expense | (5) | |
| Income Taxes | (21) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 60 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | 8 | |
| Net Income | $ | 68 |
•Higher operating revenues in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to a $74 million increase in sales volumes due to weather and a $29 million increase in recoveries of fuel and energy purchases.
•Higher fuel expense in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to a $34 million increase in volumes primarily due to weather and a $16 million increase in commodity costs.
Pennsylvania Regulated Segment
The Pennsylvania Regulated segment includes the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations of PPL Electric.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 2,876 | $ | 3,008 | $ | (132) | ||||
| Energy purchases | 721 | 992 | (271) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 705 | 605 | 100 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 401 | 397 | 4 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 131 | 143 | (12) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,958 | 2,137 | (179) | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 45 | 39 | 6 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | 33 | — | 33 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 246 | 223 | 23 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 176 | 168 | 8 | |||||||
| Net Income | 574 | 519 | 55 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (33) | (29) | (4) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 607 | $ | 548 | $ | 59 |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $5, $10 (a) | Other operation and maintenance | $ | (13) | $ | (23) | |||
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $0 (a) | Other Income (Expense) - net | — | (1) | |||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $2, $1 (b) | Other operation and maintenance | (5) | (2) | |||||
| Other non-recurring charges, net of tax of $1 (c) | Other operation and maintenance | — | (3) | |||||
| DER projects impairment, net of tax of $6 (d) | Other operation and maintenance | (15) | — | |||||
| Total | $ | (33) | $ | (29) |
(a)Certain expenses related to billing issues. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
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(b)Costs incurred related to PPL's corporate centralization efforts.
(c)Certain expenses associated with a litigation settlement.
(d)Impairment of DER project costs associated with a pilot solar program for which PPL will not seek regulatory recovery.
The changes in the components of the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results between these periods are due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | (132) |
| Energy purchases | 271 | |
| Other operation and maintenance | (96) | |
| Depreciation | (4) | |
| Taxes, other than income | 12 | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 5 | |
| Interest Income from Affiliate | 33 | |
| Interest Expense | (23) | |
| Income Taxes | (7) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 59 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | (4) | |
| Net Income | $ | 55 |
•Lower operating revenues in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to $291 million of lower PLR, partially offset by a $69 million increase in distribution prices, a $48 million increase in transmission formula rate returns and a $39 million increase in distribution volumes primarily due to weather and higher usage.
•Lower energy purchases in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to $259 million of lower PLR prices and $13 million of lower PLR volumes.
•Higher operation and maintenance expense in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to a $52 million increase in storm expenses, a $20 million increase in vegetation management expenses and a $19 million increase in Act 129 related expenses.
•Higher interest income from affiliate in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to interest income on a short-term note receivable with an affiliated company.
•Higher interest expense in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to $43 million related to increased long-term debt borrowings, partially offset by $11 million related to the redemption of floating rate first mortgage bonds in March 2023.
Rhode Island Regulated Segment
The Rhode Island Regulated segment consists primarily of the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations and regulated distribution and sale of natural gas conducted by RIE.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 2,024 | $ | 1,851 | $ | 173 | ||||
| Energy purchases | 782 | 658 | 124 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 731 | 705 | 26 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 165 | 156 | 9 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 144 | 156 | (12) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,822 | 1,675 | 147 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 24 | 19 | 5 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 95 | 83 | 12 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 22 | 16 | 6 | |||||||
| Net Income | 109 | 96 | 13 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (46) | (56) | 10 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 155 | $ | 152 | $ | 3 |
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The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Rhode Island Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $13, $17 (a) | Other operation and maintenance | $ | (45) | $ | (65) | |||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $0 | Other Income (Expense) - net | (1) | — | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of ($2) (b) | Operating Revenues | — | 8 | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of ($1) | Depreciation | — | 2 | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $0 | Interest Expense | — | (1) | |||||||
| Total | $ | (46) | $ | (56) |
(a)Primarily includes certain transition services agreement costs for IT systems that will not be part of PPL's ongoing operations.
(b)Prior period impact of a methodology change for Infrastructure, Safety, and Reliability revenues.
The changes in the components of the Rhode Island Regulated segment's results between these periods are due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | 183 |
| Energy purchases | (124) | |
| Other operation and maintenance | (50) | |
| Depreciation | (7) | |
| Taxes, other than income | 12 | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 6 | |
| Interest Expense | (13) | |
| Income Taxes | (4) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 3 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | 10 | |
| Net Income | $ | 13 |
•Higher operating revenues in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to a $175 million increase due to the effects of conforming the presentation of RIE's net metering charges to that of PPL's other operating utilities beginning in 2024, a $46 million increase in recovery of gas maintenance related expenses, a $29 million increase related to capital investments, a $12 million increase related to recovery of transmission expenses and a $15 million increase of other items that were not individually significant, partially offset by a $51 million decrease in recovery of commodity costs, a $24 million decrease in recovery of pension expenses, a $14 million decrease in recovery of gross earnings taxes and a $10 million decrease related to ISR adjustments.
•Higher energy purchases in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to a $175 million increase related to the effects of conforming the presentation of RIE's net metering charges to that of PPL's other operating utilities beginning in 2024, partially offset by a $51 million decrease in commodity costs.
•Higher operation and maintenance expense in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to a $46 million increase in gas maintenance related expenses, an $18 million increase in bad debt expenses and a $12 million increase in transmission expenses, partially offset by a $24 million decrease in pension expenses.
•Lower taxes, other than income in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to a decrease in gross earnings taxes.
•Higher interest expense in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to increased borrowings.
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Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations
The following tables contain after-tax gains (losses), in total, which management considers special items, that are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations, and a reconciliation to PPL's "Net Income" for the years ended December 31.
| 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | RI Regulated | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 620 | $ | 574 | $ | 109 | $ | (415) | $ | 888 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $1 (a) | — | — | — | (2) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $2, $2 (b) | (1) | (5) | — | (5) | (11) | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $13, $66 (c) | — | — | (46) | (250) | (296) | |||||||||||||||||
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $5 (d) | — | (13) | — | — | (13) | |||||||||||||||||
| FERC transmission credit refund, net of tax of $0 (e) | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| ECR beneficial reuse transition adjustment, net of tax of $2 (f) | (4) | — | — | — | (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| DER projects impairment, net of tax of $6 (g) | — | (15) | — | — | (15) | |||||||||||||||||
| IT transformation, net of tax of $5 (h) | — | — | — | (22) | (22) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | (4) | (33) | (46) | (279) | (362) | |||||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 624 | $ | 607 | $ | 155 | $ | (136) | $ | 1,250 |
(a)PPL incurred legal expenses related to litigation associated with its former affiliate, Talen Montana, LLC and certain affiliated entities.
(b)Represents costs primarily related to PPL's centralization and other strategic efforts.
(c)Rhode Island Regulated primarily includes certain transition services agreement costs for IT systems that will not be part of PPL's ongoing operations. Corporate and Other primarily includes integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of RIE.
(d)Certain expenses related to billing issues. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(e)Prior period impact related to a FERC refund order.
(f)Prior period impact for an ECR mechanism revenue adjustment related to a KPSC order.
(g)Impairment of DER project costs associated with a pilot solar program for which PPL will not seek regulatory recovery.
(h)Costs associated with PPL’s restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and systems.
| 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | RI Regulated | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 552 | $ | 519 | $ | 96 | $ | (427) | $ | 740 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $26 (a) | — | — | — | (99) | (99) | |||||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $1, $3 (b) | (1) | (2) | — | (10) | (13) | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $14, $58 (c) | — | — | (56) | (218) | (274) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sale of Safari Holdings, net of tax of $0 (d) | — | — | — | (4) | (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $10 (e) | — | (24) | — | — | (24) | |||||||||||||||||
| FERC transmission credit refund, net of tax of $2 (f) | (6) | — | — | — | (6) | |||||||||||||||||
| Unbilled revenue estimate adjustment, net of tax of $2 (g) | (5) | — | — | — | (5) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring charges, net of tax of $1, $0 (h) | — | (3) | — | (15) | (18) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | (12) | (29) | (56) | (346) | (443) | |||||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 564 | $ | 548 | $ | 152 | $ | (81) | $ | 1,183 |
(a)PPL incurred legal expenses related to litigation and settlement with its former affiliate, Talen Montana, LLC and certain affiliated entities.
(b)Costs incurred primarily in connection with corporate centralization efforts.
(c)Rhode Island Regulated includes costs incurred primarily related to certain transition services agreement costs for IT systems that will not be part of PPL’s ongoing operations. Corporate and Other primarily includes integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of RIE.
(d)Primarily final closing and other related adjustments for the sale of Safari Holdings.
(e)Certain expenses related to billing issues. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Prior period impact related to a FERC refund order.
(g)Prior period impact of a methodology change in determining unbilled revenues.
(h)PA Regulated includes certain expenses related to a litigation settlement. Corporate and Other primarily includes certain expenses related to distributed energy investments.
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PPL Electric: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 2,876 | $ | 3,008 | $ | (132) | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 721 | 992 | (271) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 705 | 605 | 100 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 401 | 397 | 4 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 131 | 143 | (12) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,958 | 2,137 | (179) | |||||||
| Operating Income | 918 | 871 | 47 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 45 | 39 | 6 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | 33 | — | 33 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 246 | 223 | 23 | |||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 750 | 687 | 63 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 176 | 168 | 8 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 574 | $ | 519 | $ | 55 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Distribution price (a) | $ | 69 |
| Distribution volume (b) | 39 | |
| PLR (c) | (291) | |
| Transmission formula rate (d) | 48 | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Total | $ | (132) |
(a)The increase was primarily due to reconcilable cost recovery mechanisms approved by the PAPUC.
(b)The increase was primarily due to weather, along with other higher usage in 2024.
(c)The decrease was primarily the result of lower energy prices and fewer PLR customers, partially offset by higher customer volumes due to weather and other higher usage.
(d)The increase was primarily due to returns on additional transmission capital investments, returns of depreciation and operation and maintenance expenses and delayed implementation of moving to a calendar year rate in 2023, partially offset by the prior year point to point border rate settlement variance.
Energy Purchases
Energy purchases decreased $271 million in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to lower PLR prices of $259 million and lower PLR volumes of $13 million.
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Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetation management expenses | $ | 20 | ||
| Storm expenses | 52 | |||
| Act 129 | 19 | |||
| DER projects impairment (a) | 21 | |||
| Other | (12) | |||
| Total | $ | 100 |
(a) Impairment of DER project costs associated with a pilot solar program for which PPL will not seek regulatory recovery.
Interest Income from Affiliate
Interest income from affiliate increased $33 million in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to interest income on a short-term note receivable with an affiliated company.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $23 million in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to $43 million related to increased long-term debt borrowings, partially offset by $11 million related to the redemption of floating rate first mortgage bonds in March 2023.
LG&E: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 1,617 | $ | 1,580 | $ | 37 | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 31 | 33 | (2) | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,648 | 1,613 | 35 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 308 | 286 | 22 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 151 | 168 | (17) | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliates | 20 | 12 | 8 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 349 | 364 | (15) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 305 | 302 | 3 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 49 | 48 | 1 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,182 | 1,180 | 2 | |||||||
| Operating Income | 466 | 433 | 33 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 12 | 3 | 9 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliates | 1 | 1 | — | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 105 | 102 | 3 | |||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 374 | 335 | 39 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 77 | 69 | 8 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 297 | $ | 266 | $ | 31 |
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Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and other energy purchases (a) | $ | 7 |
| Volumes (b) | 35 | |
| ECR (c) | (18) | |
| Other | 11 | |
| Total | $ | 35 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel expenses, partially offset by lower recoveries of energy purchases.
(b)The increase was primarily due to weather.
(c)The decrease was primarily due to lower ECR expenses.
Fuel
Fuel expense increased $22 million in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to an increase in commodity costs.
Energy Purchases
Energy purchases decreased $17 million in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to a decrease in commodity costs.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ECR expenses | $ | (17) |
| Other | 2 | |
| Total | $ | (15) |
KU: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 1,944 | $ | 1,872 | $ | 72 | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 20 | 12 | 8 | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,964 | 1,884 | 80 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 476 | 447 | 29 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 25 | 24 | 1 | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliates | 31 | 33 | (2) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 413 | 427 | (14) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 403 | 392 | 11 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 49 | 45 | 4 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,397 | 1,368 | 29 | |||||||
| Operating Income | 567 | 516 | 51 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 15 | 8 | 7 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 137 | 134 | 3 | |||||||
| Interest Expense from Affiliate | — | 1 | (1) | |||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 445 | 389 | 56 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 89 | 77 | 12 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 356 | $ | 312 | $ | 44 |
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Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and other energy purchases (a) | $ | 28 |
| Volumes (b) | 39 | |
| ECR | (8) | |
| Demand | 8 | |
| Other | 13 | |
| Total | $ | 80 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel expenses.
(b)The increase was primarily due to weather.
Fuel
Fuel expense increased $29 million in 2024 compared with 2023, primarily due to a $37 million increase in volumes due to weather, partially offset by an $8 million decrease in commodity costs.
Financial Condition
The remainder of this Item 7 in this Form 10-K is presented on a combined basis, providing information, as applicable, for all Registrants.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
(All Registrants)
The Registrants' cash flows from operations and access to cost-effective bank and capital markets are subject to risks and uncertainties. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect the Registrants' cash flows.
The Registrants had the following at:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 306 | $ | 24 | $ | 8 | $ | 13 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 303 | — | 25 | 140 | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 551 | — | 300 | 250 | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | 43 | 73 | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 331 | $ | 51 | $ | 18 | $ | 14 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 992 | 509 | — | 93 | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | — | — |
(PPL)
The Statements of Cash Flows separately report the cash flows of discontinued operations. The "Operating Activities," "Investing Activities" and "Financing Activities" sections below include only the cash flows of continuing operations.
(All Registrants)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31 and the changes between periods were as follows:
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| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 2,340 | $ | 1,042 | $ | 554 | $ | 723 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (2,818) | (1,455) | (444) | (643) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 435 | 386 | (130) | (89) | ||||||||||
| 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 1,758 | $ | 912 | $ | 609 | $ | 647 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (2,383) | (958) | (378) | (566) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 650 | 72 | (280) | (64) | ||||||||||
| 2024 vs. 2023 Change | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 582 | $ | 130 | $ | (55) | $ | 76 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (435) | (497) | (66) | (77) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | (215) | 314 | 150 | (25) |
Operating Activities
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) operating activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 148 | $ | 55 | $ | 31 | $ | 44 | ||||||
| Non-cash components | (78) | 119 | 26 | 5 | ||||||||||
| Working capital | 132 | (22) | (103) | 20 | ||||||||||
| Defined benefit plan funding | 3 | 5 | (1) | — | ||||||||||
| Other operating activities | 377 | (27) | (8) | 7 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 582 | $ | 130 | $ | (55) | $ | 76 |
(PPL)
PPL cash provided by operating activities in 2024 increased $582 million compared with 2023.
•Net income increased $148 million and included a decrease in net non-cash charges of $78 million. The decrease in non-cash components was primarily due to an increase in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences).
•The $132 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable (primarily due to timing of payments), partially offset by an increase in unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather) and an increase in other current liabilities.
•The $377 million increase in cash provided by other operating activities was driven by an increase in non-current liabilities (primarily related to the purchase of renewable tax credits in the prior year).
(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric's cash provided by operating activities in 2024 increased $130 million compared with 2023.
•Net income increased $55 million and included an increase in non-cash components of $119 million. The increase in non-cash components was primarily due to an increase in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences).
•The $22 million decrease in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to an increase in unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather), an increase in prepayments (primarily due to timing of payments), an increase in net regulatory assets (primarily due to the timing of rate recovery mechanisms) and a decrease in taxes payable (primarily due to timing of payments), partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable (primarily due to timing of payments) and an increase in accounts payable (primarily due to timing of payments).
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•The $27 million decrease in cash provided by other operating activities was driven primarily by an increase in noncurrent regulatory assets (primarily related to deferred storm costs recorded as noncurrent regulatory assets).
(LG&E)
LG&E's cash provided by operating activities in 2024 decreased $55 million compared with 2023.
•Net income increased $31 million and included an increase in non-cash components of $26 million. The increase in non-cash components was primarily due to a decrease in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences).
•The $103 million decrease in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to increases in accounts receivable and unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather), an increase in fuel, materials and supplies (primarily due to lower commodity costs in the prior year), an increase in accounts receivable from affiliates (primarily due to timing of payments) and an increase in net regulatory assets (primarily due to the timing of rate recovery mechanisms), partially offset by increases in accounts payable and accounts payable to affiliates (primarily due to timing of payments).
(KU)
KU's cash provided by operating activities in 2024 increased $76 million compared with 2023.
•Net income increased $44 million and included an increase in non-cash components of $5 million. The increase in non-cash components was primarily due to an increase in depreciation expense (primarily due to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements), partially offset by a decrease in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences).
•The $20 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to an increase in accounts payable to affiliates (primarily due to timing of payments) and a decrease in fuel, materials and supplies (primarily due to weather), partially offset by increases in accounts receivable and unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather).
Investing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) investing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Expenditures for PP&E | $ | (415) | $ | (273) | $ | (66) | $ | (71) | ||||||
| Notes receivable from affiliate | — | (222) | — | — | ||||||||||
| Other investing activities | (20) | (2) | — | (6) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | (435) | $ | (497) | $ | (66) | $ | (77) |
For PPL, the increase in expenditures for PP&E was primarily due to an increase in project expenditures at PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. The increase in expenditures at PPL Electric was primarily due to increases in transmission and distribution projects. The increase in expenditures at LG&E and KU was primarily due to Mill Creek Unit 5 and increases in the Advanced Metering Infrastructure initiative.
See "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for detail regarding projected capital expenditures for the years 2025 through 2027.
For PPL Electric, the changes in "Notes receivable from affiliate" activity resulted from payments received on the short-term note between affiliates in 2022, issued to support general corporate purposes. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany borrowings.
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Financing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) financing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 vs. 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt issuance/retirement, net | $ | 496 | $ | 560 | $ | (164) | $ | (146) | ||||||
| Dividends | (43) | (52) | (21) | (42) | ||||||||||
| Capital contributions/distributions, net | — | 672 | 83 | 31 | ||||||||||
| Changes in net short-term debt | (696) | (873) | 204 | 55 | ||||||||||
| Note payable with affiliate | — | — | 43 | 73 | ||||||||||
| Other financing activities | 28 | 7 | 5 | 4 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | (215) | $ | 314 | $ | 150 | $ | (25) |
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for information on 2024 activity.
See "Long-term Debt and Equity Securities" below for additional information on current year activity. See "Forecasted Sources of Cash" for a discussion of the Registrants' plans to issue debt and equity securities, as well as a discussion of credit facility capacity available to the Registrants. Also see "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for a discussion of PPL's plans to pay dividends on common securities in the future, as well as the Registrants' maturities of long-term debt.
Long-term Debt and Equity Securities
Long-term debt and equity securities activity for 2024 included:
| Debt | Stock | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuances (a) | Retirements | Issuances (b) | Repurchases | |||||||||||
| Cash Flow Impact: | ||||||||||||||
| PPL | $ | 1,894 | $ | — | $ | 9 | $ | — | ||||||
| PPL Electric | 649 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| LG&E | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| KU | — | — | — | — |
(a)Issuances are net of pricing discounts, where applicable, and exclude the impact of debt issuance costs. Includes debt issuances with affiliates.
(b)Includes issuances of common stock and treasury stock, which are included in "Other financing activities" on the Statements of Cash Flows.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional long-term debt information.
Forecasted Sources of Cash
(All Registrants)
The Registrants expect to continue to have adequate liquidity available from operating cash flows, cash and cash equivalents, credit facilities, commercial paper issuances and debt, hybrid, and equity issuances to meet their requirements with respect to their contractual obligations and anticipated capital expenditures. Equity capital for PPL can be provided from any combination of issuances from at the market stock plans, private placements, or public offerings. Additionally, subject to market conditions, the Registrants and their subsidiaries may access the capital markets, and PPL Electric, LG&E and KU anticipate receiving equity contributions from their parent or member in 2025, which are expected to be used to fund capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes.
PPL Electric, LG&E and KU plan to obtain the funds to meet their future capital needs from sources similar to those they used in the past, which were primarily from operating cash flows, external securities issuances, borrowings from financial institutions, and equity contributions from PPL. Operating cash flows provide a substantial portion of these subsidiary Registrants' cash needs.
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The amount, type, and timing of any financings in 2025, as well as in subsequent years, will be contingent on investment opportunities and the Registrants' capital requirements and will depend upon prevailing market conditions, regulatory approvals as applicable for the subsidiary Registrants, and other factors.
Credit Facilities
The Registrants maintain credit facilities to enhance liquidity, provide credit support and provide a backstop to commercial paper programs. Amounts borrowed under these credit facilities are reflected in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2024, the total committed borrowing capacity under credit facilities and the borrowings under these facilities were:
External
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued (f) | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL Capital Funding Credit Facilities (a) | $ | 1,350 | $ | — | $ | 138 | $ | 1,212 | ||||||
| PPL Electric Credit Facilities (b) | 650 | — | 1 | 649 | ||||||||||
| LG&E Credit Facilities (c) | 500 | — | 25 | 475 | ||||||||||
| KU Credit Facilities (c) | 400 | — | 140 | 260 | ||||||||||
| Total Credit Facilities (d) (e) | $ | 2,900 | $ | — | $ | 304 | $ | 2,596 |
(a)Includes a $1.25 billion syndicated credit facility with a $250 million borrowing sublimit for RIE and a $1 billion sublimit for PPL Capital Funding at December 31, 2024. RIE’s borrowing sublimit is adjustable, at the borrowers’ option, from $0 to $600 million, with the remaining balance of the $1.25 billion available under the facility allocated to PPL Capital Funding. At December 31, 2024, PPL Capital Funding had $138 million of commercial paper outstanding and RIE had no commercial paper outstanding. On January 2, 2025, the capacity of the PPL Capital Funding syndicated credit facility was increased to $1.5 billion, with the RIE sublimit remaining $250 million and the PPL Capital Funding sublimit increasing to $1.25 billion. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)On January 2, 2025, the capacity of the PPL Electric credit facility increased to $750 million. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(c)On January 2, 2025, the capacity of the LG&E and KU credit facilities were each increased to $600 million. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(d)The syndicated credit facilities and PPL Capital Funding's bilateral facility, each contain a financial covenant requiring debt to total capitalization not to exceed 70% for PPL Capital Funding, RIE, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU, as calculated in accordance with the facility, and other customary covenants.
The commitments under the credit facilities are provided by a diverse bank group, with no one bank and its affiliates providing an aggregate commitment of more than the following percentages of the total committed capacity: PPL - 9%, PPL Electric - 7%, LG&E - 7% and KU - 7%.
(e)Each company pays customary fees under its respective syndicated credit facility. Borrowings generally bear interest at applicable SOFR, plus an applicable margin.
(f)Commercial paper issued reflects the undiscounted face value of the issuance.
In addition to the financial covenants noted in the table above, the credit agreements governing the above credit facilities contain various other covenants. Failure to comply with the covenants after applicable grace periods could result in acceleration of repayment of borrowings and/or termination of the agreements. The Registrants monitor compliance with the covenants on a regular basis. At December 31, 2024, the Registrants were in compliance with these covenants. As of December 31, 2024, the Registrants believe that these covenants and other borrowing conditions will not limit access to these funding sources.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of the Registrants' credit facilities.
Intercompany (LG&E and KU)
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Commercial Paper Issued | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG&E Money Pool (a) | $ | 750 | $ | 43 | $ | 25 | $ | 682 | ||||||
| KU Money Pool (a) | 650 | 73 | 140 | 437 |
(a)LG&E and KU participate in an intercompany money pool agreement whereby LKE and/or KU make available to LG&E, and LKE and/or LG&E make available to KU funds up to the difference between LG&E's and KU's FERC borrowing limit and LG&E's and KU's commercial paper capacity limit, at an interest rate based on the lower of a market index of commercial paper issues and two additional rate options based on the lower of a market index of commercial paper issues and two additional rate options based on SOFR.
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See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany credit facilities.
Commercial Paper (All Registrants)
The Registrants, PPL Capital Funding and RIE maintain commercial paper programs to provide an additional financing source to fund short-term liquidity needs, as necessary. 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, 2024 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Commercial Paper Issuances (b) | Unused Capacity | ||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding (a) | $ | 1,350 | $ | 138 | $ | 1,212 | ||||
| Rhode Island Energy (a) | 250 | — | 250 | |||||||
| PPL Electric | 650 | — | 650 | |||||||
| LG&E | 500 | 25 | 475 | |||||||
| KU | 400 | 140 | 260 | |||||||
| Total PPL | $ | 3,150 | $ | 303 | $ | 2,847 |
(a)Issuances under the PPL Capital Funding and RIE commercial paper programs are supported by the PPL Capital Funding syndicated credit facility, which at December 31, 2024, had a total capacity of $1.25 billion, with a $250 million borrowing sublimit for RIE and a $1 billion sublimit for PPL Capital Funding at December 31, 2024. RIE’s borrowing sublimit is adjustable, at the borrowers’ option, from $0 to $600 million, with the remaining balance of the $1.25 billion available under the facility allocated to PPL Capital Funding. On January 2, 2025, the capacity of the PPL Capital Funding syndicated credit facility was increased to $1.5 billion, with the RIE sublimit remaining $250 million and the PPL Capital Funding sublimit increasing to $1.25 billion.
(b)Commercial paper issued reflects the undiscounted face value of the issuance.
Forecasted Uses of Cash
(All Registrants)
In addition to expenditures required for normal operating activities, such as purchased power, payroll, fuel and taxes, the Registrants currently expect to incur future cash outflows for capital expenditures, various contractual obligations, payment of dividends on its common stock, and possibly the purchase or redemption of a portion of debt securities.
Capital Expenditures
The table below shows the Registrants' current capital expenditure projections for the years 2025 through 2027. Expenditures for the regulated utilities are expected to be recovered through rates, pending regulatory approval.
| Projected | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2025 (a) | 2026 | 2027 | |||||||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 3,875 | $ | 975 | $ | 1,200 | $ | 1,700 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 4,925 | 1,400 | 1,825 | 1,700 | ||||||||||
| Gas distribution facilities | 1,125 | 400 | 350 | 375 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 4,475 | 1,300 | 1,600 | 1,575 | ||||||||||
| Other | 600 | 250 | 225 | 125 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 15,000 | $ | 4,325 | $ | 5,200 | $ | 5,475 | ||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | $ | 2,525 | $ | 650 | $ | 975 | $ | 900 | ||||||
| Transmission facilities | 2,550 | 850 | 875 | 825 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 5,075 | $ | 1,500 | $ | 1,850 | $ | 1,725 |
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| Projected | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2025 (a) | 2026 | 2027 | |||||||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 2,275 | $ | 475 | $ | 625 | $ | 1,175 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 600 | 175 | 200 | 225 | ||||||||||
| Gas distribution facilities | 400 | 175 | 100 | 125 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 275 | 75 | 75 | 125 | ||||||||||
| Other | 300 | 125 | 125 | 50 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 3,850 | $ | 1,025 | $ | 1,125 | $ | 1,700 | ||||||
| KU | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 1,600 | $ | 500 | $ | 575 | $ | 525 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 750 | 225 | 275 | 250 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 875 | 175 | 350 | 350 | ||||||||||
| Other | 300 | 125 | 100 | 75 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 3,525 | $ | 1,025 | $ | 1,300 | $ | 1,200 |
(a)The 2025 total excludes amounts included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2024.
Capital expenditure plans are revised periodically to reflect changes in operational, market and regulatory conditions.
Contractual Obligations
The Registrants have assumed various financial obligations and commitments in the ordinary course of conducting business. At December 31, 2024, estimated contractual cash obligations were as follows:
| Total | 2025 | 2026-2027 | 2028-2029 | After 2029 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 16,674 | $ | 551 | $ | 1,332 | $ | 1,466 | $ | 13,325 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 11,001 | 729 | 1,375 | 1,288 | 7,609 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases | 102 | 24 | 30 | 17 | 31 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase Obligations (c) | 4,872 | 1,479 | 1,958 | 702 | 733 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 32,649 | $ | 2,783 | $ | 4,695 | $ | 3,473 | $ | 21,698 | ||||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 5,299 | $ | — | $ | 108 | $ | 116 | $ | 5,075 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 4,378 | 246 | 491 | 486 | 3,155 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations | 49 | 29 | 20 | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 9,726 | $ | 275 | $ | 619 | $ | 602 | $ | 8,230 | ||||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 2,489 | $ | 300 | $ | 350 | $ | — | $ | 1,839 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 1,380 | 100 | 178 | 167 | 935 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases | 17 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (d) | 1,098 | 327 | 463 | 242 | 66 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (e) | 306 | 25 | 54 | 50 | 177 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (f) | 251 | 108 | 140 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 95 | 30 | 58 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 5,636 | $ | 896 | $ | 1,250 | $ | 468 | $ | 3,022 |
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| Total | 2025 | 2026-2027 | 2028-2029 | After 2029 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KU | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 3,089 | $ | 250 | $ | 224 | $ | — | $ | 2,615 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 1,999 | 130 | 239 | 233 | 1,397 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases | 27 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (d) | 1,076 | 352 | 471 | 211 | 42 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (e) | 136 | 11 | 24 | 22 | 79 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (f) | 532 | 221 | 307 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 117 | 46 | 59 | 8 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 6,976 | $ | 1,020 | $ | 1,335 | $ | 481 | $ | 4,140 |
(a)Reflects principal maturities based on stated maturity, sinking fund payments, or earlier put dates. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of variable-rate remarketable bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU. The Registrants do not have any significant finance lease obligations.
(b)Assumes interest payments through stated maturity or earlier put dates. The payments herein are subject to change, as payments for debt that is or becomes variable-rate debt have been estimated.
(c)The amounts include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Primarily includes, as applicable, the purchase obligations of electricity, coal, natural gas and limestone, as well as certain construction expenditures, which are also included in the Capital Expenditures discussion above.
(d)Represents contracts to purchase coal, natural gas and natural gas transportation. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(e)Represents future minimum payments under OVEC power purchase agreements through June 2040. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Represents construction commitments, which are also reflected in the Capital Expenditures table presented above.
Dividends/Distributions
(PPL)
PPL views dividends as an integral component of shareowner return and expects to continue to pay dividends in amounts intended to maintain a capitalization structure that supports investment grade credit ratings. In November 2024, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable January 2, 2024, at 25.75 cents per share (equivalent to $1.03 per annum). On February 13, 2025, PPL announced a quarterly common stock dividend of 27.25 cents per share, payable April 1, 2025, to shareowners of record as of March 10, 2025. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon future earnings, cash flows, financial and legal requirements and other factors.
Subject to certain exceptions, PPL may not 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. At December 31, 2024, no interest payments were deferred.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
From time to time, as determined by their respective Board of Directors, the Registrants pay dividends, distributions or return capital, as applicable, to their respective shareholders or members. Certain of the credit facilities of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU include minimum debt covenant ratios that could effectively restrict the payment of dividends or distributions.
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for these and other restrictions related to distributions on capital interests for the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
Purchase or Redemption of Debt Securities
The Registrants will continue to evaluate outstanding debt securities and may decide to purchase or redeem these securities in open market or privately negotiated transactions, in exchange transactions or otherwise, depending upon prevailing market conditions, available cash and other factors, and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved may be material.
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Rating Agency Actions
Moody's and S&P periodically review the credit ratings of the debt of the Registrants and their subsidiaries. Based on their respective independent reviews, the rating agencies may make certain ratings revisions or ratings affirmations.
A credit rating reflects an assessment by the rating agency of the creditworthiness associated with an issuer and particular securities that it issues. The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries are based on information provided by the Registrants and other sources. The ratings of Moody's and S&P are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any securities of the Registrants or their subsidiaries. Such ratings may be subject to revisions or withdrawal by the agencies at any time and should be evaluated independently of each other and any other rating that may be assigned to the securities.
The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries affect their liquidity, access to capital markets and cost of borrowing under their credit facilities. A downgrade in the Registrants' or their subsidiaries' credit ratings could result in higher borrowing costs and reduced access to capital markets. The Registrants and their subsidiaries have no credit rating triggers that would result in the reduction of access to capital markets or the acceleration of maturity dates of outstanding debt.
The following table sets forth the Registrants' and their subsidiaries' credit ratings for outstanding debt securities or commercial paper programs as of December 31, 2024.
| Senior Unsecured | Senior Secured | Commercial Paper | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | ||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding | Baa1 | BBB+ | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| Rhode Island Energy | A3 | A- | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| PPL and PPL Electric | ||||||||||||
| PPL Electric | A1 | A+ | P-2 | A-1 | ||||||||
| PPL, LG&E and KU | ||||||||||||
| LG&E | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| KU | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 |
Since June 2023, the rating agencies have not taken rating actions related to the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
Ratings Triggers (PPL, LG&E and KU)
Various derivative and non-derivative contracts, including contracts for the sale and purchase of electricity and fuel, commodity transportation and storage, and interest rate instruments, contain provisions that require the posting of additional collateral or permit the counterparty to terminate the contract, if PPL's, LG&E's or KU's or their subsidiaries' credit rating, as applicable, were to fall below investment grade. See Note 16 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of "Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features," including a discussion of the potential additional collateral requirements for derivative contracts in a net liability position at December 31, 2024.
Guarantees for Subsidiaries (PPL)
PPL guarantees certain consolidated affiliate financing arrangements. Some of the guarantees contain financial and other covenants that, if not met, would limit or restrict the consolidated affiliates' access to funds under these financing arrangements, accelerate maturity of such arrangements or limit the consolidated affiliates' ability to enter into certain transactions. At this time, PPL believes that these covenants will not limit access to relevant funding sources. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for additional information about guarantees.
Other Contingent Obligations (All Registrants)
The Registrants have entered into certain agreements that may contingently require payment to a guaranteed or indemnified party. See Note 12 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these agreements.
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Risk Management
Market Risk
(All Registrants)
See Notes 1, 15 and 16 to the Financial Statements for information about the Registrants' risk management objectives, valuation techniques and accounting designations.
The forward-looking information presented below provides estimates of what may occur in the future, assuming certain adverse market conditions and model assumptions. Actual future results may differ materially from those presented. These are not precise indicators of expected future losses, but are rather only indicators of possible losses under normal market conditions at a given confidence level.
Interest Rate Risk
PPL and its subsidiaries issue debt to finance their operations, which exposes them to interest rate risk. A variety of financial derivative instruments are utilized to adjust the mix of fixed and floating interest rates in their debt portfolios, adjust the duration of the debt portfolios and lock in benchmark interest rates in anticipation of future financing, when appropriate. Risk limits under PPL's risk management program are designed to balance risk exposure to volatility in interest expense and changes in the fair value of the debt portfolio due to changes in benchmark interest rates. In addition, the interest rate risk of certain subsidiaries is potentially mitigated as a result of the existing regulatory framework or the timing of rate cases.
The following interest rate hedges were outstanding at December 31:
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | Maturities Ranging Through | Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PPL and LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Economic hedges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps (c) | $ | 64 | $ | (3) | $ | (1) | 2033 | $ | 64 | $ | (7) | $ | (1) |
(a)Includes accrued interest, if applicable.
(b)Effects of adverse movements decrease assets or increase liabilities, as applicable, which could result in an asset becoming a liability. Sensitivities represent a 10% adverse movement in interest rates.
(c)Realized changes in the fair value of such economic hedges are recoverable through regulated rates and any subsequent changes in the fair value of these derivatives are included in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities.
The Registrants are exposed to a potential increase in interest expense and to changes in the fair value of their debt portfolios. The estimated impact of a 10% adverse movement in interest rates on interest expense at December 31, 2024 and 2023 was insignificant for PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E, and KU. The estimated impact of a 10% adverse movement in interest rates on the fair value of debt at December 31 is shown below.
| 10% Adverse Movement in Rates on Fair Value of Debt | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| PPL | $ | 622 | $ | 593 | ||
| PPL Electric | 262 | 250 | ||||
| LG&E | 89 | 95 | ||||
| KU | 131 | 137 |
Commodity Price Risk
PPL is exposed to commodity price risk through its subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric is required to purchase electricity to fulfill its obligation as a PLR. Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its PAPUC-approved cost recovery mechanism and full-requirement supply agreements to serve its PLR customers which transfer the risk to energy suppliers.
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•LG&E's and KU's rates include certain mechanisms for fuel, fuel-related expenses and energy purchases. In addition, LG&E's rates include a mechanism for natural gas supply costs. These mechanisms generally provide for timely recovery of market price fluctuations associated with these costs.
•RIE utilizes derivative instruments pursuant to its RIPUC-approved plan to manage commodity price risk associated with its natural gas purchases. RIE's commodity price risk management strategy is to reduce fluctuations in firm gas sales prices to its customers. RIE's costs associated with derivatives instruments are recoverable through its RIPUC- approved cost recovery mechanisms. RIE is also required to purchase electricity to fulfill its obligation to provide Last Resort Service (LRS). Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its RIPUC-approved cost recovery mechanisms and full requirements service agreements to serve LRS customers, which transfer the risk to energy suppliers. Additionally, RIE is required to contract through long-term agreements for clean energy supply under the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Growth program and Long-term Clean Energy Standard. Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its RIPUC-approved cost recovery mechanisms, which true-up cost differences between contract prices and market prices.
Volumetric Risk
Volumetric risk is the risk related to the changes in volume of retail sales due to weather, economic conditions or other factors. PPL is exposed to volumetric risk through its subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric, LG&E and KU are exposed to volumetric risk on retail sales, mainly due to weather and other economic conditions for which there is limited mitigation between rate cases.
•RIE is exposed to volumetric risk, which is significantly mitigated by regulatory mechanisms. RIE's electric and gas distribution rates both have a revenue decoupling mechanism, which allows for annual adjustments to RIE's delivery rates.
Inflation and Supply Chain Related Risk
PPL and its subsidiaries continue to monitor the impact of inflation and supply chain disruptions. PPL and its subsidiaries monitor the cost of fuel, construction, regulatory and environmental compliance costs and other costs, including as a result of tariffs. Mechanisms are in place to mitigate the risk of inflationary effects and supply chain disruptions, to the extent possible, but increased costs and supply chain disruptions may directly or indirectly affect our ongoing operations. These mechanisms include pricing strategies, productivity improvements and cost reductions in order to ensure that the Registrants are able to procure the necessary materials and other resources needed to maintain services in a safe and reliable manner, and to grow infrastructure consistent with the capital expenditure plan. For additional information see "Forward-looking Information” at the beginning of this report and “Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Registrant.
Defined Benefit Plans - Equity Securities Price Risk
See "Application of Critical Accounting Policies - Defined Benefits" for additional information regarding the effect of equity securities price risk on plan assets.
Credit Risk
(All Registrants)
Credit risk is the potential loss that may be incurred due to a counterparty's non-performance.
PPL is exposed to credit risk from "in-the-money" transactions with counterparties, as well as additional credit risk through certain of its subsidiaries, as discussed below.
In the event a supplier of PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E or KU defaults on its contractual obligation, those Registrants would be required to seek replacement power or replacement fuel in the market. In general, subject to regulatory review or other processes, appropriate incremental costs incurred by these entities would be recoverable from customers through applicable rate mechanisms, thereby mitigating the financial risk for these entities.
PPL and its subsidiaries have credit policies in place to manage credit risk, including the use of an established credit approval process, daily monitoring of counterparty positions and the use of master netting agreements or provisions. These agreements generally include credit mitigation provisions, such as margin, prepayment or collateral requirements. PPL and its subsidiaries may request additional credit assurance, in certain circumstances, in the event that the counterparties' credit ratings fall below
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investment grade, their tangible net worth falls below specified percentages or their exposures exceed an established credit limit.
(All Registrants)
Related Party Transactions
The Registrants are not aware of any material ownership interests or operating responsibility by senior management in outside partnerships, including leasing transactions with variable interest entities, or other entities doing business with the Registrants. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information on related party transactions for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU.
Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures
The Registrants from time to time evaluate opportunities for potential acquisitions, divestitures, and development projects. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information on acquisition and divestiture activity. Development projects are reexamined based on market conditions and other factors to determine whether to proceed with, modify or terminate the projects. Any resulting transactions may impact future financial results.
Environmental Matters
Extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations are applicable to the Registrants' air emissions, water discharges and the management of hazardous and solid waste, as well as other aspects of the Registrants' businesses. The costs of compliance or alleged non-compliance cannot be predicted with certainty but could be significant. In addition, costs may increase significantly if the requirements or scope of environmental laws or regulations, or similar rules, are expanded or changed. Costs may take the form of increased capital expenditures or operating and maintenance expenses, monetary fines, penalties or other restrictions. Many of these environmental law considerations are also applicable to the operations of key suppliers, or customers, such as coal producers and industrial power users, and may impact the costs for their products or their demand for the Registrants' services. Increased capital and operating costs are expected to be subject to rate recovery. The Registrants can provide no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of future environmental or rate proceedings before regulatory authorities.
See "Legal Matters" in Note 12 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of the more significant environmental claims. See "Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Forecasted Uses of Cash - Capital Expenditures" in "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for information on projected environmental capital expenditures for 2025 through 2027. See Note 18 to the Financial Statements for information related to the impacts of CCRs on AROs. See "Item 1. Business - Environmental Matters" for additional information.
Sustainability
Increasing attention has been focused on a broad range of corporate activities under the heading of “sustainability”, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of requests from interested parties for information on sustainability topics. These parties range from investor groups focused on environmental, social, governance and other matters to non-investors concerned with a variety of public policy matters. Often the scope of the information sought is very broad and not necessarily relevant to an issuer’s business or industry. As a result, a number of private groups have proposed to standardize the subject matter constituting sustainability, either generally or by industry. Those efforts remain ongoing. In addition, certain of these private groups have advocated that the SEC promulgate regulations requiring specific sustainability reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ’34 Act), or that issuers voluntarily include certain sustainability disclosure in their ’34 Act reports. In March 2024, the SEC finalized climate disclosure rules for public companies. The rules require public companies to disclose, among other things, direct and indirect GHG emissions and information related to climate-related targets or goals that are material to the company’s business, results of operations or financial condition. As of April 2024, the SEC issued a “stay” on its climate-related disclosure rules, temporarily pausing implementation pending judicial review. PPL cannot predict the final legal requirements or when the requirements will be effective.
As has been PPL’s practice, to the extent sustainability issues have or may have a material impact on the Registrants’ financial condition or results of operation, PPL discloses such matters in accordance with applicable securities law and SEC regulations. With respect to other sustainability topics that PPL deems relevant to investors but that are not required to be reported under applicable securities law and SEC regulation, PPL will continue each spring to publish its annual sustainability report including tracking reductions related to the company's goal to reduce carbon emissions and post that report on its corporate website at
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www.pplweb.com and on www.pplsustainability.com. Neither the information in such annual sustainability report nor the information at such websites is incorporated in this Form 10-K by reference, and it should not be considered a part of this Form 10-K. In preparing its sustainability report, PPL is guided by the framework established by the Global Reporting Initiative, which identifies environmental, social, governance and other subject matter categories. PPL also participates in efforts by the Edison Electric Institute and American Gas Association to provide the appropriate subset of sustainability information that can be applied consistently across the electric and gas utility industries. Additionally, PPL consults widely used reporting frameworks for discrete sustainability topics, including corporate political contributions and climate-related issues. PPL also responds to the climate survey of CDP, a not-for-profit organization based in the United Kingdom formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, that runs the global disclosure system that enables investors, companies, cities, states and regions to measure and manage their environmental impacts.
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000922224-24-000008.
Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(All Registrants)
This "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" is separately filed by PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. Information contained herein relating to any individual Registrant is filed by such Registrant solely on its own behalf, and no Registrant makes any representation as to information relating to any other Registrant. The specific Registrant to which disclosures are applicable is identified in parenthetical headings in italics above the applicable disclosure or within the applicable disclosure for each Registrant's related activities and disclosures. Within combined disclosures, amounts are disclosed for individual Registrants when significant.
The following should be read in conjunction with the Registrants' Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes. Capitalized terms and abbreviations are defined in the glossary. Dollars are in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted.
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" includes the following information:
•"Overview" provides a description of each Registrant's business strategy and a discussion of important financial and operational developments.
•"Results of Operations" for all Registrants includes a "Statement of Income Analysis," which discusses significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2023 with 2022. For PPL, "Results of Operations" also includes "Segment Earnings," which provides a detailed analysis of earnings by reportable segment. These discussions include the non-GAAP financial measure "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and provide an explanation of the non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation of the measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.
•"Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources" provides an analysis of the Registrants' liquidity positions and credit profiles. This section also includes a discussion of forecasted sources and uses of cash and rating agency actions.
•"Financial Condition - Risk Management" provides an explanation of the Registrants' risk management programs relating to market and credit risk.
•"Application of Critical Accounting Policies" provides an overview of the accounting policies that are particularly important to the results of operations and financial condition of the Registrants and that require their management to make significant estimates, assumptions and other judgments of inherently uncertain matters.
For comparison of the Registrants’ results of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2021, refer to “Item 7. Combined Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the 2022 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2023.
Overview
For a description of the Registrants and their businesses, see "Item 1. Business."
Business Strategy (All Registrants)
PPL operates four regulated utilities located in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Rhode Island. Each of these jurisdictions has distinct regulatory structures and each of the utilities has distinct customer classes.
PPL's strategy, which is supported by the other Registrants and subsidiaries, is to achieve industry-leading performance in safety, reliability, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency; to advance a clean energy transition while maintaining affordability and reliability; to maintain a strong financial foundation and create long-term value for our shareowners; to foster a diverse and exceptional workplace; and to build strong communities in areas that we serve.
Central to PPL's and the other Registrants' strategy is recovering capital project costs efficiently through various rate-making mechanisms, including periodic base rate case proceedings using forward test years, annual FERC formula rate mechanisms and other regulatory agency-approved recovery mechanisms designed to limit regulatory lag. In Kentucky, in addition to FERC formula rates, the KPSC has adopted a series of regulatory mechanisms (ECR, DSM, GLT, fuel adjustment clause, and gas
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supply clause) and recovery on construction work-in-progress that reduce regulatory lag and provide timely recovery of and return on, as appropriate, prudently incurred costs. In Pennsylvania, FERC formula rates, DSIC mechanism, Smart Meter Rider and other recovery mechanisms operate to reduce regulatory lag and provide for timely recovery of and a return on, as appropriate, prudently incurred costs. In Rhode Island, FERC formula rates, the gas cost adjustment, net metering, infrastructure, safety and reliability (ISR) and revenue decoupling mechanisms and other rate adjustment mechanisms operate to reduce regulatory lag and provide timely recovery of and return on, as appropriate, prudently incurred costs.
Financial and Operational Developments
Talen Litigation (PPL and PPL Electric)
On December 22, 2023, PPL announced that it entered into a settlement agreement (Settlement Agreement) with Talen Montana, LLC and affiliated entities (Talen) to resolve all claims made by Talen in Talen Montana, LLC et al. v. PPL Corp. et al, Adv. No 22-09001 pending before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and arising out of the June 2015 spinoff of PPL Energy Supply, which was renamed Talen. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, PPL paid Talen $115 million and Talen dismissed all claims against PPL. Separately, PPL and Riverstone mutually agreed to dismiss all remaining claims in a settlement in January 2024. This matter is now concluded. See "Legal Matters" in Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Purchase of Renewable Tax Credits (PPL)
During 2023, PPL purchased approximately $300 million of renewable tax credits, as allowed by the IRA. The credits were acquired at a discount. PPL believes that it will be able to monetize the acquired credits within the foreseeable future and recorded the associated benefit of the discount as a reduction of income taxes as of December 31, 2023. In addition, PPL recorded a deferred tax asset representing credits that will be utilized in future periods.
IRS Revenue Procedure 2023-15 (PPL and LG&E)
On April 14, 2023, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2023-15, which provides a safe harbor method of accounting that taxpayers may use to determine whether expenses to repair, maintain, replace, or improve natural gas transmission and distribution property must be capitalized for tax purposes. PPL and LG&E are currently reviewing the revenue procedure to determine its potential impact on their financial statements.
Regulatory Requirements
(All Registrants)
The Registrants cannot predict the impact that future regulatory requirements may have on their financial condition or results of operations.
(PPL, LG&E and KU)
Environmental Considerations for Coal-Fired Generation
The businesses of LG&E and KU are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws, rules and regulations, including those pertaining to CCRs, GHG, and ELGs. See Notes 7, 13 and 19 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these significant environmental matters. These and other environmental requirements led PPL, LG&E and KU to retire approximately 1,200 MW of coal-fired generating plants in Kentucky since 2010. As part of the long-term generation planning process, LG&E and KU evaluate a range of factors including the impact of potential stricter environmental regulations, fuel price scenarios, the cost of replacement generation, continued operations and major maintenance costs and the risk of major equipment failures in determining when to retire generation assets.
As a result of environmental requirements and aging infrastructure, LG&E has sought and obtained approval to retire two older coal-fired units at the Mill Creek Plant. Mill Creek Unit 1, with 300 MW of capacity, is expected to be retired in 2024. Mill Creek Unit 2, with 297 MW of capacity, is expected to be retired in 2027, subject to certain conditions. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
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CPCN and SB 4 Application
On December 15, 2022, LG&E and KU filed an application with the KPSC for a CPCN for the construction and purchase of various generating facilities in conjunction with the retirement of four existing coal-fired generation units and three small gas-fired units. On March 24, 2023, Kentucky Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) went into effect, which requires KPSC approval of the retirement of fossil fuel-fired electric generating units in the state. On May 10, 2023, LG&E and KU filed an application with the KPSC seeking approval of the retirement of seven fossil fuel-fired generating units as required by SB 4. On May 16, 2023, the KPSC entered an Order consolidating the SB 4 filing proceeding into the CPCN case.
On November 6, 2023, the KPSC issued an order approving LG&E’s and KU’s requests (i) to construct a 640 MW net summer rating NGCC combustion turbine at LG&E's Mill Creek Generating Station in Jefferson County, Kentucky, (ii) to construct a 120 MWac solar photovoltaic electric generating facility in Mercer County, Kentucky, (iii) to acquire a 120 MWac solar facility to be built by a third-party solar developer in Marion County, Kentucky and (iv) to construct a 125 MW, 4-hour battery energy storage system facility at KU's E.W. Brown Generating Station. The KPSC denied the request to construct a 621 MW net summer rating NGCC combustion turbine at KU's E.W. Brown Generating Station in Mercer County, Kentucky at this time, based on the finding that the construction of this unit should be deferred with the construction date beginning on a date that provides for an in-service date in 2030. The order also authorized LG&E's and KU's entry into the four solar PPAs, subject to certain conditions, but deferred for future proceedings specific decisions on cost recovery treatment or mechanisms. Further, the order approved the new, adjusted or expanded energy efficiency programs contained in the requested 2024-2030 DSM plan.
The new NGCC facility will be jointly owned by LG&E (31%) and KU (69%) and the solar units will be jointly owned by LG&E (37%) and KU (63%), the battery storage unit will be owned by LG&E, and the proposed PPA transactions and DSM programs will be entered into or conducted jointly by LG&E and KU, consistent with LG&E and KU's shared dispatch, cost allocation, tariff or other frameworks.
See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Kentucky March 2023 Storm
On March 3, 2023, LG&E and KU experienced significant windstorm activity in their service territories, resulting in substantial damage to certain of LG&E's and KU's assets with total costs incurred through December 31, 2023 of $74 million ($33 million at LG&E and $41 million at KU). On March 17, 2023, LG&E and KU submitted a filing with the KPSC requesting regulatory asset treatment of the extraordinary operations and maintenance expenses portion of the costs incurred related to the windstorm. On April 5, 2023, the KPSC issued an order approving the request for accounting purposes, noting that approval for recovery would be determined in LG&E’s and KU’s next base rate cases. As of December 31, 2023, LG&E and KU recorded regulatory assets related to the storm of $8 million and $11 million.
FERC Transmission Rate Filing
In 2018, LG&E and KU applied to the FERC requesting elimination of certain on-going waivers and credits to a sub-set of transmission customers relating to the 1998 merger of LG&E's and KU's parent entities and the 2006 withdrawal of LG&E and KU from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), a regional transmission operator and energy market. The application sought termination of LG&E's and KU's commitment to provide certain Kentucky municipalities mitigation for certain horizontal market power concerns arising out of the 1998 LG&E and KU merger and 2006 MISO withdrawal. The amounts at issue are generally waivers or credits granted to a limited number of Kentucky municipalities for either certain LG&E and KU or MISO transmission charges incurred for transmission service received. In 2019, the FERC granted LG&E's and KU's request to remove the ongoing credits, conditioned upon the implementation by LG&E and KU of a transition mechanism for certain existing power supply arrangements, which was subsequently filed, modified, and approved by the FERC in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, LG&E and KU and other parties filed appeals with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the FERC's orders on the elimination of the mitigation and required transition mechanism. In August 2022, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order remanding the proceedings back to the FERC. On May 18, 2023, the FERC issued an order on remand reversing its 2019 decision and requiring LG&E and KU to refund credits previously withheld, including under such transition mechanism. LG&E and KU filed a petition for review of the FERC's May 18, 2023 order with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and provided refunds in accordance with the FERC order on December 1, 2023. The FERC issued an order on LG&E and KU’s compliance filing on November 16, 2023, and LG&E and KU filed a petition for review of this November 16 order on February 14, 2024. The proceedings at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals were held on abeyance until February 15, 2024, but a motion to hold the proceedings on abeyance for an additional 60 days was filed on February 15, 2024, to allow the FERC time to substantively address LG&E and KU’s request for rehearing of the November 16 order. LG&E and KU cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the proceedings or any other post decision process but do not expect the annual impact to have a material effect on their operations or financial condition. LG&E and KU currently receive recovery of certain
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waivers and credits primarily through base rates increases, provided, however, that increases associated with the FERC's May 18, 2023 order are expected to be subject to future rate proceedings.
(PPL)
Advanced Metering Functionality (AMF)
In 2021, RIE filed its Updated AMF Business Case and Grid Modernization Plan (GMP) with the RIPUC in accordance with the Amended Settlement Agreement (ASA) approved by the RIPUC in August 2018, and which among other things, sought approval to deploy smart meters throughout the service territory. After PPL completed the acquisition of RIE, RIE filed a new AMF Business Case with the RIPUC in 2022, consisting of a detailed proposal for full-scale deployment of AMF across its electric service territory.
On September 27, 2023, the RIPUC unanimously approved RIE to deploy an AMF-based metering system for the electric distribution business. RIE is authorized to seek recovery of the approved capital investment through the ISR process with an overall multi-year cap on recovery at approximately $153 million, subject to certain terms, conditions and limitations with respect to the potential offsets and recoverability of certain costs. RIE is required to continue spending even if above the recovery cap, until it achieves the functionalities outlined in the AMF Business Case. RIE filed with the RIPUC (i) an updated electric Service Quality Plan on December 27, 2023 for RIPUC approval and (ii) additional compliance tariff provisions regarding recovery and updated cost schedules to reflect the RIPUC's decision on December 22, 2023 for RIPUC approval. RIE cannot predict the outcome of these matters.
Results of Operations
(PPL)
The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2023 with 2022. The "Segment Earnings" discussions provides a review of results by reportable segment. These discussions include the non-GAAP financial measure "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and provide an explanation of the non-GAAP financial measure and a reconciliation of the measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
A "Statement of Income Analysis" is presented separately for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2023 with 2022. The results of operations section for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU is presented in a reduced disclosure format in accordance with General Instructions (I)(2)(a) of Form 10-K.
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PPL: Statement of Income Analysis and Segment Earnings
Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 8,312 | $ | 7,902 | $ | 410 | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 733 | 931 | (198) | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 1,841 | 1,686 | 155 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 2,462 | 2,398 | 64 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 1,254 | 1,181 | 73 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 392 | 332 | 60 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 6,682 | 6,528 | 154 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | (40) | 54 | (94) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 666 | 513 | 153 | |||||||
| Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes | 924 | 915 | 9 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 184 | 201 | (17) | |||||||
| Income from Continuing Operations After Income Taxes | 740 | 714 | 26 | |||||||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes) (Note 9) | — | 42 | (42) | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 740 | $ | 756 | $ | (16) |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric distribution price (a) | $ | 58 |
| PPL Electric distribution volume (b) | (68) | |
| PPL Electric PLR (c) | (61) | |
| PPL Electric transmission formula rate (d) | 51 | |
| LG&E volumes (b) | (37) | |
| LG&E fuel and other energy purchases (e) | (157) | |
| LG&E economic relief billing credit, net of amortization of $0 | 12 | |
| KU volumes (b) | (60) | |
| KU fuel and other energy purchases (e) | (132) | |
| KU economic relief billing credit, net of amortization of $0 | 5 | |
| Acquisition of RIE (f) | 796 | |
| RIE energy purchases and other recoveries | (63) | |
| RIE capital investment | 23 | |
| RIE customer bill credits (g) | 50 | |
| Other | (7) | |
| Total | $ | 410 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to reconcilable cost recovery mechanisms approved by the PAPUC.
(b) The decreases were primarily due to weather, along with other lower usage in 2023 at PPL Electric.
(c) The decrease was primarily due to the result of fewer PLR customers, lower customer volumes due to weather and other lower usage, partially offset by higher energy prices.
(d) The increase was primarily due to returns on additional transmission capital investments and recovery of related depreciation expense, partially offset by a lower PPL zonal peak load billing factor in the first quarter of 2023.
(e) The decrease was primarily due to lower recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to lower commodity costs and volumes.
(f) The increase was primarily due to the results for 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
(g) See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
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Fuel
Fuel expense decreased $198 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a decrease in commodity costs of $46 million at LG&E and $89 million at KU and a decrease in volumes due to weather of $15 million at LG&E and $50 million at KU.
Energy Purchases
The increase (decrease) in energy purchases was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric PLR volumes | $ | (169) |
| PPL Electric PLR prices | 92 | |
| PPL Electric alternative energy credits volumes | (12) | |
| PPL Electric alternative energy credits prices | 29 | |
| LG&E commodity costs | (52) | |
| LG&E volumes (a) | (24) | |
| RIE commodity costs | (62) | |
| Acquisition of RIE (b) | 354 | |
| Other | (1) | |
| Total | $ | 155 |
(a)The decrease was primarily due to weather.
(b)The increase was primarily due to the results for 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| LG&E plant operations and maintenance expenses | $ | (13) |
| LG&E generation outage expenses | (12) | |
| LG&E gas maintenance and losses expenses | (11) | |
| KU plant operations and maintenance | (18) | |
| KU generation outage expenses | (15) | |
| KU vegetation management expenses | (19) | |
| Acquisition of RIE (a) | 217 | |
| Sale of Safari Holdings (b) | (54) | |
| Transition costs associated with RIE | 81 | |
| Transaction costs associated with RIE | (18) | |
| Commitments made during RIE acquisition process (b) | (43) | |
| Other | (31) | |
| Total | $ | 64 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to the results for 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
(b)See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
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Depreciation
Depreciation increased $73 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to the results for 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
Taxes, Other Than Income
The increase (decrease) in taxes, other than income was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| State gross earnings and gross receipts tax (a) | $ | 20 |
| Property tax expense (a) | 42 | |
| Other | (2) | |
| Total | $ | 60 |
(a)The increases were primarily due to the results for 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
Other Income (Expense) - net
The increase (decrease) in other income (expense) - net was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Defined benefit plans - non-service credits (Note 11) | $ | (7) |
| Interest income | 28 | |
| AFUDC - equity component | 8 | |
| Talen litigation (a) | (125) | |
| Other | 2 | |
| Total | $ | (94) |
(a)See "Legal Matters - Talen Litigation" in Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Interest Expense
The increase (decrease) in interest expense was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt (a) | $ | 144 |
| Short-term debt | 6 | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Total | $ | 153 |
(a) The increase was primarily due to increased borrowings at LG&E, KU, PPL Electric, and PPL Capital Funding, along with higher rates at LG&E, KU and PPL Capital Funding. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information. The increase was also due to the results for 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
Income Taxes
The increase (decrease) in income taxes was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change in pre-tax income | $ | (8) |
| Income tax credits (a) | (19) | |
| Amortization of excess deferred income taxes | 6 | |
| Other | 4 | |
| Total | $ | (17) |
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(a) In addition to credits internally generated, in 2023, PPL purchased approximately $300 million of renewable tax credits, as allowed by the IRA. PPL recorded a current tax benefit and a deferred tax expense for the utilization of approximately $250 million of the credits in 2023 and prior years, per the three-year carry-back rule.
See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information on income taxes.
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes)
Income from discontinued operations (net of income taxes) decreased $42 million in 2023 compared with 2022. The decrease was due to an income tax benefit recorded in 2022 related to the 2021 sale of the U.K. utility business. See "Discontinued Operations" in Note 9 to the Financial Statements for summarized results of the operations of the U.K. utility business.
Segment Earnings
PPL's Net Income (Loss) by reportable segments was as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated (a) | $ | 552 | $ | 549 | $ | 3 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 519 | 525 | (6) | |||||||
| Rhode Island Regulated | 96 | (44) | 140 | |||||||
| Corporate and Other (a)(b) | (427) | (316) | (111) | |||||||
| Discontinued Operations (c) | — | 42 | (42) | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 740 | $ | 756 | $ | (16) |
(a)The financing activity of LKE is presented in Corporate and Other beginning on January 1, 2023. Prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this change.
(b)Primarily represents financing and certain other costs incurred at the corporate level that have not been allocated or assigned to the segments, which are presented to reconcile segment information to PPL's consolidated results.
(c)See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations
Management utilizes "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" as a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered as an alternative to net income, an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes that Earnings from Ongoing Operations is useful and meaningful to investors because it provides management's view of PPL's earnings performance as another criterion in making investment decisions. In addition, PPL's management uses Earnings from Ongoing Operations in measuring achievement of certain corporate performance goals, including targets for certain executive incentive compensation. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations is adjusted for the impact of special items. Special items are presented in the financial tables on an after-tax basis with the related income taxes on special items separately disclosed. Income taxes on special items, when applicable, are calculated based on the statutory tax rate of the entity where the activity is recorded. Special items may include items such as:
• Gains and losses on sales of assets not in the ordinary course of business.
• Impairment charges.
• Significant workforce reduction and other restructuring effects.
• Acquisition and divestiture-related adjustments.
• Significant losses on early extinguishment of debt.
• Other charges or credits that are, in management's view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.
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PPL's Earnings from Ongoing Operations by reportable segment were as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated (a) | $ | 564 | $ | 557 | $ | 7 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 548 | 516 | 32 | |||||||
| Rhode Island Regulated | 152 | 65 | 87 | |||||||
| Corporate and Other (a) | (81) | (97) | 16 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 1,183 | $ | 1,041 | $ | 142 |
(a) The financing activity of LKE is presented in Corporate and Other beginning on January 1, 2023. Prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this change.
See "Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations" below for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to Net Income.
Kentucky Regulated Segment
The Kentucky Regulated segment consists primarily of LG&E's and KU's regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations, as well as LG&E's regulated distribution and sale of natural gas.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 (a) | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,452 | $ | 3,811 | $ | (359) | ||||
| Fuel | 733 | 931 | (198) | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 192 | 273 | (81) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 826 | 959 | (133) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 696 | 685 | 11 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 93 | 92 | 1 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 2,540 | 2,940 | (400) | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 12 | 12 | — | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 235 | 205 | 30 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 137 | 129 | 8 | |||||||
| Net Income | 552 | 549 | 3 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (12) | (8) | (4) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 564 | $ | 557 | $ | 7 |
(a)The financing activity of LKE is presented in Corporate and Other beginning on January 1, 2023. Prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this change.
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Kentucky Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $3 (a) | Other operation and maintenance | $ | (1) | $ | (8) | |||
| FERC transmission credit refund, net of tax of $2 (b) | Other operation and maintenance | (6) | — | |||||
| Unbilled revenue estimate adjustment, net of tax of $2 (c) | Operating Revenues | (5) | — | |||||
| Total | $ | (12) | $ | (8) |
(a)Costs incurred related to PPL's corporate centralization efforts.
(b)Prior period impact related to a FERC refund order. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(c)Prior period impact of a methodology change in determining unbilled revenues.
The changes in the components of the Kentucky Regulated segment's results between these periods were due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
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| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | (352) |
| Fuel | 198 | |
| Energy purchases | 81 | |
| Other operation and maintenance | 131 | |
| Depreciation | (11) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (1) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | — | |
| Interest Expense | (30) | |
| Income Taxes | (9) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 7 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | (4) | |
| Net Income | $ | 3 |
•Lower operating revenues in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $290 million decrease in recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to lower commodity costs and lower volumes and a $97 million decrease in sales volumes primarily due to weather, partially offset by a $17 million increase due to the expiration of the economic relief billing credit in June 2022.
•Lower fuel expense in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $135 million decrease in commodity costs and a $65 million decrease in volumes due to weather.
•Lower energy purchases in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $52 million decrease in commodity costs and a $24 million decrease in volumes due to weather.
•Lower other operation and maintenance expense in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $31 million decrease in plant operations and maintenance expenses, a $27 million decrease in generation outage expenses, a $21 million decrease in vegetation management expenses, an $11 million decrease in gas maintenance and losses expenses and other items that were not individually significant.
•Higher interest expense in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $16 million increase related to higher interest rates and a $13 million increase related to higher borrowings.
Pennsylvania Regulated Segment
The Pennsylvania Regulated segment includes the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations of PPL Electric.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,008 | $ | 3,030 | $ | (22) | ||||
| Energy purchases | 992 | 1,048 | (56) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 605 | 605 | — | |||||||
| Depreciation | 397 | 393 | 4 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 143 | 149 | (6) | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 2,137 | 2,195 | (58) | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 39 | 35 | 4 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 223 | 171 | 52 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 168 | 174 | (6) | |||||||
| Net Income | 519 | 525 | (6) | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (29) | 9 | (38) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 548 | $ | 516 | $ | 32 |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
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| Income Statement Line Item | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA tax rate change (a) | Income Taxes | $ | — | $ | 9 | |||
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $10 (b) | Other operation and maintenance | (23) | — | |||||
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $0 (b) | Other Income (Expense) - net | (1) | — | |||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $1 (c) | Other operation and maintenance | (2) | — | |||||
| Other non-recurring charges, net of tax of $1 (d) | Other operation and maintenance | (3) | — | |||||
| Total | $ | (29) | $ | 9 |
(a)Impact of Pennsylvania state tax reform. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)Certain expenses related to billing issues. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(c)Costs incurred related to PPL's corporate centralization efforts.
(d)Certain expenses associated with a litigation settlement.
The changes in the components of the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results between these periods are due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | (22) |
| Energy purchases | 56 | |
| Other operation and maintenance | 40 | |
| Depreciation | (4) | |
| Taxes, other than income | 6 | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 5 | |
| Interest Expense | (52) | |
| Income Taxes | 3 | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 32 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | (38) | |
| Net Income | $ | (6) |
•Lower operating revenues in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to $68 million of lower distribution volumes primarily related to weather and other lower usage in 2023, $61 million of lower PLR, partially offset by $58 million of higher distribution prices and $51 million of transmission formula rate impacts.
•Lower energy purchases in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to lower PLR volumes of $169 million and lower alternative energy credits volumes of $12 million, partially offset by higher PLR prices of $92 million and higher alternative energy credits prices of $29 million.
•Lower other operation and maintenance expense in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to lower vegetation management expenses of $19 million, lower other operations expenses of $12 million and lower cancelled projects of $9 million.
•Higher interest expense in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to increased borrowings.
Rhode Island Regulated Segment
The Rhode Island Regulated segment consists primarily of the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations and
regulated distribution and sale of natural gas conducted by RIE.
Net Income (Loss) and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
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| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 1,851 | $ | 1,038 | $ | 813 | ||||
| Energy purchases | 658 | 365 | 293 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 705 | 531 | 174 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 156 | 92 | 64 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 156 | 92 | 64 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 1,675 | 1,080 | 595 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 19 | 23 | (4) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 83 | 39 | 44 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 16 | (14) | 30 | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | 96 | (44) | 140 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (56) | (109) | 53 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 152 | $ | 65 | $ | 87 |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Rhode Island Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $17, $18 (a) | Other operation and maintenance | $ | (65) | $ | (70) | |||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $0 | Other Income (Expense) - net | — | 1 | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of ($2), $10 (b) | Operating Revenues | 8 | (40) | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of ($1) | Depreciation | 2 | — | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $0 | Interest Expense | (1) | — | |||||||
| Total Special Items | $ | (56) | $ | (109) |
(a)Primarily includes certain TSA costs for IT systems that will not be part of PPL's ongoing operations. 2022 also includes costs for certain commitments made during the acquisition process.
(b)The 2023 amount relates to the prior period impact of a methodology change for Infrastructure, Safety, and Reliability revenues. The 2022 amount relates to certain commitments made during the acquisition process.
The changes in the components of the Rhode Island Regulated segment's results between these periods are due to the factors set forth below, which exclude the items that management considers special.
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenues | $ | 753 |
| Energy purchases | (293) | |
| Other operation and maintenance | (180) | |
| Depreciation | (67) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (64) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | (3) | |
| Interest Expense | (43) | |
| Income Taxes | (16) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 87 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | 53 | |
| Net Income | $ | 140 |
•Higher operating revenues in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to $796 million resulting from the full year ended December 31, 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to the comparable period in 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022, and a $23 million increase in capital investments, partially offset by a $63 million decrease in energy purchases and other recoveries.
•Higher energy purchases in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to $354 million resulting from the full year ended December 31, 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to the comparable period in 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022, partially offset by a $62 million decrease in commodity costs.
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•Higher other operation and maintenance expense in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to $186 million resulting from the full year ended December 31, 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to the comparable period in 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022 and a $13 million increase in energy efficiency program expenses, partially offset by $19 million of lower transmission costs.
•Higher depreciation in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to the results for the full year ended December 31, 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to the comparable period in 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
•Higher taxes, other than income in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to the results for the full year ended December 31, 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to the comparable period in 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
•Higher interest expense in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to $29 million resulting from the full year ended December 31, 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to the comparable period in 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022, and $14 million due to increased borrowings and higher interest rates.
•Higher income taxes in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to the results for the full year ended December 31, 2023 including a full year of RIE operations compared to the comparable period in 2022, which includes only operations beginning on the acquisition date of May 25, 2022.
Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations
The following tables contain after-tax gains (losses), in total, which management considers special items, that are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations, and a reconciliation to PPL's "Net Income" for the years ended December 31.
| 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | RI Regulated | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 552 | $ | 519 | $ | 96 | $ | (427) | $ | 740 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $26 (a) | — | — | — | (99) | (99) | |||||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $1, $3 (b) | (1) | (2) | — | (10) | (13) | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $14, $58 (c) | — | — | (56) | (218) | (274) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sale of Safari Holdings, net of tax of $0 (d) | — | — | — | (4) | (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $10 (e) | — | (24) | — | — | (24) | |||||||||||||||||
| FERC transmission credit refund, net of tax of $2 (f) | (6) | — | — | — | (6) | |||||||||||||||||
| Unbilled revenue estimate adjustment, net of tax of $2 (g) | (5) | — | — | — | (5) | |||||||||||||||||
| Other non-recurring charges, net of tax of $1, $0 (h) | — | (3) | — | (15) | (18) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | (12) | (29) | (56) | (346) | (443) | |||||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 564 | $ | 548 | $ | 152 | $ | (81) | $ | 1,183 |
(a)PPL incurred legal expenses related to litigation and settlement with its former affiliate, Talen Montana. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)Represents costs primarily related to PPL's centralization efforts and other strategic efforts.
(c)Rhode Island Regulated primarily includes certain TSA costs for IT systems that will not be part of PPL's ongoing operations. Corporate and Other primarily includes integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of RIE.
(d)Primarily final closing and other related adjustments for the sale of Safari Holdings.
(e)Certain expenses related to billing issues. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Prior period impact related to a FERC refund order. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(g)Prior period impact of a methodology change in determining unbilled revenues.
(h)PA Regulated includes certain expenses related to a litigation settlement. Corporate and Other primarily includes certain expenses related to distributed energy investments.
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| 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated (g) | PA Regulated | RI Regulated | Corporate and Other (g) | Discontinued Operations (a) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 549 | $ | 525 | $ | (44) | $ | (316) | $ | 42 | $ | 756 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations (a) | — | — | — | — | 42 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $0 (b) | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $3, $4 (c) | (8) | — | — | (15) | — | (23) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $28, $39 (d) | — | — | (109) | (148) | — | (257) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PA tax rate change (e) | — | 9 | — | (4) | — | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sale of Safari Holdings, net of tax of $16 (f) | — | — | — | (53) | — | (53) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | (8) | 9 | (109) | (219) | 42 | (285) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 557 | $ | 516 | $ | 65 | $ | (97) | $ | — | $ | 1,041 |
(a)See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)PPL incurred legal expenses and received insurance reimbursement related to litigation with its former affiliate, Talen Montana. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(c)Costs incurred primarily in connection with corporate centralization efforts.
(d)Rhode Island Regulated includes costs incurred primarily related to certain TSA costs for IT systems that will not be part of PPL’s ongoing operations and costs for certain commitments made during the acquisition process. Corporate and Other primarily includes integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of RIE.
(e)Impact of Pennsylvania state tax reform. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Primarily the estimated loss on the sale of Safari Holdings at December 31, 2022.
(g)The financing activity of LKE is presented in Corporate and Other beginning on January 1, 2023. Prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this change.
PPL Electric: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,008 | $ | 3,030 | $ | (22) | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 992 | 1,048 | (56) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 605 | 605 | — | |||||||
| Depreciation | 397 | 393 | 4 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 143 | 149 | (6) | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,137 | 2,195 | (58) | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 39 | 30 | 9 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | — | 5 | (5) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 223 | 171 | 52 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 168 | 174 | (6) | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 519 | $ | 525 | $ | (6) |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Distribution Price (a) | $ | 58 |
| Distribution volume (b) | (68) | |
| PLR (c) | (61) | |
| Transmission Formula Rate (d) | 51 | |
| Other | (2) | |
| Total | $ | (22) |
(a)The increase was primarily due to reconcilable cost recovery mechanisms approved by the PAPUC.
(b)The decrease was primarily due to weather and other lower usage in 2023.
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(c)The decrease was primarily due to the result of fewer PLR customers, lower customer volumes due to weather and other lower usage, partially offset by higher energy prices.
(d)The increase was primarily due to returns on additional transmission capital investments and recovery of related depreciation expense, partially offset by a lower PPL zonal peak load billing factor in the first quarter of 2023.
Energy Purchases
Energy purchases decreased $56 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to lower PLR volumes of $169 million and lower alternative energy credits volumes of $12 million, partially offset by higher PLR prices of $92 million and higher alternative energy credits prices of $29 million.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $52 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to increased borrowings.
LG&E: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 1,580 | $ | 1,762 | $ | (182) | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 33 | 36 | (3) | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,613 | 1,798 | (185) | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 286 | 346 | (60) | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 168 | 245 | (77) | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliates | 12 | 25 | (13) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 364 | 416 | (52) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 302 | 298 | 4 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 48 | 48 | — | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,180 | 1,378 | (198) | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 3 | 4 | (1) | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliates | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 102 | 89 | 13 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 69 | 63 | 6 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 266 | $ | 272 | $ | (6) |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and other energy purchases (a) | $ | (160) |
| Volumes (b) | (37) | |
| Economic relief billing credit, net of amortization of $0 | 12 | |
| Total | $ | (185) |
(a)The decrease was primarily due to lower recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to lower commodity costs and volumes.
(b)The decrease was primarily due to weather.
Fuel
Fuel expense decreased $60 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $46 million decrease in commodity costs and a $15 million decrease in volumes primarily due to weather.
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Energy Purchases
Energy purchases decreased $77 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $52 million decrease in commodity costs and a $24 million decrease in volumes primarily due to weather.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Plant operation and maintenance expenses | $ | (13) |
| Transmission credits | 3 | |
| Generation outage expenses | (12) | |
| Vegetation management expenses | (2) | |
| Gas maintenance and losses expenses | (11) | |
| Bad debt expense | (3) | |
| Other | (14) | |
| Total | $ | (52) |
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $13 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $6 million increase related to higher borrowings and a $6 million increase related to higher interest rates.
KU: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 1,872 | $ | 2,049 | $ | (177) | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 12 | 25 | (13) | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,884 | 2,074 | (190) | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 447 | 585 | (138) | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 24 | 28 | (4) | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliates | 33 | 36 | (3) | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 427 | 487 | (60) | |||||||
| Depreciation | 392 | 386 | 6 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 45 | 45 | — | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,368 | 1,567 | (199) | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 8 | 8 | — | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 134 | 117 | 17 | |||||||
| Interest Expense from Affiliate | 1 | — | 1 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 77 | 76 | 1 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 312 | $ | 322 | $ | (10) |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
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| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and other energy purchases (a) | $ | (144) |
| Volumes (b) | (60) | |
| Economic relief billing credit, net of amortization $0 | 5 | |
| Other | 9 | |
| Total | $ | (190) |
(a)The decrease was primarily due to lower recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to lower commodity costs and volumes.
(b)The decrease was primarily due to weather.
Fuel
Fuel expense decreased $138 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to a $89 million decrease in commodity costs and a $50 million decrease in volumes primarily due to weather.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Plant operation and maintenance expenses | $ | (18) |
| Transmission credits | 10 | |
| Generation outage expenses | (15) | |
| Vegetation management expenses | (19) | |
| Bad debt expense | (3) | |
| Other | (15) | |
| Total | $ | (60) |
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $17 million in 2023 compared with 2022, primarily due to an $8 million increase related to higher interest rates and a $7 million increase related to higher borrowings.
Financial Condition
The remainder of this Item 7 in this Form 10-K is presented on a combined basis, providing information, as applicable, for all Registrants.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
(All Registrants)
The Registrants' cash flows from operations and access to cost-effective bank and capital markets are subject to risks and uncertainties. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect the Registrants' cash flows.
The Registrants had the following at:
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| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 331 | $ | 51 | $ | 18 | $ | 14 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 992 | 509 | — | 93 | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 1 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 356 | $ | 25 | $ | 93 | $ | 21 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 985 | 145 | 179 | 101 | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 354 | 340 | — | 13 | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | — | — |
(PPL)
The Statements of Cash Flows separately report the cash flows of discontinued operations. The "Operating Activities," "Investing Activities" and "Financing Activities" sections below include only the cash flows of continuing operations.
(All Registrants)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31 and the changes between periods were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 1,758 | $ | 912 | $ | 609 | $ | 647 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (2,383) | (958) | (378) | (566) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 650 | 72 | (280) | (64) | ||||||||||
| 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 1,730 | $ | 757 | $ | 543 | $ | 661 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (5,654) | (387) | (360) | (547) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 709 | (366) | (99) | (106) | ||||||||||
| 2023 vs. 2022 Change | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 28 | $ | 155 | $ | 66 | $ | (14) | ||||||
| Investing activities | 3,271 | (571) | (18) | (19) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | (59) | 438 | (181) | 42 |
Operating Activities
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) operating activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 26 | $ | (6) | $ | (6) | $ | (10) | ||||||
| Non-cash components | 81 | (54) | (6) | (10) | ||||||||||
| Working capital | 253 | 158 | 81 | 28 | ||||||||||
| Defined benefit plan funding | (1) | (5) | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Other operating activities | (331) | 62 | (6) | (23) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 28 | $ | 155 | $ | 66 | $ | (14) |
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(PPL)
PPL cash provided by operating activities in 2023 increased $28 million compared with 2022.
•Net income increased $26 million between periods and included an increase in net non-cash charges of $81 million. The increase in non-cash charges was primarily due to an increase in depreciation (primarily due to the acquisition of RIE) and an increase in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences), partially offset by an increase in defined benefit plans income (primarily due to a higher expected return) and loss on sale of Safari Holdings in 2022.
•The $253 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to a decrease in unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather and rate recovery mechanisms) and an increase in other current liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable (primarily due to timing and pricing).
•The $331 million decrease in cash provided by other operating activities was driven by a decrease in non-current liabilities (primarily related to the purchase of renewable tax credits in 2023).
(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric's cash provided by operating activities in 2023 increased $155 million compared with 2022.
•Net income decreased $6 million between the periods and included a decrease in non-cash components of $54 million. The decrease in non-cash components was primarily due to a decrease in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (primarily related to a change in state tax rates) and an increase in defined benefit plan income (primarily due to a higher expected return), partially offset by an increase in amortization expense (primarily due an increase in IT projects placed into service).
•The $158 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to a decrease in unbilled revenue (primarily due to weather), an increase in regulatory liabilities (primarily due to prior years' refunds to customers related to the transmission formula rate return on equity reduction) and an increase in accrued interest (primarily due to new debt issuances in 2023), partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable and a decrease in accounts payable (primarily due to pricing).
•The $62 million increase in cash provided by other operating activities was driven primarily by other assets (primarily related to an increase in costs associated with work optimization and management projects).
(LG&E)
LG&E's cash provided by operating activities in 2023 increased $66 million compared with 2022.
•Net income decreased $6 million between the periods and included a decrease in non-cash components of $6 million. The decrease in non-cash components was primarily due to a decrease in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences).
•Cash from changes in working capital increased by $81 million. The increase was primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable and unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather) and a decrease in fuel, materials and supplies (primarily due to lower commodity costs), partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accounts payable to affiliates (primarily due to timing of payments).
•The $6 million decrease in cash provided by other operating activities was driven by an increase in other assets (primarily related to deferred storm costs recorded as noncurrent regulatory assets).
(KU)
KU's cash provided by operating activities in 2023 decreased $14 million compared with 2022.
•Net income decreased $10 million between the periods and included a decrease in non-cash components of $10 million The decrease in non-cash components was primarily due to a decrease in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences).
•Cash from changes in working capital increased $28 million. The increase was primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable and unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather), a decrease in fuel, materials and supplies (primarily due to an increase in commodity costs and the accumulation of inventory for transmission and distribution projects in
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2022) and a decrease in net regulatory assets (primarily due to the timing of rate recovery mechanisms), partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accounts payable to affiliates (primarily due to timing of payments).
•The $23 million decrease in cash provided by other operating activities was driven by an increase in other assets (primarily related to deferred storm costs recorded as noncurrent regulatory assets).
Investing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) investing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Expenditures for PP&E | $ | (235) | $ | (70) | $ | (7) | $ | (25) | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of Safari Holdings, net of cash divested | (146) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Acquisition of Narragansett Electric, net of cash acquired | 3,660 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Notes receivable from affiliate | — | (499) | — | — | ||||||||||
| Other investing activities | (8) | (2) | (11) | 6 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 3,271 | $ | (571) | $ | (18) | $ | (19) |
For PPL, the increase in expenditures for PP&E was due to a full year of project expenditures at RIE in 2023 and an increase in project expenditures at PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. The increase in expenditures at PPL Electric was primarily due to an increase in transmission capital spending projects. The increase in expenditures at KU was primarily due to higher spending on projects related to economic development in its service territory, storm restoration and Advanced Metering Infrastructure projects, partially offset by lower spending on ELG projects and other projects that are not individually significant.
See "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for detail regarding projected capital expenditures for the years 2024 through 2026.
For PPL Electric, the changes in "Notes receivable from affiliate" activity resulted from payments received on the short-term note between affiliates in 2022, issued to support general corporate purposes. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany borrowings.
Financing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) financing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 vs. 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt issuance/retirement, net | $ | 812 | $ | 89 | $ | (136) | $ | (154) | ||||||
| Dividends | 83 | 17 | 109 | 106 | ||||||||||
| Capital contributions/distributions, net | — | 126 | (184) | (92) | ||||||||||
| Changes in net short-term debt | (909) | 219 | (289) | (109) | ||||||||||
| Note payable with affiliate | — | — | 324 | 294 | ||||||||||
| Other financing activities | (45) | (13) | (5) | (3) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | (59) | $ | 438 | $ | (181) | $ | 42 |
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for information on 2023 activity.
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See "Long-term Debt and Equity Securities" below for additional information on current year activity. See "Forecasted Sources of Cash" for a discussion of the Registrants' plans to issue debt and equity securities, as well as a discussion of credit facility capacity available to the Registrants. Also see "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for a discussion of PPL's plans to pay dividends on common securities in the future, as well as the Registrants' maturities of long-term debt.
Long-term Debt and Equity Securities
Long-term debt and equity securities activity for 2023 included:
| Debt | Stock | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuances (a) | Retirements | Issuances (b) | Repurchases | |||||||||||
| Cash Flow Impact: | ||||||||||||||
| PPL | $ | 3,252 | $ | 1,854 | $ | 5 | $ | — | ||||||
| PPL Electric | 1,329 | 1,240 | — | — | ||||||||||
| LG&E | 464 | 300 | — | — | ||||||||||
| KU | 459 | 313 | — | — |
(a)Issuances are net of pricing discounts, where applicable, and exclude the impact of debt issuance costs. Includes debt issuances with affiliates.
(b)Includes issuances of common stock and treasury stock, which are included in "Other financing activities" on the Statements of Cash Flows.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional long-term debt information.
Forecasted Sources of Cash
(All Registrants)
The Registrants expect to continue to have adequate liquidity available from operating cash flows, cash and cash equivalents, credit facilities and commercial paper issuances to meet their requirements with respect to their contractual obligations and anticipated capital expenditures. Additionally, subject to market conditions, the Registrants and their subsidiaries may access the capital markets, and PPL Electric, LG&E and KU anticipate receiving equity contributions from their parent or member in 2024.
Credit Facilities
The Registrants maintain credit facilities to enhance liquidity, provide credit support and provide a backstop to commercial paper programs. Amounts borrowed under these credit facilities are reflected in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2023, the total committed borrowing capacity under credit facilities and the borrowings under these facilities were:
External
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued (d) | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL Capital Funding Credit Facilities (a) | $ | 1,350 | $ | — | $ | 390 | $ | 960 | ||||||
| PPL Electric Credit Facilities | 650 | — | 511 | 139 | ||||||||||
| LG&E Credit Facilities | 500 | — | — | 500 | ||||||||||
| KU Credit Facilities | 400 | — | 93 | 307 | ||||||||||
| Total Credit Facilities (b) (c) | $ | 2,900 | $ | — | $ | 994 | $ | 1,906 |
(a)Includes a $1.25 billion syndicated credit facility with a $250 million borrowing sublimit for RIE and a $1 billion sublimit for PPL Capital Funding at December 31, 2023. RIE’s borrowing sublimit is adjustable, at the borrowers’ option, from $0 to $600 million, with the remaining balance of the $1.25 billion available under the facility allocated to PPL Capital Funding. At December 31, 2023, PPL Capital Funding had $365 million of commercial paper outstanding and RIE had $25 million of commercial paper outstanding. On January 5, 2024, the borrowing sublimits under the facility were reallocated to $400 million at RIE and $850 million at PPL Capital Funding.
(b)The syndicated credit facilities and PPL Capital Funding's bilateral facility, each contain a financial covenant requiring debt to total capitalization not to exceed 70% for PPL Capital Funding, RIE, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU, as calculated in accordance with the facility, and other customary covenants.
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The commitments under the credit facilities are provided by a diverse bank group, with no one bank and its affiliates providing an aggregate commitment of more than the following percentages of the total committed capacity: PPL - 9%, PPL Electric - 7%, LG&E - 7% and KU - 7%.
(c)Each company pays customary fees under its respective syndicated credit facility. Borrowings generally bear interest at applicable SOFR, plus an applicable margin.
(d)Commercial paper issued reflects the undiscounted face value of the issuance.
In addition to the financial covenants noted in the table above, the credit agreements governing the above credit facilities contain various other covenants. Failure to comply with the covenants after applicable grace periods could result in acceleration of repayment of borrowings and/or termination of the agreements. The Registrants monitor compliance with the covenants on a regular basis. At December 31, 2023, the Registrants were in compliance with these covenants. At this time, the Registrants believe that these covenants and other borrowing conditions will not limit access to these funding sources.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of the Registrants' credit facilities.
Intercompany (LG&E and KU)
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Commercial Paper Issued | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG&E Money Pool (a) | $ | 750 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 750 | ||||||
| KU Money Pool (a) | 650 | — | 93 | 557 |
(a)LG&E and KU participate in an intercompany money pool agreement whereby LKE and/or KU make available to LG&E, and LKE and/or LG&E make available to KU funds up to the difference between LG&E's and KU's FERC borrowing limit and LG&E's and KU's commercial paper capacity limit, at an interest rate based on the lower of a market index of commercial paper issues and two additional rate options based on the lower of a market index of commercial paper issues and two additional rate options based on SOFR.
See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany credit facilities.
Commercial Paper (All Registrants)
The Registrants maintain commercial paper programs to provide an additional financing source to fund short-term liquidity needs, as necessary. 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, 2023 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Commercial Paper Issuances (b) | Unused Capacity | ||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding (a) | $ | 1,350 | $ | 365 | $ | 985 | ||||
| Rhode Island Energy (a) | 400 | 25 | 375 | |||||||
| PPL Electric | 650 | 510 | 140 | |||||||
| LG&E | 500 | — | 500 | |||||||
| KU | 400 | 93 | 307 | |||||||
| Total PPL | $ | 3,300 | $ | 993 | $ | 2,307 |
(a)Issuances under the PPL Capital Funding and RIE commercial paper programs are supported by the PPL Capital Funding syndicated credit facility, which has a total capacity of $1.25 billion, with a $250 million borrowing sublimit for RIE and a $1 billion sublimit for PPL Capital Funding at December 31, 2023. RIE’s borrowing sublimit is adjustable, at the borrowers’ option, from $0 to $600 million, with the remaining balance of the $1.25 billion available under the facility allocated to PPL Capital Funding. On January 5, 2024, the borrowing sublimits under the facility were reallocated to $400 million at RIE and $850 million at PPL Capital Funding.
(b)Commercial paper issued reflects the undiscounted face value of the issuance.
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Long-term Debt and Equity Securities
(PPL)
PPL and its subsidiaries are authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions, up to $3.5 billion of long-term debt securities, which includes the $650 million issued by PPL Electric in January 2024, the proceeds of which would be used to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes. RIE is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $500 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $1 billion of long-term debt securities, which includes the $650 million issued in January 2024, the proceeds of which would be used to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
(LG&E)
LG&E is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $500 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
(KU)
KU is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $500 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
Contributions from Parent (PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
From time to time, the parents of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU make capital contributions to subsidiaries. The proceeds from these contributions are used to fund capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes.
Forecasted Uses of Cash
(All Registrants)
In addition to expenditures required for normal operating activities, such as purchased power, payroll, fuel and taxes, the Registrants currently expect to incur future cash outflows for capital expenditures, various contractual obligations, payment of dividends on its common stock, and possibly the purchase or redemption of a portion of debt securities.
Capital Expenditures
The table below shows the Registrants' current capital expenditure projections for the years 2024 through 2026. Expenditures for the domestic regulated utilities are expected to be recovered through rates, pending regulatory approval.
| Projected | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2024 (a) | 2025 | 2026 | |||||||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 2,200 | $ | 625 | $ | 850 | $ | 725 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 3,275 | 1,075 | 1,125 | 1,075 | ||||||||||
| Gas distribution facilities | 1,050 | 300 | 375 | 375 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 3,700 | 1,000 | 1,275 | 1,425 | ||||||||||
| Other | 350 | 125 | 125 | 100 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 10,575 | $ | 3,125 | $ | 3,750 | $ | 3,700 |
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| Projected | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2024 (a) | 2025 | 2026 | |||||||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | $ | 1,325 | $ | 500 | $ | 425 | $ | 400 | ||||||
| Transmission facilities | 2,300 | 675 | 800 | 825 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 3,625 | $ | 1,175 | $ | 1,225 | $ | 1,225 | ||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 1,050 | $ | 250 | $ | 450 | $ | 350 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 500 | 150 | 175 | 175 | ||||||||||
| Gas distribution facilities | 300 | 75 | 125 | 100 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 150 | 50 | 50 | 50 | ||||||||||
| Other | 125 | 50 | 50 | 25 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 2,125 | $ | 575 | $ | 850 | $ | 700 | ||||||
| KU | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities | $ | 1,150 | $ | 375 | $ | 400 | $ | 375 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 625 | 175 | 225 | 225 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 450 | 75 | 125 | 250 | ||||||||||
| Other | 225 | 75 | 75 | 75 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 2,450 | $ | 700 | $ | 825 | $ | 925 |
(a)The 2024 total excludes amounts included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2023.
Capital expenditure plans are revised periodically to reflect changes in operational, market and regulatory conditions.
Contractual Obligations
The Registrants have assumed various financial obligations and commitments in the ordinary course of conducting business. At December 31, 2023, estimated contractual cash obligations were as follows:
| Total | 2024 | 2025-2026 | 2027-2028 | After 2028 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 14,775 | $ | 1 | $ | 1,455 | $ | 1,778 | $ | 11,541 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 10,544 | 630 | 1,219 | 1,134 | 7,561 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 104 | 24 | 29 | 17 | 34 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase Obligations (d) | 4,193 | 1,414 | 1,521 | 560 | 698 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 29,616 | $ | 2,069 | $ | 4,224 | $ | 3,489 | $ | 19,834 | ||||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 4,649 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 108 | $ | 4,541 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 4,293 | 214 | 429 | 425 | 3,225 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations | 78 | 29 | 49 | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 9,020 | $ | 243 | $ | 478 | $ | 533 | $ | 7,766 | ||||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 2,489 | $ | — | $ | 390 | $ | 260 | $ | 1,839 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 1,479 | 100 | 190 | 171 | 1,018 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 15 | 6 | 7 | 2 | — | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (e) | 1,055 | 364 | 517 | 172 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (f) | 296 | 26 | 48 | 47 | 175 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (g) | 59 | 47 | 9 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 66 | 30 | 29 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 5,459 | $ | 573 | $ | 1,190 | $ | 658 | $ | 3,038 |
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| Total | 2024 | 2025-2026 | 2027-2028 | After 2028 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KU | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 3,089 | $ | — | $ | 414 | $ | 60 | $ | 2,615 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 2,127 | 130 | 251 | 234 | 1,512 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 22 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (e) | 953 | 328 | 460 | 165 | — | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (f) | 132 | 12 | 22 | 21 | 77 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (g) | 85 | 50 | 31 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 108 | 46 | 47 | 11 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 6,516 | $ | 575 | $ | 1,234 | $ | 496 | $ | 4,211 |
(a)Reflects principal maturities based on stated maturity, sinking fund payments, or earlier put dates. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of variable-rate remarketable bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU. The Registrants do not have any significant finance lease obligations.
(b)Assumes interest payments through stated maturity or earlier put dates. The payments herein are subject to change, as payments for debt that is or becomes variable-rate debt have been estimated.
(c)See Note 10 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(d)The amounts include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Primarily includes, as applicable, the purchase obligations of electricity, coal, natural gas and limestone, as well as certain construction expenditures, which are also included in the Capital Expenditures discussion above.
(e)Represents contracts to purchase coal, natural gas and natural gas transportation. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Represents future minimum payments under OVEC power purchase agreements through June 2040. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(g)Represents construction commitments, which are also reflected in the Capital Expenditures table presented above.
Dividends/Distributions
(PPL)
PPL views dividends as an integral component of shareowner return and expects to continue to pay dividends in amounts intended to maintain a capitalization structure that supports investment grade credit ratings. In November 2023, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable January 2, 2024, at 24.00 cents per share (equivalent to $0.96 per annum). On February 16, 2024, PPL announced a quarterly common stock dividend of 25.75 cents per share, payable April 1, 2024, to shareowners of record as of March 8, 2024. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon future earnings, cash flows, financial and legal requirements and other factors.
Subject to certain exceptions, PPL may not 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. At December 31, 2023, no interest payments were deferred.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
From time to time, as determined by their respective Board of Directors, the Registrants pay dividends, distributions or return capital, as applicable, to their respective shareholders or members. Certain of the credit facilities of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU include minimum debt covenant ratios that could effectively restrict the payment of dividends or distributions.
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for these and other restrictions related to distributions on capital interests for the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
Purchase or Redemption of Debt Securities
The Registrants will continue to evaluate outstanding debt securities and may decide to purchase or redeem these securities in open market or privately negotiated transactions, in exchange transactions or otherwise, depending upon prevailing market conditions, available cash and other factors, and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved may be material.
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Rating Agency Actions
Moody's and S&P periodically review the credit ratings of the debt of the Registrants and their subsidiaries. Based on their respective independent reviews, the rating agencies may make certain ratings revisions or ratings affirmations.
A credit rating reflects an assessment by the rating agency of the creditworthiness associated with an issuer and particular securities that it issues. The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries are based on information provided by the Registrants and other sources. The ratings of Moody's and S&P are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any securities of the Registrants or their subsidiaries. Such ratings may be subject to revisions or withdrawal by the agencies at any time and should be evaluated independently of each other and any other rating that may be assigned to the securities.
The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries affect their liquidity, access to capital markets and cost of borrowing under their credit facilities. A downgrade in the Registrants' or their subsidiaries' credit ratings could result in higher borrowing costs and reduced access to capital markets. The Registrants and their subsidiaries have no credit rating triggers that would result in the reduction of access to capital markets or the acceleration of maturity dates of outstanding debt.
The following table sets forth the Registrants' and their subsidiaries' credit ratings for outstanding debt securities or commercial paper programs as of December 31, 2023.
| Senior Unsecured | Senior Secured | Commercial Paper | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | ||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding | Baa1 | BBB+ | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| Rhode Island Energy | A3 | A- | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| PPL and PPL Electric | ||||||||||||
| PPL Electric | A1 | A+ | P-2 | A-1 | ||||||||
| PPL, LG&E and KU | ||||||||||||
| LG&E | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| KU | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 |
The rating agencies have taken the following actions related to the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
(PPL)
In June 2023, Moody’s assigned RIE's commercial paper a Short-Term Rating of P-2.
In June 2023, S&P assigned RIE's commercial paper a Short-Term Rating of A-2.
Ratings Triggers (PPL, LG&E and KU)
Various derivative and non-derivative contracts, including contracts for the sale and purchase of electricity and fuel, commodity transportation and storage, and interest rate instruments, contain provisions that require the posting of additional collateral or permit the counterparty to terminate the contract, if PPL's, LG&E's or KU's or their subsidiaries' credit rating, as applicable, were to fall below investment grade. See Note 17 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of "Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features," including a discussion of the potential additional collateral requirements for derivative contracts in a net liability position at December 31, 2023.
Guarantees for Subsidiaries (PPL)
PPL guarantees certain consolidated affiliate financing arrangements. Some of the guarantees contain financial and other covenants that, if not met, would limit or restrict the consolidated affiliates' access to funds under these financing arrangements, accelerate maturity of such arrangements or limit the consolidated affiliates' ability to enter into certain transactions. At this time, PPL believes that these covenants will not limit access to relevant funding sources. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for additional information about guarantees.
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Other Contingent Obligations (All Registrants)
The Registrants have entered into certain agreements that may contingently require payment to a guaranteed or indemnified party. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these agreements.
Risk Management
Market Risk
(All Registrants)
See Notes 1, 16 and 17 to the Financial Statements for information about the Registrants' risk management objectives, valuation techniques and accounting designations.
The forward-looking information presented below provides estimates of what may occur in the future, assuming certain adverse market conditions and model assumptions. Actual future results may differ materially from those presented. These are not precise indicators of expected future losses, but are rather only indicators of possible losses under normal market conditions at a given confidence level.
Interest Rate Risk
PPL and its subsidiaries issue debt to finance their operations, which exposes them to interest rate risk. A variety of financial derivative instruments are utilized to adjust the mix of fixed and floating interest rates in their debt portfolios, adjust the duration of the debt portfolios and lock in benchmark interest rates in anticipation of future financing, when appropriate. Risk limits under PPL's risk management program are designed to balance risk exposure to volatility in interest expense and changes in the fair value of the debt portfolio due to changes in benchmark interest rates. In addition, the interest rate risk of certain subsidiaries is potentially mitigated as a result of the existing regulatory framework or the timing of rate cases.
The following interest rate hedges were outstanding at December 31:
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | Maturities Ranging Through | Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PPL and LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Economic hedges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps (c) | $ | 64 | $ | (7) | $ | (1) | 2033 | $ | 64 | $ | (7) | $ | (1) |
(a)Includes accrued interest, if applicable.
(b)Effects of adverse movements decrease assets or increase liabilities, as applicable, which could result in an asset becoming a liability. Sensitivities represent a 10% adverse movement in interest rates.
(c)Realized changes in the fair value of such economic hedges are recoverable through regulated rates and any subsequent changes in the fair value of these derivatives are included in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities.
The Registrants are exposed to a potential increase in interest expense and to changes in the fair value of their debt portfolios. The estimated impact of a 10% adverse movement in interest rates on the fair value of debt and interest expense at December 31 is shown below.
| 10% Adverse Movement in Rates on Fair Value of Debt | 10% Adverse Movement in Rates on Interest Expense For Floating Exposure | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||
| PPL | $ | 593 | $ | 495 | $ | 8 | $ | 16 | ||||||
| PPL Electric | 250 | 178 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||
| LG&E | 95 | 84 | — | 3 | ||||||||||
| KU | 137 | 127 | 1 | 2 |
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Commodity Price Risk
PPL is exposed to commodity price risk through its subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric is required to purchase electricity to fulfill its obligation as a PLR. Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its PAPUC-approved cost recovery mechanism and full-requirement supply agreements to serve its PLR customers which transfer the risk to energy suppliers.
•LG&E's and KU's rates include certain mechanisms for fuel, fuel-related expenses and energy purchases. In addition, LG&E's rates include a mechanism for natural gas supply costs. These mechanisms generally provide for timely recovery of market price fluctuations associated with these costs.
•RIE utilizes derivative instruments pursuant to its RIPUC-approved plan to manage commodity price risk associated with its natural gas purchases. RIE's commodity price risk management strategy is to reduce fluctuations in firm gas sales prices to its customers. RIE's costs associated with derivatives instruments are recoverable through its RIPUC- approved cost recovery mechanisms. RIE is required to purchase electricity to fulfill its obligation to provide Last Resort Service (LRS). Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its RIPUC-approved cost recovery mechanisms and full requirements service agreements to serve LRS customers, which transfer the risk to energy suppliers. RIE is required to contract through long-term agreements for clean energy supply under the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Growth program and Long-term Clean Energy Standard. Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its RIPUC-approved cost recovery mechanisms, which true-up cost differences between contract prices and market prices.
Volumetric Risk
Volumetric risk is the risk related to the changes in volume of retail sales due to weather, economic conditions or other factors. PPL is exposed to volumetric risk through its subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric, LG&E and KU are exposed to volumetric risk on retail sales, mainly due to weather and other economic conditions for which there is limited mitigation between rate cases.
•RIE is exposed to volumetric risk, which is significantly mitigated by regulatory mechanisms. RIE's electric and gas distribution rates both have a revenue decoupling mechanism, which allows for annual adjustments to RIE's delivery rates.
Defined Benefit Plans - Equity Securities Price Risk
See "Application of Critical Accounting Policies - Defined Benefits" for additional information regarding the effect of equity securities price risk on plan assets.
Credit Risk
(All Registrants)
Credit risk is the potential loss that may be incurred due to a counterparty's non-performance.
PPL is exposed to credit risk from "in-the-money" transactions with counterparties, as well as additional credit risk through certain of its subsidiaries, as discussed below.
In the event a supplier of PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E or KU defaults on its contractual obligation, those Registrants would be required to seek replacement power or replacement fuel in the market. In general, subject to regulatory review or other processes, appropriate incremental costs incurred by these entities would be recoverable from customers through applicable rate mechanisms, thereby mitigating the financial risk for these entities.
PPL and its subsidiaries have credit policies in place to manage credit risk, including the use of an established credit approval process, daily monitoring of counterparty positions and the use of master netting agreements or provisions. These agreements generally include credit mitigation provisions, such as margin, prepayment or collateral requirements. PPL and its subsidiaries may request additional credit assurance, in certain circumstances, in the event that the counterparties' credit ratings fall below investment grade, their tangible net worth falls below specified percentages or their exposures exceed an established credit limit.
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(All Registrants)
Related Party Transactions
The Registrants are not aware of any material ownership interests or operating responsibility by senior management in outside partnerships, including leasing transactions with variable interest entities, or other entities doing business with the Registrants. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information on related party transactions for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU.
Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures
The Registrants from time to time evaluate opportunities for potential acquisitions, divestitures, and development projects. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information on acquisition and divestiture activity. Development projects are reexamined based on market conditions and other factors to determine whether to proceed with, modify or terminate the projects. Any resulting transactions may impact future financial results.
Environmental Matters
Extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations are applicable to the Registrants' air emissions, water discharges and the management of hazardous and solid waste, as well as other aspects of the Registrants' businesses. The costs of compliance or alleged non-compliance cannot be predicted with certainty but could be significant. In addition, costs may increase significantly if the requirements or scope of environmental laws or regulations, or similar rules, are expanded or changed. Costs may take the form of increased capital expenditures or operating and maintenance expenses, monetary fines, penalties or other restrictions. Many of these environmental law considerations are also applicable to the operations of key suppliers, or customers, such as coal producers and industrial power users, and may impact the costs for their products or their demand for the Registrants' services. Increased capital and operating costs are expected to be subject to rate recovery. The Registrants can provide no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of future environmental or rate proceedings before regulatory authorities.
See "Legal Matters" in Note 13 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of the more significant environmental claims. See "Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Forecasted Uses of Cash - Capital Expenditures" in "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for information on projected environmental capital expenditures for 2024 through 2026. See Note 19 to the Financial Statements for information related to the impacts of CCRs on AROs. See "Item 1. Business - Environmental Matters" for additional information.
Sustainability
Increasing attention has been focused on a broad range of corporate activities under the heading of “sustainability”, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of requests from interested parties for information on sustainability topics. These parties range from investor groups focused on environmental, social, governance and other matters to non-investors concerned with a variety of public policy matters. Often the scope of the information sought is very broad and not necessarily relevant to an issuer’s business or industry. As a result, a number of private groups have proposed to standardize the subject matter constituting sustainability, either generally or by industry. Those efforts remain ongoing. In addition, certain of these private groups have advocated that the SEC promulgate regulations requiring specific sustainability reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ’34 Act), or that issuers voluntarily include certain sustainability disclosure in their ’34 Act reports. In March 2022, the SEC proposed broad-based climate disclosure requirements for public companies. The proposed rule would require public companies to disclose direct and indirect GHG emissions, strategic insights, and certain financial implications in public disclosures. The proposed rulemaking elicited significant debate and comment. While a final rulemaking is currently expected to be issued in the first half of 2024, PPL cannot predict the final legal requirements or when the requirements will be effective.
As has been PPL’s practice, to the extent sustainability issues have or may have a material impact on the Registrants’ financial condition or results of operation, PPL discloses such matters in accordance with applicable securities law and SEC regulations. With respect to other sustainability topics that PPL deems relevant to investors but that are not required to be reported under applicable securities law and SEC regulation, PPL will continue each spring to publish its annual sustainability report including tracking reductions related to the company's goal to reduce carbon emissions and post that report on its corporate website at www.pplweb.com and on www.pplsustainability.com. Neither the information in such annual sustainability report nor the information at such websites is incorporated in this Form 10-K by reference, and it should not be considered a part of this Form
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10-K. In preparing its sustainability report, PPL is guided by the framework established by the Global Reporting Initiative, which identifies environmental, social, governance and other subject matter categories. PPL also participates in efforts by the Edison Electric Institute and American Gas Association to provide the appropriate subset of sustainability information that can be applied consistently across the electric and gas utility industries. Additionally, PPL consults widely used reporting frameworks for discrete sustainability topics, including corporate political contributions and climate-related issues. PPL also responds to the climate survey of CDP, a not-for-profit organization based in the United Kingdom formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, that runs the global disclosure system that enables investors, companies, cities, states and regions to measure and manage their environmental impacts.
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000922224-23-000010.
Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(All Registrants)
This "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" is separately filed by PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. Information contained herein relating to any individual Registrant is filed by such Registrant solely on its own behalf, and no Registrant makes any representation as to information relating to any other Registrant. The specific Registrant to which disclosures are applicable is identified in parenthetical headings in italics above the applicable disclosure or within the applicable disclosure for each Registrant's related activities and disclosures. Within combined disclosures, amounts are disclosed for individual Registrants when significant.
The following should be read in conjunction with the Registrants' Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes. Capitalized terms and abbreviations are defined in the glossary. Dollars are in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted.
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" includes the following information:
•"Overview" provides a description of each Registrant's business strategy and a discussion of important financial and operational developments.
•"Results of Operations" for all Registrants includes a "Statement of Income Analysis," which discusses significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2022 with 2021. For PPL, "Results of Operations" also includes "Segment Earnings" and "Adjusted Gross Margins," which provide a detailed analysis of earnings by reportable segment. These discussions include non-GAAP financial measures, including "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and "Adjusted Gross Margins" and provide explanations of the non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure.
•"Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources" provides an analysis of the Registrants' liquidity positions and credit profiles. This section also includes a discussion of forecasted sources and uses of cash and rating agency actions.
•"Financial Condition - Risk Management" provides an explanation of the Registrants' risk management programs relating to market and credit risk.
•"Application of Critical Accounting Policies" provides an overview of the accounting policies that are particularly important to the results of operations and financial condition of the Registrants and that require their management to make significant estimates, assumptions and other judgments of inherently uncertain matters.
For comparison of the Registrants’ results of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2020, refer to “Item 7. Combined Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the 2021 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2022.
Overview
For a description of the Registrants and their businesses, see "Item 1. Business."
Business Strategy
(All Registrants)
PPL operates four fully regulated high-performing utilities. These utilities are located in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Rhode Island, constructive regulatory jurisdictions with distinct regulatory structures and customer classes.
PPL's strategy, which is supported by the other Registrants and subsidiaries, is to achieve industry-leading performance in safety, reliability, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency; to advance a clean energy transition while maintaining affordability and reliability; to maintain a strong financial foundation and create long-term value for our shareowners; to foster a diverse and exceptional workplace; and to build strong communities in areas that we serve.
Central to PPL's and the other Registrants' strategy is recovering capital project costs efficiently through various rate-making mechanisms, including periodic base rate case proceedings using forward test years, annual FERC formula rate mechanisms
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and other regulatory agency-approved recovery mechanisms designed to limit regulatory lag. In Kentucky, in addition to FERC formula rates, the KPSC has adopted a series of regulatory mechanisms (ECR, DSM, GLT, fuel adjustment clause, and gas supply clause) and recovery on construction work-in-progress that reduce regulatory lag and provide timely recovery of and return on, as appropriate, prudently incurred costs. In Pennsylvania, the FERC transmission formula rate, DSIC mechanism, Smart Meter Rider and other recovery mechanisms operate to reduce regulatory lag and provide for timely recovery of and a return on, as appropriate, prudently incurred costs. In Rhode Island, FERC formula rates, the gas cost adjustment, net metering, infrastructure, safety and reliability (ISR) and revenue decoupling mechanisms and other rate adjustment mechanisms operate to reduce regulatory lag and provide timely recovery of and return on, as appropriate, prudently incurred costs.
Financial and Operational Developments
(PPL)
Acquisition of Narragansett Electric
On May 25, 2022, PPL Rhode Island Holdings acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Narragansett Electric from National Grid U.S. (the Acquisition). The consideration for the Acquisition consisted of approximately $3.8 billion in cash and approximately $1.5 billion of long-term debt assumed through the transaction. The $3.8 billion total cash consideration paid was funded with proceeds from PPL's 2021 sale of its U.K. utility business. The Acquisition resulted in $1.6 billion of goodwill. The results of RIE are reported in PPL's Rhode Island Regulated segment.
The acquisition of Narragansett Electric was deemed an asset acquisition for federal and state income tax purposes, as a result of PPL and National Grid making a tax election under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §338(h)(10). Accordingly, the tax bases of substantially all of the assets acquired were increased to fair market value, which equaled net book value, thereby eliminating the related deferred tax assets and liabilities. This election resulted in tax goodwill that will be amortized for tax purposes over 15 years.
See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Sale of Safari Holdings
On September 29, 2022, PPL signed a definitive agreement to sell all of Safari Holdings membership interests to Aspen Power Services, LLC. On November 1, 2022, PPL completed the sale (the Transaction).
A loss on sale of $60 million ($46 million net of tax benefit) was recorded in "Other operation and maintenance" on the Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2022. As a result of the Transaction, $53 million of goodwill previously presented in the Corporate and Other category for segment reporting purposes was written-off.
See Note 9 and Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Pennsylvania State Tax Reform (PPL and PPL Electric)
On July 8, 2022, the Governor of Pennsylvania signed into law Pennsylvania House Bill 1342 (H.B. 1342). Among other changes to the state tax code, the bill reduces the corporate net income tax rate from 9.99% to 8.99% beginning January 1, 2023, and further reduces the rate annually by half a percentage point until the rate reaches 4.99% in 2031.
GAAP requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be measured at the enacted tax rate expected to apply when temporary book-to-tax differences are expected to be realized or settled. In 2022, PPL and PPL Electric recorded an increase in regulatory liabilities of $270 million for the remeasurement of regulated accumulated deferred tax balances and a deferred tax benefit of $5 million and $9 million, respectively, associated with the remeasurement of non-regulated accumulated deferred income tax balances. The amounts recorded are estimates that will be updated quarterly to reflect revised forecast, actual activity, and applicable orders from regulatory authorities.
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Inflation Reduction Act (All Registrants)
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law. Among other things, the IRA enacted a new 15% corporate "book minimum tax," which is based on adjusted GAAP pre-tax income and is only applicable to corporations whose pre-tax income exceeds a certain threshold. PPL continues to assess the impacts of the IRA on the financial statements of PPL and the other Registrants and will monitor guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury in the future. PPL does not anticipate a material cash tax impact in the foreseeable future. In addition, the IRA enacted numerous new tax credits, largely associated with renewable energy. PPL continues to assess the applicability of these provisions to PPL and its subsidiaries.
Regulatory Requirements
(All Registrants)
The Registrants cannot predict the impact that future regulatory requirements may have on their financial condition or results of operations.
Environmental Considerations for Coal-Fired Generation (PPL, LG&E and KU)
The businesses of LG&E and KU are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws, rules and regulations, including those pertaining to CCRs, GHG, and ELGs. See Notes 7, 14 and 20 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these significant environmental matters. These and other environmental requirements led PPL, LG&E and KU to retire approximately 1,200 MW of coal-fired generating plants in Kentucky since 2010. As part of the long-term generation planning process, LG&E and KU evaluate a range of factors including the impact of potential stricter environmental regulations, fuel price scenarios, the cost of replacement generation, continued operations and major maintenance costs and the risk of major equipment failures in determining when to retire generation assets.
As a result of environmental requirements and aging infrastructure, LG&E anticipates retiring two older coal-fired units at the Mill Creek Plant and KU anticipates retiring one coal-fired unit at each of the E.W. Brown and Ghent plants. Mill Creek Unit 1, with 300 MW of capacity, is expected to be retired in 2024. Mill Creek Unit 2, with 297 MW of capacity, is expected to be retired in 2027. E.W. Brown Unit 3, with 412 MW of capacity, and Ghent Unit 2, with 486 MW of capacity, are expected to be retired in 2028. LG&E and KU anticipate the recovery of associated retirement costs, including the remaining net book value, for these coal-fired generating units through the RAR or other rate mechanisms.
CPCN (PPL, LG&E and KU)
On December 15, 2022, LG&E and KU filed an application with the KPSC for a CPCN for the construction of two 621 MW net summer rating NGCC combustion turbine facilities, one at LG&E's Mill Creek Generating Station in Jefferson County, Kentucky and the other at KU's E.W. Brown Generating Station in Mercer County, Kentucky, including on-site natural gas and electric transmission construction associated with those facilities and site compatibility certificates. LG&E and KU also applied for a CPCN to construct a 120 MWac solar photovoltaic electric generating facility in Mercer County, Kentucky, and for a CPCN to acquire a 120 MWac solar facility to be built by a third-party solar developer in Marion County, Kentucky. LG&E and KU further applied for a CPCN to construct a 125 MW, 4-hour battery energy storage system facility at KU's E.W. Brown Generating Station and for approval of their proposed 2024-2030 DSM programs. The plan includes adding 14 new, adjusted or expanded energy efficiency programs, which would reduce LG&E's and KU's overall need by approximately 100 MW each. Finally, LG&E and KU requested a declaratory order to confirm that their entry into non-firm energy-only power-purchase agreements for the output of four solar photovoltaic facilities with a combined capacity of 637 MW does not require KPSC approval and that LG&E and KU may recover the costs of the solar PPAs through their fuel adjustment clause mechanisms as previously approved for a prior solar PPA. LG&E and KU plan to accrue AFUDC on the constructed NGCCs, solar facility in Mercer County, Kentucky and the battery energy storage system facility and have requested regulatory asset treatment to recover the financing costs of these projects.
The plan is consistent with PPL's goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The replacement strategy, if approved, would reduce the carbon intensity of LG&E and KU's generation fleet and result in nearly a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions from existing levels.
The KPSC accepted the filing as of January 6, 2023 and has indicated its intention to issue an order on all issues by November 6, 2023. LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of these matters.
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FERC Transmission Rate Filing (PPL, LG&E and KU)
In 2018, LG&E and KU applied to the FERC requesting elimination of certain on-going credits to a sub-set of transmission customers relating to the 1998 merger of LG&E's and KU's parent entities and the 2006 withdrawal of LG&E and KU from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), a regional transmission operator and energy market. The application sought termination of LG&E's and KU's commitment to provide certain Kentucky municipalities mitigation for certain horizontal market power concerns arising out of the 1998 LG&E and KU merger and 2006 MISO withdrawal. The amounts at issue are generally waivers or credits granted to a limited number of Kentucky municipalities for either certain LG&E and KU or MISO transmission charges incurred for transmission service received. In 2019, the FERC granted LG&E's and KU's request to remove the ongoing credits, conditioned upon the implementation by LG&E and KU of a transition mechanism for certain existing power supply arrangements, which was subsequently filed, modified, and approved by the FERC in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, LG&E and KU and other parties filed appeals with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the FERC's orders on the elimination of the mitigation and required transition mechanism. On August 4, 2022, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order remanding the proceedings back to the FERC. LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of the proceedings at the FERC on remand. LG&E and KU currently receive recovery of the waivers and credits provided through other rate mechanisms and such rate recovery would be anticipated to be adjusted consistent with potential changes or terminations of the waivers and credits, as such become effective.
Rate Case Proceedings (KU)
On August 31, 2021, KU filed a request with the VSCC for an annual increase in Virginia base electricity rates of approximately $12 million, based on an authorized 10.4% return on equity. On March 11, 2022, KU, certain intervenors and the VSCC staff reached a partial stipulation and recommendation agreement providing KU with an increase in base electricity rates of approximately $7 million based on an authorized 9.4% return on equity. A hearing on open issues occurred on March 17, 2022. On May 25, 2022, the VSCC issued an order approving the proposed agreement. New rates became effective June 1, 2022.
Results of Operations
(PPL)
The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on PPL's Statements of Income, comparing 2022 with 2021. The "Segment Earnings" and "Adjusted Gross Margins" discussions for PPL provide a review of results by reportable segment. These discussions include non-GAAP financial measures, including "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and "Adjusted Gross Margins," and provide explanations of the non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of those measures to the most comparable GAAP measure.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
A "Statement of Income Analysis" is presented separately for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2022 with 2021. The results of operations section for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU is presented in a reduced disclosure format in accordance with General Instructions (I)(2)(a) of Form 10-K.
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PPL: Statement of Income Analysis, Segment Earnings and Adjusted Gross Margins
Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 7,902 | $ | 5,783 | $ | 2,119 | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 931 | 710 | 221 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 1,686 | 752 | 934 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 2,398 | 1,608 | 790 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 1,181 | 1,082 | 99 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 332 | 207 | 125 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 6,528 | 4,359 | 2,169 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 54 | 15 | 39 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 513 | 918 | (405) | |||||||
| Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes | 915 | 521 | 394 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 201 | 503 | (302) | |||||||
| Income from Continuing Operations After Income Taxes | 714 | 18 | 696 | |||||||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes) (Note 9) | 42 | (1,498) | 1,540 | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 756 | $ | (1,480) | $ | 2,236 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric distribution price (a) | $ | (19) |
| PPL Electric distribution volume (b) | 20 | |
| PPL Electric PLR (c) | 520 | |
| PPL Electric transmission formula rate (d) | 92 | |
| LG&E fuel and other energy prices (e) | 142 | |
| LG&E retail rates (f) | 50 | |
| LG&E volumes | 28 | |
| KU retail rates (f) | 55 | |
| KU fuel and other energy prices (e) | 160 | |
| KU volumes | 29 | |
| Rhode Island Energy | 1,038 | |
| Other | 4 | |
| Total | $ | 2,119 |
(a) Distribution price variance was primarily due to reconcilable cost recovery mechanisms approved by the PAPUC.
(b) The increase was due to colder weather combined with higher non-residential customer volumes.
(c) The increase was primarily the result of higher energy prices, lower volumes of shopping customers and higher customer volumes due to colder weather.
(d) The increase was primarily due to returns on additional transmission capital investments, a higher PPL zonal peak load billing factor in 2022 and the
reduction in the transmission formula rate return on equity recorded in 2021. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the
transmission formula rate return on equity reduction.
(e) The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to higher commodity costs.
(f) The increase was due to new base rates approved by the KPSC effective July 1, 2021.
Fuel
Fuel increased $221 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to an $81 million increase at LG&E and a $140 million increase at KU, primarily due to higher commodity costs.
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Energy Purchases
Energy purchases increased $934 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to higher PLR prices of $419 million and higher PLR volumes of $58 million at PPL Electric and a $78 million increase at LG&E, primarily due to an increase in commodity costs and an additional $365 million due to the operations of RIE.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric Act 129 smart meter program | $ | 7 |
| PPL Electric storm costs | (10) | |
| PPL Electric IT cloud amortization costs | 12 | |
| PPL Electric vegetation management costs | 12 | |
| PPL Electric bad debts | 14 | |
| PPL Electric canceled projects | 8 | |
| LG&E storm restoration costs | 6 | |
| LG&E natural gas inventory losses | 4 | |
| KU plant outages | 9 | |
| KU vegetation management costs | 10 | |
| Rhode Island Energy (a) | 684 | |
| Stock compensation expense | 5 | |
| Sale of Safari Holdings (b) | 60 | |
| Solar panel impairment | (37) | |
| Charges related to the sale of the U.K. utility business | (15) | |
| Other | 21 | |
| Total | $ | 790 |
(a)Includes activity associated with the operations of RIE and integration and related costs. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)Loss on sale of Safari Holdings. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Depreciation
The increase (decrease) in depreciation was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Additions to PP&E, net (a) | $ | (3) |
| Depreciation rate change (b) | 12 | |
| Rhode Island Energy | 92 | |
| Other | (2) | |
| Total | $ | 99 |
(a)The decrease was primarily due to decreases in software and computer hardware depreciation at PPL Electric, as a result of end-of-life retirements, partially offset by additional assets placed into service, net of retirements at PPL Electric, LG&E and KU.
(b)The increase was due to higher depreciation rates at LG&E and KU effective July 2021.
Taxes, Other Than Income
The increase (decrease) in taxes, other than income was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| State gross receipts tax (a) | $ | 63 |
| Domestic property tax expense (a) | 59 | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Total | $ | 125 |
(a)Increase primarily due to the acquisition of RIE.
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Other Income (Expense) - net
The increase (decrease) in other income (expense) - net was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Defined benefit plans - non-service credits (Note 12) | $ | 26 |
| Interest income | (8) | |
| AFUDC - equity component | 4 | |
| Other | 17 | |
| Total | $ | 39 |
Interest Expense
The increase (decrease) in interest expense was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loss on extinguishment of debt (a) | $ | (395) |
| Long-term debt (b) | (53) | |
| Rhode Island Energy | 39 | |
| Other | 4 | |
| Total | $ | (405) |
(a) In June and July 2021, in connection with a tender offer, PPL Capital Funding retired $3,034 million combined aggregate principal amount of its outstanding Senior Notes for $3,426 million aggregate cash purchase price. The loss on extinguishment activity included the tender premium, make-whole premiums, accrued interest, bank fees and unamortized fees, hedges and discounts.
(b) The decrease in 2022 was primarily due to PPL Capital Funding debt that was redeemed in June and July 2021, partially offset by increases at LG&E, KU and PPL Electric.
Income Taxes
The increase (decrease) in income taxes was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change in pre-tax income | $ | 128 |
| Valuation allowance adjustments (a) | (39) | |
| Impact of U.K. Finance Acts (b) | (383) | |
| Other | (8) | |
| Total | $ | (302) |
(a)In 2021, PPL recorded a $31 million state deferred tax benefit on a net operating loss and an offsetting valuation allowance in connection with the loss on extinguishment associated with a tender offer to purchase and retire PPL Capital Funding's outstanding Senior Notes.
(b)The U.K. Finance Act 2021, formally enacted on June 10, 2021, increased the U.K. corporation tax rate from 19% to 25%, effective April 1, 2023. The primary impact of the corporation tax rate increase was an increase in deferred tax liabilities of the U.K. utility business, which was sold on June 14, 2021, and a corresponding deferred tax expense of $383 million, which was recognized in continuing operations in 2021.
See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information on income taxes.
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (net of income taxes) decreased $1,540 million in 2022 compared with 2021. The decrease was due to the completion of the U.K. utility business in the second quarter of 2021. See "Discontinued Operations" in Note 9 to the Financial Statements for summarized results of the operations of the U.K. utility business.
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Segment Earnings
PPL's Net Income (Loss) by reportable segments was as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | $ | 507 | $ | 468 | $ | 39 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 525 | 445 | 80 | |||||||
| Rhode Island Regulated (a) | (44) | — | (44) | |||||||
| Corporate and Other (b) | (274) | (895) | 621 | |||||||
| Discontinued Operations (a) | 42 | (1,498) | 1,540 | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 756 | $ | (1,480) | $ | 2,236 |
(a)See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)Primarily represents financing and certain other costs incurred at the corporate level that have not been allocated or assigned to the segments, which are presented to reconcile segment information to PPL's consolidated results.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations
Management utilizes "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" as a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered as an alternative to net income, an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes that Earnings from Ongoing Operations is useful and meaningful to investors because it provides management's view of PPL's earnings performance as another criterion in making investment decisions. In addition, PPL's management uses Earnings from Ongoing Operations in measuring achievement of certain corporate performance goals, including targets for certain executive incentive compensation. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations is adjusted for the impact of special items. Special items are presented in the financial tables on an after-tax basis with the related income taxes on special items separately disclosed. Income taxes on special items, when applicable, are calculated based on the statutory tax rate of the entity where the activity is recorded. Special items may include items such as:
• Gains and losses on sales of assets not in the ordinary course of business.
• Impairment charges.
• Significant workforce reduction and other restructuring effects.
• Acquisition and divestiture-related adjustments.
• Significant losses on early extinguishment of debt.
• Other charges or credits that are, in management's view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.
PPL's Earnings from Ongoing Operations by reportable segment were as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | $ | 515 | $ | 465 | $ | 50 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 516 | 465 | 51 | |||||||
| Rhode Island Regulated | 65 | — | 65 | |||||||
| Corporate and Other | (55) | (124) | 69 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 1,041 | $ | 806 | $ | 235 |
See "Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations" below for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to Net Income.
Kentucky Regulated Segment
The Kentucky Regulated segment consists primarily of LG&E's and KU's regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations, as well as LG&E's regulated distribution and sale of natural gas.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
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| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 3,811 | $ | 3,348 | $ | 463 | ||||
| Fuel | 931 | 710 | 221 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 273 | 186 | 87 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 959 | 905 | 54 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 685 | 647 | 38 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 92 | 87 | 5 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 2,940 | 2,535 | 405 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 12 | (2) | 14 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 205 | 196 | 9 | |||||||
| Interest Expense with Affiliate (a) | 57 | 53 | 4 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 114 | 94 | 20 | |||||||
| Net Income | 507 | 468 | 39 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (8) | 3 | (11) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 515 | $ | 465 | $ | 50 |
(a)Borrowings between LKE and PPL were $1,744 million and $2,166 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Kentucky Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation allowance adjustment (a) | Income Taxes | $ | — | $ | 4 | |||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $3, $0 (b) | Other operation and maintenance | (8) | — | |||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $0 | Other Income (Expense) - net | — | (1) | |||||
| Total | $ | (8) | $ | 3 |
(a)Adjustment of valuation allowances related to certain tax credits recorded in 2017 as a result of the TCJA.
(b)Costs incurred related to PPL's corporate centralization efforts.
The changes in the components of the Kentucky Regulated segment's results between these periods were due to the factors set forth below, which reflect amounts classified as Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins and the items that management considers special on separate lines and not in their respective Statement of Income line item.
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | 205 |
| Other operation and maintenance | (39) | |
| Depreciation | (90) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (7) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 13 | |
| Interest Expense | (9) | |
| Interest Expense with Affiliate | (4) | |
| Income Taxes | (19) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 50 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | (11) | |
| Net Income | $ | 39 |
•See "Adjusted Gross Margins - Changes in Adjusted Gross Margins" for an explanation of Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins.
•Higher other operation and maintenance expense in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to a $10 million increase in vegetation management expenses, a $9 million increase in plant outage expenses, a $6 million increase related to certain ECR and GLT expenses transferred to base rates as a result of the 2020 Kentucky rate case and a $6 million increase in storm restoration expenses.
•Higher depreciation expense in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to a $60 million increase related to certain ECR and GLT depreciation expenses transferred to base rates as a result of the 2020 Kentucky rate case, a $19 million increase due
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to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements and an $11 million increase due to higher depreciation rates, effective July 1, 2021.
Pennsylvania Regulated Segment
The Pennsylvania Regulated segment includes the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations of PPL Electric.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 3,030 | $ | 2,402 | $ | 628 | ||||
| Energy purchases | 1,048 | 566 | 482 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 605 | 557 | 48 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 393 | 424 | (31) | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 149 | 120 | 29 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 2,195 | 1,667 | 528 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 35 | 26 | 9 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 171 | 162 | 9 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 174 | 154 | 20 | |||||||
| Net Income | 525 | 445 | 80 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | 9 | (20) | 29 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 516 | $ | 465 | $ | 51 |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA tax rate change (a) | Income Taxes | $ | 9 | $ | — | |||
| Transmission formula rate return on equity reduction, net of tax of $0, $8 (b) | Operating revenues | — | (20) | |||||
| Total | $ | 9 | $ | (20) |
(a)Impact of Pennsylvania state tax reform. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)Represents the portion of the reduction recognized in the December 31, 2021 Statement of Income related to the period from May 21, 2020 through December 31, 2020. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
The changes in the components of the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results between these periods were due to the factors set forth below, which reflect amounts classified as Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins and the items that management considers special on separate lines and not in their respective Statement of Income line items.
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | 112 |
| Other operation and maintenance | (46) | |
| Depreciation | 6 | |
| Taxes, other than income | 1 | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 8 | |
| Interest Expense | (9) | |
| Income Taxes | (21) | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 51 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | 29 | |
| Net Income | $ | 80 |
•See "Adjusted Gross Margins - Changes in Adjusted Gross Margins" for an explanation of Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins.
•Higher other operation and maintenance expense in 2022 compared with 2021 primarily due to a $14 million increase in bad debt expenses, a $12 million increase in vegetation management expenses, a $12 million increase in IT cloud amortization and other items that were not individually significant.
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Rhode Island Regulated Segment
The Rhode Island Regulated segment consists primarily of the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations and
regulated distribution and sale of natural gas conducted by RIE.
Net Loss and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 1,038 | $ | — | $ | 1,038 | ||||
| Energy purchases | 365 | — | 365 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 531 | — | 531 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 92 | — | 92 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 92 | — | 92 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 1,080 | — | 1,080 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 23 | — | 23 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 39 | — | 39 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | (14) | — | (14) | |||||||
| Net Loss | (44) | — | (44) | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (109) | — | (109) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 65 | $ | — | $ | 65 |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Rhode Island Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $18, $0 (a) | Other operation and maintenance | $ | (70) | $ | — | |||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $0, $0 (a) | Other Income (Expense) - net | 1 | — | |||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $10, $0 (a) | Operating revenues | (40) | — | |||||||
| Total Special Items | $ | (109) | $ | — |
(a)Represents costs related to the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy including certain costs associated with its integration, commitments made during the acquisition process and related costs. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information related to the commitments made as a condition of the acquisition.
Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations
The following tables contain after-tax gains (losses), in total, which management considers special items, that are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations, and a reconciliation to PPL's "Net Income" for the years ended December 31:
| 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | RI Regulated | Corporate and Other | Discontinued Operations (a) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 507 | $ | 525 | $ | (44) | $ | (274) | $ | 42 | $ | 756 | ||||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations (a) | — | — | — | — | 42 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $0 (b) | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $3, $4 (c) | (8) | — | — | (15) | — | (23) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $28, $39 (j) | — | — | (109) | (148) | — | (257) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PA tax rate change (e) | — | 9 | — | (4) | — | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sale of Safari Holdings, net of tax of $16 (i) | — | — | — | (53) | — | (53) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | (8) | 9 | (109) | (219) | 42 | (285) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 515 | $ | 516 | $ | 65 | $ | (55) | $ | — | $ | 1,041 |
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| 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | RI Regulated | Corporate and Other | Discontinued Operations (a) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 468 | $ | 445 | $ | — | $ | (895) | $ | (1,498) | $ | (1,480) | ||||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations (a) | — | — | — | — | (1,502) | (1,502) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $4 (b) | — | — | — | (16) | — | (16) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $2 (c) | (1) | — | — | (8) | — | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Valuation allowance adjustment (d) | 4 | — | — | (4) | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Transmission formula rate return on equity reduction, net of tax of $8 | — | (20) | — | — | — | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $6 (j) | — | — | — | (22) | — | (22) | ||||||||||||||||||
| U.K. tax rate change (f) | — | — | — | (383) | — | (383) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Solar panel impairment, net of tax of $9 (g) | — | — | — | (26) | — | (26) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of tax of $83 (h) | — | — | — | (312) | — | (312) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | 3 | (20) | — | (771) | (1,498) | (2,286) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 465 | $ | 465 | $ | — | $ | (124) | $ | — | $ | 806 |
(a)See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)PPL incurred legal expenses and received insurance reimbursement related to litigation with its former affiliate, Talen Montana. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(c)Costs incurred for 2022 relate to PPL's strategic repositioning and corporate centralization efforts. Costs incurred for 2021 are related to the sale of the U.K. utility business and PPL's strategic repositioning.
(d)Adjustment of valuation allowances related to certain tax credits recorded in 2017 as a result of the TCJA.
(e)Impact of Pennsylvania state tax reform. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Impact of the U.K. Finance Acts on deferred tax balances. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(g)Reflects solar panel write-down due to extension of federal government’s solar investment tax credits, technological advances resulting in more efficient modules available on the market and rising commodity prices for materials used in various solar projects.
(h)In June and July 2021, in connection with the tender offer, PPL Capital Funding retired $3,034 million combined aggregate principal amount of its outstanding Senior Notes for $3,426 million aggregate cash purchase price. The loss on extinguishment activity included the tender premium, make-whole premiums, accrued interest, bank fees and unamortized fees, hedges and discounts.
(i)Primarily includes the loss on the sale of Safari Holdings, LLC. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for more information.
(j)Represents costs related to the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy including certain costs associated with its integration, commitments made during the acquisition process and related costs. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information related to the commitments made as a condition of the acquisition.
Adjusted Gross Margins
Management also utilizes the following non-GAAP financial measures as indicators of performance for its businesses.
•"Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins" is a single financial performance measure of the electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations of the Kentucky Regulated segment, as well as the Kentucky Regulated segment's distribution and sale of natural gas. In calculating this measure, fuel, energy purchases and certain variable costs of production (recorded in "Other operation and maintenance" on the Statements of Income) are deducted from operating revenues. In addition, certain other expenses, recorded in "Other operation and maintenance", "Depreciation" and "Taxes, other than income" on the Statements of Income, associated with approved cost recovery mechanisms are offset against the recovery of those expenses, which are included in revenues. These mechanisms allow for direct recovery of these expenses and, in some cases, returns on capital investments and performance incentives. As a result, this measure represents the net revenues from electricity and gas operations.
•"Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins" is a single financial performance measure of the electricity transmission and distribution operations of the Pennsylvania Regulated segment. In calculating this measure, utility revenues and expenses associated with approved recovery mechanisms, including energy provided as a PLR, are offset with minimal impact on earnings. Costs associated with these mechanisms are recorded in "Energy purchases," "Other operation and maintenance," (which are primarily Act 129, Storm Damage and Universal Service program costs), "Depreciation" (which is primarily related to the Act 129 Smart Meter program) and "Taxes, other than income," (which is primarily gross receipts tax) on the Statements of Income. This measure represents the net revenues from the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's electricity delivery operations.
•"Rhode Island Adjusted Gross Margins" is a single financial performance measure of the electricity transmission and distribution operations of the Rhode Island Regulated segment, as well as the Rhode Island Regulated segment's
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distribution and sale of natural gas. In calculating this measure, utility revenues and expenses associated with approved recovery mechanisms are offset with minimal impact on earnings. Costs associated with these mechanisms are recorded in "Energy purchases," "Other operation and maintenance" (which are primarily regional network transmission service, energy efficiency and storm cost related) and "Taxes, other than income" (which is primarily gross earnings tax) on the Statements of Income. This measure represents the net revenues from Rhode Island Regulated segment's electricity and gas delivery operations.
These measures are not intended to replace "Operating Income," which is determined in accordance with GAAP, as an indicator of overall operating performance. Other companies may use different measures to analyze and report their results of operations. Management believes these measures provide additional useful criteria to make investment decisions. These performance measures are used, in conjunction with other information, by senior management and PPL's Board of Directors to manage operations and analyze actual results compared with budget.
Changes in Adjusted Gross Margins
The following table shows Adjusted Gross Margins by PPL's reportable segment and by component, as applicable, for the year ended December 31 as well as the changes between periods. The factors that gave rise to the changes are described following the table.
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | ||||||||||
| Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | 2,460 | $ | 2,255 | $ | 205 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | ||||||||||
| Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | ||||||||||
| Distribution | $ | 962 | $ | 915 | $ | 47 | ||||
| Transmission | 739 | 674 | 65 | |||||||
| Total Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | 1,701 | $ | 1,589 | $ | 112 | ||||
| Rhode Island Regulated | ||||||||||
| Rhode Island Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | 441 | $ | — | $ | 441 |
Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins
Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins increased in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to higher base rates of $105 million, environmental and gas cost recoveries added to base rates of $66 million and higher sales volumes primarily due to weather of $29 million.
The increase in base rates was the result of new rates approved by the KPSC effective July 1, 2021. The environmental and gas cost recoveries added to base rates were the result of the transfer of certain ECR and GLT expenses into base rates as a result of the 2020 Kentucky rate case. This transfer results in depreciation and other operation and maintenance expenses associated with the ECR and GLT programs being excluded from margins for all twelve months in 2022 compared to six months in 2021.
Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins
Distribution
Distribution Adjusted Gross Margins increased in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to higher sales volumes of $17 million which included favorable weather of $11 million. Late payment charges increased $10 million as a result of not charging late payment fees for much of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. TCJA margins increased $11 million due to lower taxable income associated with the mechanism. Merchant Function Charge, which is added to the PTC rates to offset uncollectible expenses, increased by $8 million largely due to the energy price increases.
Transmission
Transmission Adjusted Gross Margins increased in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to a $29 million increase as a result of a higher annual PPL zonal peak load billing factor in 2022 and $38 million of returns on additional transmission capital investments focused on replacing aging infrastructure and improving reliability.
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Rhode Island Adjusted Gross Margins
Rhode Island Adjusted Gross Margins increased for 2022 compared with 2021, due to the acquisition of Narragansett Electric on May 25, 2022.
Reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Margins
The following tables contain the components from the Statement of Income that are included in the non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to PPL's "Operating Income" for the years ended December 31:
| 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins | Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | Rhode Island Adjusted Gross Margins (a) | Other (b) | Operating Income (c) | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,811 | $ | 3,030 | $ | 1,088 | $ | (27) | $ | 7,902 | ||||||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fuel | 931 | — | — | — | 931 | |||||||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 273 | 1,048 | 365 | — | 1,686 | |||||||||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 92 | 111 | 249 | 1,946 | 2,398 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 53 | 28 | — | 1,100 | 1,181 | |||||||||||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 2 | 142 | 33 | 155 | 332 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,351 | 1,329 | 647 | 3,201 | 6,528 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,460 | $ | 1,701 | $ | 441 | $ | (3,228) | $ | 1,374 |
| 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins | Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | Rhode Island Adjusted Gross Margins | Other (b) | Operating Income (c) | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,348 | $ | 2,430 | $ | — | $ | 5 | $ | 5,783 | ||||||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fuel | 710 | — | — | — | 710 | |||||||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 186 | 566 | — | — | 752 | |||||||||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 88 | 111 | — | 1,409 | 1,608 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 105 | 52 | — | 925 | 1,082 | |||||||||||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 4 | 112 | — | 91 | 207 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,093 | 841 | — | 2,425 | 4,359 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,255 | $ | 1,589 | $ | — | $ | (2,420) | $ | 1,424 |
(a)Operating revenue excludes a $50 million customer bill credit to all electric and natural gas distribution customers that was treated as a special item. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)Represents amounts excluded from Adjusted Gross Margins.
(c)As reported on the Statements of Income.
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PPL Electric: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,030 | $ | 2,402 | $ | 628 | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 1,048 | 566 | 482 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 605 | 557 | 48 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 393 | 424 | (31) | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 149 | 120 | 29 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 2,195 | 1,667 | 528 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 30 | 21 | 9 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | 5 | 5 | — | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 171 | 162 | 9 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 174 | 154 | 20 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 525 | $ | 445 | $ | 80 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Distribution Price (a) | $ | (19) |
| Distribution volume (b) | 20 | |
| PLR (c) | 520 | |
| Transmission Formula Rate (d) | 92 | |
| Other (e) | 15 | |
| Total | $ | 628 |
(a)Distribution price variance was primarily due to reconcilable cost recovery mechanisms approved by the PAPUC.
(b)The increase was due to colder weather combined with higher non-residential customer volumes.
(c)The increase was primarily the result of higher energy prices, lower volumes of shopping customers and higher customer volumes due to colder weather.
(d)The increase was primarily due to returns on additional transmission capital investments, a higher PPL zonal peak load billing factor in 2022 and the
reduction in the transmission formula rate return on equity recorded in 2021. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the
transmission formula rate return on equity reduction.
(e) The increase was primarily due to higher late payment charges in 2022, which were not billed until the fourth quarter 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.
Energy Purchases
Energy purchases increased $482 million in 2022 compared with 2021. This increase was primarily due to higher PLR prices of $419 million and higher PLR volumes of $58 million.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
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| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Act 129 smart meter program | $ | 7 |
| Storm costs | (10) | |
| IT cloud amortization costs | 12 | |
| Vegetation management costs | 12 | |
| Bad debts | 14 | |
| Canceled projects | 8 | |
| Support costs | (9) | |
| Other | 14 | |
| Total | $ | 48 |
Depreciation
Depreciation decreased $31 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to a $38 million decrease in software and computer hardware depreciation as a result of end-of-life retirements, partially offset by $11 million of additional assets placed into service, net of retirements.
LG&E: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 1,762 | $ | 1,545 | $ | 217 | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 36 | 24 | 12 | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,798 | 1,569 | 229 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 346 | 265 | 81 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 245 | 167 | 78 | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliates | 25 | 23 | 2 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 416 | 400 | 16 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 298 | 279 | 19 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 48 | 46 | 2 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,378 | 1,180 | 198 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 4 | (5) | 9 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 89 | 81 | 8 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 63 | 54 | 9 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 272 | $ | 249 | $ | 23 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and other energy prices (a) | $ | 149 |
| Retail rates (b) | 50 | |
| Volumes | 33 | |
| Other | (3) | |
| Total | $ | 229 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to higher commodity costs.
(b)The increase was due to new base rates approved by the KPSC effective July 1, 2021.
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Fuel
Fuel increased $81 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to a $67 million increase in commodity costs and a $14 million increase in volumes driven by weather.
Energy Purchases
Energy purchases increased $78 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to an increase in commodity costs.
Other Operation and Maintenance
Other operation and maintenance increased $16 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to a $6 million increase in storm restoration costs and a $4 million increase in natural gas inventory losses.
Depreciation
Depreciation increased $19 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to a $12 million increase driven by additional assets placed into service, net of retirements, and an $8 million increase driven by higher depreciation rates effective July 1, 2021.
KU: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 2,049 | $ | 1,803 | $ | 246 | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 25 | 23 | 2 | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 2,074 | 1,826 | 248 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 585 | 445 | 140 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 28 | 19 | 9 | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliates | 36 | 24 | 12 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 487 | 463 | 24 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 386 | 366 | 20 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 45 | 41 | 4 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,567 | 1,358 | 209 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 8 | 4 | 4 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 117 | 109 | 8 | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 76 | 67 | 9 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 322 | $ | 296 | $ | 26 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Retail rates (a) | $ | 55 |
| Fuel and energy prices (b) | 165 | |
| Volumes | 24 | |
| Other | 4 | |
| Total | $ | 248 |
(a)The increases were due to new base rates approved by the KPSC effective July 1, 2021.
(b)The increases were primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to higher commodity costs.
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Fuel
Fuel increased $140 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to an increase in commodity costs.
Other Operation and Maintenance
Other operations and maintenance increased $24 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to a $10 million increase in vegetation management expenses and a $9 million increase in plant outage expenses.
Depreciation
Depreciation increased $20 million in 2022 compared with 2021, primarily due to a $12 million increase driven by additional assets placed into service, net of retirements, and a $4 million increase driven by higher depreciation rates effective July 1, 2021.
Financial Condition
The remainder of this Item 7 in this Form 10-K is presented on a combined basis, providing information, as applicable, for all Registrants.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
(All Registrants)
The Registrants' cash flows from operations and access to cost effective bank and capital markets are subject to risks and uncertainties. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect the Registrants' cash flows.
The Registrants had the following at:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 356 | $ | 25 | $ | 93 | $ | 21 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 985 | 145 | 179 | 101 | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 354 | 340 | — | 13 | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3,571 | $ | 21 | $ | 9 | $ | 13 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 69 | — | 69 | — | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 474 | 474 | — | — | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | 324 | 294 |
(PPL)
The statements of Cash Flows separately report the cash flows of discontinued operations. The "Operating Activities," "Investing Activities" and "Financing Activities" sections below include only the cash flows of continuing operations.
(All Registrants)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31 and the changes between periods were as follows:
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| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 1,730 | $ | 757 | $ | 543 | $ | 661 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (5,654) | (387) | (360) | (547) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 709 | (366) | (99) | (106) | ||||||||||
| 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 1,544 | $ | 969 | $ | 458 | $ | 608 | ||||||
| Investing activities | 8,564 | (1,400) | (466) | (556) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | (7,344) | 412 | 10 | (61) | ||||||||||
| 2022 vs. 2021 Change | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 186 | $ | (212) | $ | 85 | $ | 53 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (14,218) | 1,013 | 106 | 9 | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 8,053 | (778) | (109) | (45) |
Operating Activities
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) operating activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 696 | $ | 80 | $ | 23 | $ | 26 | ||||||
| Non-cash components | (153) | (21) | 11 | 32 | ||||||||||
| Working capital | (414) | (262) | 50 | 2 | ||||||||||
| Defined benefit plan funding | 41 | 21 | 1 | — | ||||||||||
| Other operating activities | 16 | (30) | — | (7) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 186 | $ | (212) | $ | 85 | $ | 53 |
(PPL)
PPL cash provided by operating activities in 2022 increased $186 million compared with 2021.
•Net income increased $696 million between periods and included a decrease in net non-cash charges of $153 million. The decrease in non-cash charges was primarily due to the loss on extinguishment of debt and the impairment of solar panels in 2021, partially offset by an increase in depreciation and an increase in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits.
•The $414 million decrease in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to a decrease in regulatory liabilities (primarily due to PPL Electric’s transmission formula rate return on equity reduction and the timing of rate recovery mechanisms) and a decrease in other current assets, partially offset by an increase in unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather and rate recovery mechanisms), an increase in accounts receivable (primarily due to pricing) and an increase in accounts payable (primarily due to timing).
•The $41 million decrease in defined benefit plan funding was primarily due to a decrease in contribution to pension plans in 2022, as PPL's defined benefit pension plans have the option to utilize available prior year credit balances to meet current and future contribution requirements.
•The $16 million increase in cash provided by other operating activities was driven by an increase in non-current liabilities (primarily related to an increase in ARO expenditures and an increase in non-current regulatory liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in accrued pension and postretirement obligations).
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(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric's cash provided by operating activities in 2022 decreased $212 million compared with 2021.
•Net income increased $80 million between the periods and included a decrease in non-cash components of $21 million. The decrease in non-cash components was primarily due to a decrease in depreciation expense (primarily related to a decrease in software and computer hardware depreciation as a result of end-of-life retirements).
•The $262 million decrease in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to a decrease in regulatory liabilities (primarily due to refunds to customers related to the transmission formula rate return on equity reduction), partially offset by an increase in unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather and rate recovery mechanisms), an increase in accounts payable (due to timing) and an increase in accounts receivable (due to pricing).
•The $21 million of activity in defined benefit plan funding was primarily due to a decrease in contribution to its pension plans in 2022, as PPL Electric's defined benefit pension plans have the option to utilize available prior year credit balances to meet current and future contribution requirements.
•The $30 million decrease in cash provided by other operating activities was driven primarily by an increase in non-current assets (primarily related to cloud computing and a decrease in medical claim payments).
(LG&E)
LG&E's cash provided by operating activities in 2022 increased $85 million compared with 2021.
•Net income increased $23 million between the periods and included an increase in non-cash components of $11 million. The increase in non-cash components was primarily driven by an increase in depreciation expense (primarily due to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements and higher depreciation rates effective July 1, 2021), partially offset by a decrease in deferred income tax expense (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences).
•Cash from changes in working capital increased by $50 million. The increase was primarily due to a decrease in regulatory assets and liabilities, net (primarily due to the timing of rate recovery mechanisms), an increase in accounts payable to affiliates and other current liabilities (primarily due to timing of payments), partially offset by an increase in unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather and higher commodity costs).
(KU)
KU's cash provided by operating activities in 2022 increased $53 million compared with 2021.
•Net income increased $26 million between the periods and included an increase in non-cash components of $32 million. The increase in non-cash components was primarily driven by an increase in depreciation expense (primarily due to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements and higher depreciation rates effective July 1, 2021).
•Cash from changes in working capital increased $2 million. The increase was primarily due to an increase in accounts payable, an increase in accounts payable with affiliates, an increase in taxes payable and a decrease in other current liabilities (primarily due to timing of payments) and other insignificant changes, partially offset by an increase in fuels, materials and supplies (primarily due to higher commodity costs and the accumulation of inventory for upcoming transmission and distribution products) and an increase in unbilled revenues and accounts receivable (primarily due to weather and higher commodity costs).
Investing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) investing activities were as follows:
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| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Expenditures for PP&E | $ | (182) | $ | 12 | $ | 95 | $ | 13 | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of Safari Holdings, net of cash divested | 146 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of U.K. utility business, net of cash divested | (10,560) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Acquisition of Narragansett Electric, net of cash acquired | (3,660) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Notes receivable from affiliate | — | 998 | — | — | ||||||||||
| Other investing activities | 38 | 3 | 11 | (4) | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | (14,218) | $ | 1,013 | $ | 106 | $ | 9 |
For PPL, in 2022 compared with 2021, the increase in expenditures was due to expenditures at RIE, partially offset by a decrease in expenditures at LG&E. The decrease in expenditures at LG&E was primarily due to lower spending on ELG projects and other projects that are not individually significant.
See "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for detail regarding projected capital expenditures for the years 2023 through 2025.
For PPL Electric, the changes in "Notes receivable from affiliate" activity resulted from payments received on the short-term note between affiliates in 2022, issued to support general corporate purposes. See Note 15 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany borrowings.
Financing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) financing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 vs. 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt issuance/retirement, net | $ | 4,542 | $ | (250) | $ | 300 | $ | 300 | ||||||
| Dividends | 492 | (6) | (83) | (46) | ||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury stock | 1,003 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Capital contributions/distributions, net | — | (671) | 16 | (16) | ||||||||||
| Retirement of term loan | 300 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Retirement of commercial paper | 73 | — | 41 | 32 | ||||||||||
| Changes in net short-term debt | 1,642 | 145 | 262 | 272 | ||||||||||
| Note payable with affiliate | — | — | (648) | (588) | ||||||||||
| Other financing activities | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 8,053 | $ | (778) | $ | (109) | $ | (45) |
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for information on 2022 activity.
See "Long-term Debt and Equity Securities" below for additional information on current year activity. See "Forecasted Sources of Cash" for a discussion of the Registrants' plans to issue debt and equity securities, as well as a discussion of credit facility capacity available to the Registrants. Also see "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for a discussion of PPL's plans to pay dividends on common securities in the future, as well as the Registrants' maturities of long-term debt.
Long-term Debt and Equity Securities
Long-term debt and equity securities activity for 2022 included:
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| Debt | Stock | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuances (a) | Retirements | Issuances (b) | Repurchases | |||||||||||
| Cash Flow Impact: | ||||||||||||||
| PPL | $ | 850 | $ | 264 | $ | 18 | $ | — | ||||||
| PPL Electric | 250 | 250 | — | — | ||||||||||
| LG&E | 300 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| KU | 300 | — | — | — |
(a)Issuances are net of pricing discounts, where applicable, and exclude the impact of debt issuance costs. Includes debt issuances with affiliates.
(b)Includes issuances of common stock and treasury stock, which are included in "Other financing activities" on the Statements of Cash Flows.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional long-term debt information.
Equity Securities Activities (PPL)
Share Repurchase
In August 2021, PPL's Board of Directors authorized share repurchases of up to $3 billion of PPL common shares. In 2021, PPL repurchased approximately $1 billion of PPL common shares. There were no share repurchases during the year ended December 31, 2022. Any additional amounts to be repurchased pursuant to this authority will depend on various factors, including PPL’s share price and market conditions. PPL may purchase shares on each trading day subject to market conditions and principles of best execution.
Forecasted Sources of Cash
(All Registrants)
The Registrants expect to continue to have adequate liquidity available from operating cash flows, cash and cash equivalents, credit facilities and commercial paper issuances to meet their requirements with respect to their contractual obligations and anticipated capital expenditures. Additionally, subject to market conditions, the Registrants and their subsidiaries may access the capital markets, and PPL Electric, LG&E and KU anticipate receiving equity contributions from their parent or member in 2023.
Credit Facilities
The Registrants maintain credit facilities to enhance liquidity, provide credit support and provide a backstop to commercial paper programs. Amounts borrowed under these credit facilities are reflected in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets, except for borrowings under PPL Electric's term loan agreement due in 2024 and borrowings under LG&E's and KU's term loan agreements due in 2024, which are reflected in "Long-term debt". At December 31, 2022, the total committed borrowing capacity under credit facilities and the borrowings under these facilities were:
External
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued (c) | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL Capital Funding Credit Facilities | $ | 1,350 | $ | — | $ | 561 | $ | 789 | ||||||
| PPL Electric Credit Facilities | 900 | 250 | 146 | 504 | ||||||||||
| LG&E Credit Facilities | 800 | 300 | 180 | 320 | ||||||||||
| KU Credit Facilities | 700 | 300 | 101 | 299 | ||||||||||
| Total Credit Facilities (a) (b) | $ | 3,750 | $ | 850 | $ | 988 | $ | 1,912 |
(a)The syndicated credit facilities, term loans and PPL Capital Funding's bilateral facility, each 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 facility, and other customary covenants.
The commitments under the credit facilities are provided by a diverse bank group, with no one bank and its affiliates providing an aggregate commitment of more than the following percentages of the total committed capacity: PPL - 14%, PPL Electric - 18%, LG&E - 19% and KU - 21%.
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(b)Each company pays customary fees under its respective syndicated credit facility. Borrowings generally bear interest at LIBOR-based rates, or applicable SOFR, plus an applicable margin.
(c)Commercial paper issued reflects the undiscounted face value of the issuance.
In addition to the financial covenants noted in the table above, the credit agreements governing the above credit facilities contain various other covenants. Failure to comply with the covenants after applicable grace periods could result in acceleration of repayment of borrowings and/or termination of the agreements. The Registrants monitor compliance with the covenants on a regular basis. At December 31, 2022, the Registrants were in compliance with these covenants. At this time, the Registrants believe that these covenants and other borrowing conditions will not limit access to these funding sources.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of the Registrants' credit facilities.
Intercompany (LG&E and KU)
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Commercial Paper Program Capacity | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG&E Money Pool (a) | $ | 750 | $ | — | $ | 500 | $ | 250 | ||||||
| KU Money Pool (a) | 650 | — | 400 | 250 |
(a)LG&E and KU participate in an intercompany money pool agreement whereby LKE and/or KU make available to LG&E, and LKE and/or LG&E make available to KU funds up to the difference between LG&E's and KU's FERC borrowing limit and LG&E's and KU's commercial paper capacity limit, at an interest rate based on the lower of a market index of commercial paper issues and two additional rate options based on LIBOR.
See Note 15 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany credit facilities.
Commercial Paper (All Registrants)
The Registrants maintain commercial paper programs to provide an additional financing source to fund short-term liquidity needs, as necessary. 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, 2022 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Commercial Paper Issuances (c) | Unused Capacity | ||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding | $ | 1,350 | $ | 561 | $ | 789 | ||||
| PPL Electric | 650 | 145 | 505 | |||||||
| LG&E (a) | 500 | 180 | 320 | |||||||
| KU (b) | 400 | 101 | 299 | |||||||
| Total PPL | $ | 2,900 | $ | 987 | $ | 1,913 |
(a)In August 2022, the capacity for the LG&E commercial paper program was increased to $500 million.
(b)In August 2022, the capacity for the KU commercial paper program was increased to $400 million.
(c)Commercial paper issued reflects the undiscounted face value of the issuance.
Long-term Debt and Equity Securities
(PPL)
PPL and its subsidiaries are authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions, up to $3.50 billion of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes. RIE is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $500 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $1 billion of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
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(LG&E)
LG&E is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $500 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
(KU)
KU is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $500 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
Contributions from Parent (PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
From time to time, the parents of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU make capital contributions to subsidiaries. The proceeds from these contributions are used to fund capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes.
Forecasted Uses of Cash
(All Registrants)
In addition to expenditures required for normal operating activities, such as purchased power, payroll, fuel and taxes, the Registrants currently expect to incur future cash outflows for capital expenditures, various contractual obligations, payment of dividends on its common stock, and possibly the purchase or redemption of a portion of debt securities.
Capital Expenditures
The table below shows the Registrants' current capital expenditure projections for the years 2023 through 2025. Expenditures for the domestic regulated utilities are expected to be recovered through rates, pending regulatory approval.
| Projected | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2023 (b) | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities (a) | $ | 1,508 | $ | 252 | $ | 369 | $ | 887 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 2,734 | 929 | 892 | 913 | ||||||||||
| Gas distribution facilities | 1,005 | 272 | 313 | 420 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 2,962 | 827 | 1,019 | 1,116 | ||||||||||
| Other | 308 | 106 | 100 | 102 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 8,517 | $ | 2,386 | $ | 2,693 | $ | 3,438 | ||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | $ | 921 | $ | 318 | $ | 299 | $ | 304 | ||||||
| Transmission facilities | 1,980 | 545 | 670 | 765 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 2,901 | $ | 863 | $ | 969 | $ | 1,069 | ||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities (a) | $ | 633 | $ | 92 | $ | 147 | $ | 394 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 476 | 165 | 161 | 150 | ||||||||||
| Gas distribution facilities | 203 | 54 | 55 | 94 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 56 | 5 | 23 | 28 | ||||||||||
| Other | 120 | 50 | 34 | 36 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 1,488 | $ | 366 | $ | 420 | $ | 702 |
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| Projected | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 2023 (b) | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||||||
| KU | ||||||||||||||
| Generating facilities (a) | $ | 875 | $ | 160 | $ | 222 | $ | 493 | ||||||
| Electric distribution facilities | 520 | 210 | 163 | 147 | ||||||||||
| Transmission facilities | 338 | 165 | 91 | 82 | ||||||||||
| Other | 178 | 52 | 63 | 63 | ||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 1,911 | $ | 587 | $ | 539 | $ | 785 |
(a)Capital expenditure projections include $115 million at PPL ($42 million at LG&E and $73 million at KU) in 2023 and $44 million at PPL ($21 million at LG&E and $23 million at KU) in 2024 related to certain costs of complying with the Clean Air Act, as amended, and other federal, state and local environmental requirements applicable to coal combustion wastes and by-products from coal-fired generating facilities, which are expected to be subject to rate recovery through the ECR mechanism.
(b)The 2023 total excludes amounts included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2022.
Capital expenditure plans are revised periodically to reflect changes in operational, market and regulatory conditions.
Contractual Obligations
The Registrants have assumed various financial obligations and commitments in the ordinary course of conducting business. At December 31, 2022, estimated contractual cash obligations were as follows:
| Total | 2023 | 2024-2025 | 2026-2027 | After 2027 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 13,353 | $ | 354 | $ | 2,052 | $ | 1,207 | $ | 9,740 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 9,067 | 557 | 984 | 881 | 6,645 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 69 | 24 | 29 | 9 | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase Obligations (d) | 3,348 | 1,363 | 1,090 | 340 | 555 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 25,837 | $ | 2,298 | $ | 4,155 | $ | 2,437 | $ | 16,947 | ||||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 4,539 | $ | 340 | $ | 900 | $ | 108 | $ | 3,191 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 3,038 | 183 | 299 | 289 | 2,267 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations | 106 | 29 | 57 | 20 | — | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 7,683 | $ | 552 | $ | 1,256 | $ | 417 | $ | 5,458 | ||||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 2,324 | $ | — | $ | 600 | $ | 285 | $ | 1,439 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 1,367 | 92 | 160 | 130 | 985 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 16 | 6 | 8 | 2 | — | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (e) | 705 | 340 | 282 | 74 | 9 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (f) | 296 | 24 | 44 | 44 | 184 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (g) | 126 | 58 | 63 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 72 | 26 | 36 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 4,906 | $ | 546 | $ | 1,193 | $ | 541 | $ | 2,626 | ||||||||
| KU | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 2,942 | $ | 13 | $ | 550 | $ | 164 | $ | 2,215 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 2,045 | 123 | 220 | 191 | 1,511 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 21 | 9 | 11 | 1 | — | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (e) | 866 | 354 | 408 | 104 | — | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (f) | 131 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 81 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (g) | 103 | 54 | 43 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 128 | 60 | 50 | 12 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 6,236 | $ | 623 | $ | 1,302 | $ | 494 | $ | 3,817 |
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(a)Reflects principal maturities based on stated maturity, sinking fund payments, or earlier put dates. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of variable-rate remarketable bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU. The Registrants do not have any significant finance lease obligations.
(b)Assumes interest payments through stated maturity or earlier put dates. The payments herein are subject to change, as payments for debt that is or becomes variable-rate debt have been estimated.
(c)See Note 10 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(d)The amounts include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Primarily includes, as applicable, the purchase obligations of electricity, coal, natural gas and limestone, as well as certain construction expenditures, which are also included in the Capital Expenditures discussion above.
(e)Represents contracts to purchase coal, natural gas and natural gas transportation. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Represents future minimum payments under OVEC power purchase agreements through June 2040. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(g)Represents construction commitments, which are also reflected in the Capital Expenditures table presented above.
Dividends/Distributions
(PPL)
PPL views dividends as an integral component of shareowner return and expects to continue to pay dividends in amounts intended to maintain a capitalization structure that supports investment grade credit ratings. In November 2022, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable January 3, 2023, at 22.50 cents per share (equivalent to $0.90 per annum). On February 17, 2023, PPL announced a quarterly common stock dividend of 24.00 cents per share, payable April 3, 2023, to shareowners of record as of March 10, 2023. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon future earnings, cash flows, financial and legal requirements and other factors.
Subject to certain exceptions, PPL may not 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. At December 31, 2022, no interest payments were deferred.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
From time to time, as determined by their respective Board of Directors, the Registrants pay dividends, distributions or return capital, as applicable, to their respective shareholders or members. Certain of the credit facilities of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU include minimum debt covenant ratios that could effectively restrict the payment of dividends or distributions.
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for these and other restrictions related to distributions on capital interests for the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
Purchase or Redemption of Debt Securities
The Registrants will continue to evaluate outstanding debt securities and may decide to purchase or redeem these securities in open market or privately negotiated transactions, in exchange transactions or otherwise, depending upon prevailing market conditions, available cash and other factors, and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved may be material.
Rating Agency Actions
Moody's and S&P periodically review the credit ratings of the debt of the Registrants and their subsidiaries. Based on their respective independent reviews, the rating agencies may make certain ratings revisions or ratings affirmations.
A credit rating reflects an assessment by the rating agency of the creditworthiness associated with an issuer and particular securities that it issues. The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries are based on information provided by the Registrants and other sources. The ratings of Moody's and S&P are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any securities of the Registrants or their subsidiaries. Such ratings may be subject to revisions or withdrawal by the agencies at any time and should be evaluated independently of each other and any other rating that may be assigned to the securities.
The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries affect their liquidity, access to capital markets and cost of borrowing under their credit facilities. A downgrade in the Registrants' or their subsidiaries' credit ratings could result in higher borrowing
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costs and reduced access to capital markets. The Registrants and their subsidiaries have no credit rating triggers that would result in the reduction of access to capital markets or the acceleration of maturity dates of outstanding debt.
The following table sets forth the Registrants' and their subsidiaries' credit ratings for outstanding debt securities or commercial paper programs as of December 31, 2022.
| Senior Unsecured | Senior Secured | Commercial Paper | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | ||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding | Baa1 | BBB+ | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| Rhode Island Energy | A3 | A- | ||||||||||
| PPL and PPL Electric | ||||||||||||
| PPL Electric | A1 | A+ | P-2 | A-1 | ||||||||
| PPL, LG&E and KU | ||||||||||||
| LG&E | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| KU | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 |
The rating agencies have taken the following actions related to the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
(PPL)
In June 2022, Moody’s affirmed its commercial paper rating for PPL Capital Funding and upgraded the following ratings with a
stable outlook:
• the long-term issuer rating from Baa2 to Baa1 for PPL;
• the senior unsecured rating from Baa2 to Baa1 for PPL Capital Funding;
• the junior subordinated rating from Baa3 to Baa2 for PPL Capital Funding; and
• the senior unsecured bank credit facility rating from Baa2 to Baa1 for PPL Capital Funding.
In June 2022, Moody’s upgraded the following ratings with a stable outlook:
• the long-term issuer rating from Baa1 to A3 for RIE;
• the senior unsecured rating from Baa1 to A3 for RIE; and
• the preferred stock rating from Baa3 to Baa2 for RIE.
In June 2022, S&P upgraded the following ratings with a stable outlook:
• the long-term issuer rating from BBB+ to A- for RIE;
• the senior unsecured rating from BBB+ to A- for RIE; and
• the preferred stock rating from BBB- to BBB for RIE.
(PPL and PPL Electric)
In May 2022, S&P upgraded the following ratings with a stable outlook for PPL Electric:
• the long-term issuer credit rating from A- to A;
• the issue-level senior secured rating from A to A+; and
• the short-term and commercial paper ratings from A-2 to A-1.
Ratings Triggers (PPL, LG&E and KU)
Various derivative and non-derivative contracts, including contracts for the sale and purchase of electricity and fuel, commodity transportation and storage, and interest rate instruments, contain provisions that require the posting of additional collateral or permit the counterparty to terminate the contract, if PPL's, LG&E's or KU's or their subsidiaries' credit rating, as applicable, were to fall below investment grade. See Note 18 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of "Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features," including a discussion of the potential additional collateral requirements for PPL and LG&E for derivative contracts in a net liability position at December 31, 2022.
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Guarantees for Subsidiaries (PPL)
PPL guarantees certain consolidated affiliate financing arrangements. Some of the guarantees contain financial and other covenants that, if not met, would limit or restrict the consolidated affiliates' access to funds under these financing arrangements, accelerate maturity of such arrangements or limit the consolidated affiliates' ability to enter into certain transactions. At this time, PPL believes that these covenants will not limit access to relevant funding sources. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information about guarantees.
Other Contingent Obligations (All Registrants)
The Registrants have entered into certain agreements that may contingently require payment to a guaranteed or indemnified party. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these agreements.
Risk Management
Market Risk
(All Registrants)
See Notes 1, 17 and 18 to the Financial Statements for information about the Registrants' risk management objectives, valuation techniques and accounting designations.
The forward-looking information presented below provides estimates of what may occur in the future, assuming certain adverse market conditions and model assumptions. Actual future results may differ materially from those presented. These are not precise indicators of expected future losses, but are rather only indicators of possible losses under normal market conditions at a given confidence level.
Interest Rate Risk
PPL and its subsidiaries issue debt to finance their operations, which exposes them to interest rate risk. A variety of financial derivative instruments are utilized to adjust the mix of fixed and floating interest rates in their debt portfolios, adjust the duration of the debt portfolios and lock in benchmark interest rates in anticipation of future financing, when appropriate. Risk limits under PPL's risk management program are designed to balance risk exposure to volatility in interest expense and changes in the fair value of the debt portfolio due to changes in benchmark interest rates. In addition, the interest rate risk of certain subsidiaries is potentially mitigated as a result of the existing regulatory framework or the timing of rate cases.
The following interest rate hedges were outstanding at December 31:
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | Maturities Ranging Through | Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PPL and LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Economic hedges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps (c) | $ | 64 | $ | (7) | $ | (1) | 2033 | $ | 64 | $ | (19) | $ | (1) |
(a)Includes accrued interest, if applicable.
(b)Effects of adverse movements decrease assets or increase liabilities, as applicable, which could result in an asset becoming a liability. Sensitivities represent a 10% adverse movement in interest rates.
(c)Realized changes in the fair value of such economic hedges are recoverable through regulated rates and any subsequent changes in the fair value of these derivatives are included in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities.
The Registrants are exposed to a potential increase in interest expense and to changes in the fair value of their debt portfolios. The estimated impact of a 10% adverse movement in interest rates on the fair value of debt and interest expense at December 31 is shown below.
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| 10% Adverse Movement in Rates on Fair Value of Debt | 10% Adverse Movement in Rates on Interest Expense For Floating Exposure | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
| PPL | $ | 495 | $ | 394 | $ | 16 | $ | — | ||||||
| PPL Electric | 178 | 164 | 6 | — | ||||||||||
| LG&E | 84 | 74 | 3 | — | ||||||||||
| KU | 127 | 115 | 2 | — |
Commodity Price Risk
PPL is exposed to commodity price risk through its subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric is required to purchase electricity to fulfill its obligation as a PLR. Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its PAPUC-approved cost recovery mechanism and full-requirement supply agreements to serve its PLR customers which transfer the risk to energy suppliers.
•LG&E's and KU's rates include certain mechanisms for fuel, fuel-related expenses and energy purchases. In addition, LG&E's rates include a mechanism for natural gas supply costs. These mechanisms generally provide for timely recovery of market price fluctuations associated with these costs.
•RIE utilizes derivative instruments pursuant to its RIPUC-approved plan to manage commodity price risk associated with its natural gas purchases. RIE's commodity price risk management strategy is to reduce fluctuations in firm gas sales prices to its customers. RIE's costs associated with derivatives instruments are recoverable through its RIPUC- approved cost recovery mechanisms. RIE is required to purchase electricity to fulfill its obligation to provide Last Resort Service (LRS). Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its RIPUC-approved cost recovery mechanisms and full requirements service agreements to serve LRS customers, which transfer the risk to energy suppliers. RIE is required to contract through long-term agreements for clean energy supply under the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Growth program and Long-term Clean Energy Standard. Potential commodity price risk is mitigated through its RIPUC-approved cost recovery mechanisms, which true-up cost differences between contract prices and market prices.
Volumetric Risk
Volumetric risk is the risk related to the changes in volume of retail sales due to weather, economic conditions or other factors. PPL is exposed to volumetric risk through its subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric, LG&E and KU are exposed to volumetric risk on retail sales, mainly due to weather and other economic conditions for which there is limited mitigation between rate cases.
•RIE is exposed to volumetric risk, which is significantly mitigated by regulatory mechanisms. RIE's electric and gas distribution rates both have a revenue decoupling mechanism, which allows for annual adjustments to RIE's delivery rates.
Defined Benefit Plans - Equity Securities Price Risk
See "Application of Critical Accounting Policies - Defined Benefits" for additional information regarding the effect of equity securities price risk on plan assets.
Credit Risk
(All Registrants)
Credit risk is the potential loss that may be incurred due to a counterparty's non-performance.
PPL is exposed to credit risk from "in-the-money" transactions with counterparties, as well as additional credit risk through certain of its subsidiaries, as discussed below.
In the event a supplier of PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E or KU defaults on its contractual obligation, those Registrants would need to seek replacement power or replacement fuel in the market. In general, subject to regulatory review or other processes, appropriate incremental costs incurred by these entities would be recoverable from customers through applicable rate mechanisms, thereby mitigating the financial risk for these entities.
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PPL and its subsidiaries have credit policies in place to manage credit risk, including the use of an established credit approval process, daily monitoring of counterparty positions and the use of master netting agreements or provisions. These agreements generally include credit mitigation provisions, such as margin, prepayment or collateral requirements. PPL and its subsidiaries may request additional credit assurance, in certain circumstances, in the event that the counterparties' credit ratings fall below investment grade, their tangible net worth falls below specified percentages or their exposures exceed an established credit limit.
(All Registrants)
Related Party Transactions
The Registrants are not aware of any material ownership interests or operating responsibility by senior management in outside partnerships, including leasing transactions with variable interest entities, or other entities doing business with the Registrants. See Note 15 to the Financial Statements for additional information on related party transactions for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU.
Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures
The Registrants from time to time evaluate opportunities for potential acquisitions, divestitures, and development projects. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information on acquisition and divestiture activity. Development projects are reexamined based on market conditions and other factors to determine whether to proceed with, modify or terminate the projects. Any resulting transactions may impact future financial results.
Environmental Matters
Extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations are applicable to the Registrants' air emissions, water discharges and the management of hazardous and solid waste, as well as other aspects of the Registrants' businesses. The costs of compliance or alleged non-compliance cannot be predicted with certainty but could be significant. In addition, costs may increase significantly if the requirements or scope of environmental laws or regulations, or similar rules, are expanded or changed. Costs may take the form of increased capital expenditures or operating and maintenance expenses, monetary fines, penalties or other restrictions. Many of these environmental law considerations are also applicable to the operations of key suppliers, or customers, such as coal producers and industrial power users, and may impact the costs for their products or their demand for the Registrants' services. Increased capital and operating costs are expected to be subject to rate recovery. The Registrants can provide no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of future environmental or rate proceedings before regulatory authorities.
See "Legal Matters" in Note 14 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of the more significant environmental claims. See "Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Forecasted Uses of Cash - Capital Expenditures" in "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for information on projected environmental capital expenditures for 2023 through 2025. See Note 20 to the Financial Statements for information related to the impacts of CCRs on AROs. See "Item 1. Business - Environmental Matters" for additional information.
Sustainability
Increasing attention has been focused on a broad range of corporate activities under the heading of “sustainability”, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of requests from interested parties for information on sustainability topics. These parties range from investor groups focused on environmental, social, governance and other matters to non-investors concerned with a variety of public policy matters. Often the scope of the information sought is very broad and not necessarily relevant to an issuer’s business or industry. As a result, a number of private groups have proposed to standardize the subject matter constituting sustainability, either generally or by industry. Those efforts remain ongoing. In addition, certain of these private groups have advocated that the SEC promulgate regulations requiring specific sustainability reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ’34 Act), or that issuers voluntarily include certain sustainability disclosure in their ’34 Act reports. In March 2022, the SEC proposed broad-based climate disclosure requirements for public companies. The proposed rule would require public companies to disclose direct and indirect GHG emissions, strategic insights, and certain financial implications in public disclosures. The proposed rulemaking elicited significant debate and comment. While a final rulemaking is currently expected to be issued in the spring of 2023, PPL cannot predict the final legal requirements or when the requirements will be effective.
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As has been PPL’s practice, to the extent sustainability issues have or may have a material impact on the Registrants’ financial condition or results of operation, PPL discloses such matters in accordance with applicable securities law and SEC regulations. With respect to other sustainability topics that PPL deems relevant to investors but that are not required to be reported under applicable securities law and SEC regulation, PPL will continue each spring to publish its annual sustainability report including tracking reductions related to the company's goal to reduce carbon emissions and post that report on its corporate website at www.pplweb.com and on www.pplsustainability.com. Neither the information in such annual sustainability report nor the information at such websites is incorporated in this Form 10-K by reference, and it should not be considered a part of this Form 10-K. In preparing its sustainability report, PPL is guided by the framework established by the Global Reporting Initiative, which identifies environmental, social, governance and other subject matter categories. PPL also participates in efforts by the Edison Electric Institute and American Gas Association to provide the appropriate subset of sustainability information that can be applied consistently across the electric and gas utility industry. Additionally, PPL consults widely used reporting frameworks for discrete sustainability topics, including corporate political contributions and climate-related issues. PPL also responds to the climate survey of CDP, a not-for-profit organization based in the United Kingdom formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, that runs the global disclosure system that enables investors, companies, cities, states and regions to measure and manage their environmental impacts.
FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000922224-22-000005.
Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(All Registrants)
This "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" is separately filed by PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. Information contained herein relating to any individual Registrant is filed by such Registrant solely on its own behalf, and no Registrant makes any representation as to information relating to any other Registrant. The specific Registrant to which disclosures are applicable is identified in parenthetical headings in italics above the applicable disclosure or within the applicable disclosure for each Registrant's related activities and disclosures. Within combined disclosures, amounts are disclosed for individual Registrants when significant.
The following should be read in conjunction with the Registrants' Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes. Capitalized terms and abbreviations are defined in the glossary. Dollars are in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted.
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" includes the following information:
•"Overview" provides a description of each Registrant's business strategy and a discussion of important financial and operational developments.
•"Results of Operations" for all Registrants includes a "Statement of Income Analysis," which discusses significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2021 with 2020. For PPL, "Results of Operations" also includes "Segment Earnings" and "Adjusted Gross Margins," which provide a detailed analysis of earnings by reportable segment. These discussions include non-GAAP financial measures, including "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and "Adjusted Gross Margins" and provide explanations of the non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure.
•"Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources" provides an analysis of the Registrants' liquidity positions and credit profiles. This section also includes a discussion of forecasted sources and uses of cash and rating agency actions.
•"Financial Condition - Risk Management" provides an explanation of the Registrants' risk management programs relating to market and credit risk.
•"Application of Critical Accounting Policies" provides an overview of the accounting policies that are particularly important to the results of operations and financial condition of the Registrants and that require their management to make significant estimates, assumptions and other judgments of inherently uncertain matters.
For comparison of the Registrants’ results of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2019, refer to “Item 7. Combined Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the 2020 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2021.
Overview
For a description of the Registrants and their businesses, see "Item 1. Business."
Business Strategy
(All Registrants)
PPL operates three fully regulated high-performing utilities. These utilities are located in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, constructive regulatory jurisdictions with distinct regulatory structures and customer classes.
PPL's strategy, which is supported by the other Registrants, is to achieve industry-leading performance in safety, reliability,
customer satisfaction and operational efficiency; to advance a clean energy transition while maintaining affordability and
reliability; to maintain a strong financial foundation and create long-term value for our shareowners; to foster a diverse and
exceptional workplace; and to build strong communities in areas that we serve.
Central to PPL's and the other Registrants' strategy is recovering capital project costs efficiently through various rate-making mechanisms, including periodic base rate case proceedings using forward test years, annual FERC formula rate mechanisms
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and other regulatory agency-approved recovery mechanisms designed to limit regulatory lag. In Kentucky, the KPSC has adopted a series of regulatory mechanisms (ECR, DSM, GLT, fuel adjustment clause, and gas supply clause) and recovery on construction work-in-progress that reduce regulatory lag and provide timely recovery of and return on, as appropriate, prudently incurred costs. In Pennsylvania, the FERC transmission formula rate, DSIC mechanism, Smart Meter Rider and other recovery mechanisms operate to reduce regulatory lag and provide for timely recovery of and a return on, as appropriate, prudently incurred costs.
In March 2021, PPL entered into definitive agreements that strategically reposition the company as a U.S.-based energy
company focused on building the utilities of the future. These transactions are intended to strengthen PPL’s credit metrics,
enhance long-term earnings growth and predictability, and provide the company with greater financial flexibility to invest in
sustainable energy solutions. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements, and the "Sale of the U.K. Utility Business" and "Share Purchase Agreement to Acquire Narragansett Electric" discussions in "Financial and Operational Developments" below for additional information.
Financial and Operational Developments
(PPL)
Sale of the U.K. Utility Business
On March 17, 2021, PPL WPD Limited (WPD Limited) entered into a share purchase agreement (WPD SPA) to sell PPL's U.K. utility business to National Grid Holdings One plc (National Grid U.K.), a subsidiary of National Grid plc. Pursuant to the WPD SPA, National Grid U.K. would acquire 100% of the issued share capital of PPL WPD Investments Limited (WPD Investments) for £7.8 billion in cash. WPD Limited would also receive an additional amount of £548,000 for each day during the period from January 1, 2021 to the closing date if the dividends usually declared by WPD Investments to WPD Limited were not paid for that period.
On June 14, 2021, the sale of the U.K. utility business was completed. The transaction resulted in cash proceeds of $10.7 billion inclusive of foreign currency hedges executed by PPL. PPL received net proceeds, after taxes and fees, of $10.4 billion, resulting in a pre-tax loss on sale of $1.6 billion. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the sale of the U.K. utility business.
WPD Limited and National Grid U.K. each made customary representations and warranties in the WPD SPA. National Grid
U.K., at its expense, purchased warranty and indemnity insurance. WPD Limited agreed to indemnify National Grid U.K. for
certain tax related matters. See Note 11 to the Financial Statements for additional information. PPL has not had and will not
have any significant involvement with the U.K. utility business after completion of the sale.
Share Purchase Agreement to Acquire Narragansett Electric
On March 17, 2021, PPL and its subsidiary, PPL Energy Holdings, entered into a share purchase agreement (Narragansett SPA) with National Grid USA (National Grid U.S.), a subsidiary of National Grid plc, to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Narragansett Electric for approximately $3.8 billion in cash. On May 3, 2021, an Assignment and Assumption Agreement was entered into by PPL, PPL Energy Holdings, PPL Rhode Island Holdings and National Grid U.S. whereby certain interests of PPL Energy Holdings in the Narragansett SPA were assigned to and assumed by PPL Rhode Island Holdings. Pursuant to that Assignment and Assumption Agreement, PPL Rhode Island Holdings became the purchasing entity under the Narragansett SPA. The acquisition is expected to be funded with proceeds from the sale of the U.K. utility business. PPL has agreed to guarantee all obligations of PPL Energy Holdings and PPL Rhode Island Holdings under the Narragansett SPA and the related Assignment and Assumption Agreement.
The closing of the acquisition is subject to the receipt of certain U.S. regulatory approvals or waivers, and other customary conditions to closing. To date, several required regulatory approvals or waivers have been received, though the order granting the waiver by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is subject to a pending appeal. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information regarding the current status of this appeal. PPL anticipates receiving a final order from the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers with respect to the acquisition by March 2022. The regulatory approvals remain subject to any applicable appeal periods. The consummation of the transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the Narragansett SPA.
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Debt Redemption
PPL Capital Funding paid $3.883 billion to tender and/or redeem an aggregate total of $3.484 billion of outstanding debt during 2021, resulting in a loss on extinguishment of $395 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. See "Long Term Debt" in Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Share Repurchases
PPL's Board of Directors authorized share repurchases of up to $3 billion of PPL common shares. During 2021, PPL repurchased 34.8 million shares at a cost of $1.0 billion. See "Equity Securities" in Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
LKE Debt Redemption
On July 1, 2021, LKE redeemed, at par, its $250 million 4.375% Senior Notes due 2021 and on July 9, 2021, LKE filed a Form 15 with the SEC to suspend its duty to file reports under sections 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result, beginning with the June 30, 2021 Form 10-Q, LKE was no longer reported as a Registrant.
U.K. Corporation Tax Rate Change
In 2021, the U.K. Finance Act 2021 increased the U.K. corporation tax rate from 19% to 25%, effective April 1, 2023. The primary impact of the corporation tax rate increase was an increase in deferred tax liabilities of the U.K. utility business, which was sold on June 14, 2021, and a corresponding deferred tax expense of $383 million, which was recognized in continuing operations in the second quarter of 2021.
Regulatory Requirements
(All Registrants)
The Registrants cannot predict the impact that future regulatory requirements may have on their financial condition or results of operations.
Environmental Considerations for Coal-Fired Generation (PPL, LG&E and KU)
The businesses of LG&E and KU are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws, rules and regulations, including those pertaining to CCRs, GHG, and ELGs. See Notes 7, 14 and 20 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these significant environmental matters. These and other environmental requirements led PPL, LG&E and KU to retire approximately 1,200 MW of coal-fired generating plants in Kentucky since 2010. As part of the long-term generation planning process, LG&E and KU evaluate a range of factors including the impact of potential stricter environmental regulations, fuel price scenarios, the cost of replacement generation, continued operations and major maintenance costs and the risk of major equipment failures in determining when to retire generation assets. As a result of environmental requirements and aging infrastructure, LG&E anticipates retiring two older coal-fired units at the Mill Creek Plant and KU anticipates retiring one coal-fired unit at the E.W. Brown plant. Mill Creek Unit 1 has 300 MW of capacity and is expected to be retired in 2024. Mill Creek Unit 2 and E.W. Brown Unit 3 have capacities of 297 MW and 412 MW and are expected to be retired in 2028. LG&E and KU anticipate earning recovery of and return on any remaining net book value of these assets through the Retired Asset Recovery (RAR) rider. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information related to the RAR rider.
PPL Electric Transmission Formula Rate Return on Equity (PPL and PPL Electric)
On May 21, 2020, PP&L Industrial Customer Alliance (PPLICA) filed a complaint with the FERC alleging that PPL Electric's base return on equity (ROE) of 11.18% used to determine PPL Electric's formula transmission rate was unjust and unreasonable.
On August 20, 2021, PPL Electric entered into a settlement agreement (the Settlement) with PPLICA and all other parties, including intervenors, with respect to the complaint filed by PPLICA on May 21, 2020.
The key aspects of the Settlement include:
•changes to PPL Electric’s base ROE:
◦beginning as of May 21, 2020 and continuing through May 31, 2022, the ROE shall be 9.90%;
◦beginning on June 1, 2022 and continuing through May 31, 2023, the ROE shall be 9.95%;
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◦beginning on June 1, 2023, the ROE shall be 10.00%, which shall continue in effect unless and until changed as permitted by the terms of the Settlement;
•changes the equity component of PPL Electric’s capital structure to be the lower of (i) PPL Electric’s actual equity component, calculated in accordance with the formula rate template, or (ii) 56.00%;
•allows modification of the current rate year of June 1 to May 31 to a calendar year of January 1 to December 31; and
•allows modification of the current formula rate based on a historic test year to a projected test year.
In 2021, PPL Electric recorded a revenue reduction of $78 million ($55 million after-tax), of which $73 million ($52 million after-tax) represents revenue subject to refund for the period May 21, 2020 through November 30, 2021. The reduction recorded includes $28 million ($20 million after-tax) related to the period from May 21, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The $73 million of revenue to be refunded will be returned to customers from January 1, 2022 through May 31, 2022 and is based on the difference between charges that were calculated using the ROE in effect at the time and charges calculated using the revised ROE provided for the Settlement, plus interest at the FERC interest rate.
The FERC approved the Settlement on November 5, 2021. Interim rates reflecting the agreed-to-base ROE in the Settlement were effective December 1, 2021.
FERC Transmission Rate Filing (PPL, LG&E and KU)
In 2018, LG&E and KU applied to the FERC requesting elimination of certain on-going credits to a sub-set of transmission customers relating to the 1998 merger of LG&E's and KU's parent entities and the 2006 withdrawal of LG&E and KU from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), a regional transmission operator and energy market. The application sought termination of LG&E's and KU's commitment to provide certain Kentucky municipalities mitigation for certain horizontal market power concerns arising out of the 1998 LG&E and KU merger and 2006 MISO withdrawal. The amounts at issue are generally waivers or credits granted to a limited number of Kentucky municipalities for either certain LG&E and KU or MISO transmission charges incurred for transmission service received. In 2019, the FERC granted LG&E's and KU's request to remove the ongoing credits, conditioned upon the implementation by LG&E and KU of a transition mechanism for certain existing power supply arrangements, which was subsequently filed, modified, and approved by the FERC in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, LG&E and KU and other parties filed appeals with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding FERC's orders on the elimination of the mitigation and required transition mechanism. Oral arguments in the appellate proceeding occurred on February 14, 2022. LG&E and KU cannot predict the outcome of the respective appellate and FERC proceedings. LG&E and KU currently receive recovery of the waivers and credits provided through other rate mechanisms and such rate recovery would be anticipated to be adjusted consistent with potential changes or terminations of the waivers and credits, as such become effective.
Rate Case Proceedings
(PPL, LG&E and KU)
On November 25, 2020, LG&E and KU filed requests with the KPSC for an increase in annual electricity and gas revenues of approximately $331 million ($131 million and $170 million in electricity revenues at LG&E and KU and $30 million in gas revenues at LG&E). The revenue increases represented an increase of 11.6% and 10.4% in electricity revenues at LG&E and KU, and an increase of 8.3% in gas revenues at LG&E. In recognition of the economic impact of COVID-19, LG&E and KU requested approval of a one-year billing credit which will credit customers approximately $53 million ($41 million at LG&E and $12 million at KU). The billing credit represents the return to customers of certain regulatory liabilities on LG&E’s and KU’s Balance Sheets and serves to partially mitigate the rate increases during the first year in which the new rates are in effect.
LG&E’s and KU’s applications also included a request for a CPCN to deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure across LG&E’s and KU’s service territories in Kentucky.
The applications were based on a forecasted test year of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and requested an authorized return on equity of 10.0%.
On April 19, 2021, LG&E and KU entered into an agreement with all intervening parties to the proceedings resolving all matters in their applications, with the explicit exception of LG&E's and KU's net metering proposals.
On June 30, 2021 and December 6, 2021, the KPSC issued orders approving the proposed agreement filed in April 2021, with certain modifications. The orders provided for increases in annual revenues of $207 million ($74 million and $110 million in electricity revenues at LG&E and KU and $23 million in gas revenues at LG&E) based on an authorized return on equity of
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9.425%. The orders grant an authorized 9.35% return on equity for the ECR and GLT mechanisms and do not modify the requested one-year billing credit. The orders approved the CPCN to deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure and provide regulatory asset treatment for the remaining net book value of legacy meters upon full implementation of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure program. The orders also approved the establishment of a Retired Asset Recovery (RAR) rider to provide for recovery of and return on the remaining investment in certain electric generating units upon their retirement over a ten-year period following retirement. In respect of the RAR rider, LG&E and KU continue to use currently approved depreciation rates for Mill Creek Units 1 and 2 and Brown Unit 3. The orders also approved a four-year "stay out" commitment from LG&E and KU to refrain from effective base rate increases before July 1, 2025, subject to certain exceptions. On September 24, 2021, the KPSC issued orders providing adjustments to previous net metering proposals. These adjustments did not impact the annual revenue increases.
(KU)
On August 31, 2021, KU filed a request with the VSCC for an annual increase in Virginia base electricity rates of approximately $12 million. KU's request is based on an authorized 10.4% return on equity. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 17, 2022. Subject to regulatory review and approval, new rates would become effective June 1, 2022.
Results of Operations
(PPL)
The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on PPL's Statements of Income, comparing 2021 with 2020. The "Segment Earnings" and "Adjusted Gross Margins" discussions for PPL provide a review of results by reportable segment. These discussions include non-GAAP financial measures, including "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" and "Adjusted Gross Margins," and provide explanations of the non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of those measures to the most comparable GAAP measure.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
A "Statement of Income Analysis" is presented separately for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. The "Statement of Income Analysis" discussion below describes significant changes in principal line items on the Statements of Income, comparing 2021 with 2020. The results of operations section for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU is presented in a reduced disclosure format in accordance with General Instructions (I)(2)(a) of Form 10-K.
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PPL: Statement of Income Analysis, Segment Earnings and Adjusted Gross Margins
Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 5,783 | $ | 5,474 | $ | 309 | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 710 | 632 | 78 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 752 | 634 | 118 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 1,608 | 1,420 | 188 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 1,082 | 1,022 | 60 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 207 | 180 | 27 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 4,359 | 3,888 | 471 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 15 | 2 | 13 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 918 | 634 | 284 | |||||||
| Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes | 521 | 954 | (433) | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 503 | 314 | 189 | |||||||
| Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations After Income Taxes | 18 | 640 | (622) | |||||||
| Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes) (Note 9) | (1,498) | 829 | (2,327) | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | (1,480) | $ | 1,469 | $ | (2,949) |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric distribution volume | $ | 19 |
| PPL Electric PLR (a) | 83 | |
| PPL Electric transmission formula rate (b) | (35) | |
| LG&E fuel and other energy prices (c) | 53 | |
| LG&E volumes (d) | 25 | |
| LG&E retail rates (e) | 46 | |
| LG&E Economic relief billing credit, net of amortization of $9 | (12) | |
| KU fuel and other energy prices (c) | 43 | |
| KU volumes (d) | 27 | |
| KU retail rates (e) | 53 | |
| Other | 7 | |
| Total | $ | 309 |
(a) The increase was primarily the result of higher energy prices and higher customer usage, partially offset by higher volumes of shopping customers.
(b) The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the transmission formula rate return on equity and a lower PPL zonal peak load billing factor, partially offset by returns on additional transmission capital investments and return of related depreciation expense. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the transmission formula rate return on equity reduction.
(c) The increases were primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to higher commodity costs.
(d) The increases were primarily due to favorable weather.
(e) The increases were due to new base rates approved by the KPSC effective July 1, 2021.
Fuel
Fuel increased $78 million in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to a $59 million increase at KU due to a $39 million increase in commodity costs and a $19 million increase in volumes driven by weather as well a $19 million increase at LG&E due to a $10 million increase in volumes driven by weather and an $8 million increase in commodity costs.
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Energy Purchases
Energy purchases increased $118 million in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to a $75 million increase at PPL Electric due to higher PLR prices of $40 million and higher PLR volumes of $28 million, and a $42 million increase at LG&E primarily due to a $35 million increase in commodity costs and a $6 million increase in gas volumes driven by weather.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PPL Electric storm costs | $ | 20 |
| PPL Electric inventory adjustments | 9 | |
| PPL Electric universal service programs | 13 | |
| LG&E plant operations and maintenance | 10 | |
| KU plant outages | 8 | |
| KU plant operations and maintenance | 6 | |
| KU distribution operations and maintenance | 5 | |
| KU transmission operations and maintenance | 6 | |
| Solar panel impairment (Note 1) | 37 | |
| Charges related to the acquisition of Narragansett Electric | 26 | |
| Charges related to the sale of the U. K. utility business | 8 | |
| Stock compensation expense | 6 | |
| Payroll-related | 6 | |
| Other | 28 | |
| Total | $ | 188 |
Depreciation
The increase (decrease) in depreciation was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Additions to PP&E, net | $ | 36 |
| Depreciation rate change effective July 2021 | 11 | |
| Cost of removal and salvage amortization | 12 | |
| Other | 1 | |
| Total | $ | 60 |
Taxes, Other Than Income
The increase (decrease) in taxes, other than income was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| State gross receipts tax (a) | $ | 13 |
| Domestic property tax expense | 10 | |
| Other | 4 | |
| Total | $ | 27 |
(a)The increase was primarily due to a favorable settlement of 2008 - 2010 gross receipts tax assessments in 2020.
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Other Income (Expense) - net
The increase (decrease) in other income (expense) - net was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Defined benefit plans - non-service credits (Note 12) | $ | 23 |
| Charitable contributions | (11) | |
| Other | 1 | |
| Total | $ | 13 |
Interest Expense
The increase (decrease) in interest expense was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Loss on extinguishment of debt (Note 8) | $ | 395 |
| Long-term debt interest | (93) | |
| Other | (18) | |
| Total | $ | 284 |
Income Taxes
The increase (decrease) in income taxes was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Change in pre-tax income | $ | (116) |
| Valuation allowance adjustments (a) | 24 | |
| Federal and state income tax return adjustments | 6 | |
| Impact of the U.K. Finance Acts on deferred tax balances (b) | 282 | |
| Amortization of excess deferred federal and state income taxes | (11) | |
| Other | 4 | |
| Total | $ | 189 |
(a)In 2021, PPL recorded a $31 million state deferred tax benefit on a net operating loss and an offsetting valuation allowance in connection with the loss on extinguishment associated with a tender offer to purchase and retire PPL Capital Funding's outstanding Senior Notes. See Note 8 for additional information on the tender offer.
(b)The U.K. corporation tax rate was scheduled to be reduced from 19% to 17%, effective April 1, 2020. In 2020, the U.K. Finance Act 2020 cancelled the tax rate reduction to 17%, thereby maintaining the corporation tax rate at 19% for financial years 2020 and 2021. The primary impact of the cancellation of the corporation tax rate reduction was an increase in deferred tax liabilities and a corresponding deferred tax expense of $106 million. In 2021, the U.K. Finance Act 2021 increased the U.K. corporation tax rate from 19% to 25%, effective April 1, 2023. The primary impact of the corporation tax rate increase was an increase in deferred tax liabilities of the U.K. utility business, which was sold on June 14, 2021, and a corresponding deferred tax expense of $383 million.
See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information on income taxes.
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (net of income taxes) decreased $2,327 million in 2021 compared with 2020. The decrease was attributable primarily to the 2021 loss on sale of the U.K. utility business of $1,609 million and an increase in income tax expense of $571 million. See "Discontinued Operations" in Note 9 to the Financial Statements for summarized results of the operations of the U.K. utility business.
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Segment Earnings
PPL's Net Income by reportable segments was as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | $ | 468 | $ | 418 | $ | 50 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 445 | 497 | (52) | |||||||
| Corporate and Other (a)(b) | (895) | (275) | (620) | |||||||
| Discontinued Operations (c) | (1,498) | 829 | (2,327) | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | (1,480) | $ | 1,469 | $ | (2,949) |
(a)Primarily represents financing and certain other costs incurred at the corporate level that have not been allocated or assigned to the segments, which are presented to reconcile segment information to PPL's consolidated results.
(b)The amount for 2020 has been adjusted for certain costs that were previously included in the U.K. Regulated segment.
(c)See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations
Management utilizes "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" as a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered as an alternative to net income, an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes that Earnings from Ongoing Operations is useful and meaningful to investors because it provides management's view of PPL's earnings performance as another criterion in making investment decisions. In addition, PPL's management uses Earnings from Ongoing Operations in measuring achievement of certain corporate performance goals, including targets for certain executive incentive compensation. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.
Earnings from Ongoing Operations is adjusted for the impact of special items. Special items are presented in the financial tables on an after-tax basis with the related income taxes on special items separately disclosed. Income taxes on special items, when applicable, are calculated based on the statutory tax rate of the entity where the activity is recorded. Special items may include items such as:
• Gains and losses on sales of assets not in the ordinary course of business.
• Impairment charges.
• Significant workforce reduction and other restructuring effects.
• Acquisition and divestiture-related adjustments.
• Significant losses on early extinguishment of debt.
• Other charges or credits that are, in management's view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.
PPL's Earnings from Ongoing Operations by reportable segment were as follows:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | $ | 465 | $ | 423 | $ | 42 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | 465 | 498 | (33) | |||||||
| Corporate and Other (a) | (124) | (147) | 23 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 806 | $ | 774 | $ | 32 |
(a)The amount for 2020 has been adjusted for certain costs that were previously included in the U.K. Regulated segment.
See "Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations" below for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to Net Income.
Kentucky Regulated Segment
The Kentucky Regulated segment consists primarily of LG&E's and KU's regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations, as well as LG&E's regulated distribution and sale of natural gas.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
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| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 3,348 | $ | 3,106 | $ | 242 | ||||
| Fuel | 710 | 632 | 78 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 186 | 143 | 43 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 905 | 834 | 71 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 647 | 606 | 41 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 87 | 77 | 10 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 2,535 | 2,292 | 243 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | (2) | 2 | (4) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 196 | 223 | (27) | |||||||
| Interest Expense with Affiliate (a) | 53 | 77 | (24) | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 94 | 98 | (4) | |||||||
| Net Income | 468 | 418 | 50 | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | 3 | (5) | 8 | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 465 | $ | 423 | $ | 42 |
(a)Borrowings between LKE and PPL were $2,166 million and $1,451 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Kentucky Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation allowance adjustment (a) | Income taxes | $ | 4 | $ | — | |||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $0 (b) | Other Income (Expense) | (1) | — | |||||
| COVID-19 impact, net of tax of $0, $2 (c) | Other operation and maintenance | — | (5) | |||||
| Total | $ | 3 | $ | (5) |
(a)Adjustment of valuation allowances related to certain tax credits recorded in 2017 as a result of the TCJA.
(b)Costs incurred related to PPL's strategic repositioning.
(c)Incremental costs for outside services, customer payment processing, personal protective equipment and other safety related actions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The changes in the components of the Kentucky Regulated segment's results between these periods were due to the factors set forth below, which reflect amounts classified as Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins and the items that management considers special on separate lines and not in their respective Statement of Income line item.
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | 174 |
| Other operation and maintenance | (81) | |
| Depreciation | (90) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (11) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | (3) | |
| Interest Expense | 27 | |
| Interest Expense with Affiliate | 24 | |
| Income Taxes | 2 | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | 42 | |
| Special Items, after-tax | 8 | |
| Net Income | $ | 50 |
•See "Adjusted Gross Margins - Changes in Adjusted Gross Margins" for an explanation of Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins.
•Higher other operation and maintenance expense in 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to a $24 million increase in administrative and general expenses, an $18 million increase in plant operations and maintenance, an $8 million increase in electric distribution operations and maintenance, a $7 million increase in plant outage expenses, a $6 million increase in electric transmission operations and maintenance, a $6 million increase due to certain ECR and GLT expenses transferred
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to base rates as a result of the 2020 Kentucky rate case and various support costs and other items that were not individually significant.
•Higher depreciation expense in 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to a $60 million increase related to certain ECR and GLT depreciation expenses transferred to base rates as a result of the 2020 Kentucky rate case, a $21 million increase due to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements and a $9 million increase due to higher depreciation rates, effective July 1, 2021.
•Lower interest expense, inclusive of affiliate interest, in 2021 compared to 2020, primarily due to $40 million of interest costs allocated to the Kentucky regulated segment in 2020 that were not allocated in 2021 and a $7 million decrease due to lower interest rates.
Pennsylvania Regulated Segment
The Pennsylvania Regulated segment includes the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations of PPL Electric.
Net Income and Earnings from Ongoing Operations include the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Operating revenues | $ | 2,402 | $ | 2,330 | $ | 72 | ||||
| Energy purchases | 566 | 491 | 75 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 557 | 513 | 44 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 424 | 403 | 21 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 120 | 107 | 13 | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 1,667 | 1,514 | 153 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 26 | 20 | 6 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 162 | 172 | (10) | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 154 | 167 | (13) | |||||||
| Net Income | 445 | 497 | (52) | |||||||
| Less: Special Items | (20) | (1) | (19) | |||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 465 | $ | 498 | $ | (33) |
The following after-tax gains (losses), which management considers special items, impacted the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results and are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations:
| Income Statement Line Item | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission formula rate return on equity settlement, net of tax of $8, $0 (a) | Operating revenues | $ | (20) | $ | — | |||
| COVID-19 impact, net of tax of $0, $0 (b) | Other operation and maintenance | — | (1) | |||||
| Total | $ | (20) | $ | (1) |
(a)Represents the portion of the revenue reduction recognized in the December 31, 2021, Statement of Income related to the period from May 21, 2020 through December 31, 2020. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)Incremental costs for outside services, personal protective equipment and other safety related actions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The changes in the components of the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's results between these periods were due to the factors set forth below, which reflect amounts classified as Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins and the items that management considers special on separate lines and not in their respective Statement of Income line items.
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| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | — |
| Other operation and maintenance | (24) | |
| Depreciation | (22) | |
| Taxes, other than income | (8) | |
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 6 | |
| Interest Expense | 10 | |
| Income Taxes | 5 | |
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | (33) | |
| Special Items, after-tax | (19) | |
| Net Income | $ | (52) |
•See "Adjusted Gross Margins - Changes in Adjusted Gross Margins" for an explanation of Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins.
•Higher other operation and maintenance expense in 2021 compared with 2020 primarily due to an increase in Corporate support costs.
Reconciliation of Earnings from Ongoing Operations
The following tables contain after-tax gains (losses), in total, which management considers special items, that are excluded from Earnings from Ongoing Operations, and a reconciliation to PPL's "Net Income" for the years ended December 31:
| 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | Corporate and Other | Discontinued Operations (a) | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | 468 | $ | 445 | $ | (895) | $ | (1,498) | $ | (1,480) | ||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations (a) | — | — | — | (1,502) | (1,502) | |||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $4 (b) | — | — | (16) | — | (16) | |||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $0, $2 (c) | (1) | — | (8) | — | (9) | |||||||||||||||
| Valuation allowance adjustment (d) | 4 | — | (4) | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| Transmission formula rate return on equity settlement, net of tax of $8 | — | (20) | — | — | (20) | |||||||||||||||
| Acquisition integration, net of tax of $6 (e) | — | — | (22) | — | (22) | |||||||||||||||
| U.K. tax rate change (f) | — | — | (383) | — | (383) | |||||||||||||||
| Solar panel impairment, net of tax of $9 (g) | — | — | (26) | — | (26) | |||||||||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of tax of $83 (h) | — | — | (312) | — | (312) | |||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | 3 | (20) | (771) | (1,498) | (2,286) | |||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 465 | $ | 465 | $ | (124) | $ | — | $ | 806 |
| 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY Regulated | PA Regulated | Corporate and Other (j) | Discontinued Operations (a) | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | 418 | $ | 497 | $ | (275) | 829 | $ | 1,469 | |||||||||||
| Less: Special Items (expense) benefit: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations (a) | — | — | — | 829 | 829 | |||||||||||||||
| Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $3 (b) | — | — | (13) | — | (13) | |||||||||||||||
| COVID-19 impact, net of tax of $2, $0, $0 | (5) | (1) | (1) | — | (7) | |||||||||||||||
| U.K. tax rate change (f) | — | — | (102) | — | (102) | |||||||||||||||
| Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $2 (c) | — | — | (6) | — | (6) | |||||||||||||||
| Executive retirement benefits, net of tax of $2 (i) | — | — | (6) | — | (6) | |||||||||||||||
| Total Special Items | (5) | (1) | (128) | 829 | 695 | |||||||||||||||
| Earnings from Ongoing Operations | $ | 423 | $ | 498 | $ | (147) | $ | — | $ | 774 |
(a)See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(b)PPL incurred legal expenses related to litigation with its former affiliate, Talen Montana. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
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(c)Costs incurred for 2021 are related to the sale of the U.K. utility business and PPL’s strategic repositioning. Costs incurred for 2020 are related to the process to sell the U.K. utility business.
(d)Adjustment of valuation allowances related to certain tax credits recorded in 2017 as a result of the TCJA.
(e)Costs related to the integration of Narragansett Electric. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Impact of the U.K. Finance Acts on deferred tax balances. See Note 6 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(g)See Note 1 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(h)See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(i)Settlement charge from the remeasurement of the projected benefit obligation for the PPL Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan related to a lump-sum payment made to a former PPL executive.
(j)The amounts for 2020 have been adjusted for certain costs that were previously included in the U.K. Regulated segment.
Adjusted Gross Margins
Management also utilizes the following non-GAAP financial measures as indicators of performance for its businesses.
•"Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins" is a single financial performance measure of the electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations of the Kentucky Regulated segment, as well as the Kentucky Regulated segment's distribution and sale of natural gas. In calculating this measure, fuel, energy purchases and certain variable costs of production (recorded in "Other operation and maintenance" on the Statements of Income) are deducted from operating revenues. In addition, certain other expenses, recorded in "Other operation and maintenance", "Depreciation" and "Taxes, other than income" on the Statements of Income, associated with approved cost recovery mechanisms are offset against the recovery of those expenses, which are included in revenues. These mechanisms allow for direct recovery of these expenses and, in some cases, returns on capital investments and performance incentives. As a result, this measure represents the net revenues from electricity and gas operations.
•"Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins" is a single financial performance measure of the electricity transmission and distribution operations of the Pennsylvania Regulated segment. In calculating this measure, utility revenues and expenses associated with approved recovery mechanisms, including energy provided as a PLR, are offset with minimal impact on earnings. Costs associated with these mechanisms are recorded in "Energy purchases," "Other operation and maintenance," (which are primarily Act 129, Storm Damage and Universal Service program costs), "Depreciation" (which is primarily related to the Act 129 Smart Meter program) and "Taxes, other than income," (which is primarily gross receipts tax) on the Statements of Income. This measure represents the net revenues from the Pennsylvania Regulated segment's electricity delivery operations.
These measures are not intended to replace "Operating Income," which is determined in accordance with GAAP, as an indicator of overall operating performance. Other companies may use different measures to analyze and report their results of operations. Management believes these measures provide additional useful criteria to make investment decisions. These performance measures are used, in conjunction with other information, by senior management and PPL's Board of Directors to manage operations and analyze actual results compared with budget.
Changes in Adjusted Gross Margins
The following table shows Adjusted Gross Margins by PPL's reportable segment and by component, as applicable, for the year ended December 31 as well as the changes between periods. The factors that gave rise to the changes are described following the table.
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Regulated | ||||||||||
| Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | 2,255 | $ | 2,081 | $ | 174 | ||||
| Pennsylvania Regulated | ||||||||||
| Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | ||||||||||
| Distribution | $ | 915 | $ | 907 | $ | 8 | ||||
| Transmission | 674 | 682 | (8) | |||||||
| Total Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | $ | 1,589 | $ | 1,589 | $ | — |
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Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins
Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins increased in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to higher base rates of $99 million, environmental and gas cost recoveries added to base rates of $66 million, $15 million of higher sales volumes primarily due to weather, and $9 million of higher commercial and industrial demand primarily due to the impacts of COVID-19 in 2020, partially offset by $17 million of lower adjusted gross margins as a result of the economic relief billing credit, net of amortization.
The increase in base rates was the result of new rates approved by the KPSC effective July 1, 2021. The environmental and gas cost recoveries added to base rates were the result of the transfer of certain ECR and GLT expenses into base rates as a result of the 2020 Kentucky rate case. This transfer results in depreciation and other operation and maintenance expenses associated with the ECR and GLT programs being excluded from margins in the second half of 2021, while the recovery of such costs remain in Kentucky Gross Margins through base rates.
Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins
Distribution
Distribution Adjusted Gross Margins increased in 2021 compared with 2020. Higher sales volumes of $13 million were partially offset by $8 million of lower returns on distribution system improvement capital investments.
Transmission
Transmission Adjusted Gross Margins decreased in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to a $28 million decrease as a result of a lower PPL zonal peak load billing factor and a $50 million decrease due to a reduction in the transmission formula rate return on equity. Partially offsetting these unfavorable items was $48 million of returns on additional transmission capital investments focused on replacing aging infrastructure and improving reliability and $20 million return of related depreciation expense. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the transmission formula rate return on equity reduction.
Reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Margins
The following tables contain the components from the Statement of Income that are included in the non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to PPL's "Operating Income" for the years ended December 31:
| 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins | Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | Other (a) | Operating Income (b) | |||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,348 | $ | 2,430 | $ | 5 | $ | 5,783 | ||||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Fuel | 710 | — | — | 710 | ||||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 186 | 566 | — | 752 | ||||||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 88 | 111 | 1,409 | 1,608 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 105 | 52 | 925 | 1,082 | ||||||||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 4 | 112 | 91 | 207 | ||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,093 | 841 | 2,425 | 4,359 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,255 | $ | 1,589 | $ | (2,420) | $ | 1,424 |
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| 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Adjusted Gross Margins | Pennsylvania Adjusted Gross Margins | Other (a) | Operating Income (b) | |||||||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 3,106 | $ | 2,331 | $ | 37 | $ | 5,474 | ||||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Fuel | 632 | — | — | 632 | ||||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 143 | 491 | — | 634 | ||||||||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 91 | 91 | 1,238 | 1,420 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 154 | 53 | 815 | 1,022 | ||||||||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 5 | 107 | 68 | 180 | ||||||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,025 | 742 | 2,121 | 3,888 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,081 | $ | 1,589 | $ | (2,084) | $ | 1,586 |
(a)Represents amounts excluded from Adjusted Gross Margins.
(b)As reported on the Statements of Income.
PPL Electric: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | $ | 2,402 | $ | 2,331 | $ | 71 | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Energy purchases | 566 | 491 | 75 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 557 | 513 | 44 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 424 | 403 | 21 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 120 | 107 | 13 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,667 | 1,514 | 153 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 21 | 18 | 3 | |||||||
| Interest Income from Affiliate | 5 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 162 | 173 | (11) | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 154 | 167 | (13) | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 445 | $ | 497 | $ | (52) |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Distribution price (a) | $ | 5 |
| Distribution volume | 19 | |
| PLR (b) | 83 | |
| Transmission Formula Rate (c) | (35) | |
| Other | (1) | |
| Total | $ | 71 |
(a) Distribution price variance was primarily due to reconcilable cost recovery mechanisms approved by the PUC.
(b) The increase was primarily the result of higher energy prices and higher customer usage, partially offset by higher volumes of shopping customers.
(c) The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the transmission formula rate return on equity and a lower PPL zonal peak load billing factor, partially offset by returns on additional transmission capital investments and return of related depreciation expense. See Note 7 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the transmission formula rate return on equity reduction.
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Energy Purchases
Energy purchases increased $75 million in 2021 compared with 2020. This increase was primarily due to higher PLR prices of $40 million and higher PLR volumes of $28 million.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Storm costs | $ | 20 |
| Support costs | 20 | |
| Universal service programs | 13 | |
| Inventory adjustments | 9 | |
| Bad debts | (6) | |
| Canceled projects | (10) | |
| Other | (2) | |
| Total | $ | 44 |
LG&E: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 1,545 | $ | 1,435 | $ | 110 | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 24 | 21 | 3 | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,569 | 1,456 | 113 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 265 | 246 | 19 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 167 | 125 | 42 | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliates | 23 | 19 | 4 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 400 | 373 | 27 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 279 | 259 | 20 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 46 | 40 | 6 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,180 | 1,062 | 118 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | (5) | (1) | (4) | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 81 | 87 | (6) | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 54 | 62 | (8) | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 249 | $ | 244 | $ | 5 |
Operating Revenues
The increase (decrease) in operating revenues was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and other energy prices (a) | $ | 54 |
| Retail rates (b) | 46 | |
| Volumes (c) | 27 | |
| Economic relief billing credit, net of amortization of $9 | (12) | |
| ECR | (6) | |
| Other | 4 | |
| Total | $ | 113 |
(a)The increases were primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to higher commodity costs.
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(b)The increases were due to new base rates approved by the KPSC effective July 1, 2021.
(c)The increases were primarily due to favorable weather.
Fuel
Fuel increased $19 million in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to a $10 million increase in volumes driven by weather and an $8 million increase in commodity costs.
Energy Purchases
Energy purchases increased $42 million in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to a $35 million increase in commodity costs and a $6 million increase in gas volumes driven by weather.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase (decrease) in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Plant operations and maintenance | $ | 10 |
| Administrative and general | 10 | |
| Other | 7 | |
| Total | $ | 27 |
Depreciation
Depreciation increased $20 million in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to a $13 million increase related to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements and a $7 million increase related to higher depreciation rates effective July 1, 2021.
KU: Statement of Income Analysis
Net income for the years ended December 31 includes the following results:
| Change | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||
| Operating Revenues | ||||||||||
| Retail and wholesale | $ | 1,803 | $ | 1,671 | $ | 132 | ||||
| Electric revenue from affiliate | 23 | 19 | 4 | |||||||
| Total Operating Revenues | 1,826 | 1,690 | 136 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||
| Operation | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 445 | 386 | 59 | |||||||
| Energy purchases | 19 | 18 | 1 | |||||||
| Energy purchases from affiliates | 24 | 21 | 3 | |||||||
| Other operation and maintenance | 463 | 429 | 34 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 366 | 346 | 20 | |||||||
| Taxes, other than income | 41 | 37 | 4 | |||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | 1,358 | 1,237 | 121 | |||||||
| Other Income (Expense) - net | 4 | 3 | 1 | |||||||
| Interest Expense | 109 | 113 | (4) | |||||||
| Income Taxes | 67 | 63 | 4 | |||||||
| Net Income | $ | 296 | $ | 280 | $ | 16 |
Operating Revenue
The increase (decrease) in operating revenue was due to:
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| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Retail rates (a) | $ | 53 |
| Fuel and other energy prices (b) | 44 | |
| Volumes (c) | 29 | |
| Demand | 7 | |
| ECR | 3 | |
| Economic relief billing credit, net of amortization of $1 | (5) | |
| Other | 5 | |
| Total | $ | 136 |
(a)The increases were due to new base rates approved by the KPSC effective July 1, 2021.
(b)The increases were primarily due to higher recoveries of fuel and energy purchases due to higher commodity costs.
(c)The increases were primarily due to favorable weather.
Fuel
Fuel increased $59 million in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to a $39 million increase in commodity costs and a $19 million increase in volumes driven by weather.
Other Operation and Maintenance
The increase in other operation and maintenance was due to:
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Plant outages | $ | 8 |
| Plant operations and maintenance | 6 | |
| Transmission operations and maintenance | 6 | |
| Distribution operations and maintenance | 5 | |
| Bad debts | 4 | |
| Administrative and general | 2 | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Total | $ | 34 |
Depreciation
Depreciation increased $20 million in 2021 compared with 2020, primarily due to a $14 million increase related to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements and a $4 million increase related to higher depreciation rates effective July 1, 2021.
Financial Condition
The remainder of this Item 7 in this Form 10-K is presented on a combined basis, providing information, as applicable, for all Registrants.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
(All Registrants)
The Registrants' cash flows from operations and access to cost effective bank and capital markets are subject to risks and uncertainties. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect the Registrants' cash flows.
The Registrants had the following at:
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| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3,571 | $ | 21 | $ | 9 | $ | 13 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 69 | — | 69 | — | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 474 | 474 | — | — | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | 324 | 294 | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 442 | $ | 40 | $ | 7 | $ | 22 | ||||||
| Short-term debt | 1,168 | — | 262 | 203 | ||||||||||
| Long-term debt due within one year | 1,074 | 400 | 292 | 132 | ||||||||||
| Notes payable with affiliates | — | — | — |
(All Registrants)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31 and the changes between periods were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 1,544 | $ | 969 | $ | 458 | $ | 608 | ||||||
| Investing activities | 8,564 | (1,400) | (466) | (556) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | (7,344) | 412 | 10 | (61) | ||||||||||
| 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 1,872 | $ | 884 | $ | 483 | $ | 543 | ||||||
| Investing activities | (2,266) | (1,151) | (456) | (507) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | 99 | 43 | (35) | (26) | ||||||||||
| 2021 vs. 2020 Change | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | (328) | $ | 85 | $ | (25) | $ | 65 | ||||||
| Investing activities | 10,830 | (249) | (10) | (49) | ||||||||||
| Financing activities | (7,443) | 369 | 45 | (35) |
Operating Activities
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) operating activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | (622) | $ | (52) | $ | 5 | $ | 16 | ||||||
| Non-cash components | 344 | (13) | 16 | — | ||||||||||
| Working capital | (93) | 160 | (28) | 20 | ||||||||||
| Defined benefit plan funding | 66 | — | 8 | 2 | ||||||||||
| Other operating activities | (23) | (10) | (26) | 27 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | (328) | $ | 85 | $ | (25) | $ | 65 |
(PPL)
PPL cash provided by operating activities in 2020 decreased $328 million compared with 2019.
•Net income decreased $622 million between periods and included an increase in net non-cash charges of $344 million. The increase in non-cash charges was primarily due to the loss on extinguishment of debt and the impairment of solar panels, partially offset by a decrease in deferred income taxes and investment tax credits.
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•The $93 million decrease in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to a decrease in taxes payable and a decrease in other current assets and liabilities, partially offset by an increase in regulatory liabilities (primarily due to PPL Electric’s transmission formula rate return on equity reduction and the timing of rate recovery mechanisms).
•The $23 million decrease in cash provided by other operating activities was driven by a decrease in other non-current assets (primarily related to a decrease in pension plan assets, partially offset by an increase in non-current regulatory assets) and an increase in non-current liabilities (primarily related to an increase in ARO expenditures and accrued pension obligations, partially offset by a decrease in non-current regulatory liabilities).
(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric's cash provided by operating activities in 2021 increased $85 million compared with 2020.
•Net income decreased $52 million between the periods and included a decrease in non-cash components of $13 million. The decrease in non-cash components was primarily due to a decrease in other expenses (primarily due to a decrease in canceled projects).
•The $160 million increase in cash from changes in working capital was primarily due to an increase in regulatory liabilities (primarily due to a transmission formula rate return on equity reduction and the timing of rate recovery mechanisms).
•The $10 million decrease in cash provided by other operating activities was driven primarily by a decrease in accrued pension obligations.
(LG&E)
LG&E's cash provided by operating activities in 2021 decreased $25 million compared with 2020.
•Net income increased $5 million between the periods and included an increase in non-cash components of $16 million. The increase in non-cash components was primarily driven by an increase in depreciation expense (primarily due to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements and higher depreciation rates effective July 1, 2021), partially offset by a decrease in amortization expense (primarily due to amortization of the economic relief billing credit regulatory liability).
•Cash from changes in working capital decreased by $28 million. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in regulatory assets and liabilities, net (primarily due to the timing of rate recovery mechanisms), an increase in fuel, materials and supplies (primarily due to higher commodity costs), an increase in accounts receivable from affiliates (primarily due to timing of payments) and a decrease in other current liabilities (primarily due to timing of payments), partially offset by an increase in accounts payable (primarily due to timing of payments).
•The decrease in cash provided by other operating activities was driven primarily by a decrease in other liabilities (primarily related to noncurrent regulatory liabilities).
(KU)
KU's cash provided by operating activities in 2021 increased $65 million compared with 2020.
•Net income increased $16 million between the periods and included no change in non-cash components. Non-cash components were primarily driven by a decrease in deferred income tax expense (primarily due to book versus tax plant timing differences), offset by an increase in depreciation expense (primarily due to additional assets placed into service, net of retirements and higher depreciation rates effective July 1, 2021).
•Cash from changes in working capital increased $20 million. The increase was primarily due to an increase in accounts payable to affiliates (primarily due to timing of payments), a decrease in accounts receivable (primarily due to weather and the impacts of COVID-19) and a decrease in unbilled revenues (primarily due to weather), partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable (primarily due to timing of payments), a decrease in other current liabilities (primarily due to timing of payments) and decrease in taxes payable (primarily due to timing of payments).
•The increase in cash provided by other operating activities was driven primarily by a decrease in ARO expenditures.
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Investing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) investing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Expenditures for PP&E | $ | 297 | $ | 247 | $ | (10) | $ | (50) | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations, net of cash divested | 10,560 | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Notes receivable from affiliate | (499) | — | — | |||||||||||
| Other investing activities | (27) | 3 | — | 1 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,830 | $ | (249) | $ | (10) | $ | (49) |
For PPL, in 2021 compared with 2020, the decrease in expenditures was due to lower project expenditures at and PPL Electric and Safari Energy, partially offset by an increase in expenditures at LG&E and KU. The decrease in expenditures for PPL Electric was primarily due to a planned reduction in capital spending projects related to ongoing efforts to improve reliability and replace aging infrastructure. The increase in expenditures at LG&E and KU was primarily due to higher spending on ELG projects and other projects that are not individually significant.
See "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for detail regarding projected capital expenditures for the years 2022 through 2024.
For PPL Electric, the changes in "Notes receivable from affiliate" activity resulted from the funding of $499 million to an affiliate for general corporate purposes. See Note 15 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany borrowings.
Financing Activities
(All Registrants)
The components of the change in cash provided by (used in) financing activities were as follows:
| PPL | PPL Electric | LG&E | KU | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 vs. 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Change - Cash Provided (Used): | ||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt issuance/retirement, net | $ | (4,829) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2 | ||||||
| Long-term debt issuance/retirement, affiliate | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from project financing | (154) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Stock issuances/redemptions, net | (25) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Dividends | (4) | 66 | (31) | (50) | ||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury stock | (1,003) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Capital contributions/distributions, net | — | 306 | (29) | (28) | ||||||||||
| Issuance of term loan | (300) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Issuance of commercial paper | (73) | — | (41) | (32) | ||||||||||
| Retirement of term loan | (300) | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| Retirement of commercial paper | (73) | — | (41) | (32) | ||||||||||
| Changes in net short-term debt | (683) | — | (135) | (192) | ||||||||||
| Note payable with affiliate | — | 324 | 294 | |||||||||||
| Other financing activities | 1 | (3) | (2) | 3 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | (7,443) | $ | 369 | $ | 45 | $ | (35) |
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements in this Form 10-K for information on 2021 activity.
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See "Long-term Debt and Equity Securities" below for additional information on current year activity. See "Forecasted Sources of Cash" for a discussion of the Registrants' plans to issue debt and equity securities, as well as a discussion of credit facility capacity available to the Registrants. Also see "Forecasted Uses of Cash" for a discussion of PPL's plans to pay dividends on common securities in the future, as well as the Registrants' maturities of long-term debt.
Long-term Debt and Equity Securities
Long-term debt and equity securities activity for 2021 included:
| Debt | Stock | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuances (a) | Retirements | Issuances | Repurchases | |||||||||||
| Cash Flow Impact: | ||||||||||||||
| PPL | $ | 650 | $ | 4,606 | $ | 9 | $ | 1,003 | ||||||
| PPL Electric | 650 | 400 | — | — | ||||||||||
| LG&E | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| KU | — | — | — | — |
(a)Issuances are net of pricing discounts, where applicable, and exclude the impact of debt issuance costs. Includes debt issuances with affiliates.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional long-term debt information.
(PPL)
Equity Securities Activities
Share Repurchase
In August 2021, PPL's Board of Directors authorized share repurchases of up to $3 billion of PPL common shares. The actual amount repurchased will depend on various factors, including PPL’s share price, market conditions, and the determination of other uses for the proceeds from the sale of the U.K. utility business, including for incremental capital expenditures. PPL may purchase shares on each trading day subject to market conditions and principles of best execution.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, PPL repurchased 34.8 million shares at a cost of $1.0 billion. Commission fees incurred, which have been included in the cost of repurchases above, were insignificant through December 31, 2021.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
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, 2021 and 2020. The ATM program expired in February 2021.
Forecasted Sources of Cash
(All Registrants)
The Registrants expect to continue to have adequate liquidity available from operating cash flows, cash and cash equivalents, credit facilities and commercial paper issuances to meet their requirements with respect to their contractual obligations and anticipated capital expenditures. Additionally, subject to market conditions, the Registrants and their subsidiaries may access the capital markets, and PPL Electric, LG&E and KU anticipate receiving equity contributions from their parent or member in 2022.
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Credit Facilities
The Registrants maintain credit facilities to enhance liquidity, provide credit support and provide a backstop to commercial paper programs. Amounts borrowed under these credit facilities are reflected in "Short-term debt" on the Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2021, the total committed borrowing capacity under credit facilities and the borrowings under these facilities were:
External
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Letters of Credit and Commercial Paper Issued | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL Capital Funding Credit Facilities | $ | 1,300 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,300 | ||||||
| PPL Electric Credit Facility | 650 | — | 1 | 649 | ||||||||||
| LG&E Credit Facilities | 500 | — | 69 | 431 | ||||||||||
| KU Credit Facilities | 400 | — | — | 400 | ||||||||||
| Total Credit Facilities (a) (b) | $ | 2,850 | $ | — | $ | 70 | $ | 2,780 |
(a)The syndicated credit facilities and PPL Capital Funding's bilateral facility, each 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 facility, and other customary covenants.
The commitments under the credit facilities are provided by a diverse bank group, with no one bank and its affiliates providing an aggregate commitment of more than the following percentages of the total committed capacity: PPL - 7%, PPL Electric - 7%, LG&E - 7% and KU - 7%.
(b)Each company pays customary fees under its respective syndicated credit facility. Borrowings generally bear interest at LIBOR-based rates plus an applicable margin.
In addition to the financial covenants noted in the table above, the credit agreements governing the above credit facilities contain various other covenants. Failure to comply with the covenants after applicable grace periods could result in acceleration of repayment of borrowings and/or termination of the agreements. The Registrants monitor compliance with the covenants on a regular basis. At December 31, 2021, the Registrants were in compliance with these covenants. At this time, the Registrants believe that these covenants and other borrowing conditions will not limit access to these funding sources.
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of the Registrants' credit facilities.
Intercompany (LG&E and KU)
| Committed Capacity | Borrowed | Commercial Paper Program Capacity | Unused Capacity | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG&E Money Pool (a) | $ | 750 | $ | 324 | $ | 425 | $ | 1 | ||||||
| KU Money Pool (a) | 650 | 294 | 350 | 6 |
(a)LG&E and KU participate in an intercompany money pool agreement whereby LKE and/or KU make available to LG&E, and LKE and/or LG&E make available to KU funds up to the difference between LG&E's and KU's FERC borrowing limit and LG&E's and KU's commercial paper capacity limit, at an interest rate based on the lower of a market index of commercial paper issues and two additional rate options based on LIBOR.
See Note 15 to the Financial Statements for further discussion of intercompany credit facilities.
Commercial Paper (All Registrants)
The Registrants maintain commercial paper programs to provide an additional financing source to fund short-term liquidity needs, as necessary. 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:
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| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Commercial Paper Issuances | Unused Capacity | ||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding | $ | 1,500 | $ | — | $ | 1,500 | ||||
| PPL Electric | 650 | — | 650 | |||||||
| LG&E (a) | 425 | 69 | 356 | |||||||
| KU | 350 | — | 350 | |||||||
| Total PPL | $ | 2,925 | $ | 69 | $ | 2,856 |
(a)In March 2021, the capacity for the LG&E commercial paper program was increased from $350 million to $425 million.
Long-term Debt and Equity Securities
(PPL)
PPL and its subsidiaries are authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions, up to $2.45 billion of long-term debt and equity securities, the proceeds of which would be used to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
(PPL Electric)
PPL Electric is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $650 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
(LG&E and KU)
LG&E is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $400 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
KU is authorized to issue, at the discretion of management and subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, up to $300 million of long-term debt securities, the proceeds of which would be used to repay short-term debt incurred to fund capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes.
Contributions from Parent (PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
From time to time, the parents of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU make capital contributions to subsidiaries. The proceeds from these contributions are used to fund capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes.
Forecasted Uses of Cash
(All Registrants)
In addition to expenditures required for normal operating activities, such as purchased power, payroll, fuel and taxes, the Registrants currently expect to incur future cash outflows for capital expenditures, various contractual obligations, payment of dividends on its common stock, and possibly the purchase or redemption of a portion of debt securities.
Capital Expenditures
PPL currently expects that capital expenditures for 2022 for its current businesses will be approximately $2.0 billion, including approximately $1.0 billion at PPL Electric, approximately $0.4 billion each at KU and LG&E (including approximately $95 million at KU and $47 million at LG&E expected to be covered by ECR plans), and the remainder in corporate and other, including investments in renewables, subject to market conditions. For the period 2023 through 2024, PPL currently anticipates capital expenditures of approximately $3.7 to $4.2 billion, with approximately $1.7 to $1.9 billion at PPL Electric Utilities, approximately $0.85 to $0.95 billion each at KU and LG&E (including approximately $73 million at KU and $46 million at LG&E expected to be covered by ECR plans), and the remainder in corporate and other, including investments in renewables,
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subject to market conditions. These later investments are anticipated to be spread approximately evenly over the two years in the period.
Capital expenditure plans are revised periodically to reflect changes in operational, market and regulatory conditions. The capital expenditure plans discussed in this section do not include anticipated capital expenditures with respect to Narragansett Electric. PPL expects to update its capital expenditure plans to include Narragansett Electric upon completion of the acquisition. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the pending Narragansett Electric acquisition.
Contractual Obligations
The Registrants have assumed various financial obligations and commitments in the ordinary course of conducting business. At December 31, 2021, estimated contractual cash obligations were as follows:
| Total | 2022 | 2023-2024 | 2025-2026 | After 2026 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPL | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 11,251 | $ | 474 | $ | 1,003 | $ | 1,454 | $ | 8,320 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 8,322 | 408 | 807 | 771 | 6,336 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 74 | 23 | 35 | 11 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase Obligations (d) | 2,711 | 921 | 1,011 | 436 | 343 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 22,358 | $ | 1,826 | $ | 2,856 | $ | 2,672 | $ | 15,004 | ||||||||
| PPL Electric | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 4,539 | $ | 474 | $ | 990 | $ | — | $ | 3,075 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 3,118 | 154 | 287 | 278 | 2,399 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations | 135 | 29 | 57 | 49 | — | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 7,792 | $ | 657 | $ | 1,334 | $ | 327 | $ | 5,474 | ||||||||
| LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 2,024 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 390 | $ | 1,634 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 1,413 | 75 | 150 | 141 | 1,047 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 20 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (e) | 777 | 317 | 390 | 70 | — | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (f) | 330 | 23 | 45 | 44 | 218 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (g) | 176 | 79 | 66 | 26 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 87 | 29 | 6 | 45 | 7 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 4,827 | $ | 529 | $ | 666 | $ | 720 | $ | 2,912 | ||||||||
| KU | ||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term Debt (a) | $ | 2,642 | $ | — | $ | 13 | $ | 414 | $ | 2,215 | ||||||||
| Interest on Long-term Debt (b) | 2,117 | 105 | 210 | 201 | 1,601 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Leases (c) | 30 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Coal and Natural Gas Purchase Obligations (e) | 794 | 323 | 350 | 119 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Unconditional Power Purchase Obligations (f) | 146 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 96 | |||||||||||||
| Construction Obligations (g) | 156 | 76 | 53 | 22 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Other Obligations | 103 | 33 | 22 | 40 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| Total Contractual Cash Obligations | $ | 5,988 | $ | 557 | $ | 682 | $ | 821 | $ | 3,928 |
(a)Reflects principal maturities based on stated maturity or earlier put dates. See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of variable-rate remarketable bonds issued on behalf of LG&E and KU. The Registrants do not have any significant finance lease obligations.
(b)Assumes interest payments through stated maturity or earlier put dates. The payments herein are subject to change, as payments for debt that is or becomes variable-rate debt have been estimated.
(c)See Note 10 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(d)The amounts include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Primarily includes, as applicable, the purchase obligations of electricity, coal, natural gas and limestone, as well as certain construction expenditures, which are also included in the Capital Expenditures discussion above.
(e)Represents contracts to purchase coal, natural gas and natural gas transportation. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(f)Represents future minimum payments under OVEC power purchase agreements through June 2040. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(g)Represents construction commitments, which are also reflected in the Capital Expenditures table presented above.
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Dividends/Distributions
(PPL)
PPL views dividends as an integral component of shareowner return and expects to continue to pay dividends in amounts intended to maintain a capitalization structure that supports investment grade credit ratings. In November 2021, PPL declared its quarterly common stock dividend, payable January 3, 2022, at 41.50 cents per share (equivalent to $1.66 per annum). On February 18, 2022, PPL announced a quarterly common stock dividend of 20.00 cents per share, payable April 1, 2022, to shareowners of record as of March 10, 2022. Future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon future earnings, cash flows, financial and legal requirements and other factors.
Subject to certain exceptions, PPL may not 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. At December 31, 2021, no interest payments were deferred.
(PPL Electric, LG&E and KU)
From time to time, as determined by their respective Board of Directors, the Registrants pay dividends, distributions or return capital, as applicable, to their respective shareholders or members. Certain of the credit facilities of PPL Electric, LG&E and KU include minimum debt covenant ratios that could effectively restrict the payment of dividends or distributions.
(All Registrants)
See Note 8 to the Financial Statements for these and other restrictions related to distributions on capital interests for the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
Purchase or Redemption of Debt Securities
The Registrants will continue to evaluate outstanding debt securities and may decide to purchase or redeem these securities in open market or privately negotiated transactions, in exchange transactions or otherwise, depending upon prevailing market conditions, available cash and other factors, and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved may be material.
Rating Agency Actions
Moody's and S&P periodically review the credit ratings of the debt of the Registrants and their subsidiaries. Based on their respective independent reviews, the rating agencies may make certain ratings revisions or ratings affirmations.
A credit rating reflects an assessment by the rating agency of the creditworthiness associated with an issuer and particular securities that it issues. The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries are based on information provided by the Registrants and other sources. The ratings of Moody's and S&P are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any securities of the Registrants or their subsidiaries. Such ratings may be subject to revisions or withdrawal by the agencies at any time and should be evaluated independently of each other and any other rating that may be assigned to the securities.
The credit ratings of the Registrants and their subsidiaries affect their liquidity, access to capital markets and cost of borrowing under their credit facilities. A downgrade in the Registrants' or their subsidiaries' credit ratings could result in higher borrowing costs and reduced access to capital markets. The Registrants and their subsidiaries have no credit rating triggers that would result in the reduction of access to capital markets or the acceleration of maturity dates of outstanding debt.
The following table sets forth the Registrants' and their subsidiaries' credit ratings for outstanding debt securities or commercial paper programs as of December 31, 2021.
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| Senior Unsecured | Senior Secured | Commercial Paper | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | Moody's | S&P | ||||||
| PPL | ||||||||||||
| PPL Capital Funding | Baa2 | BBB+ | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| PPL and PPL Electric | ||||||||||||
| PPL Electric | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| PPL, LG&E and KU | ||||||||||||
| LG&E | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 | ||||||||
| KU | A1 | A | P-2 | A-2 |
The rating agencies have taken the following actions related to the Registrants and their subsidiaries.
(PPL)
In March 2021, Moody's revised its outlook to positive for PPL and PPL Capital Funding.
(PPL and PPL Electric)
In March 2021, S&P revised its outlook to positive for PPL Electric.
In June 2021, Moody’s and S&P assigned ratings of A1 and A to PPL Electric’s $650 million First Mortgage Bonds, Floating Rate Series, due 2024. The bonds were issued on June 24, 2021.
(PPL and LG&E)
In March 2021, Moody’s and S&P assigned ratings of A1 and A to the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, Kentucky’s $128 million 2.00% Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, 2003 Series A, due 2033, previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed April 1, 2021.
In March 2021, Moody’s assigned a rating of A1 and in April 2021, S&P assigned a rating of A to the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, Kentucky’s $35 million 1.35% Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, 2001 Series B, due 2027, previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed May 3, 2021.
In March 2021, Moody’s assigned a rating of A1 and in April 2021, S&P assigned a rating of A to the County of Trimble, Kentucky’s $35 million 1.35% Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, 2001 Series B, due 2027, previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed May 3, 2021.
In May 2021, Moody’s and S&P assigned ratings of A1/P-2 and A/A-2 to the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, Kentucky’s $31 million Environmental Facilities Revenue Refunding Bonds, 2007 Series A, due 2033, previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed June 1, 2021.
In May 2021, Moody’s and S&P assigned ratings of A1/P-2 and A/A-2 to the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, Kentucky’s $35 million Environmental Facilities Revenue Refunding Bonds, 2007 Series B, due 2033, previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed June 1, 2021.
In August 2021, Moody's and S&P assigned ratings of A1 and A to the County of Trimble, Kentucky's $28 million 0.625% Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, 2001 Series A, due 2026, previously issued on behalf of LG&E. The bonds were remarketed September 1, 2021.
(PPL and KU)
In May 2021, Moody's and S&P assigned ratings of A1 and A to the County of Carroll, Kentucky's $78 million 2.00% Environmental Facilities Revenue Bonds, 2008 Series A, due 2032, previously issued on behalf of KU. The bonds were remarketed June 1, 2021.
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In May 2021, Moody's and S&P assigned ratings of A1 and A to the County of Carroll, Kentucky's $54 million 2.125% Environmental Facilities Revenue Bonds, 2006 Series B, due 2034, previously issued on behalf of KU. The bonds were remarketed June 1, 2021.
Ratings Triggers (PPL, LG&E and KU)
Various derivative and non-derivative contracts, including contracts for the sale and purchase of electricity and fuel, commodity transportation and storage, and interest rate instruments, contain provisions that require the posting of additional collateral or permit the counterparty to terminate the contract, if PPL's, LG&E's or KU's or their subsidiaries' credit rating, as applicable, were to fall below investment grade. See Note 18 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of "Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features," including a discussion of the potential additional collateral requirements for PPL and LG&E for derivative contracts in a net liability position at December 31, 2021.
Guarantees for Subsidiaries (PPL)
PPL guarantees certain consolidated affiliate financing arrangements. Some of the guarantees contain financial and other covenants that, if not met, would limit or restrict the consolidated affiliates' access to funds under these financing arrangements, accelerate maturity of such arrangements or limit the consolidated affiliates' ability to enter into certain transactions. At this time, PPL believes that these covenants will not limit access to relevant funding sources. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for additional information about guarantees.
Other Contingent Obligations (All Registrants)
The Registrants have entered into certain agreements that may contingently require payment to a guaranteed or indemnified party. See Note 14 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of these agreements.
Risk Management
Market Risk
(All Registrants)
See Notes 1, 17 and 18 to the Financial Statements for information about the Registrants' risk management objectives, valuation techniques and accounting designations.
The forward-looking information presented below provides estimates of what may occur in the future, assuming certain adverse market conditions and model assumptions. Actual future results may differ materially from those presented. These are not precise indicators of expected future losses, but are rather only indicators of possible losses under normal market conditions at a given confidence level.
Interest Rate Risk
PPL and its subsidiaries issue debt to finance their operations, which exposes them to interest rate risk. A variety of financial derivative instruments are utilized to adjust the mix of fixed and floating interest rates in their debt portfolios, adjust the duration of the debt portfolios and lock in benchmark interest rates in anticipation of future financing, when appropriate. Risk limits under PPL's risk management program are designed to balance risk exposure to volatility in interest expense and changes in the fair value of the debt portfolio due to changes in benchmark interest rates. In addition, the interest rate risk of certain subsidiaries is potentially mitigated as a result of the existing regulatory framework or the timing of rate cases.
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The following interest rate hedges were outstanding at December 31:
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | Maturities Ranging Through | Exposure Hedged | Fair Value, Net - Asset (Liability) (a) | Effect of a 10% Adverse Movement in Rates (b) | ||||||||||||||||||
| PPL and LG&E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Economic hedges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps (c) | $ | 64 | $ | (19) | $ | (1) | 2033 | $ | 64 | $ | (24) | $ | — |
(a)Includes accrued interest, if applicable.
(b)Effects of adverse movements decrease assets or increase liabilities, as applicable, which could result in an asset becoming a liability. Sensitivities represent a 10% adverse movement in interest rates.
(c)Realized changes in the fair value of such economic hedges are recoverable through regulated rates and any subsequent changes in the fair value of these derivatives are included in regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities.
The Registrants are exposed to a potential increase in interest expense and to changes in the fair value of their debt portfolios. The estimated impact of a 10% adverse movement in interest rates on interest expense at December 31, 2021 and 2020 was insignificant for PPL, PPL Electric, LG&E and KU. The estimated impact of a 10% adverse movement in interest rates on the fair value of debt at December 31 is shown below.
| 10% Adverse Movement in Rates | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
| PPL | $ | 394 | $ | 582 | ||
| PPL Electric | 164 | 175 | ||||
| LG&E | 74 | 74 | ||||
| KU | 115 | 118 |
(All Registrants)
Commodity Price Risk
PPL is exposed to commodity price risk through its domestic subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric is required to purchase electricity to fulfill its obligation as a PLR. Potential commodity price risk is insignificant and mitigated through its PUC-approved cost recovery mechanism and full-requirement supply agreements to serve its PLR customers which transfer the risk to energy suppliers.
•LG&E's and KU's rates include certain mechanisms for fuel, fuel-related expenses and energy purchases. In addition, LG&E's rates include a mechanism for natural gas supply expenses. These mechanisms generally provide for timely recovery of market price fluctuations associated with these expenses.
Volumetric Risk
Volumetric risk is the risk related to the changes in volume of retail sales due to weather, economic conditions or other factors. PPL is exposed to volumetric risk through its subsidiaries as described below.
•PPL Electric, LG&E and KU are exposed to volumetric risk on retail sales, mainly due to weather and other economic conditions for which there is limited mitigation between rate cases.
Defined Benefit Plans - Equity Securities Price Risk
See "Application of Critical Accounting Policies - Defined Benefits" for additional information regarding the effect of equity securities price risk on plan assets.
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Credit Risk
(All Registrants)
Credit risk is the risk that the Registrants would incur a loss as a result of nonperformance by counterparties of their contractual obligations. The Registrants maintain credit policies and procedures with respect to counterparty credit (including requirements that counterparties maintain specified credit ratings) and require other assurances in the form of credit support or collateral in certain circumstances in order to limit counterparty credit risk. However, the Registrants, as applicable, have concentrations of suppliers and customers among electric utilities, financial institutions and energy marketing and trading companies. These concentrations may impact the Registrants' overall exposure to credit risk, positively or negatively, as counterparties may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or other conditions.
(PPL and PPL Electric)
In January 2017, the PUC issued a Final Order approving PPL Electric’s default service plan for the period June 2017 through May 2021, which included a total of eight semi-annual solicitations for electricity supply. Additionally, on December 17, 2020, the PUC approved PPL Electric’s default service plan for the period of June 2021 through May 2025, which includes a total of eight solicitations for electricity supply held semiannually in April and October. The new plan also includes eight solicitations for alternative energy credits held semiannually in January and July with the first solicitation being in July 2021 and the final solicitation being in January 2025.
Under the standard Supply Master Agreement (the Agreement) for the competitive solicitation process, PPL Electric requires all suppliers to post collateral if their credit exposure exceeds an established credit limit. In the event a supplier defaults on its obligation, PPL Electric would be required to seek replacement power in the market. All incremental costs incurred by PPL Electric would be recoverable from customers in future rates. At December 31, 2021, most of the successful bidders under all of the solicitations had an investment grade credit rating from S&P and were not required to post collateral under the Agreement. A small portion of bidders were required to post an insignificant amount of collateral under the Agreement. There is no instance under the Agreement in which PPL Electric is required to post collateral to its suppliers.
See Note 18 to the Financial Statements for additional information on credit risk.
Foreign Currency Translation (PPL)
The value of the British pound sterling fluctuates in relation to the U.S. dollar. In 2021, changes in this exchange rate resulted in a foreign currency translation gain of $495 million, which primarily reflected an $856 million increase to PP&E, a $151 million increase to goodwill and a $36 million increase to other net assets, partially offset by a $467 million increase to long-term debt, a $61 million increase to deferred income taxes and a $20 million increase to long-term debt due within one year. In 2020, changes in this exchange rate resulted in a foreign currency translation gain of $267 million, which reflected a $433 million increase to PP&E and a $76 million increase to goodwill partially offset by a $214 million increase to long-term debt and a $28 million increase to other net liabilities. In 2019, changes in this exchange rate resulted in a foreign currency translation gain of $106 million, which reflected a $181 million increase to PP&E, $34 million increase to goodwill and $12 million decrease to other net liabilities partially offset by a $121 million increase to long-term debt.
As a result of the sale of the U.K. utility business on June 14, 2021, accumulated foreign currency translation losses of $786 million were removed from PPL’s Balance Sheets and realized as a component of “Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (net of income taxes)” on PPL’s Statements of Income (Loss) for the year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information.
(All Registrants)
Related Party Transactions
The Registrants are not aware of any material ownership interests or operating responsibility by senior management in outside partnerships, including leasing transactions with variable interest entities, or other entities doing business with the Registrants. See Note 15 to the Financial Statements for additional information on related party transactions for PPL Electric, LG&E and KU.
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Acquisitions, Development and Divestitures
The Registrants from time to time evaluate opportunities for potential acquisitions, divestitures, and development projects. Development projects are reexamined based on market conditions and other factors to determine whether to proceed with, modify or terminate the projects. Any resulting transactions may impact future financial results. See Note 9 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the sale of the U.K. utility business and the share purchase agreement to acquire Narragansett Electric.
(All Registrants)
Environmental Matters
Extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations are applicable to the Registrants' air emissions, water discharges and the management of hazardous and solid waste, as well as other aspects of the Registrants' businesses. The costs of compliance or alleged non-compliance cannot be predicted with certainty but could be significant. In addition, costs may increase significantly if the requirements or scope of environmental laws or regulations, or similar rules, are expanded or changed. Costs may take the form of increased capital expenditures or operating and maintenance expenses, monetary fines, penalties or other restrictions. Many of these environmental law considerations are also applicable to the operations of key suppliers, or customers, such as coal producers and industrial power users, and may impact the costs for their products or their demand for the Registrants' services. Increased capital and operating costs are expected to be subject to rate recovery. The Registrants can provide no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of future environmental or rate proceedings before regulatory authorities.
See "Legal Matters" in Note 14 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of the more significant environmental claims. See "Financial Condition - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Forecasted Uses of Cash - Capital Expenditures" in "Item 7. Combined Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" for information on projected environmental capital expenditures for 2022 through 2024. See Note 20 to the Financial Statements for information related to the impacts of CCRs on AROs. See "Item 1. Business - Environmental Matters" for additional information.
Sustainability
Increasing attention has been focused on a broad range of corporate activities under the heading of “sustainability”, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of requests from interested parties for information on sustainability topics. These parties range from investor groups focused on environmental, social, governance and other matters to non-investors concerned with a variety of public policy matters. Often the scope of the information sought is very broad and not necessarily relevant to an issuer’s business or industry. As a result, a number of private groups have proposed to standardize the subject matter constituting sustainability, either generally or by industry. Those efforts remain ongoing. In addition, certain of these private groups have advocated that the SEC promulgate regulations requiring specific sustainability reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ’34 Act), or that issuers voluntarily include certain sustainability disclosure in their ’34 Act reports. To date, no new reporting requirements have been adopted or proposed by the SEC.
As has been PPL’s practice, to the extent sustainability issues have or may have a material impact on the Registrants’ financial condition or results of operation, PPL discloses such matters in accordance with applicable securities law and SEC regulations. With respect to other sustainability topics that PPL deems relevant to investors but that are not required to be reported under applicable securities law and SEC regulation, PPL will continue each spring to publish its annual sustainability report including tracking reductions related to the company's goal to reduce carbon emissions and post that report on its corporate website at www.pplweb.com and on www.pplsustainability.com. Neither the information in such annual sustainability report nor the information at such websites is incorporated in this Form 10-K by reference, and it should not be considered a part of this Form 10-K. In preparing its sustainability report, PPL is guided by the framework established by the Global Reporting Initiative, which identifies environmental, social, governance and other subject matter categories. PPL also participates in efforts by the Edison Electric Institute to provide the appropriate subset of sustainability information that can be applied consistently across the electric utility industry. Additionally, PPL publicly discloses its corporate political contributions and responds to the CDP climate survey.